Over the Hill Gang mid week rides

[Alan M]

Feel free to join us - Tuesday faster group can be quite demanding, equivalent 17/18 club run but occasionally faster.

"OVER THE HILL GANG"

Programme for April to October 2010

MID WEEK RIDES 10.00 START
Note a steadier riding group will leave Betchworth every Tuesday at 9.45.

Meet BETCHWORTH, approx 100 metres south of Knights Plant Centre

First Tuesday in the month Wiston

First Thursday in the month Four Elms (Chartwell Barns)

Second Tuesday in the month Barns Green (Sumner Ponds)

Second Thursday in the month Balcombe

Third Tuesday in the month Dane Hill (Heaven Farm)

Third Thursday in the month Camelia Botnar (Nr Cowfold)

Fourth Tuesday in the month Westerham

Fourth Thursday in the month Barns Green (Sumner Ponds)

Fifth Tuesday in the month Wiggonholt reserve

Fifth Thursday in the month High Beeches (Nr Handcross)

[Marcus]

I attempted to ride with the OTHG last year at AM's recommendation and duly got dropped after 7 or so miles. Today I met 15 others for the B group ride which left Betchworth at 0945, 15 minutes earlier than the A's.

Initially I thought the pace was comfortable but could be faster, we were going along at 16/17 mph average. The pace soon picked up and we went through some lovely lanes and old train tracks through South Park, Salfords, Crawley Downs, East Grinstead, Forest Row and through to Danehill for a stop. Great scenery and some nice climbs which where testing for me and got the heart rate up.

The cafe at Danehill was busy so we headed over to Turners Hill for refreshments at a farm shop who's name escapes me now.

The numbers whittled down along the way and on the way back there was 10/11who enjoyed a reasonable paced ride back mostly flat this time although some climbs thrown in for good measure.

Got back home 6 1/2 hours after leaving with 75 miles completed.

Highly recommended if you want a good ride with good like minded people but wouldn't normally ride with the 18/19's or above.

Also saw Alan Malarkey at the cafe in Danehill although I don't think this is the reason the group decided to leave

[Alan M]

[quote]Also saw Alan Malarkey at the cafe in Danehill although I don't think this is the reason the group decided to leave

[Marek]

Alan, I have a couple of weeks off in mid June so will be looking to come out with the OTHG. Marcus that will probably be Tulleys Farm on the road up to Turners Hill.

[Marcus]

[quote="Marek"]Marcus that will probably be Tulleys Farm on the road up to Turners Hill.

[Amy]

Might do the ride next Thursday as I'm off next week.

Can't really do Tuesday as need to be in London for at least 6pm

[Amy]

Well, I was out - where was everybody else???

OK, so it was p*ssing with rain and effing cold...

Got to Betchworth way early because I thought it would take me longer than it did - nearly went and knocked up Rob Q in Pfizer for cup of tea but carried on down Pebble Coombe to the meeting point and dived into the bus shelter just off the roundabout by the garden centre. Kept an eye out for any cyclists and rode down the road a couple of times just to check. I had been thinking of turning round and going home most of the way down and I decided that if no one turned up I'd just head straight home even back up Pebble..

Eventually one guy turned up - Brian - who did the same thing as me - dived into the bus shelter (though I didn't have a leak like he did...). We decided that as we were out we would go for the ride to Sumner Ponds anyway. Like me, he normally works in the week so he wasn't a regular OTHG member. The weather at least stopped raining and we went fairly direct to Barnes Green where I had a very welcome cup of tea and scrambled eggs on toast with bacon - good it was too. I have to say it was a very nice place to stop - if only hadn't been so cold and grey. It would've been nice to have sat out the front and looked out over the ponds.

Rode back through Itchingfold, Broadbridge Heath and Warnham before getting to Rusper and continuing on the club run in reverse. Brian turned off to towards Dorking after Newdigate and I followed the club run back to Reigate.

At Reigate, I decided I couldn't face going up the Merstham drag and main road so I climbed up Reigate Hill which actually wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I took it slowly - OK, not a lot of choice in the matter and then ran across the A217 to get to Blackhorse Lane to Chipstead before climbing over Woodmansterne and the long lovely drop down through Carshalton Beeches and home.

Got a bit worried at Chipstead as one of those monster car/truck things - the ones that say animal on the side - came up beside me and slowed down and I thought the driver was complaining about me being on the road. However, after that instant replay you get in your head, I realised that he hadn't said, 'move your arse' but 'you've got a lovely arse'

[Dombo]

[quote="Amy"]
Got a bit worried at Chipstead as one of those monster car/truck things - the ones that say animal on the side - came up beside me and slowed down and I thought the driver was complaining about me being on the road. However, after that instant replay you get in your head, I realised that he hadn't said, 'move your arse' but 'you've got a lovely arse'

[Alan M]

Well done for getting there Amy. I guess many had seen the weather and some would have ridden on Tuesday which was a great day. Thursdays normally average between 12 and 20 riders and it is unusual for there to be so few takers even in the rain. Sumner Ponds is lovely and the owners are cycling friendly and host our Christmas lunch. I had to go to kennington this morning so was also riding in the rain. Nobody told me I had a nice arse but one driver seemed to be commenting on my near perfect lane change manouvre with some reciprocating hand movements. I have been doing the replay in my head thing and have concluded he was waving hello to me.

Best wishes, Alan

[quote="Dombo"][quote="Amy"]
Got a bit worried at Chipstead as one of those monster car/truck things - the ones that say animal on the side - came up beside me and slowed down and I thought the driver was complaining about me being on the road. However, after that instant replay you get in your head, I realised that he hadn't said, 'move your arse' but 'you've got a lovely arse'

[Phil H]

I get that from people in cars/trucks all the time. At first it was flattering but now...

[Marcus]

[quote="Phil Hawkes"]I get that from people in cars/trucks all the time. At first it was flattering but now...

[Amy]

What are you lot on about? Sunshine Coaches?? What are you lot ON?

[Marcus]

Planning to be out with this group on Thursday if the child minder comes back from her hols and I can justify to myself why I don't need to work

[Marcus]

Have to work, so........