Clear Lenses, Flat Tyre

This was the first night test of my Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses with clear lenses. Tinted lenses are no use after dark, so the clear ones are there to keep the wind and grit out of my eyes without leaving me riding blind.

It was a good night to need them. It was 11°C, but a stiff north-north-westerly took that down to a feels-like of under 5°C. At least it was behind me to start with, down Hunton Hill to Yalding, through Collier Street and along Sheephurst Lane, then on across the Weald to Staplehurst, keeping everything easy.

From Staplehurst it was out to Headcorn and past The Bell at Smarden, then on through the dark lanes as far as the edge of Bethersden, where I turned and started working my way back.

On the way back through Smarden, The Chequers Inn was lit up like a stage set, its weatherboarding glowing under the lamps and the board outside still saying open. I didn’t stop, just took the picture as I rolled through, and it’s the only one I have from the ride.

Heading home meant heading into that wind, and I went a couple of km/h slower for rather less power.

Cradducks Lane, just outside Staplehurst, is getting an upgrade: a night crew in orange hi-vis was out with lorries and machinery and long strips of the old surface were already dug out, so I got off and walked past on the cracked strip that was left. From there it was Underlyn Lane and Pattenden Lane, with just 15 vehicles passing me over the whole 75 km.

That left Hunton Hill, and the steep part of it, 787 m at 8%. Halfway up, the tyre went, and for the first time ever I walked the rest of the hill, then on home. Four weeks later I’d take that same steep part in 3:57, with both tyres holding air. First night out for the clear lenses, then, and I saw the last stretch of it at walking pace.