REGULAR SUNDAY CLUB RUNS START FEB 2011

[Kasper]

Cheers Ben I will also try to get there in time late as it is.

[Kasper]

OK, I got to South Coulsdon Station at 9:35 to find it deserted! When Marcus pulled in just behind me coming down from Caterham as he does. After a good conversation about the sad departing of Amy Winehouse from this mortal coil, and the proliferation of drugs in the music industry ( NIce to think it's not only cycling that has these "lifestyle " problems!) I set off for Box Hill along the Chipstead Valley Road. I had a vague idea of riding out to the Wyndy MIlla race shop for a bit of cake but after descending Box and climbing Ranmore and going through Dorking i noticed signs saying they are resurfacing the A25 from Westcott to Gomshall which is the direct route to Shere I wanted to take, so I decided against it. Waiting at the bottom of Coldharbour Lane to decide what to do next who should come down the hill in a big group of Acc and Kingston Wheelers? but Steve, Ben, NickH and Roland. The sunday ride crew i had ridden to Css earlier and missed!
Jumping on the back wheel of the large group i soon caught them up and we formed our own distinct group as the Kingston Wheelers all stopped to decide where to go next.
Having already ridden Leith Hill the group decided to go back up to Ranmore Common. After climbing it the other way there was some protestation from Nick who had enough of hills for the day, we set off with Steve tapping out a good tempo. After re-grouping at the top of Ranmore Common, Nick's assertion that he had done enough hills for one day only strengthened!
Down Ranmore on the fast descent i had climbed only shortly before was fun and i led the group down what is a narrow, fast descent. Along the M23 towards Box Hill i had got a bit of a gap and thought about setting off up Box for a solo victory when i was distracted by a poster for an open day at the High Ashdown Activity Centre.
After closer inspection i saw it was unfortunately principly aimed at teenagers ;-(
By this time Steve and Roland had traversed the M23 by the subway and were ready to get down to the serious business of climbing Box.
Seeing them pass i turned round away from the poster advertising team building fun stuff, to pursue them up to the base of Box. Ben and then Nick not being far behind.
Seeing me whizz up to their wheel Roland helpfully suggested i go for it, i politely declined saying i wanted to do my bit for the team and sat in behind Steve up the climb proper. Keeping contact with Steve until after the second hair pin he injected another turn of pace which i couldn't follow and so watched as he caught other riders who were also climbing the hill. I felt good climbing today and was glad of Box's gradual incline and managed to save something for a sprint up the last rise round the corner overtaking a fellow cyclist, which is always nice!
After waiting not very long at all for Roland and Ben and NIck to arrive we hit the tuck shop which seems to have improved greatly recently with the variety of goodies on offer. I plumped for the treacle tart today which went down very nicely indeed. Overhearing talk that they may demolish the whole thing and build a proper cafe after the Olympics left me with a rather sad feeling of affection for the current system of queueing and then finding a spot on one of the open air benches or tables. Which is exactly what our group did. The wooden tables were nicely warmed by the rays of the sun and made our goodies most agreeable in the pleasant weather and surroundings!
The last section of the ride flew by as we raced back along the chipstead valley road. One final dig was had stretching the legs to the limit and goodbyes were said at the Purley Cross roundabout to a fine days riding. Cheers Guys!

[Kasper]

Polite warning: For those of a weak disposition these rides may contain hills!

[Del]

Afetr being frozen and soaked in Acte 2 of the Etape, I'm back for a sedate ride through the hills this Sunday in what looks to be a nice, warm day.

9:30 at CSS. Probably a shorter ride this Sunday as the Captain's Coastal is the day before with the likely route being out via Bletchingley, Lingfield and East Grinstead and on to Tulleys Farm for coffee, returning via Copthorne, the pot-holed hell of Smallfield, Nutfield and Merstham and back up to CSS.

See you there!

