Clubrun 25th September

[PeteS]

Whilst the debate rages on last week's clubrun and its aftermath, next Saturday we will be heading off on our ride into the quiet lanes of Surrey. I have a feeling that the weather may be a bit iffy so we shall go to the cafe in Newdigate where the cakes are nice, the coffee good and the company will be agreeable, (probably). We'll head down by the back lanes around Outwood and Smallfield returning by Box or Little Switzerland where the leaves should just be turning. We should be back around the same time as the Charlwood return for a stop at the Coulsdon cafe
It seems that some people don't realise that we've been plugging away with our rides for the past couple of years. the route is varied each week and we always use the quiet lanes in Surrey, Kent and Sussex. The plan is to keep these going through the winter and maybe intoduce some train-assisted rides to get out a bit further. Everyone's welcome and the rides cater for most people with an emphasis on an 'old-style clubrun' which means that we go somewhere different each week and we seek out the less busy routes, we always wait for anyone dropped on a hill. There's always a cafe stop and on any longer rides we'll stop at a pub for lunch - liquid or solid. We try to make the rides as sociable as possible and they tend to be relaxed and good natured so any grumpy people may find themselves outnumbered.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="PeteS"]We try to make the rides as sociable as possible and they tend to be relaxed and good natured so any grumpy people may find themselves outnumbered.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Well, it was fresh. Cold even. But a glorious day nonetheless. A good turn out. A couple of new riders - Jo and George. Enough VCs for all the groups - and most there by 9.00 or there abouts. A VC huddle . Organised and efficient - the riders started heading out at 9.15.

I rode with the 18 mphers - a dozen of us including a certain pro rider from Belgium no less!!! I asked for a steady ride out along the A23. Nice and neat for about 10 minutes then it all fell apart approaching the M23 turn off . A needless call for singling out, a sudden injection of pace at the front and we were one long ragged strung out line. Reorganised and kept it together until Reigate when somehow the group now numbered SIXTEEN - too big - where did they all come from??!. The pro rider (Adam of course) with super, duper light-weight super slick tub tyres punctured (should have had conti 4 seasons, mate, you know they can't be beat) and Andrew G used the opportunity to split the group (he'd make a very good VC). I took a group of 10 - Jeff, Sam, Noel, Steve, Paul, Derek, Tom, Robby, and ...erm, err, sorry...I can't remember your name.

Jeff suggested we try 'one minute rotation' - which I have to say worked really well. I'd do it again. Only problem was you'd keep getting half way through a conversation and then you'd have to move up the line - then you'd have to start again and remember what you'd said and to whom. We kept it nice and tight and upped the pace all the way to the cafe. Bit of a race up the hill to Rusper - not sure who won the KoM prize, and a very, very long sprint-cum-breakaway-cum sprint - not sure who won that either - I was way off the pace!!! Dropped Sam somewhere on the ride but didn't notice - what a terrible father I've turned out to be!! I'm expecting a knock on the door from social services!

Anyway, averaged a comfortable tail wind assisted 18.8 mph. Good fun, thanks everyone! very agreeable. see you all next week.

PS Sounded out a few potential VCs - we've been asked to put some names forward at the next committee meeting - those with the most 'votes' will get the nod or something like that.