It is a lovely route particularly once you get out of Greater London into the Surrey or Northern Downs. Once outside the M25, much of the ride is on quiet country lanes. Here the hum of traffic is replaced with the sounds of the country, and now with the sounds of Spring. While riding along by myself I could not help but reflect on how much simpler the world is on a bike in such surroundings.
There aren't any major climbs, rather rolling hills, though the Beacon just past Ditchling always presents a challenge. Over the Beacon and it is a fast descent into Brighton. On this section I maxed at about 95km/hr (Garmin Connect).
Sunday, Mark and I headed to the Chilterns, north-west of London. Mark had made the suggestion during the week, and when Cycling Weekly published a route on Thursday our minds were made up. Starting in Marlow, we headed north-west towards Frieth. During the first section of the route, we passed participants of a duathlon riding on the opposite side of the road - the lead riders on TT bike and deep aero wheels, the stragglers on mountain bikes with knobbly tyres. The difference in equipment could not have been greater, nor their speeds.
A route was over rolling hills, with a couple particularly steep climbs. Two in particular come to mind, the one outside Skirmett on the way out, and the last climb just outside Fingest on the return. Apart from the lovely birch-lines roads, the first half of the ride also offered terrific views of Oxfordshire after the fabulously named Christmas Common.
After a cup of tea in Chinnor, we rode to Princes Risborough and then turned back on ourselves to Saunderton before heading south to Bledlow Ridge. During this time we could hear the continuous tooting of a steam train. Turns out there is a steam train between Chinnor and Princes Risborough.
A puncture on the roll into the Marlow was the only downside of an otherwise fantastic morning in the early spring sunshine. (Garmin Connect)
