Club Run April 12th

[Grahame]

I'm not sure I want to go "public" yet. Just in case it goes to court, I wouldn't want the case to be prejudiced in any way - to the point that I'm considering pulling this thread in a few days.

At the moment the most annoying thing is that Surrey police haven't seen fit to call me back yet. Here I am sitting at home thinking/feeling that I've been the victim of assault and the police don't seem to care. I've checked the BBC and it doesn't look like there's been a surge of murders or bank robberies in the Surrey area today, so perhaps I'm just not important enough. I wonder if the response would have been the same if he'd left the scene after crashing into a car?

[kieran]

Hi Grahame, if I were you i wouldn't wait until they got back in touch with them, keep ringing up to check on the progress or not of the case until it is easier for them to deal with it than not. My wife, who works for the Met police (abet as a civilian) told me about one of her colleagues who is a police officer and commutes by bike, was involved in an incident as well, reported to the police (his colleagues) nothing ever came of it. best of luck with this, don't forget you can get the drivers details once you have his number plate and then proceed from there.

[Sarah_M]

I hope they sort it all out Graheme and you hear from the police soon. He should not get away with that. It is assault! Take care of yourself.

I stayed back with the 15s. Having only just come back into cycling from a very long lay off, I am happy pelting along when I know the roads (and they are quiet ones!) but lack confidence when I don't know what is coming up. Once again, a HUGE thanks to John for the guidance. I learn so much from riding with you

[Grahame]

Latest news.

I've just been called by Surrey Police who sound like they want to pursue the incident. They will be contacting the witnesses in the club and also the driving instructor who agreed to be a witness that the pickup left the scene without providing details.

Can I ask whoever got the photo of the pickup on their mobile to contact me so that I can pass that on to the police.

[Elliot M]

just read this - good grief. actually trying to run you over! shocking.

[Antloony]

I think your being a bit hasty in reporting the incident to the police Grahame, after all the guys wife had 'just had a baby', surely a resonable enough excuse to try and destroy your bike then you. It's dreadfull to think there are idiots like him allowed to be in charge of a car, shouldn't be let loose with anything bigger than a shopping trolley in my opinion. Hope the police do take this seriously and follow this up, not just for your benefit Grahame but for the rest of the public who just want to go about their daily lives without being put in danger.

*Edit. Just read your post Grahame, glad the police have been in touch with you and are taking it seriously after all lets face it it was bloody serious.

Ok one rant over, time for another one. The club run....ah yes. Well wasn't feeling over brilliant having got up late and have a to chuck some food down me on my route to CSS (anyone ever tried eating a bowl of cornflakes while riding a bike). Got there with time to spare and watched the training group ride off. Next up, the good old 19's. Despite feeling a bit tired deceided to join the group as I usually manage ok with a bit of effort....not today though, from the off everyone just seemed to want to race off at a ridiculous pace, I thought we'd catch the training group at the pace that was being set. I held on ok till we were through Reigate then gave it up and thought 'f it' and sat up and waited for the 18's. If you guys want to go at such a pace then join the training group, this kind of attacking riding in anything but the training group doesn't bode well in making people want to move up from the 18's. I know Im not the quickest rider but how am I and anyone else meant to improve with tatics like this being employed. I find the 18's too comfortable now and I need to push harder to improve but if there's such a big divide between the speed of the groups when in theory its only meant to be 1 mph average then I and many others will get disheartned and wont improve beyond the 18's which I know for a fact is what people want to do. I know people will be thinking 'well stick with the 18's then as your not ready to join the 19's' but Ive ridden with the 19's before without a problem, if for one minute I didn't think I was capable of being in the group I wouldn't go with it and I'd stick to a group just within my capability. Perhaps we could have A and B training groups thus leaving room for a proper 19's group in the club which hopefully will allow people to move up without the fear of being way out of their depth and getting left behind.

As for my run out with the 18's was quite an odd one, AJ insisting to do a through and off in the lanes, not the best place to do this really and at times was a complete shambles. It worked far better when we hit the dual carriage way.....esp when AJ went for an early shower and left us without his inane barking of orders. Sprint was a good one, I hit the front really early and just sat down and powered my way to the line, Caught 2 other riders from another group on the line and with a car coming down towards us it gave anyone behind little chance to come round me. . Dont you just love it when a plan comes together.

[Andrew G]

The idea behind the B Training group I took once was that 19s who want a more training rather than steady paced ride could do that. It should be a 19s-20s ability group but the average speed could end up at 19s or just over 20s, the average speed being less important than the style of riding - attacking hills, having digs off the front etc.

I'm not going to be on too many CRs until the end of the season, and most of those I am I will be taking it easy with a TT on the Sunday, but do get this group going. There is enough people to do a B Training group and a steady 19s and will give the option for what people want to do. When Monty calls the VC meeting just have a word with him to ask that he calls a B Training group. There will nearly always be someone responsible who knows what they are doing and can act as leader if there's no VC.

[Antloony]

Thanks Andrew, it worked well last time you did this so maybe its time it was introduced again and kept a regular thing as it will hopefully benefit people in the same position as me and then allow a 'proper' 19 average group to go out.

Cheers.

[Andrew G]

Like I say I won't be there too much for a while to lead it or shout it out but the plan was to try and establish it as a permanent group. Don't be shy people step forward and ask for it when the groups are being organised.

[Amy]

Good news, Grahame. The old-timers in the CTC once reported an incident of bad driving/road rage and gave all the details and the police (Surrey) were very happy to follow it up - it was a driver well known to them but they needed something with plenty of witnesses to really stick something on him.

[Paul on the Pearson]

Blood Hell Grahame that sounds terrible. At least you wasnt hurt and had the resolve to get his details. Lets hope he feels the full force of the law not the usual 20 quid fine as the motorist is always right and he gets taken off the road.

[quote="Antloony"]IOk one rant over, time for another one. The club run....ah yes

[Keith]

Great to be back on my first Club Run for 11 weeks . (I'll give Monty the excuse note from my mum next time I see him.)

We also nearly had a very "eventful" ride when a truck tried overtaking us on a country lane as we were approaching a pedestrian on the left and then a 4x4 pulled out of an entrance on the right . It must have been vitally important that the truck got by as he turned off into his(?) company's yard 1/2 a mile down the lane. Why?

I expected to be out of contention for the sprint as I lead out for what seemed ages then 3 riders kindly came by after the last right hand bend giving me 20 seconds to tuck up behind, catch my breath, then pull past for the win on the line.

Came back via Box Hill. Has anyone considered having a whip-round to get Dan a few more beers on a Friday night such that he's a bit slower on a Saturday morning? I'd happily contribute.

Rode back to Oxted with Hal. Somebody appeared to have turned the A25 into a river since I was last out riding! Once Hal realised that we were just keeping up with the storm and there were blue skies behind, we sheltered for 10 minutes before a much more pleasant ride home.

Like I said. Great to be back.

[Marek]

Hey Keith, if your winning the sprint fancy coming out to play in the SERRL next weekend for the Chilham race. The more ACCers the better.

http://www.serrl.org.uk

Cheers

Marek...

[Keith]

Just checked RiderHQ which says the "The Organiser has closed entries for this race" because it's full.

Also, tt wasn't a Training Group sprint.