Ride to Brighton Half Marathon Sun 20 Feb

[Antloony]

Sounds nasty Sylv. Hope heals up quickly. I always thought snow offered a soft landing

[Sylv]

Thanks, me too - however falling at 40km/h is likely to hurt no matter what the surface.

I guess stepping on skis first time in two years straight into a hilly race was asking for trouble.

Think it should be ok for Sunday, as long as Paul and Andrew don't make me laugh, cos that hurts.

[Antloony]

I might join you on sunday if I'm in any fit state, got a late one on sat night.

[Peachey]

I was looking for a ride Sunday as well - what time are you guys setting off?

[Antloony]

Peachey...(I feel gay calling you that )


[quote="Sylv"]

The catch is that the race starts at 9am so a 6am start will be required

[Andrew G]

If Sylv's riding then 6 at CSS and meeting Paul at Chequers RAB at 7am. Paul and I are going to head back after a bite for breakie.

[Marcus]

[quote="Antloony"](I feel gay calling you that )

[Nick W]

Sylv et al

This seems to be going ahead.

If so, can you please confirm that the meet is at CSS at 6am.

Many thanks.

Nick

[Sylv]

Yes, and the weather looks just about ok so far, dry at least.

[Andrew G]

See you at 6. PVT says he will meet enroute.

[Sylv]

And a guest appeance from Mt Tailwind expected

[Lucyap]

Nice to see you guys this morning, hope you had a good ride! I was quite happy with my 1hr 51

Lucy.

[Andrew G]

Well done Lucy, unfortunately the capture on my phone is very slow so didn't get a snap as you came passed, the white vest threw me as well as I was looking for SLH red. Good to see you and sounds like you've done some hard training of late for your triathlons. I couldn't believe how many runners there were, I knew the Brighton half was a big event but I never realised it was that big, it took 15 minutes for everyone to pass us in our spot at the cafe about 200m from the start.

I was up at 5am and soon on the road to meet Sylv and Nick at CSS at 6am. I hadn't checked lights charge for my good bike so took the commuter/winter bike already kitted out, I was glad of the mudguards towards the end too.

We set off, mainly with Sylv and I trying to bookmark Nick as he'd rather optimistically left his lights at home thinking it would be light . We went at a fair lick and were early arriving at Balcombe Rd RAB where we were meeting PVT. We used the time at the garage for a pee, me, and to get some money out, Nick.

PVT soon arrived and we were off for a bit of a blast to Brighton down the Balcombe Rd. This is a nice road with plenty of undulations, and very little traffic at 7-8am on a Sunday morning . We carried on making good time and were safely ensconced at a cafe on Madera Drive by 8.30am. I said to Sylv he should have packed his trainers as he'd had a nice warm up and would be ready to join in now. A nice sausage and bacon butty for breakfast, and while stuffing our faces a smiling Lucy came over to say hello before heading off down the road to the big inflatable start arch.

As the race started we stepped forward to the edge of the road to offer some support to those with 13 miles running ahead of them. As I mentioned above there were loads, a good event and looked very well organised from the outside.

Once those on foot had all made it through we saddled up and set off. Sylv had foregone our breakie as he was staying on a bit to watch the finish so went off to find somewhere else. Paul, Nick and I rode along the front to Shoreham airport and back that way through Steyning, Partridge Green and Nuthurst towards Horsham. Paul said he'd done a hard ride on Friday and his legs fell off quite badly very early at Shoreham so we eased back and stopped in Steyning for a little shop raid for sugary drinks which helped a bit but he still suffered like a dog when the road went up to any degree.

We came in via Mannings Heath where Paul went left to collapse at home and Nick and I headed for Colgate. A little way along the road and we bumped in to Guy Pearson and some other Pearson riders and I had a nice chat with them as we rolled along. I looked back and noticed Nick had fallen off the back and seemed to be struggling so when we turned left at Colgate towards Faygate I said good-bye to Guy and Co and waited for Nick.

We then rode back up to Rusper and reverse of the club run home parting at Coulsdon as Nick was popping in to Nonas for a coffee. The weather was now a bit grim, riding in a cloud, and on the final miles for home a steady light drizzle fell. I switched my lights back on as it was a bit gloomy and I wanted to be seen. It was a bit of a cold dampness and my fingers and toes started to get a bit cold but I was home before it, or the rain, were a problem for a spot of lunch.

Thanks for calling this ride Sylv, great fun, and to Paul and Nick for making up a good group.

My phone's got lots of very snazzy things it can do but the phone is only any good for static shots as the capture is too slow for catching people on the move, well anyone in particular you may be aiming for anyway, but I grabbed these.

The gang watch on
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/CBC200211/SylvPaulNick.jpg[/img]

Lots and lots of runners
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/CBC200211/Alotofrunners.jpg[/img]

Some chap making life very hard for himself, he could only take tiny steps under the hem of his outfit, but full marks to him for this. I hope he made a lot of money for his charity.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/CBC200211/Penguin.jpg[/img]

[Sylv]

[img]http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5177/5461266856_8eff9c4eb5_b.jpg[/img]
Ian on his way to 2nd - 1h08.30
pic abisignorelli @ flickr

[Nick W]

Thanks to all for a good day "at the office", or not, as the case may be and well done to Lucy for her run.

Good to get some "base" miles, even better a full English....