CLUB RUN - A GRAND DAY OUT - SAT 26th FEB

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[quote="nick de meyer"]B group sounds good

[Tim Coales]

Cracking weather, Grommit!

Well, that was fun
After starting off in full wet-weather gear for the 2nd week in a row, it was a quick change at CSS to eexpose the ACC colours before regrouping on Farthing Way (Coulsdon by-pass), a la "what's that coming over the hill" style. So quick, in fact, I must have left my banana on the Biffa bins by the station - so if your passing that way bonked out tomorrow, you're welcome to it!

Probably 65-70 of us at Nonna Rosa's for photos. Angelo is going to put his pix on the Cafe's Facebook page. He showed us some video on his i-phone when we got back. Minor chaos in Coulsdon town centre as we all set off - mainly caused by the road works in Chipstead Valley road causing all the traffic to go "our way" before turning right into Lion Green Road.

Off on to the A23, the 16/15mph groups were together. Together that is, until everything went rather bumpy at the front on the descent to Merstham, just past the Shepherd's Hill turning. I realised just in time that I'd succombed to that relatively rare thing - a flat on the front. A slight feeling of panic arose as I was on the front at the outside with about 14 riders behind me
At this point we split and I sent the others on, all except Phil Nash, Roy Geen and MArk Leedham, while I attended to the puncture. The culprit piece of glass removed, we were soon underway with new tube in place.

It wasn't very far - just after the left turn in Merstham, when we passed the rest of the group mending a puncture. I obviously won the repair race as they didn't catch us until after Crowhurst. Somewhere around Blindley Heath the rain set in again and Roy headed off home up the A22. We obediently followed the route through Horne to Smallfield, rather than the tempting shortcut up the hill to Outward. Somehow I went into dream mode and was about to do the return leg of the Bletchingley road race/time trial course when Phil and Mark brought me to my senses and back on route.

Onwards and upwards past Redhill aerodrome and the next point of note was a 1in7 to 1in5, single black arrow hill to the tea stop at Nutfield Priory Farm. Phil had to be cautious here with an impending operation and walked the steepest bit. We were just in time to be greeted by mr PVT (aka the guru...in a car ) and Mark McLaughlin's group on the return leg. Into the Farm and another direction sheet was required to find the Cafe and the others

A lovely pot of tea and great carrot cake later, it was a quick pose for the President's camera, a "Hi" to the Captain's wife and back on the bikes.

Phil predicted a gentle ascent to the A25 "you can tell by the tree-line" Well, no-one had told the trees as the road kicked up - not steep enough to walk this time, though. Over the A25 and then a descent down a muddy river of a road, where Mark fearlessly disappeared in a cloud of spray, followed by Phil, a little slower, and then me - still very nervous on any wet or slippery looking roads since my fall in Oct 2009

As we regrouped approaching Merstham, I felt like taking the direct route up the A23 through Hooley, but Phil and Mark lured me onto Gatton Bottom, under the M25 and up towards Fanny's Farm. Shame we had only just had tea and cake, I thought as we climbed on past Fanny's. On the positive side, we were now on one of may favourite roads close to Croydon - Chipstead High Road Soon Phil and Mark turned off down to Chipstead Vally Road and their respective routes home, while I began the gentle descent towards Portnall's Road. Look out another traffic-calming Kerb build out had been installed just by the pub/dew pond. No warning sign (that I noticed) and well camouflaged in the generally gloomy grey day.

Another cautious descent followed, down past the starting point of the ACC Sportif and back to Nonna Rosas. Only Becky and Amy were there when I arrived and ordered a Latte and old favourite, Fagiolatta . Soon, George and the survivors of the TG turned up having been up over Ranmore Common and Box Hill on their return. George had a quick coffee with me, while fielding calls about a flat he was letting. Then it was back out on to a traffic clogged A23 to Croydon, home, bike-wash, and Palace Radio commentary of CPFC v Reading. Come on you EAGLES...

Thanks for an interesting route, Captain Jon, and the great company Roy, Mark and Phil.

See you all next week I hope

[Roy Green]

Nice account of our ride, Tim. I enjoyed it (cyclists are such strange beings!)
Only six short rides in the legs since mid-November. Besides the off-putting weather (don't like winters), I had to be on duty when my wife Jean broke two bones in her wrist with an ice-slip. Had to do everything, steep learning curve (happily, getting better so I'm off cooking and ironing duties).
Not surprised, then, that I dragged even worse than usual up hills (great down, though). Going back west, a stiff breeze meant a choice between taking it full on or clinging close to a mudguardless wheel. Easy choice, faces and clothes wash up well. Feet so chilly over last miles that I was glad of the (usual) walk up steep Tythepit Shaw hill out of Whyteleaf.
Still, no gain without pain. The Advertiser posing outside Nonna's was fun. I'm claiming oldest clubrun inhabitant rights

[Amy]

[quote="Tim Coales"]we passed the rest of the group mending a puncture. I obviously won the repair race as they didn't catch us until after Crowhurst

[Tim Coales]

[quote="Amy"]Having water and grit sprayed into your face all the way doesn't exactly help - Lindsay's tyres seemed to be the best for doing that...

