The plan for today's ride was to ride along the North Downs, into Kent, and to take in a number of the hills that have been used as courses during the 125 or-so years that the Catford CC Hill Climb has been running. It goes without saying that these are the hardest hills in the area, and, being in hilly country, would be joined by other, less well-known, but still substantial hills.
So the riding was to be part of it, but looking back at what our forebears achieved, initially on Penny Farthings on gravel roads, was another part. And, finally, we planned to have our last tea at Fanny's, which sadly is to close on Saturday.
A dozen of us left the Douglas Brunton centre, heading though Caterham in the sunshine and down Church Lane turning immediately on to Waller's Hill, one of the very early hill-climb courses. A perfect start, steep, straight and closed to traffic, our morning legs made short work of it. On through the very pleasant downland scenery at Warlingham School, then up Ganger's Lane to The Ridge. A nice surprise on the way, as John was coming down to join us, having missed us at the start.
Down Titsey Hill, dappled sunshine under the trees, being passed safely enough by a very large lorry which left a very strong smell of hot brakes and burning rubber as we turned into White Lane, our second Hill Climb. This is now the Bec Hill Climb course, and my GPS gives it the steepest gradient of the day, at 20.7%. Down again to the Pilgrims' Way, passing vines and then corn-fields before crossing Warlingham Hill. We didn't climb this - it's a busy road now - but it was the first Hill Climb course. Said to be unclimbable, twelve riders managed it on the first running of the event in August 1887. Eight of the new-fangled Rover safety bicycles, three trikes and a penny farthing, which came fourth. And, as you might expect, the NCU had laid down rules for the event, with a minimum weight of 35lbs for bicycles and a minimum gear of 52", presumably to avoid giving the 'Safeties' an advantage over the 'Ordinaries'. Some things don't change ...
The next Hill Climb was Brasted Hill, enlivened by a very large tractor and trailer at the bottom, then briskly down from Knockholt to Sunridge before a steady climb up Ide Hill to lunch.
A pleasant welcome at the Cock Inn, now nicely refurbished. It is said that the local council had initially objected to the refurbishment proposals, wishing the pub to remain as it was. So the landlord said that he would close it. Happily, an accommodation was reached.
We ate well, outside, but the cheerful service was rather haphazard, leading to a later departure than we would have wished.
The Queen Stage, York's Hill, was next. It has been the regular course for the Hill Climb since 1935. It's a hard, slippery climb in a tree-covered lane, with a poor surface. A good time is about two minutes and we were a bit over that, but a respectable performance nevertheless.
Back over Ide Hill to Toy's Hill, the last of the Hill Climb courses. We cheated a bit here, slipping round to the top of the hill over a shoulder without losing much height. We've climbed it before, but this time it was a descent where you can get a good speed up, but with care, as the sign warns. (As an aside, this is one of the first cycle-specific signs since the bike boom of the 1890s. A CTC one from this period on Stede Hill, also in Kent, warns 'Caution'.)
Rolling country now to Four Elms, Tilburstow Hill and points West. We kept the pace up, as the lunch delays meant that there was a risk that we might miss Fanny's, but in the end all was well. We were there just after half past four and it was busy. We were not the only ones paying their respects. There was no more tea, as the kitchen was 'in meltdown', but we were welcome to lemonade and cake which we took in the garden.
A good, hard ride, with a strong, capable group of riders. It's the hardest that the As have done in my time. 48.1 miles elevenses to tea, 4,473 ft of ascent, a good pace and some of the best country in the area.
We're a lucky lot, aren't we?
Mark
