once again I'd become thoroughly disheartened by the effect of the antibiotics. Apparently sleepiness is a recognised side effect, so there you go. So....I rode to Clapham Junction, and bought a ticket for the first seaside destination to come up on the board, which was..........Bognor Regis. Nice. And when I got there I rode up and down the prom a bit, and mooched around the town centre, and then thought, bugger it, I've got to give this a bit of a go, so I hooked on to the southern end of the A29 and sort of went along in a kind of 'oooh, I don't know if this is going to work' way.
Riding cautiously I had no problem getting over Bury Hill (no embarrassing use of the 39 ring this time) and made a half decent job of the descent. And then, realising that I was not completely incapable I opened up a bit, reasoning that if I started to flop I could just amble to a station....
So - through Pulborough, up the little incline on the A29, and head down. This wasn't a classic - every little uphill, which would, on another day, be an excuse for a bit of exertion, was taken at warp speed -2. Notwithstanding this, the A29 is an immensely flattering road - it's straight as an arrow, the tarmac is smooth, and the uppy downy bits are really just entertainment. It is, if you like, a bit Swiss Toni - on a float morning it really is like making love to a beautiful woman. If you're feeling good you find yourself thinking, 'ok, baby, this is Fabian, you just lie there and let my Continentals run all over your smoooth tarmac...' Or maybe you don't, because you're not Swiss...
So, Billingshurst, and then the A281 junction, and through Ockley. All very satisfactory. And on to the A24, and, although I was a gear down from where I'd expect to be, I started to think of riding all the way home.....but, dear reader, it was not to be...
There's a stupid little hill just south of Dorking. I don't know who put it there, but, if Bonj ruled the world they'd build a tunnel. The tarmac is awful, and you have to stand if you're not going to be an age getting up it. So, stand I did, and had no difficulty moving along in a 53/17, but, as I did so, I started to fall asleep. On the bike. Freewheeled down to the A25 roundabout, and then wove through some roadworks (somehow) before doing a right signal, and somehow getting off the A24 into the forecourt of Dorking station, where I made a complete arse of myself stopping just a little after the kerb.
Ticket, coca cola, train, home. Got off at the wrong station and wound my way through back streets. And here I am. Bloody knocked out. I've got to get down to Waitrose in a minute to get some stuff for tea, and that is going to be interesting.......
Still. 41 miles in 2hrs 10 is kind of crap, but I've got the distance of next Thursday's night ride sorted. All I need, chaps and chapesses is really stimulating conversation.
. Best I could manage before this evening was 12.5 mph. Onwards and upwards
