Lewisham Cyclists Two Counties Ride via Farthing Down
NB WINTER RIDE WARNING Do check here or on the Lewisham Cyclists Facebook page or our website calendar on the evening before a ride is due to leave, especially in these winter months. We rarely cancel a ride due to weather but there are some weather conditions which pose unacceptable risks for road riding in particular. Ice and extremely high winds are the two forecasts we look out for.
This ride is classified hard (read our classification info in the general ride information link below) and is for experienced riders only. If you wish to bring anyone under 18 please contact the ride leader well in advance to discuss.
It’s our old favourite the Two Counties Ride. To avoid the first leg out through Penge Norwood and Croydon, I’m going to take a train to South Coulsdon from London Bridge. It’s the 9.00 train to Three Bridges and gets to South Coulsdon at 9.24.
Then we’ll head straight up to Farthing Down and back down through this eastern bit of Surrey, through Bletchingly, south a few more miles till we turn eastwards and head via Lingfield to bring us back into Kent. We will use the Velo Barn at about 25 miles in for a coffee and toilet stop. Then head towards Knockholt to pick a train up back to Lewisham. The original route heads back into town via Cudham and Downe and if anyone wants to ride back they could do so. I’ve attached the original route with the ride back to Ladywell.
Do come prepared for cold weather. We don’t race and wait for the slowest, these days most likely to be me, so remember that if you’re one of our faster riders , once you stop riding and have to wait a bit you can chill down very quickly. Make sure you have a layer to keep your body core warm. I always carry an emergency foil wrap. It’s intended for first aid use as I also carry extra layers for me, but if you’re a real light bike fanatic, and don’t have space to carry extra layers these emergency foil blankets are a must.
Make sure your feet and hands are warm too. So gloves and warm shoes and socks. Cycling shoes with cleats are the worst kind of footwear for winter weather. The metal cleat conducts heat away from the soles of your feet and thicker socks often don’t fit well in them and can be counterproductive. If your feet is squeezed tighter into your shoes because of them, the blood flow to your feet is restricted and your feet can become even colder. So, if you can’t afford a new pair of special winter shoes (and who can to be honest, they’re horrendously expensive) consider overshoes. If you use flat pedals, a pair of boots or trainers with thick soles provides better insulation from the cold air, wide enough to fit a pair of good warm socks on.
Apologies if I’m stating the obvious and you know all this already.
Route is here This version heads back to Ladywell and remember I will, most likely, divert to
Knockholt once off the Pilgrims Way. Makes it a shorter ride by about ten miles I think.
As always read our general ride info on our website if you haven’t done already and if you still have questions text me on 07395 153782.
Lets hope for an ice free Saturday
