A ride in the Hills.

We had a rare day of sunshine this week, (thanks to Sian Lloyd and her weather machine) so I took the opportunity of getting out and exploring the Surrey Hills section of the Prudential Ride London 100 route that I am riding for the charity Mind.(please sponsor me).

I pick up the Ride London course at West Byfleet. (this would be about 40 miles into the actual ride) Here we start to get off the main roads and into the smaller lanes. Riders may need to be a bit careful along here, if there are a lot of riders together. Newark lane and the Ripley road had some tight pinch points. There were a few incidents in the Olympic Road race along this section.

Newark Lane has some Pinch Points

Eventually we come along to Ripley where there is a tight spot (sharp left then right) going through the high street and on towards the Surrey Hills.

Tight Junction at Ripley

So eventually you pop out of the small lanes and join the dual carriage way (this is going to be great if they close both lanes, 1000s of cyclists all over the “Motorway”) and after a small section on the A246 we turn left and you are looking for this sign.

This is where things start to get a bit tough

This is where you might start to cry. The road takes a steep turn over the 1st category 4 climb. The evil thing here is you see the long road climbing ahead all the way up, I find not looking tends to make it “seem” easier. Keep going until you get this view.

Top of the Newlands Corner Climb

The decent on the far side is swift and winds down to the A25 where we continue to Abinger Hammer. A quick right and we are off down to the base of Leith Hill. The nasty bit here is the fact that Leith Hill can be seen off to your left hand side all the time you are skirting down the side of it (A view of what is in store for your legs). Again, the best practice is NOT to look – I think. Eventually you will reach this junction, and this is where there is potential to break down and get off the bike.

This is where the pain really starts

Up and over Leith Hill gets you onto a long winding descent. It gets pretty narrow in places, and there are some sections with high walls either side of the road, so this could be very dangerous if there is a large group. (Be careful people)

I headed back over to the A246 and onto home… (round trip about 55 miles) details are here.

Training ride out in the Surrey Hills