It started with recollections of riding Nutley to Brighton the last couple of years. A little clicking and fettling with Bikehike.co.uk and there, on screen, was 56 miles of pure cycling pleasure/pain ready for Saturday morning.
Sally, Simon, Alan, Ian, Jon and Stuart bought into the patter and soon we were off. ------------------------------------------------------ Simon Mallin kindly wrote his own account :- The sun was shining and John was leading the G3 - all bode well for a good ride. 'So where today John' I asked - 'I thought we'd head for Ditchling Beacon' came the confident but unexpected reply and before I knew it, like a lamb to the slaughter I was hanging on to six other riders setting a lung splitting pace of 20mph and regretting my decision. Oh me of little faith - the pace settled down, we found a good rhythm and all made it up The Beacon. Not the easiest 60 miles but a thoroughly enjoyable ride with a fabulous slice of walnut cake at Ditchling Tea Rooms. ------------------------------------------------------ With one puncture and some back tracking at Borde Hill, the mileage ended up at 60. Excellent riding from the whole group, perfect weather and a good sense of achievement looking back to the North Downs from Ditchling. So not quite A Cake Too Far, but it was close.