With Amanda meeting some of her friends for coffee and a night out, I thought it was an ideal time for me to do some more hill training, and the fact that she did not need the car meant that I could go a bit further afield from my usual training areas.
Ditchling Beacon had been on my mind as a significant climb within a distance that I could get to. Not only that but, after consulting my 100 greatest cycling climbs book, there was another, Steyning Bostal that I could do in the same ride.
I poured over the maps the night before and tried to make sense of a route which was becoming increasingly awkward to plot due the fact that both the climbs, once completed, descended to the (very) main A27 which is a dual carriageway and not a road that I wanted to take on.
It meant plotting a route that, once over this first climb, meant going over what I thought was going to be a bridge to get across - wrong! - I had to navigate the central barriers and then take a rather convoluted route through Shoreham-on-Sea in order to get back the other side of the South Downs for the climb of Ditchling Beacon which is from the north side, beginning in the lovely town of Ditchling.
So, Saturday morning I set off early for Storrington which I thought would be an ideal starting point, and so it proved with a nice little spot on a side street easy to find.
As I started to get changed, I felt cold - not that surprising since in the last few days the weather has turned much more winter-like, but still, not the best start.
I loaded myself up to the hilt with all the necessary tackle and some jelly babies, 4 snickers, 3 energy gels and a banana ( I was determined to make sure that I had enough to not suffer - or so I thought). After donning my rain jacket I set off for Steyning, which is a charming town at the northern base of the South Downs. A right turn later and I was at the bottom of the first climb - Steyning Bostal.
You pass a sign saying something like "narrow road with passing points" - all climbs seem to have this - and then you rise gradually until you meet a road coming in from the right. You then swing left and the gradient increases markedly as you pass a sheer chalk face and as the road then sweeps steeply around to the right you reach the summit and a long flat stretch before a fast descent interupted sharply by the A27.
Some 20 miles later I was beginning to wonder if I would ever arrive at Ditchling. Yet again I was beginning to feel tired and despite taking regular food and water, my feet and hands had only just warmed up.
I finally did reach the town and was a little disappointed that I did not have time to hang around longer as it really is a picture. I was also surprised at how busy it was but I definately had a sense of expectation building in me.
As I turned onto Beacon Road the road was flat enough but full of traffic. This clearly was a little different from the previous climb and the reason is that this is a major route into Brighton - I wasn't quite prepared for that.
The road continues for some time at a gentle pitch before you come across a left hand bend and this is where the climb begins in earnest as the gradient increases sharply and you head into a heavily wooded area. This steep section is sustained and the road snakes as it clings to the side of the Downs, emerging from the woods briefly, before becoming even more steep, whilst affording incredible views of the surounding area to the North.
The view quickly disappears again though as the still weaving tarmac, heads back into the trees and one last notch up in gradient sees the road swing to the right and the summit.
I really found this hill tough. At no point was I out of breath and my heart rate was not too high, but my legs just did not want to know. I did of course get up but I really did have to slow right down and just concentrate on getting to the top - not what I am used to at all. I certainly seem to have lost my climbing "bounce"
I am not used to struggling up hills and it is certainly starting to play on my mind a little - don't get me wrong - Ditchling Beacon is a testing climb but I have done far harder and with better form.
Am I over trained or under nourished, or both?
Well, this week I am dispensing with careful intake and calories and fuelling for a big weekend. A few days off the bike should help with the recovery and a large plate off liver and onions (One of Amanda's many specialities which I have just polished off), should help rebuild the muscles.
Anyway with the Beacon out the way I promptly puntured on the descent and while repairing the hole I became aware of just how many cyclists were going past me. The hill is clearly used as a training run by a large number of locals - I saw one guy complete the hill three times!!
At the bottom, a lack of options meant the only way to go was to turn around and go back up and down the same hill - the other ascent is far longer and therefore nothing like as steep. Enjoyable in its' own way though.
After a couple of wrong turns on the way back to the car I finally arrived having done 68 miles (more than I intended), but was greeted with the hot coffee and sandwiches that Amanda had made for me that morning - What a Star!
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