The first ride of 2010 with Nick Marks takes you to Lewes along the old Juggs Road donkey track and returns over the Downs, finishing with the finest stretch of cross-country riding in the area. If your new year’s resolution is to get fit, this is a great way to start.

1 - Start at The Level and head up Elm Grove. As you reach the top, join the path that runs alongside the road on the left and follow it along the top edge of Woodingdean until you reach the Falmer Road.

2 - Cross over the road and take the path up left towards the radio mast on Newmarket Hill. Pass the mast and continue straight on until you reach a gate about a mile or so further on.

3 - Go through the gate and continue up over the hill. The path will fork – bear left and follow it down towards Lewes, which you can see tucked into a fold in the hills.

There is a very steep descent as you drop down into Kingston – watch out for the combination of pasty chalk and stones, which can pose problems if you are not paying attention.

4 - When the path ends and becomes a road, follow it between the houses, cross over the main road, then continue up past a small farm, where the road becomes a track again.

5 - Go through the gate, cross another field, then join another small road which will take you down over the A27 and into Lewes. Follow this road until you reach the junction with Bell Lane.

6 - Turn left, and follow the road down past some playing fields, then up through Winterbourne Hollow to the main junction with the Brighton road. Go over the junction, then left up past the prison.

7 - At this point it is easy to get lost. You need to keep high and right to find the path that leads up to the racing stables.

If you are too far left you will end up down in the valley, and you’ll have to backtrack as there is no other way back up. Continue past the stables and follow this path all the way up on to the Downs again.

Stay as close as possible to the ridge all the way along to Ditchling Beacon. It’s about three miles, and offers fantastic views over the Weald on one side, and down to the sea on the other.

8 - When you get to the Beacon road, go straight over, and carry on. Just as the path starts to head downhill again, look for a gate up on the left, and head south again over open fields.

Follow this path until it starts to dip down. Ignore the first turning off left, and take the second instead, leading you round the edge of a field then finally up to Ditchling Road.

9 - Cross over the road, and enter Highpark Wood, taking the left fork when the path splits. The path then turns south, and you have the joy of a fantastic run on a smooth surface down through beautiful woodland.

When you reach the crossroads, go straight on and take the right fork, then continue all the way down to Stanmer Park.

You can cross over a bit of open farmland, then join the woodland path again, ending up very near the park gates. In all it’s a good two and a half miles of gentle downhill bliss – probably the best bit of riding I’ve done all year.

10 - When you reach the park gates, turn right and follow the cycle track all the way back into Brighton, finishing back at The Level where you started. You’ll be tired and muddy, but, I hope, satisfied.

* Time: Three hours.

* Difficulty: Medium: steady climbs, one tricky descent.

* Your bike: Mountain bikes, but possible on a hybrid if it it dry.

* Thirsty work: Cafes in Lewes and Moulsecoomb Wild Park cafe.

* So you don’t get lost: OS 122.