Prudential London Surrey 86

As Mark states, weather for participants depended on start time and, for me, it was wet, very wet, torrential and, at all times, gusty winds, with a few minutes of sunshine to delude one into a sense of well being. Irrespective of the rains, the saving grace was that it remained a pleasant temperature.

Deborah Hurst and I started at 8:10 am having waited patiently in our 'wave pen' for an hour. Russell, not having got a place in the ballot, graciously drove us to Blackwall Lane and we started at 5:45 to ride the 7 miles to the start - weather at this point was dry and pleasant.

In the pen, I met up with Paul Kelly's (of Midweek Wayfarers fame, etc) wife, Vicky, who I used to coach when we members of Horseferry Rowing Club (now defunct). By coincidence, at the finish I met a 'girl' (now married with 2 children) that I coached at MAABC,  my current club.

At the start, DH was rapidly away and I went at, for me, a fast pace through London (tagging onto suitable groups/ individuals as available) and my first stop was MAABC toilets - clean and warm - taking the opportunity to dump my sweat ridden arm warmers into the Captain's rucksac - wonder if he's still a mate?

Rejoining the event, a pleasant ride to Richmond Park until everyone came to a halt shortly after Pembroke Lodge. It transpired that rivers of mud were flowing down the hilly sections and we were reduced to walking or standing still, in hail-like rain, for the next 20 minutes or so. Exited the park to find the Kingston floods, again bringing progress to to walking pace for about 10 minutes. Particularly galling to see the early starters returning on the other side of the road which was not water logged.

Eventually normal progress was resumed and apart from negotiating large and small puddles, all was straightforward with good warning given by hi-clad stewards.

Chain drop just prior to the climb to Newlands Corner rendered my 'granny' ring unavailable and, with some trepidation, set off towards Newlands but made it comfortably even though many were walking (probably would have been my fate if LH and BH hadn't been deleted from the route).

My diet of Jordan's breakfast bars, SIS gels and fluids served me well, supplemented by a cup of tea and a doughnut at the Fairfield Centre at the Leatherhead Hub.

The ride to the finish was without incident except, shortly before Kingston, seeing a young, male rider, lying spread eagled and being tended to by a medical team.

Nice to see that the medals were year updated and were 'gold' instead of last year's 'silver'.

Got back to Russell's having completed 106 miles and was treated to barbecued steak and a glass of red wine.

The Good. Tremendous improvement in starting arrangements.

The Bad.   Lack of common sense among the 'speedier' riders of all ages for slower riders.

The Ugly. Roads bestrewn by gel wrappers, drinks bottles and INNER TUBES..

Ah, well, the ballot opens next Monday for 2015.