SUNDAY CR 9th OCT - IMPORTANT

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

We're planning something a little different this Sunday - we're off to see the Catford Hill Climb at Yorks Hill and cheer our lads to the top. It'll be a great ride out there - nice hilly route. We'll stop to watch the ACCers in action and have a cup of coffee at the burger bar. For anyone that hasn't been before it's a fantastic atmosphere - huge crowds all going crazy urging the riders on. A bit like the Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France but shorter!

I'll ride back from there but some of us will have something to eat and in the afternoon head off to the next hill climb - the Bec - just off Titsey - same crowds, same passion.

So, as I say, if you fancy combining a great Sunday CR with something a little different see you at Coulsdon South. We will leave at 9.30 sharp so get there for 9.25.

Also better bring a rain cape or gillet as it could be a little chilly standing about watching the Hill climbs.

Be there or be square - usual 16/17 mph standard.

Cheers

The Captain

[Andrew G]

.

If you do both then on the ride between the two then the Tudor Tea Rooms in Westerham is a nice cafe stop. Traditional english pud and custard with a pot of tea for a fiver .

[Amy]

I dunno but I feel like I've ridden both hill climbs this evening

Led a small group of myself, Cap'n Jon, Steve, Martin O, Robyn and Peter out of CSS up Farthing Downs, along to Caterham on the Hill, through Marden Hall Park and up Gangers to the top of Titsey where Pete and Robyn left us.

Rode past the top of White Hill and saw them getting ready for the afternoon event with a banner over the top of the road. Dropped down to Brasted and climbed up to Emmetts and on to Ide Hill. Time was starting to run out on us and so we left Martin when he punctured to ride the short way to Yorks Hill just in time to watch Andrew and Matt from Vectis ride up.

Saw a few more from the club there - it was especially nice to see John the old'un Lovell and his son Dave - recovering well from his accident about two months ago. We talked about where to have lunch and I suggested the cafe in Brasted.

Jon left us to ride back home while Martin borrowed John's track pump. At Brasted, Steve didn't stop and carried on home while Martin and I enjoyed a panini each and waited for the Lovells to join us - eventually. In the meantime a friendly cyclist from Sittingbourne and the Medway Velo joined us for some company and a natter When John and Dave left with Matt to get to the Bec event, this guy even invited the guy in the pink Rapha kit to come and sit with me and Martin

Actually the Rapha guy did join Martin and myself as he was asking the way to get to White Hill, so he rode with us to the event - well, I got dropped on the uphills and the wind was a bit hard to ride into, though you couldn't really get lost, especially as someone with a number still on from the Catford event came past on his way to the Bec event

Glad I did maket it out, even though I could've just turned over in bed and gone back to sleep this morning and when I did get out I felt like I'd gone backwards again and died on every hill watching the hill climbs is really good fun, cheering on everybody up the hills and meeting friends from other clubs.

[Andrew G]

Thanks to Amy and Jon for taking the Sunday CR to the hill climbs, great to see a good number of ACC out supporting, much appreciated.

I can't race up steep hills but the masochist in me enters these as I just love the atmosphere, it's a stunning experience riding through a wall of people.

For the Catford hill climb on Yorks Hill in the morning I made a complete balls up of it. I started too fast and then rolled a bigger gear for too long and didn't change down in time before the first 25% ramp. Consequently I was suddenly over-geared and has to practically stall as I got out the saddle and un-weighted the bike to grab 3 gears at once . In the right gear now but almost stationary so had to get going again. A complete mess but got going quick enough and it did mean I had enough to "give it some" through the crowds . I don't like this hill, the slightly varying gradient makes it harder to judge as the "easier" bits are still very steep.

On to the Bec hill climb on White Lane and the usual great event by Gary. I prefer this hill, very steep but a pretty constant gradient all the way seems to make it more suitable to me. I went for a different tactic of out the saddle all the way and this kept everything much smoother and felt a lot better. Now all I have to do is try and marry some of the smoothness with an element of speed .

As ever, nothing very good from me timewise and they're always the lowest placings I get in any race (right at the fag end of the field), but like I said I just love the atmosphere.

My Dad was at the Bec HC and took a few pictures.

Me doing my best gurning.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MeBecHC20111-Dad.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MeBecHC2-Dad.jpg[/img]
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MebecHC20113-Dad.jpg[/img]

Matt Harris from the Isle of Wight who came over with John Lovell to try these. He's a good climber and loves hills.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/MattHarris-BecHC2011-Dad.jpg[/img]

Germain on his way to back-to-back victories.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/GermainBecHC2011-Dad.jpg?t=[/img]

[Sylv]

Got his dad to get him some Zipp 202 this year - good on him!

[Andrew G]

Unbelievably he's had his application to join the development programme turned down by BC. He is supremely talented in all disciplines so God knows what they wanted, or how good those accepted must be if Germaine isn't good enough.

Fortunately with Maurice behind him he'll be well guided and looked after.

[Nick W]

From recollection BC had to be persuaded to take Cav. His "numbers" weren't good enough....

[Nick W]

Andrew, I meant to add that Huw whilst you are giving it your all, your efforts seem to be only worthy of a serious frown from Huw!

Is he your coach.....

[Andrew G]

no I don't have coach. Huw always looks at my attempts at climbing with a look of dispair .

[John G]

[quote="Andrew G"]:lol: no I don't have coach. Huw always looks at my attempts at climbing with a look of dispair .

[Sylv]

Could the mods update the forum Swear-o-thron to include the word "mate"

roger roger

[Amy]

[quote="Sylv"]Could the mods update the forum Swear-o-thron to include the word "mate"

roger roger

[quote="John G"][quote="Andrew G"]:lol: no I don't have coach. Huw always looks at my attempts at climbing with a look of dispair .

[Sylv]

Dulwich and DeLaune are having their club champs this Saturday at the Bec's hill at 10 and 11am if anyone fancies a re-run!

[quote="Andrew G"][quote="John G"][quote="Andrew G"]:lol: no I don't have coach. Huw always looks at my attempts at climbing with a look of dispair .