take part in the london to brighton bike ride

i want to do the london for my mum and others like her to raise money for a cancer charity

Do This in 2008 or never

Took part on June 17th 2007. Trained for 8 months, starting at a measley 3 miles, working up & getting much much fitter until my final practice run the Saturday before at 49 miles!.
On the day i managed to get awat 10 mins before my “Official” start time. Anyone who has done the ride before will know how mad it is at the start!.
The ride is all stop/start until you get out of London. Then it becomes a real joy.
Lots of hills (more down than up!), & lots of places to rest & refresh (although i didn’t).
As much as i wanted to, i didn’t “Beat the Beacon”! – Gutted, but it was the steepest longest hill in the world (Well that’s how it felt after 47 miles!!!).
Got flashed by a speed camera on the way down into Brighton (43 miles an hour). Very emotional at the finish line with all the people cheering.
The time? – 3 hrs 41 mins. – All that training was worth it. (Remember it’s a ride, not a race! – If you decide to go in 2008 remember – Keep left!)

Did this Sunday, was nervous beforehand but shouldn’t have been. It’s a great day out, brilliant atmosphere, and a real buzz. The final downhill stretch into Brighton is priceless. Can’t wait for next year!!

Would love to do this – though I suspect it could kill me!

read all about my experience on my blog:
http://armcurl.wordpress.com/2006/06/18/london-brighton-results/

Did this on Sunday…

Had to get up at 4.45am for breakfast before riding to the start point for a 6.30 off.

Once I had woken up properly it was such a good day out, loads of decent people, great country to ride through and sunshine.

Saw the aftermath of a few quite nasty crashes … some people just go too fast, others are just plain unlucky.

Ditchling Beacon at the end is seriously tough, I managed to make it up in one go but I would have been as quick walking to be honest. From the top the views are amazing, and you know its downhill all the way to Brighton from there.

Beer on the beach has never tasted so good.

Only 9 hours and 53 minutes to go until the start! Am feeling very nervous as have only managed 30 miles so far and haven’t cycled for a week. The team plan (my friend Sheryl and I are a team of 2!)is to break it down into 3×18mile rides with a 15 minute break in between. I have my stuff ready including drinks and fuel plus a ton of suncream.

It’s going to be a beautiful English summer’s day tomorrow and I am going to be beside the seaside with my push bike eating fish and chips and drinking champagne on the beach. Perfick!!!

Managed to get out this morning in the gorgeous sunshine and cycled 30 miles again. Was hard today – especially the last 3 or 4. Only 2 weeks to go and then it is the main event – all 54 miles of it. Am going to make it my goal to get out 3 times next week and just do 15 miles each time. Then take it a bit easier the week after …

After getting back from my 5 mile run I got on my bike and went out with 2 good friends to do some training. Thought I would keep it to 15 miles but we got up to 10 and I felt good and wanted to keep going. 30 miles later we got home and my butt was complaning. But a hot bath, some good food and a very early night and I feel fine.

It was perfect – the sun was shining, everything was lush and green and the birds were singing. Utterly perfect!