Sunday Ride 9th Jan

[Andrew G]

I met Ben, Nick, George, and Martin and Grahame who was passing on his way out for a ride joined us.

After the cold night we decided we'd see how it was in the lanes. Martin turned back early, at Green St Green, not sure why but Ben said he'd turned back.

Once we turned in to the lanes they were okay but there was a couple of patches of ice so we decided to take it easy rather then push on. Some frosty bits but under trees nothing had got through and they were just wet.

After Tatsfield we started to head South and thought it would be better as we were loosing height coming off the North Downs Ridge. About a mile later we were going down a lane which was messy, twigs and gravel, but looked just wet. Then my front wheel went sideways and I went down. I looked back to try and warn the others and saw a collection of wheels and legs in the air. Ben at the back stopped in time but George, Grahame and Nick had also come down.

Looking at the road there was a big patch of diesel which was cold and had become like ice. No actual ice as there was no sheen on the road, hence no prior warning, but it was slippy as an ice rink.

Grahame and Nick were okay and I've just got a very small bit of rash on my thigh. Unfortunately George seemed to have stretched his leg out and it was sore just below the buttock. He had a bit of shock and was very stiff limping up the road to the junction. We met Nick's wife here, Nick had phoned her and she very kindly came out to give George a lift to his parents. I've spoken to him since and he said he was okay but stiff and wisely going to A&E to get checked over and find out what he'd done to his leg.

Fingers crossed it's not too bad, a muscle stretch or something, and you are back on your bike asap. Feel guilty as it was a ride I was leading and don't want to crock the club's best tester.

The rest of us rode up Botley and back home. At the top of Titsey the roundabout was also lethally slippery but without any ice sheen either, don't know if this was also diesel spill but demanded tip-toeing over.

A shame as it had been quite a nice start with loads of cycists out today.

[Paul H]

Diesel eh.

Against my better judgement, I went on a ride with some others to Westerham via Warlingham etc and there was ice everywhere. We had a few moments but luckily did not fall off.

I spoke to George and he told me he is "f$cked" and in a lot of pain. Rob W has taken him to Hospital so fingers crossed and is not as bad as he feels.

Unlike Croydon, Surrey County Council have not gritted any roads so be warned if you intend to go out tomorrow and its still icy.

[Phil H]

Odd. It seemed OK round our way - in fact a perfect afternoon to take a small boy down Pebblehill Road to Betchworth (big grins). No ice around Brockham/Old School Lane/Tilehust Lane either. Not many cars either. Some mud though.

[Sylv]

Hope the various injuries are not too bad. Seems it was a good day to pick for a rest day, however inviting it looked outside.

[Andrew G]

It looked like diesel Paul from the colour striations at the edge of the road and I didn't see an icy film, but as I said it was like an ice rink. I didn't spend a long time examining it.

[RachelB]

I am very sorry to hear this Andrew, I had an invite to cycle with CTC Surrey branch today but declined, as I walked to the High St, here in London, I was surprised to see so many patches of Ice on the pavement, I hope you Gents are all OK?? updates please

[Andrew G]

George has a pulled/strained muscle, doctor's given him painkillers. Hopefully be better in a couple of weeks.

[John M]

It was certainly very slippy out that way this morning. I went out for a spin on my own this morning and just followed Layhams Lane / Skid Hill (no pun intended) up to the junction with the B269. There was ice all over the place, so I decided to cut the ride short and gently roll down the hill back through Warlingham to Croydon.

Just before Wallingham, my front wheel slipped away from me, dumping me on the road like a sack of potatoes. I picked myself up and all seemed OK. I then saw another cyclist coming along, I shouted to him to warn him about the ice, but he went down exactly as I had done.

I rode home OK, but my left elbow had stopped working. A trip to A&E confirmed I have a fractured radius

Oh well, it looks like a few weeks on the turbo trainer for me! I hope George and the others are OK.

[RachelB]

[quote="John M"]It was certainly very slippy out that way this morning.
I rode home OK, but my left elbow had stopped working. A trip to A&E confirmed I have a fractured radius

Oh well, it looks like a few weeks on the turbo trainer for me! I hope George and the others are OK.

[Dombo]

Sorry to hear about everyone's injuries. My road fall three years ago scared the sh1t out of me, more to do with what other vehicles could have been around and unable to avoid me slithering about. Glad there were no other vehicles involved.

[Amy]

Bad luck, chaps

Been attempting to tidy up my flat so didn't get outside much but I was surprised by how cold it was when I did poke my nose out to take the recycling out.

Hope you get on the mend soon, John M!

[Ian A4size]

The roads around charlwood/Newdigate/leigh were in patches quite lethal. I set out at 11.45 from home, then into the usual CR lanes-brilliant sunshine- we thought that any previous ice would be long gone, but were wrong.
The bridge over the Mole was a sheet of ice at leigh, but we stayed upright, however going up partridge- through very visible slush and ice, we hit a patch of black ice- uphill and in blazing sunshine-rider down!
That put a dampener on everything!
About turn and straight to the farmshop.
All you townies had better start realising that its probably 2-3 degrees colder down here and a later start would be better, my ride partner went down on the ice well after midday.

[Ian A4size]

Get well soon George and all fallen riders

[Dan_K]

Hope you all get better soon. Glad I waited until this arvo to go out. There was still a bit of frost and ice around but guess I got lucky. Think I may use the tactic that if the car's still got frost on the windscreen when I want to cycle, i'll use the turbo or chaingang route.

[Martin O]

Andrew, I turned back early as I was knackered, a month of inactivity plus all the xmas grub and booze has taken its tole, as a result I cant get up the hills. I decided to let you boys go and have a slower ride by myself. Sorry to hear that you all went down. Hope George recovers quickly too.