[George]

Training group had an extended clubrun today heading out to the pine cafe and returning via Ranmore and Box Hill's on the return leg.

I arrived at CSS a little late only to hear Capt'n Jon yell the training group had just left and were on the DC, Andy W, Darren and myself didn't realise they were heading to Nonnas for a photo shoot so we shot off at a hard pace on the CR to try catch the A group up!

We were riding pretty hard as I thought they were ahead so kept pushing the pace and getting Andy and Darren to push too, although Andy was convinced they were behind us as we had taken a shortcut at Reigate town centre to cut off the Reigate heath golf club section, we had a wager for tea and cakes at the cafe, which i lost as we never caught them as they were behind us all the way, still a great threshold session for and hour.

Eventually a dozen of us met at Charlwood pines and most of us except Keith headed back via Ranmore and Box, I think it was either Serges or Rogans Idea

Ben and Serge were doing some good pulls on the front to Dorking, Rogan was shirking at the back and Richard was riding well.

I took us via Stan hill for a change and then up Ranmore the selection was made and the lead group contained 4 of us untill Paul and I rode off the front with ease


down to box where paul punctured gave everyone a chance for a rest although judging by all the their efforts up the Olympic RR climb the rest didn't do them much good

Paul attacked after the first hairpin so I rode up to him then we worked together till the final bit where I honked away for the win

poor old Rogan was starting to bonk and had to shovel down some fig cake just to get him home didn't see much of him after as we hammered back towards the A217.

I thought I was out for a clubrun on my own cos no one could come round me till Kingswood, then Paul and I attacked down into Coulsdon feeling strong all the way.

Looks like I'm getting myself back into race fitness for the season, now looking forward to next Sundays race at Dunsfold with team Addiscombe. Great ride today and really enjoyed the company thanks everyone for a great day out!!

[Marcus]

The rain didn't manage to dampen our enthusiasm today and there was a huge turnout of the ACC bunch. After a brief ride from css we had a cake stop and Angelo's where no cake was eaten

I elected to go with 15/16 group the escapades having been recorded above doesn't need adding to by me.

So it only leaves for me to say what a grand day out today has been I offer a hearty congratulations to Le Capitan for getting this going and long may it continue

[Marcus]

[quote="Amy"]Quite funny watching Marcus and Martin changing the tube...

[NeilAS]

Would add my thanks to Jon as well. Despite the less than ideal weather, it was a great ride; great route (more hills, but very nice), great company and great tea and nosh at Priory.

Is this the new CR Jon, will you alternative between this and Charlwood, or is this route just going to be used for ocassional variety sake? No strong preference - I enjoy it all - but it was a good route (and perhaps the hills might be good training for the June sportive!).

So thanks again Jon, and to guys for the lead back - via Chipstead - to Coulsdon. Now all I've got to do is clean the bike ... again!

[higg]

Well done Jon for organising the route yesterday. I thought it all came together very well.

That was a hell of a climb up to the cafe. We had certainly earned our cake when we got to the top.

Here's the photos I took at the cafe.


Aodan.


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[Iliya]

A couple of videos from yesterday are now available on club's facebook [size=150][url=http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2533966198#!/group.php?gid=2533966198&v=wall]wall[/url][/size]... and here are the photos I took in the morning on the flyover.



[img]http://i56.tinypic.com/ndl79d.jpg[/img]

[img]http://i56.tinypic.com/13z0tis.jpg[/img]

[joyce]

Thanks to my driver,Julia I was able to go.Enjoyed the morning very much.
Pity about the rain.Cyclists are a peculiar breed to enjoy riding in the rain.
Thanks Jon for a good morning out& to Julia for meeting me at Redhill.
Joyce

[quote="Marcus"][quote="Amy"]Quite funny watching Marcus and Martin changing the tube...

[mark mclaughlin]

That was a great day, despite the weather!
Big thanks for Steve for getting us round the route. Will take a few rides to remember this one?
Think this will be a popular route, especially in better conditions. You needed your wits about you though; plenty of potholes and a more challenging ride with steeper climbs and descents made it more interesting technically. Had quite a large and lively group of 20 in the 18’s, however with 2 punctures in the group and the terrain we were a bit scattered by the time we arrived at Priory Farm. Nice cuppa and carrot cake. Set off again as the rain was getting heavier!! Good shorter ride back from there, opting for the quicker A23 and home by 1pm.

Well done Capitan for making this such a success, think this uphill finish beats the charlwood sprint for the Café now!!

[Phil H]

It was a jumbo-sized 18s group. You would've thought that a group that big travelling at speed (and mostly in ACC kit) would be obvious to any drivers thinking of pulling out ... Still, I liked the route. Glad I got my puncture out the way before reaching CSS. A good day out.

I think the weather made things like the potholes seem worse. Also I was being cautious of pinch-flats because my bling carbon pump proved useless for actually getting a decent pressure into my front tyre. At least it matches the frame.

Looking at the map (without knowing the roads) would it be possible to avoid the A22 section by going South down Godstone Road into Lingfield, west along the B2028 and up Bones lane to meet that little circuit they hold the Newchapel races on? Just a thought.

The important question is: where is the sprint point?