car
All roads lead to London, and therefore the roads that shoot in and out of England’s capital also reach out like a giant spider’s web into the nooks and crannies of its south east. The M1 and M11 motorways allow easy access to the M25 circular from locations north, east and north east of the city, while the M40, M4 and M3 act likewise for car travellers approaching London from the Midlands and from locations to the city’s west and south west.
The majority of routes within this guide are within easy access of motorways and main trunk roads and the start/finish points are quite often adjacent to a motorway or major road; such is the excellent road system of the region, you are never far from the beautiful landscapes that entertain classic sportive training rides.
By rail
Riders choosing to get to the area by rail should first check out National Rail enquiries (search ‘Cycling and cyclists’ on www.nationalrail.co.uk). Here you will find easy links to your nearest regional train provider and how you can book your bike onto a train. Most trains to England’s south east require you to travel through central London and then change station to get to your chosen sportive destination. Travelling by bike across London takes a little more planning; start by searching ‘Bikes on public transport’ at www.tfl.gov.uk, where Transport for London sets out the rules on taking non-folding bikes onto tubes, overground trains, river boats, buses and DLR.
Once you are in the area, the region is well-served by the rail network. All the main centres are served by mainline routes from London and other areas of south east England.
When to go
The south east of England boasts the warmest climate in the UK. It may not be exactly balmy, but, statistically, the area does enjoy the best of the weather. Realistically, however, it should be treated just the same as any other region in the UK: cold and wet in the winter, warm and damp with sunny bits in the summer, so dress accordingly – it’s better to be warm than cold when out on your bike. Layer up and add some flexibility to your clothing.
Caution should be applied when ice and frost warnings are given in the winter months. Always ride with care in inclement weather as bad visibility can hide a cyclist from a vehicle driver quite easily. Use powerful front and rear lights in low light conditions. Wear something bright and reflective – do not be invisible to other road users.
Quiet Sunday mornings – priceless! (Route 20)
Accommodation
From picture-postcard bed and breakfast cottages to five-star glitzy hotels and spas, south east England caters for all tastes. With many of the routes in this book based in Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONBs) or national parks such as the South Downs and New Forest, there is no shortage of self catering, bed and breakfast or hotel accommodation. See Appendix C for a list of websites that provide a good place to start your search for a good night’s rest.
There are plenty of towns and areas to use as the perfect bases from which to explore the full potential of the region. To the west, Brockenhurst and Lyndhurst are ideal for the New Forest, Meon Valley and South Downs training routes, while Newbury and Hungerford provide easy access to Dragon Slayer, the Gibbet and Windoverstoke. Just south of London and the M25, the lively market towns of Godalming and Dorking are well situated to provide a springboard for The Hog’s Back, Mud, Sweat and Gears, Surrey Hills and Reservoir Cogs, which all start centrally within the area covered by this guide. Further east, Brighton is close at hand for all the rides that pepper this corner of the region: Park and Ride, Weald-a-Beast and Battle Plan are within a short journey. To the north, Marlow and Oxford are excellent options to stay for routes such as Merry Wives, the Wycombe Wanderer, Oxtail Loop and Ox and Bucks.
On the road
Hills
Love them or hate them, hills are difficult to avoid if you ride sportives. Riding 50 to 100 miles can be a serious challenge in itself, but when you start adding long, grinding ascents and lung-busting climbs into the equation, the difficulty factor can multiply several times over.
Some routes in this book are unashamedly all about hill climbing. Every now and again it’s worth including a shorter, harder climbing route such as the Gibbet, Kings of Meon or the second half of Surrey Hills as a specific training ride. It’s also worth noting that a challenging climb at the start of an event with fresh legs will feel like a very different beast after 50 miles or so. There are no shortcuts. If you want to avoid the walk of shame, train for the hills at every opportunity.
Burning legs and lungs – get training! (Route 4)
Yes, it would be naive to enter a ride such as the Fred Whitton Challenge in the Lake District and endure some of the most challenging climbs in England without suitable training. But there are plenty of challenging hills to be found in the south east of the country too, just don’t get caught out by a lack of quality hill training. Plan ahead and make sure you know what you are getting into.
Hills – what goes up…
Read through this book, train on the routes that suit your aspirations and fitness, and as you progress through your training schedule choose a tougher course. Following the routes in this guidebook is also a great way to explore the varied and beautiful countryside of England’s south east. Take your time, enjoy your riding and build up your distances and challenges before letting yourself loose on the world of cycle sportives.
Singletrack lanes
These are great for deterring lorries, but the myriad of narrow veins that criss-cross the British countryside will often be loose and gravely under your wheels. They will also be slippery with mud in the rain and, inevitably, the only car you’ll meet will be skidding around that narrow corner. Singletrack lanes should be treated with respect. Keep your speed down on descents, ride in single file and expect the unexpected.
Expect the unexpected
Cattle grids
They’re everywhere in the New Forest, and they pop-up now and again on other routes too. They pose no problem as such, but it’s always worth crossing them with a degree of caution when wet. Always cross them straight-on. Keeping a little momentum to free-wheel over cattle grids helps when approaching from uphill and standing up as you rattle across reduces weight on the back wheel to lessen pinch-flats.
Safety
Cycle sportives and training rides are not races, and, unless it is held on closed roads, a sportive and the riders involved are bound by current traffic regulations and the Highway Code. Therefore it’s worth getting into some good riding habits from the outset of your training regime. This will pay good dividends in your safety cycle-management come the day of the event.
Keep your bike in good working order, especially if you’re getting in plenty of winter miles. Regular servicing of it is always a good thing; as is cleaning. Cleaning your bike is a good opportunity for close inspection, thereby avoiding potential problems later on. Check tyre pressures regularly too; correct tyre pressures are often the difference between an efficient