[Lucyap]

Is there a sunday ride tomorrow? Just back from my hols, not touched the bike in 2 weeks, and feeling the need to get out

[Ben]

hope so

[Del]

I'm planning to try and watch the London - Surrey Cycle Clasic tomorrow from somewhere round the Boxhill loop.

So, I'm not planning any specific Sunday CR for tomorrow. But, I'm meeting Andy at 9:30 at Knight's Garden Centre at Betchworth and heading north via Pebble Hill, where we think there are about 3 options to watch the race.

If anyone wants to join us, it will be a prompt departure at 9:30, as one of the viewpoints means a detour through Walton and Ebbisham Lane, before coming to the far end of the route through Headley.

Arrival time of the race at Box Hill is 10:40 and they leave the circuit around 11.20.

[Del]

So, as trailled by Jon on the thread for CR rides for this week, a bit of Bank Holiday fun for this Sunday as it's "ACC meets London 2012". Hard enough for a good ride, but not too long to take up too much time on a Bank Holiday Sunday.

The route will be as follows. Leave CSS at 9:30 and out via Chipstead, Mugswell, Lower Kingswood and Walton to the top of Pebble Hill and then turning right to pick up the 2012 Box Hill loop at the junction of Box Hill Road and Headley Common Road.

The first circuit will be a peloton style, stick together loop across Headley Common, down through Little Switzerland, up the Zig-Zag and along the top of Box Hill back to the starting junction. Anyone going for an early break here will be disqualified and have to buy all the coffee and cakes for the rest of the riders!

The 2nd loop is a bash your brains out, go for it, "I want to be Cav" style dash for the finishing line starting as we reach the first junction, on the same loop. We'll decide on the day whether to complete 2 full loops, or whether to finish the 2nd loop early at the Box Hill cafe. If we do 2 full loops, we just have to turn round and roll back down to the cafe.

The peloton went round the full loop in about 21 minutes, so the marker is set. I may have a spare 2012 pin from when I was working on the Games for the winner. Otherwise, the "winner" will just have to accept the admiration of their fellow riders!

From Box Hill, it's back home to enjoy the rest of the day!

[jptaberdo]

HI Del and all

Fantastic ride yesterday. Great idea to do the loop: and making the start-finish at the cafe! Should do it again sometime soon.

Cheers
jp

[Antloony]

[quote="jptaberdo"]HI Del and all

Fantastic ride yesterday. Great idea to do the loop: and making the start-finish at the cafe! Should do it again sometime soon.

Cheers
jp

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

and who won!!!???

[Marcus]

Well when Sylv got to the top I was already there

[Sylv]

Robyn won : )

Enjoyable ride, thanks Del and aall!

[Del]

Well the real winner was Sylv in an estimated time of 23m 45s, which I think included some soft pedalling and waiting for some of the "peloton" to catch him up at the base of the zig-zag.

But, ever the gentleman, Sylv declined the tasteful, BT-sponsored 2012 Olympic pin that was his right and asked that it be awarded to the first lady to cross the line, which was Robyn, in an estimated time of 26m 30s!

And here is Robyn, smiling proudly and pointing to her pin, just after the medal ceremony.

[img]http://i56.tinypic.com/2ch4yf6.jpg[/img]

Other notable facts from the ACC 2012 Olympic Test Event.

Great effort from JP who arrived only 45 seconds after Sylv.

Top class puncture repairing by Ant, who bailed out on the 2nd hairpin, but still had time to cheer me on!

Much improved form by McTaffy, despite his disapponitment when Andy passed him on the zig-zag.

First time around the loop for Katie and she wants to do it again!!

Great tactics from Marcus, who rode back to the start and appointed himself official timekeeper after being dropped by the peloton through Box Hill Village.

Robyn beat me by 30s!

All in all, a very enjoyable ride. 13 of us in total and some really positive comments on the ride.

We'll have to do it again............ in fact Marcus suggested next time we should do 3 loops. I suppose we have to do the full Olympic size trip of 9 loops some time before the Games??

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

sounds brilliant! Nice one, Del and provided I can sit on my saddle I'll be there next time!!