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London to Brighton Night Ride

The Rapha ride from The HOST Gallery to Brighton through the night of Friday 19th October, was a great success as part of the activities surrounding the Rouleur Exhibition. As a cold night began to take hold, a Rapha chaperoned peloton made it's way steadily through the South London metropolis to the all important first feed station after 4 miles, The Rose and Crown at Clapham Common. Riders were informed of the hardship ahead - namely the next feed rendezvous would be beyond the realm of the M25, where only a ration of brandy for each rider would be supplied…

Several cols lay between the Croydon ghetto (our route allowed us to gleefully bypass the Friday night carnage held within - save for an orphaned puncture support team who made a direct plunge through the wolf whistles and beer bottled chavs) and Tandridge, and our skillful crow flight navigation meandered into a headless chicken flutter of multiple darkened summits and descents. The Rapha van deployed promised brandy and coffee and bananas and apples for most then it was fitfully on across the six hour black to the awaiting Ditchling Beacon to test our mettle before a hellbent descent onto the Brighton promenade for bacon. All survived to don the glory of rose-tinted spectacled adventure then snoozed before getting a coach back.

images by Mark Denton

About the ride

The ride departed from the HOST Gallery at 20.00 and was planned as a social ride taking in the atmosphere at a leisurely pace with stops along the route. All riders were welcome.

A full route to Brighton is mapped out on bikely.com.

The night ride was supported by Exposure lights. Some Rapha riders used the latest, high powered Joystick MaXx Light. A few of those lights were available to test on the ride. A display of the USE/Exposure range was installed at HOST on Friday the 19th. The London to Brighton Night Ride was also supported by media partner RoadcyclingUK.

The ride was approx. 58 miles and mostly flat, but featured the steep climb of Ditchling Beacon before reaching Brighton. The ride could be completed on a fixed gear bike, but riders may have had to dismount on the final hill.

The Rapha broom wagon met riders half way (c. 2am) where coffee, tea and other refreshments were available. Rapha provided breakfast by the beach at the Regency Cafe upon arrival in Brighton.