Click here to go to the HELL of the ASHDOWN Challenge website & enter

A CycloSportive? In Winter? And why not? We know that you keen Sportive riders are made of tough stuff and train throughout the winter. You are definitely not ‘couch potatoes. While others have their feet up slouched in front of a roaring fire (or roaring Tele!) you Guys and Gals are out in all weathers, which is just as well because in addition to the testing climbs and hairy descents of this event you’ll have the vagaries of the English climate to contend with.

It will certainly be a ‘CHALLENGE’ because in 2009 we at the Catford Cycling Club have designed a completely NEW challenging and testing route for the HELL of the ASHDOWN.  In addition to a series of the most testing climbs that we’ve managed to find in the South we’ve thrown in climbs which were featured in the National Road Race Championship and Brighton to London.  The biggy is the’ WALL’ which takes you straight up the steepest gradient to the heights of the wild moorland of Ashdown Forest.

The ‘toughies’ follow this 110K (actually 108.8K) route but those that aren’t so confident of their staying power choose the 50K (actually 53.5K) ‘Devil’s deTour’ Challenge option which cuts out the most southerly climbs although it still tackles Cudham Test Hill, Toys Hill, Bayley’s Hill and Star Hill.

It will certainly tax your strength and if you don’t come back exhausted then you’ve not tried.  But, like a mini Tour de France! When you’ve recovered you’ll be just that much fitter. In fact if you get in a fast group it might even feel like the Tour, but without the crowds lining the ‘cols’ you’ll climb.

The lanes are so narrow we cannot have a massed start like the ‘Etape de Tour’, so you’ll set off in a continuous procession over a timing mat for 1 ¾ hours.  There will be mats at the check points and at the finish which you roll over to record your time.  At the finish you collect a special certificate with your time recorded.

To find out more go to www.HELL.gb.com.

Organiser: Bryan ‘Satan’ Stout, 59 Heron Hill, Upper Belvedere, Kent DA17 5HJ
Telephone: 01322 402051; Email: bryan.stout@ntlworld.com.