Olympian Effort

After an aborted attempt to cycle the Olympic Road Race route a couple of months ago (beaten by lashing rain, gale force winds and post glucose come down fatigue) I set out again toward the wilds of Surrey. Rather than start in town I head for where I meet the route at Richmond Park via a gentle route past the queues for Wimbledon (first day today) and up over Wimbledon Common. A beautiful ride through Richmond Park past macho deer and their flighty young. Through Bushy Park (not mistakenly via Kingston this time) and I'm out on the route proper. Fifteen miles already.

Queues waiting for Wimbledon.

Richmond Park deer

I follow the route proper which is fairly uneventful skirting Walton and through Weybridge then take a detour  at the old Brooklands race track. Now an industrial estate plus small museum but with some of the original cycling banks on the outside of the estate wasteland. Shame it's like this now. Was a real centre for both car and cycle racing. After Byfleet I see a sign for Wisley Church down a lovely sunny country lane and thinking I've heard of it I take another detour. After a mile I get to the small church and a local Germanic sounding dog walker tells me all about it and then how I can follow the canal to Ripley. This is definitely not road racing country but very pleasant. 

Brooklands Cycle Bank

Wisley Church - the Olympic riders can't take in views like this

At this point I realise I've missed a turn on the Olympic route

 After Ripley there's about five miles of straight road but fairly bumpy with a head wind. Maybe it's the effect of 35 miles plus a come down from my glucose drink (which I don't usually use but had 2 freebies) and at about the same place I gave up last time I tried this in the rain and wind I get a serious lack of energy. I'm pushing the cranks round but my speedo is telling me I've fallen from about 18 - 20 mph on the flat to 15 and falling... 12mph... 11 mph... I decide that if I fall below 10mph I'll give up. Stop for some more water and a couple of cold potatoes (lunch) and I rest for 5 minutes. I think I can go on. In a while I hit a wickedly steep Staple Lane which I do admit I had to stop half way up to rest. I don't think I could race up here with the real riders. At the top I stop for lunch with a view over Surrey and Canary Wharf in the far distance.

Across Surrey to London

Reinvigorated I zoom down the other side of the hill hitting high 30's then at the 40 mile mark I hit the A25 for a good few miles into Dorking - after lunch on the flat or gentle rises I get back into my natural cadence and cruise at around 18mph. Up towards Box Hill along the closed road (upgrading for the Olympics no doubt) and go round the beast to attack from the north along another long and tiring hill. Reach the empty cafe (no cars due to closed road) for a well deserved coffee and cake. And to refill the water bottles. Then sit on the spiky grass to take in the beautiful view over Dorking and south downs. The fluffy clouds that Ben Watt sang about sprinkle me with a very fine rain for a minute or two before passing on. Family with a little girl in a blowy dress. She crouches down to pick a flower then dances on. Maybe the mother is Ben's little girl as I'm here a generation on from his song.

On Box Hill (great Ben Watt song)

Fly down the Zig Zag Road hitting late 30s again - this will be fun to watch at the hairpin turns! I'm over 60 miles into the ride and on my way home. After my earlier rough patch I'm into the rhythm now and race through Esher past Sandown race course, back to cross the Thames at Hampton and through what was my daily commute: Kingston, Richmond Park, Wimbledon Common and back home to Balham. A long day what with detours, energy drains and faffing about looking at the map but after 85 miles I'm energised mentally if a bit knackered physically. And pleased I did the Olympic route albeit starting from Balham instead of Central London. And of course only doing one circuit of Box Hill - those Olympians have to go up and down it about ten times I think.

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