Mini disaster at the start.
My water bottle (
not bidon) had leaked into my musette causing my Nokia 3210 circa 1999 to flood with water.
As I write, it's drying off but the chances of it actually working again seem slim.
I led three to Purley then the quiet A22 to the "Ann Summers" r/b.
Uphill past Woldingham station and the North Downs Golf Club.
From there you're just a short distance to Westerham via the long downhill sweep.
Cyclists were coming from all directions...............not suprising since this was the "hill climb" weekend with the Catford CC's Yorks Hill just a stones throw away from our elevenses at Chartwell.
Friend of Dave, a nice chap called Ian was nearing the end of his twice yearly stay in the UK and was due to fly back to South Africa this very evening after emigrating there.
A 10.10am arrival at the deserted café allowed for a leisurely alfresco break on this bright early autumn day as first Bob then Ian and finally Daniel made their appearances.
A long downhill to Brasted swiftly followed by Hogtrough Hill to The Blacksmiths Arms at Cudham for an early lunch.
The pub has a history going right back to 1628 and has one of the most lavish "smoking areas" I have ever seen with books and a tv too.
Apparently the garden has won awards which doesn't suprise me.I've never seen so much colour in a pub garden in early October as witnessed today.......probably due to the warmest September since 1910!
We were at the Bec CC hill climb shortly after it's 2pm start and Daniel not suprisingly and perhaps wisely aimed straight for the tea & cakes............I queued for 20 minutes at 3pm.
In one of the biggest crowds that this event is ever likely to see, most were here for just one reason.................to see Garmin-Sharp professional rider David Millar ride his very last cycle event and first hill climb, before retiring.
His wife (Nicole) also rode joining many more women,juniors and vets.
A whopping 142 riders and he was number 130............about 4.15pm.
ITV's cycling front man Ned Boulting told the PA guy he
would ride next year..........possibly a joke but who knows?
Dave's time was 2.03 and the winning time remained at 1.53 as we headed home. (update in due course).
Light rain and a strengthing wind meant many left before the last rider (including us).
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| The garden at The Blacksmith's Arms |
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| David Millar's wife |
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| ITV's Ned Boulting |
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| It's Millar time! |
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The journo's were on him straight away
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STOP PRESS............Winner - Jack Pullar of Starley Primal Pro Cycling (1.49) for the third time in as many years.
David Millar was 21st..........Nicole was 137th (3.23)
Her tweet :
If you want to see what 700yds uphill looks like.......unnamed rider has a helmet cam:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_hENH_bVgzw
William Fotheringham's article on David Millar in
The Guardian
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/oct/10/david-millar-cycling
.bmp)
-one who is still around to this day riding in West London DA, but thankfully his boxer underpants (they weren't called that then) aren't on show nowadays. His used to hang out of the black cloth cycling shorts he wore, much to the amusement of very young girls, and the embarrassment of other riders nearby..."