Winter Mileage begins ...

Mike and I headed off at dusk this week on the Friday night ride and still no sign of Stuart or Tim ? It was dry and warmish and we had a good circuit of Eridge woods complete with comedy diversion - I must remember to take the Garmin when we do this and so I can see (afterwards) where the hell we went. Anyway, keeping the distant traffic noise and the moon over to my left side, we eventually bumped into Eridge rocks after 45 minutes of interesting (but rideable) trails and we were back en-route. A quick snack, then off to Hornhurst, down 'Bugs Bunny', through Limekiln Wood to Crowborough and then past Eridge Station, Harrison Rocks and R21 to Mike's house in Hartfield. Three good hours out for about 20 miles.

Saturday dawned, dank and blustery. Molly had a haircut booked and I had a morning to kill. Better still, the woman-barber is in Brighton, so I got dropped off en route with instructions to be back at Middle Farm (http://www.middlefarm.com/ and 01323 811411) at 12:45 for lunch.

It was spitting, but the waterproof lasted ten minutes and was in the pack. It was almost a nice day, but with ominous looking clouds and very windy. Selmerston and Alfriston came and went and the bridleway down to Jeavington was drier than I expected. I started to bump into a few of the Seven Sisters Marathon runners as I climbed up towards Eastbourne. They were sharing some of my route - but in the opposite direction. On top of the Downs I started to feel the full force of the wind and the section from the coast at Eastbourne along to the Birling Gap was fierce - even having to pedal down the hills to get any speed up at all. It was about this time that the sun came out though .. what a change in complexion.

Above the Birling Gap on the cliff top bridleway, 13 miles in. Some of the Seven Sisters ahead but I was only planning on ravaging the next three today. Picture taken just two seconds before the wind blew the bike over ...

After the pleasure of the girls and gurning up the savage climbs into the teeth of the gale, I turned north, through Friston and into the trees for some respite from the wind. I went a bit 'off-piste' and found a new (to me) and shorter route up to the top above Jeavington in order to pick up the start of 'Stumpy'. This was almost as good as it gets at this time of year, even though the latest leaf-fall had disguised the path (and hidden the wet roots).

I was eventually spat out on the road and turned left to visit Exceat Farmhouse (01323 870218) tea room at the Seven Sisters Country Park and share the excellent latte and carrot cake with some of the local birds.

Suitably refreshed I faced the last climb back up to the SDW from the outskirts of Seaford and off towards Firle Beacon. The legs were a screaming by this stage and I was glad to get to the top and enjoy the views in the autumn sunshine. I had glanced at the map before I left but not bothered to carry it and got caught out by a bridleway that turned out to be 'private' (must remember to check that one) and so had to carry on to Firle before making my way back along the A27 for the last mile or so to lunch.

Four hours, including coffee stop, 30 miles. Very sore legs on Monday still. Excellent.

Monday and it's a night off the gym but I thought I would spin round the litle road loop to stretch the legs off. No pressure, no agenda, no worries - and I break 30 minutes for the for the first time. In addition, I have just made 15st (210lbs) too - six weeks later than target, but the weight still comes off slowly but surely. I will not make the target of 199 lb by Christmas at this rate, but I am reluctant to speed the process up if it still keeps happening. Might not be there until Easter, but I will get there !