September's in the bag.
@ianrauk and I got the last train out of Kings Cross on Friday night, got off at Doncaster and met up with two ladies from my gym who had travelled up on an earlier train before we all cycled back to South East London. It was a warm night (and dry, despite the forecasts) and our route (partly courtesy of
@Davywalnuts a couple of years ago) was the flattest I've ever ridden - there was a slight kick up into Lincoln, but that was it for the first 150 miles. Dead pan flat. After a brief stop at a 24 hour petrol station in Lincoln, we left town via a couple of very dark cycle paths and on to Spalding and a very early McDonalds breakfast, then Chatteris for a second breakfast. Cambridge came and went before we tackled the rolling hills leading into Ware. After a break in Costa we tackled the last 28 miles to the Woolwich ferry, which frankly were awful. Narrow, winding roads with impatient drivers through the Lea Valley and a couple of tough hills before we hit the north London traffic. Nevertheless we made it to the ferry exactly on schedule at 6pm. Twenty minutes later I was home and in the shower, having ridden 217 miles in 18 hours at just under 15mph moving average.
I was surprised at how hard flat lands riding can be. There was no wind to speak off, and without any climbs to get you out the saddle, or descents to allow freewheeling, the constant pedalling and being sat in the saddle for such a long time brings its own difficulties. I think all four of us found the last ten miles into Spalding just before dawn quite challenging.
.... and one steam roller 
)
