Ride Of The Falling Leaves

[Dec66]

Hello, first time poster here... Be gentle with me

Bit of background; I'm a recreational and commuting cyclist, who'd love to be out on club runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but who can't be for various personal reasons that I won't go into (keep the violins in their cases, I'm not moaning). I do get out very early on Saturday mornings, if you're about in SE London on your way out to the North Downs in Kent you may have said "good morning" to me as you start your ride and I finish mine.

Anyway, I'm doing The Ride of the Falling Leaves for the third time this October; I'm planning to do the long route, and hoping to have a crack at the Gold Standard (spent a bit too much time chomping flapjacks in Westerham last time). Anyone on here doing it? As I'm Billy No Mates I could do with a push up Toys Hill...

Cheers, Dec.

 

[mjr]

Isn't the Giro di Lombardia the ride of the falling leaves?

 

[Dec66]

Isn't the Giro di Lombardia the ride of the falling leaves?

It is... And Dulwich Paragon pay homage to it

 

[martint235]

Hello, first time poster here... Be gentle with me

Bit of background; I'm a recreational and commuting cyclist, who'd love to be out on club runs on Saturdays and Sundays, but who can't be for various personal reasons that I won't go into (keep the violins in their cases, I'm not moaning). I do get out very early on Saturday mornings, if you're about in SE London on your way out to the North Downs in Kent you may have said "good morning" to me as you start your ride and I finish mine.

Anyway, I'm doing The Ride of the Falling Leaves for the third time this October; I'm planning to do the long route, and hoping to have a crack at the Gold Standard (spent a bit too much time chomping flapjacks in Westerham last time). Anyone on here doing it? As I'm Billy No Mates I could do with a push up Toys Hill...

Cheers, Dec.

I keep meaning to ride the route but not as part of the Sportive.

I kind be found out early some Saturday mornings (around 7am) in the Biggin Hill,/Westerham area although I've not done Toy's Hill for a few months. I go past it and around Hever before heading up and past Ightam Mote.

 

[Dec66]

I

I keep meaning to ride the route but not as part of the Sportive.

I kind be found out early some Saturday mornings (around 7am) in the Biggin Hill,/Westerham area although I've not done Toy's Hill for a few months. I go past it and around Hever before heading up and past Ightam Mote.

I'm guessing you come that way from the south?

The 50-mile route, but starting and finishing at West Wickham, pretty much forms my Saturday morning jaunt, with some variations.

Sometimes I'm accompanied by a mate of mine, a Frenchman of similar vintage to me; I've been trying to get him used to the route in order that he could enter and do the 50-miler, but he didn't feel ready (I thought he was more than able, but there you go). He says that Sundridge Hill "traumatises" him, and that, Station Road in Woldingham and the climb between Cudham and Downe are referred to as <<Les Trois Cols du Batard>>.

I haven't done Toys Hill since the last Falling Leaves, the false summit by Chartwell coming from the south side is emblazoned on my mind

 

[martint235]

I

I'm guessing you come that way from the south?

The 50-mile route, but starting and finishing at West Wickham, pretty much forms my Saturday morning jaunt, with some variations.

Sometimes I'm accompanied by a mate of mine, a Frenchman of similar vintage to me; I've been trying to get him used to the route in order that he could enter and do the 50-miler, but he didn't feel ready (I thought he was more than able, but there you go). He says that Sundridge Hill "traumatises" him, and that, Station Road in Woldingham and the climb between Cudham and Downe are referred to as <<Les Trois Cols du Batard>>.

I haven't done Toys Hill since the last Falling Leaves, the false summit by Chartwell coming from the south side is emblazoned on my mind

I start off in Welling so heading south initially, head through Bromley, over Biggin Hill, drop into Westerham, through 4 Elms, Hever, along a fairly bumpy route through Hildenborough, round Ightam Mote, through Seal and back over Polhill. It's about 65 miles all told.

 

[ianrauk]

I get out on the north downs most weekends, sometimes with Martin, sometimes not.
Welcome to Cycle Chat Dec.

 

[mjr]

It is... And Dulwich Paragon pay homage to it

Oh that group https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/dunwich-dynamo-2015.173718/post-3783940

 

[Dec66]

I start off in Welling so heading south initially, head through Bromley, over Biggin Hill, drop into Westerham, through 4 Elms, Hever, along a fairly bumpy route through Hildenborough, round Ightam Mote, through Seal and back over Polhill. It's about 65 miles all told.

Wow, that's a proper ride... I'm restricted to about two hours before I need to relieve Mrs. 66 of our kiddy burden!

 

[Dec66]

I get out on the north downs most weekends, sometimes with Martin, sometimes not.
Welcome to Cycle Chat Dec.

Thanks Ian, happy to be here.

 

[Dec66]

Oh that group https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/dunwich-dynamo-2015.173718/post-3783940

Ah. They do take their rides a bit seriously, don't they? On their website, they say something like "if you're interested in the social side of cycling then our club probably isn't for you", and that's fair enough. However, that doesn't excuse inconsiderate behaviour of the sort described.

I did get bumped by a DP lady on the last Falling Leaves as I struggled up the hill out of Cudham in the wrong gear; however, she did apologise, there were a knot of cyclists passing me on a pinch point, and I was weaving like a novice as I was blowing for tugs at that point.

Inevitability there are going to be a few incidents with individuals in a club of that size due to the sheer number of members. As a believer in karma, I'd like to think that such behaviour, when it happens, would be rewarded with a spot of road rash later on.

To give them their due, though; it's a really well-run, fun and challenging sportive, and it's worth it for the beer and pasta at the end (the last two years have been run in glorious weather, too).