This very popular annual event, organised by the East Sussex Cycling Association, involves proving your reliability as a cyclist by covering a 50-mile course within a few minutes of your chosen time (3, 3½ or 4 hours) and takes the place of our regular club run this week.
This is a club competition, and a handsome shiny thing goes to the club that fields the most successful riders. In recent years, it’s been dominated by the Lewes Wanderers and Eastbourne Rovers, but we could, in theory, upset all that!
You MUST sign up for this event in advance – if you just turn up on the day, you won’t be able to enter and your time won’t count. Entries are BY POST ONLY and must reach the organisers, with your £5 entry fee, by Friday 28 October.
For full information, including entry form and route map, click here. When you fill in the form, you’ll be asked to choose your target time, so think about it first! You can ask other Nomads for their opinion by adding a comment here … If in doubt, give yourself more time than you hope you’ll need, allowing for pee stops, food breaks, mechanicals and navigating – this isn’t a race!
For an unofficial transcription of the route for Garmin, click here – believed to be accurate, but please check for errors before using.
Note that the starting point will be at Downlands school in Hassocks, NOT Ditchling and that groups will be given starting times between 08:15 and 09:20 – make sure you’re at the start with at least 10 minutes to spare!
There are no feed stations on the ride, so please remember to bring enough food to get safely round the course.