Andrew Hunt, Nigel Swift and I took on the London Cycle Sportive, 100 miles of capital city cycling fun!  The London Cycle Sportive takes in some important landmarks from London’s Olympic history including a unique finish on the 1948 Olympic Velodrome at Herne Hill.

The ride starts from the picturesque Dulwich Park, just a stone’s throw away from the iconic finish at the Velodrome, and the route goes out to the stunning Surrey Hills taking in Box Hill, which is decidedly the easiest of the climbs!

Having decided to stay overnight in Crystal Palace ahead of the ride, Andrew Hunt and I survived a rather dodgy New York Diner and an even dodgier hotel (better equipped for asylum seekers than cyclists, we both had rooms with bunk beds!) and met Nigel at the start to wend our way out of South London into the Countryside.  Blest with perfect weather we enjoyed a pleasurable if challenging ride - having done this one last year, I'd forgotten it includs a number of quite demanding hills!  Box hill came at the 80 mile mark and being timed, we went for it, Andy Hunt sneaking me by 1 second to the top!  A nine minute spin (9mins 17 seconds to be precise) was actually a 'pleasant' part of the ride.  The whole thing was topped off with a dash around the Herne Hill Velodrome, which it is pleasing to report is staring to look like it has a future rather than just a past these days.