It certainly will be a little lumpy. A sportive on your doorstep is too good to miss. Billed as being 59 miles long with 4073ft (1241M) of climbing, its going to be murderous on the knees. The route runs out from Haslemere and down to South Harting; a lovely spot on the South Downs. The website describes the journey from thereon as that "You will encounter your first ascent of the South Downs up the North face of Harting Down" - Gulp! It goes on. "This year we are sending you back over the Downs three more times before you return towards Haslemere, only this time with a last hurrah over Blackdown, the highest point between the (North & South) Downs". Well, thats daunting! The only good news that they're telling me is that "We have pared it down it bit from last year, cutting out climbs at the end over Marley Heights and Fernden Lane". Lord knows what the epic (100 miles) is going to be like. I'll stick with the standard.
A ride taking in Marley Heights or not, this will be a monster. The details, should you wish to join in with the insanity can be found by following the link below,
http://littlelumpy.co.uk/
My training regime has already started with a ferociously paced 90Km up to Leith Hill and back via Holmbury St Mary (bagged yesterday - Saturday 21st.) The Saturday club ride is a step up in pace versus that of the Sunday version. I was taken to the edge of my current ability just keeping up. I took a turn on the front a couple of times, albeit briefly. The average speed was about 16mph and given the total ascent was over 800m, I was shredded.
Midweek training sessions have to be the norm now, rain or no rain. Longer, faster riding on a Saturday and a roller session somewhere in between should be expected. Dedication.
I'm not going to predict a time for the lumpy, but to come in over the line without being burnt out would be enough to aim for right now.
A ride taking in Marley Heights or not, this will be a monster. The details, should you wish to join in with the insanity can be found by following the link below,
http://littlelumpy.co.uk/
My training regime has already started with a ferociously paced 90Km up to Leith Hill and back via Holmbury St Mary (bagged yesterday - Saturday 21st.) The Saturday club ride is a step up in pace versus that of the Sunday version. I was taken to the edge of my current ability just keeping up. I took a turn on the front a couple of times, albeit briefly. The average speed was about 16mph and given the total ascent was over 800m, I was shredded.
Midweek training sessions have to be the norm now, rain or no rain. Longer, faster riding on a Saturday and a roller session somewhere in between should be expected. Dedication.
I'm not going to predict a time for the lumpy, but to come in over the line without being burnt out would be enough to aim for right now.
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