I thought I’d try the Legs of Steel route again but his time on a fairly new Fondriest TF2 bike kindly loaned to me by Simon Page of Impact Cycle Trading Trading who are the UK distributor.

I have to say it was rather mental riding this bike as it’s so very different from an alloy frame. On the one hand it was quite tricky at first to handle since the frame is so very stiff but once used to it after a few miles I found myself flying up hills. The road from Albury up to Little London was the first and I was quite shocked at the ease with which I reached the brow. Then there was Coombe Bottom and Crocknorth Hill, Box Hill and then Leith Hill, all of which, not surprisingly I managed personal records (PR to those who like acrynyms or who use Strava!)

Legs of Steel is still a tough route and especially in the cold months when it’s hard to build up enough heat in the body to really get going. But the Fondriest TF2 was a joy to ride and a pity to part with when Simon returnd

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