The 2.6 challenge set by Mr Burton at Wilson's School CCF.

I was hoping to stay at home today during the coronavirus lockdown as instructed by Boris. However, Mr Burton (from Wilson's School CCF) set us a 2.6 challenge to fundraise for Blind Veterans UK. When there is a good cause, it's not good to laze around in bed so I decided to put on my cycling gear and head out on my bike with my step dad (and cycling leader), Tom.

We had to do something related to the numbers 2 and 6 so I decided to cycle 26 miles in the gear 2-6 with the exceptions of a few steep hills on a different gear to survive! We started from Wallington but did not stop (even for a loo break!) and cycled straight back home in a loop. We went past some roads with flowers on the side that smelt just like garlic! Tom fell off his bike at one of the offroad hills and bruised himself. 😞 No injuries to report on my side! 😀

I accidentally managed to complete my ride in 2 hours and 26 minutes (another 2.6 challenge met yet again!!) which was an added bonus. It was an enjoyable ride for a very good cause!

Destination: Wallington - Purley - Coulsdon - Bletchingley - Chipstead - Purley - Wallington
Distance: 26.1 miles
Duration: 2 hrs 26 mins

Off road to Reigate Hill.

Today's ride took us to Reigate Hill. We went off road through Walton Heath golf club in  Walton-on-the-hill. It was a meandering route and very hilly! School has officially closed (because of the dreaded coronavirus lockdown) and my GCSE exams have been cancelled - hooray! 😀

It was a simple ride on a simple route for some simple exercise. I came home and recorded a Scottish song with my brother, Rajiv in memory of a close family friend.

Destination: Reigate Hill, Surrey
Distance: 26 miles
Duration: 2.5 hrs

To Leith Hill & back...

This ride was awful! First I had to get to Leith Hill; then I had to ride up roads which were steep; then there were people on the way and it was muddy. To sum it all up - it was awful! 😠😣😵

And then I had to get back down.....which might sound easy but is wasn't when you consider that I had to go down some very muddy dirt tracks that twisted and turned all the way down some extremely steep slopes!!! If you don't believe me, look at the video below.

Hot chocolate at Leith Hill.

At Leith Hill Tower.

Video of my dirt track route!

Destination: Leith Hill, Surrey
Distance covered: 45 miles
Duration: 4.5 hrs

Puddles & hills; the cure for those winter blues!

I am pretty sure I burnt out both my legs today, thanks to all the hills! This must be good preparation for Spain. 💪As always, there was cake in the middle. The cake was very nice but was it worth all the hills and the suffering??? 😕

At Toys Hill.

We went past Winston Churchill's house at Chartwell. Of course it was on top of a hill!!! We went over Toys Hill, Botley Hill, Beddlestead Lane (another wretched hill!) and we also went along the Pilgrims Way. There were no hills there (hooray!) but I had to cycle through a small lake. 😣

Cycling through a small lake!

Todays route in case you want to experience my pain!

Destination: Four Elms, Kent

Distance covered: 38.56 miles

Duration: 4.5 hrs
Elevation Gain: 3,027 ft

To the Charlie & Ginger Cafe for brunch!

Some days, you need an incentive to get out of bed to cycle! Today's incentive included an invitation to brunch at the  Charlie & Ginger Cafe  in Leatherhead. More calories were consumed today than burned; Tom assures me this is how a true cyclist trains....😋🥤

Nathan could not join us today as he was unwell. The day ended dramatically with a puncture on Tom's bike on Chipstead Valley Road which was not fixable and needed rescuing. We stayed calm and decided to use the 4th emergency service - aka Mum! The brunch was excellent; best not to talk about the ending...

Rest of our day was spent with Nathan's family booking accomodations in Spain. All we have to do now to get there is cycle, cycle, cycle.....! 😏😕😖

Destination: Charlie & Ginger Cafe, Leatherhead

Distance covered: 32 miles

Duration: 5 hours

Wilson's School to Tulley's Farm.

Our Sunday ride today was to Tulley's Farm in West Sussex. Tulley's Farm is where the famous October Fright Fest happens every year. We have been there before and it was nice to be there again with our Big Brother, Dr Chris Vaz!

We cycled there, drank hot chocolate, ate a maltesers brownie (which was the highlight of my day despite the Frightening calories!) and cycled back home again.

Destination: Tulley's Farm, Crawley, West Sussex

Distance covered: 47.1 miles

Duration: 5.5 hours

The cycling adventure begins again...

Welcome back to part two of my cycling adventures! Those of you who followed my last trip to Paris are probably wondering why I've decided to step foot on a bicycle again, but it's not like I get a vote in any of the decisions made in this house. Today I went on an  Anerley Cycling Club  ride to East Grinstead, home of the bluebell railway, and enjoyed many near death experiences with oncoming raging drivers combined with my shaky cycling skills on narrow roads. You can read the Anerley Cycling Club newsletter here - https://anerleybc.org/sunday-ride-12th-january-2020/.

Hopefully the cycling Gods will pity me and bless me with an easy trip from 'Wilson's to Spain'!

Destination: Wilson's School to East Grinstead.

Distance covered: 43 miles

Duration: 5.5 hours