Ride Report: Great British Escapades - North & South Downs
Sometimes you have to step into the unknown to really find out what you’re capable of, taking on the GB Escapade was definitely more of a leap! I’ve done some long rides in the past, but these were mainly done as a pair, in a big event with lots of riders or on a circuit with my family as support, so a 300 mile unsupported, largely off road loop with 25,000ft of climbing was a real step into the dark.
The ride started and finished in Canterbury, winding its way out through the North Downs, past Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Box Hill and Guildford before turning south towards Hasslemere and Arundel then back through the South Downs past Brighton and Eastbourne before heading back to Canterbury. Starting at 1700 on Thursday 2nd June, there was much discussion at the start about schedules, target times and kit with some riders opting to travel ultra light with only an emergency foil blanket whilst others planned for a longer ride and carried tents & stoves. I’d gone somewhere in the middle, carrying a sleeping bag & bivvy bag but opting against a full tent and any cooking gear - I didn’t want to run heavy but I still wanted the option to sleep.
Fifty or so riders gathered for a final word from the organiser, Kevin, before setting off in groups of 10. I was in the second batch and with a target time of sub 48hours, or 40hours if things were going really well, I had to keep telling myself not to get carried away and just take it easy. The ride was on.
The first few hours were quite steady, a couple of riders had moved to the front - their intentions to crack on clear - but I was happy spinning along with a few other riders to calm the nerves and settle in. At around 50miles we hit our first petrol station: a welcome chance to top up drinks and grab some extra food for the evening. It was from here that the ride really seemed to begin, as the sun dipped below the horizon, lights were switched on, leg warmers were pulled on and small groups of riders formed. I was quite happy riding at my own pace, my fairly high (Norfolk friendly) gearing meant I had to ride some of the steeper climbs faster than others simply because I couldn’t spin in the same way that a 52T cassette allows, but I didn’t mind that and had my sights set on the first checkpoint at 100miles.
Targeting a 10mph average, I reached CP1 after a touch over 9 hours, at around 2.30am. Kevin, was on hand to stamp my Brevet card, top up my drinks bottles and inform me that I was in 3rd place around 40minutes behind 2nd and about the same ahead of a group in 4th. I couldn’t believe it! Plan A was in effect and I pushed on for sunrise, I had considered sleeping at CP1 but I felt good and after a can of iced coffee I was on the move. Riding at night was a real blast and it brought back lots of memories of racing through the night in the Thetford Dusk til Dawn event which used to run every October.
At around 8am I dived into another garage for a very welcome coffee and some more food, I was beginning to feel a little tired by this point but sitting down for a few minutes allowed for a quick recharge before I rolled on. I hadn’t realised but the 2nd placed rider, Harry, was actually having a lie down behind the garage so I leapfrogged him into 2nd. An hour or so later and I faced one of the most sapping climbs of the ride, a long gravel drag strewn with fallen branches and 2 downed trees - it took every ounce of strength to lift my bike over them so when I reached the top I decided to have a lie down and get some more food in. Harry leapfrogged me back as I called home for a quick chat - we would continue like this for the remainder of the ride bouncing between 5 and 10 minutes apart.
The middle 100miles through the South Downs was set to be the toughest: endless grassy climbs, rough descents and gates. So many gates! Harry and I joined forces for decent stretches of the South Downs, taking it in turns to open gates, before I lost him in a hedge as we navigated a particularly confusing section. Leaving the Downs behind was a welcome relief and it wasn’t long until I reached CP2 at the village of Alfriston at 200miles where I refuelled on a steak slice, quiche tartlet and a slice of apple pie! Harry rolled into the village just a few minutes later, we were both feeling pretty cooked after being exposed to the sun and wind all down on the Downs but at this point we were two thirds of the way through - “nearly there” we said to each other before I rolled out of the village to find a nice spot of grass to lie down for 30minutes.
Leaving the big climbs behind the route then joined the Cuckoo Trail, a long stretch of reclaimed railway which was welcome respite from the rough trails of earlier so I was able to eat up some miles before heading into the evening. With 50miles to go I passed Harry as he took a few minutes rest before it got dark and I rolled on into the night - the end was in sight. After a particularly steep climb a couple of hours later I saw the front light of Harry’s bike come bobbing up behind me, he was on his back up light and my rear light had died so we laughed and said together we make one rider! Joining forces we rode the final 25 miles together and whilst we didn’t say too much, it was a fitting end to the ride and we definitely kept each other going as fatigue set in as we passed midnight on the Friday.
At just after 2am on Saturday morning, 33hours and 9minutes after setting off, we rolled back into the finish together, greeted by Kevin who patted us on the back as we each took in the fact that we’d just ridden 300miles. Somewhat shellshocked and very tired we had a quick photo and he pointed us back in the direction of the car park, crawling into the passenger seat I was asleep in an instant!
