Start at Nightingale Lane just off Clapham Common. Downhill watching out for the speed bumps and Clapham Tractors then straight ahead over the railway line and up Bellevue Road past Wandsworth Common on the right.

At the lights straight across onto Burntwood Lane. Downhill (using the cycling lane but watching out for road debris) until the junction with Garrat Lane. Turn left.

Keep on Garratt lane (flat) and, after a mile or two, the house numbers on the right reach 1011. Straight across the lights with Tooting Broadway Underground on your right. This is often a busy and bustling and slightly dangerous bit of the route.

Following signs to Mitcham swing round right past Tooting Overground station and then a large field, Figge's Marsh, on your left. (You're on the A217 London Road)

When you enter the Mitcham one way system on Holborn Way you keep left on Upper Green East. The road surface is strangely lumpy as you pass the first duck pond on your left, round a roundabout to go straight across and then follow Commonside West (both the A236)

Over a railway bridge you will come to a large-ish roundabout with a bad cycle lane, 2nd exit right onto Carshalton Road (A237). Soon after Mitcham Junction Station is on your left.

Keep straight on, on the London Road (A237) until you turn right onto Hackbridge Road, which doesn't look like a major road so don't miss it. There is a right filter.

Hackbridge Road becomes Nightingale Road and you swing round to the left onto North Street

At the end, you'll reach a T junction with a pleasant pond on either side. Look for the Greyhound Hotel down on the right. You're nearly in the countryside now. Turn right onto Pound Street (A232) up a small rise.

At the lights go straight across and up Park Hill (the first hill of the route after more than 9 miles).

Keep straight on up The Beaches Ave. At 10 miles you'll go past Carshalton station. This is the first time you should see unfit people pushing their bikes! After some undulations you'll come onto Woodmansterne Road for a mile or so. This is a tiring drag.

At the end go right onto Woodmansterne Lane but immediately left onto Carshalton Road (it is pretty much straight across) to begin a very long drag up to Woodmansterne. If you're not fit, this is when it will start to tell!

At the top there is a T junction (look out for the wonderful fallen tree on the right where someone has carved the village name and woodland bits). You turn left onto a welcome descent down Rectory Lane. Can be quick and has bends.

At the bottom bear left onto Chipstead Valley Road and then immediately right onto How Lane. This is the first real climb of the route and a nasty, narrow long one too.

At the top you'll see a big sign saying Chipstead. Keep going straight on and catch your breath as you go along High Road. The scenery is pleasant and you go past Elmore Road on the right and Castle Road on the left.

Then past Hogcross Lane on left and White Hill on right before turning left onto Markedge Lane. Brow the hill and swoop down (going past the great Fanny's Farm Shop - a favourite Pee and Tea stop but also a dangerous spot).

You will go under the M25 at high speed and have to brake hard as you stop at a T junction to go right onto Gatton Bottom (believe it or not)

Take the first left up Rocky Lane for a little climb through Gatton Park and then fast and narrow down to a large junction in Merstham. You'll see an industrial estate across the road. Turn left and right at the lights into it keeping left onto New Battlebridge Lane. Keep left again.

As you leave Merstham and emerge onto Nutfield Marsh, keep left onto
Nutfield Marsh Road. The road surface is really poor here as you pass Mercers Country Park on the left. As the area opens out however you'll see the Inn on the Pond pub over to your right with a cricket pitch in front.

Breathe hard as you prepare to go up Church Hill. It is just as you pass the 20 mile mark. This road - like Dennis Wise - is a little psycho. The bit by the Church is vicious and the road narrows dangerously past parked cars near the top.

At the top, go straight across the A25 and descend Cooper's Hill Road at speed. Some bends - take care. You will then duck under the M23 go past 'Such Fun Kennels' on your right and keep straight on.

Past Crab Hill Lane on your left the road becomes Prince of Wales Road and drags up for a mile and a half up Daysey's Hill. You pass the Dog and Duck at Outwood on your left and then a respite down Rookery Hill.

Carry straight on as the road becomes Chapel Rd. Go into Smallfield and keep straight on as the road becomes Redehall Road for a mile and a half.  The road surface is a bit dodgy and lots of parked cars & speed humps.

Near the end of this road is the large Burstow Scout Hut on your right where everyone usually stops for lunch. Very busy on the actual day so keep going and turn left at 26 Miles onto Effingham Road - another gentle drag for a mile until you turn right onto West Park Road. You will see the

Another series of short drags as you go straight on over a roundabout into Turners Hill Road. The road slopes gently up for 3 miles until a small dip down to the foot of Turners Hill. This is often fabled as the second worst hill of hte journey. Long and steepish, it narrows near the top so not easy to get off even if you want to.

As you get to the top the false summit is marked by the pub. You then dip down for 100 yards before climbing again.

At 32 miles, you get the benefit of all the climbing and cruise down Selsfield Road bearing right as the road forks (follow B2028). This is one of the best bits of the ride as you descend the centre of this ridge all the way to Ardingly. There's this a nasty little kick up just before entering Lindfield and a glide through the town past the beautiful pond and park.

This section then begins to drag up as the road undulates to a roundabout with Middleton Common Lane on the left and Folder's lane on the right.

You cross the railway line and follow on into High Street, Ditchling and then left onto Beacon Road

The road is rising here and you'll be going slowly as you steel yourself. The Beacon is very steep but not that long. It is 183m above sea level.

At the top begins the most amazing descent with the road sloping down more than it looks. You should hit 35 - 40mph on a good day past fields full of sheep and huge vistas to the right.

At the end, turn left onto Coldean Lane for an even steeper and faster descent (you should set off the speed camera - watch for cars turning right). At the traffic lights at the end brake hard and wait ages for them to change.

You now follow the cycle lane for 3 - 4 miles through Lewes and down all the way into Brighton.