The logistics of entering the ride are not easy. With a 6am start time from Clapham junction we have a planned departure time from home of 4.15am.
There are 6 of us heading down in one car, so loading the car up the night before makes sense.
Note to selves, Stuart and I may think we can be ready by setting our alarm at 3.45, but we can't. We duly depart at 4.30am
Clapham Common is all set up with big barriers showing where to line up for each departure time. There are 22,000 riders entered, so this is a major event.
However, we are riding with people who have done the ride many times before, (Jim, Pete, Ray and Jenna) so they know a short cut down a side road, which misses out the melee, but also unfortunately the starting atmosphere.
Luckily, we spot our friend Aisling, who gets swept along with us along to the shortcut.
The first chance I get to take a photo is at Tooting Broadway. I used to live in South London, not far from here, I am reminded why I left.
Granted it's 6am, but there are no cheering crowds to wave at the riders. I decide that this ride will belong in the same category as the New York 5 boro ride. Glad to have done it, but no need to do it again. The Boston Hub ride I'd do again in an instant, and as for the Montreal Tour d'ile - somehow someway, I'll get back there again one day!
Fortunately, once London is out of the way, the countryside cheers up the spirits. People are in good form and we stop for a coffee at a pub called the Curious Pig. This photo was taken by another rider who was on his second pint, and it was only 9am! I guess that's Britain for you.
The ride is easy, and once we are out of London, quite picturesque. The weather is good, even with a tailwind.
However, there was one horror to come. I'd heard rumours about the Beacon, but I'd just assumed this would be like any other big hill that I'd done. Oh no. It was a monster.
It looms up at you like an impenetrable, towering wall.
I tried to ignore what I had seen, and put my head down and keep pedalling. This worked for about half of the hill, but eventually I had to get off and push. This was no walk of shame, at least 50% of the people were walking their bikes up the hill.
Still the view from the top was amazing!
Stuart and I had decided to wear our bright green 5 boro jerseys, thinking that this would help us spot each other. It turns out this was THE colour of the day!
It was then a nice leisurely 9 mile downhill into Brighton, where there were plenty of crowds and cheering, which helped make it feel more like an occasion.
Just past the finish line we were reunited with our friends, who had arrived at 10.30, 2 hours before us and were already on their second bottle of wine.
With a coach trip back to London and then a drive home, it seemed only right to start the journey back again straight away.
However, if we were to do the ride again we would make sure that we have time for a celebratory lunch and glass of something in Brighton.
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