Burgess Hill sportive Sunday 21 March 2010

Last Sunday I completed the classic 115 km distance Burgess Hill Spring sportive - yes starting and finishing in Burgess Hill of all places! This turned out to be an extremely well organised and sign posted event and despite a damp start overall the weather was reasonable too.

Quite demanding for this early in the year, with 6 or 7 key climbs and around 2,000 metres of climbing all told - on a route around the Ashdown Forest and into Kent as far as Groombridge and Hever Castle. Climbs included Pillow Mounds Hill, Kidd's Hill (AKA the Wall) and Groombridge Hill, as well as the Col de Cobb - short and very steep at over 20%. The early part of the course I dispatched with no issues, but was starting to feel pretty tired by the second feed station at 80 km in my home village of Forest Row. I was met by Ro and my son Nick which was definitely morale boosting!

The last 30 kms dragged interminably on and I was afflicted by severe cramp in the thighs, necessitating a few stops along the way. Actual ride time was around 4 hours 45 minutes, with which I must say I was a little disappointed. Then again as I have done virtually no riding all winter, it is only to be expected.