Bug Hill 40 plus a bit more.

Good practice today for the ride, 81 miles by the end with somewhere between 2,900 and 4,500 feet of climbing depending which figure you believe of the device and various websites. Day 1 is 78 miles with about 6,500 feet of climbing, but that may be more or less.

For this ride, had Stewart along for company and to get the miles in was quite a horrible early start. Up at 6:25 and out by 7:05 to allow us to do 23 before the start of the 40 miles (it was actually 41.64 but that was fine) and then doing another 18 or so coming back. Really quite warm, predicted temperature was around 73 degress Fahrenhiet (how many people can convert that to Centigrade then?), gentle wind from the north about 8-10 mph and not a cloud in the sky. Will see later on if I managed to slap on enough sun screen and how long it lasted for as although not dipping into any nice swimming pools, I am sure I genereated enough moisture of my own to remove some of it. If I do pink a bit, may need to top up more often when on the ride as I am sure I well get wall to wall sun.

A lot of the roads we went on today we knew quite well, but the ones out to Henfield and back from Small Dole were new and the Small Dole to Fulking road was lovely. Bit up and down as it just followed the contours of the edge of the downs, but very pretty.

Was quite disciplined about refuelling. 3 bananananas, two bottles of water on top of a Prolong shake, a date and sesame squashy thing, a bottle of electrolyte water (probably need more of that), a pot of tea and a piece of carrot cake. Well, we were going past Proper anyway so rude not to drop in. Will see later if any dehydration headache, but don't think so. Certianly felt ok at the end of the ride and will do a shorter one tomorrow when dropping the bike off for a ticke before we go off.

Two weeks today by now hopefully, feet up in Jamaica Inn with a pint of something cold.