The Old Portlians Reliability Trial is a comfortingly old-fashioned event, a traditional kickstart to the year to test whether your bike and body have both made it through the winter intact. The Old Ports club members are warm and welcoming and refreshments are oldskool – homemade cakes, tea and butties rather than gels and electrolytes. Even the entry price is friendly – just £5 !!!!!

There are usually some light refreshments at the Ashdown Forest car park (half way point) plus hopefully a few more cakes left back at the village hall!

Sign-on starts at 8am with first riders leaving at 9am. Take some cash for the entry fee and refreshments.

There are no RFID timing chips, instead there’s an official with a stopwatch who will stamp your rider’s card as you leave and return.

Getting there – Knockolt is a 16 mile ride from the De Ver shop so those riding there may need to start early (before 7:30). If you’re driving there’s plenty of parking at the village hall and in Knockolt village, or trains from Sydenham Hill / West Dulwich via Orpington to Knockolt Station (49 mins)

Check Tim’s write-up of the 2024 Reliability trial on our blog.

Routes

There are two routes –

Classic Route 108km on RidewithGPS or Garmin Connect

Shorter Route 65km on RidewithGPS or Garmin Connect

The routes changed quite a bit in 2025, the links above refer to the new routes.

The NEW Classic Route leads through pretty country lanes eastwards to Ightam, then winds its way south. The first 36 mi/58km have changed quite a lot, taking the route further east. It rejoins the old route for the long drag up to Ashdown Forest and at the corner of the forest (40mi/65km) you turn back north and are rewarded with a long fast straight descent to Hartfield. After that you have new roads again through Cowden, Markbeech and Hever. The last stretch is back to normal through Edenbridge and Toys Hill, then the final climb is now Star Hill instead of Polhill.

Please be warned there may be last minute alterations due to road closures or bad weather conditions. The OPCC club members at the Village Hall will advise of any changes.