CR Thread

[Keith]

Just a short, sharp "lung opener" for me this morning with the TG prior to 's Open 25 Time Trial bright & early tomorrow morning.
This lead to quote of the year so far from Rich when we slowed up for a red light:

Jeez, have you been stung by a wasp or something?

[Andrew G]

Good man Keith, I want to be handing you money at the end of the race .

[Amy]

A nice, gentle ride with quite a few new or fairly new riders - and a few old hands followed by an afternoon of endurance baking I have to say the sponges look pretty good and, don't tell Neil, the banana breads are just out of the oven...

[JulianG]

A great 18s group today, about 12 of us including Murray and Lucy AP, New guy, (i think,) called Simon, ZZ TOP beard, blooming strong. Steve on his Titanium steed and lots more, sorry names not my strong point. Anyway group kept nice and close for the whole ride, a mile out from sprint nice quick rotations and then Steve just decided to take a long one. all arrived safe and happy, avg 18.5. Thanks all makes VCing a pleasure.

[Alan M]

Managed to hang with the 20s again today and we did 20.8, a pb for me via the usual route. Steve, Scott and Darren broke free at Rusper and paced away until the end. Dave did a good turn on the front but we were far from making contact. Back via BH and we stayed together until the hill with Darren first to the top "gloves off" as he said. I took it steadily and after the hill we hung together until Kingswood when Darren plotted with Steve to jump Scott (and me) at the steep bit after the station and they were off again - it more or less came back together by Coulsdon for much needed coffee. I felt slightly faint on arriving home and have opted for a pizza and night in.

[Antloony]

Good ride yesterday with the 20's once we sorted ourselves out through the lanes....

My legs were fatigued from a hard weeks solo riding so struggled at times. The rain stayed at bay though thankfully.

[Iliya]

[quote="Antloony"]Good ride yesterday with the 20's once we sorted ourselves out through the lanes....

[Keith]

[quote="Antloony"]The rain stayed at bay though thankfully.

[Phil H]

Tom felt brave enough to join the 17s today. Small, civilised group (probably because we had 3 women in it) on the way out - apart from on the Reigate Steps where some people felt the need to go for KoM points. I blame the parents.

Small group at a nice pace back via Box too. Due to going in a faster group and not much messing around we arrived home when Mrs. H. was only half-way through her Lewis episode. Colder today but dry and mostly sunny. Nice.

[Marek]

First time out for a while and decided to ride in the 18s I think. I say I think as I could not work out what the earlier groups that went out were meant to be. Anyhow, we had fair sized group with Mark on his Tri Bars and Brian R doing most of the towing. Met Analize???? I think who is going to be racing tomorrow so she was riding with 18s instead of 19s. Also met Paul Hones mate who was riding Pauls old bike, nice guy who is gradually building up strength with the aim to race in the near future.

A steady pace out of CSS and the steps were taken at a reasonable pace so no one looked to be in too much bother. I did comment to Brian on the vocal nature of the ride, does seem to be a lot of shouting which I was quite surprised about, don't tend to get so much of that in the speedier groups as most people tend to just point things out instead of hollering (probably because they are breathing out of every orafice), but each to their own. Brian then made the effort to shout out everything as loud as he could in my ear.

After Reigate we picked up young Matt who also put in some good turns on the front, could see he has a bit of form as he was just pulling away from us without too much effort on the inclines. As we got to the hill just before Rusper Matt and Brian started to wind things up a bit so I pulled up next to Matt and we hammered it over the hill, then Mark came flying by on his Tri bars so I jumped onto his wheel and he led me out for the Rusper sign. After a regroup we tapped around the lanes in the run up to Charlwood. The pace started to pick up a bit as we got closer and Mark, Brian and Matt came past in a train so I jumped on as they wound it up a bit more. Just before the last corner I wound up the legs and managed to get past them but had gone quite early. Thought I was clear and then saw Matt on my wheel spinning his junior gears like a nutcase, I just about pipped him to the line but man was I shocked to see him on my wheel, excellent stuff. He is defo one to watch for the future.

Good coffee and chat and then back over to Boxhill with another big group. Pretty steady ride over to Box Hill with Rich Buekner putting in most of the work on the front at a good steady tempo. When we got to the hill a few guys hammered it off the front. I tried to go with them but the legs were not too pleased about playing at that speed so I then tried to hold onto Antloony. He went past me quite quick so I decided to try and peg him. He then looked to tire a bit after the second hairpin so I went past him and thought that is the last I will see of him. I was wrong, the Venge came shooting past me on the last straight and again my legs were pretty much done.

Headed back to East Grinstead via Reigate, a cool but sunny 125km in the legs.

Cheers for the company really enjoyed it today.

Marek.....

[Andrew G]

Loved reading that CR report Marek, a nice proper old school report . Matt is riding really strongly and putting in some good race performances. He did a cracking debut 25 in the ACC event on junior gears too and seems to glide up the hills.

It's been a long time since I was out and failed again today, new house taking up time this week and only touched a bike in the last 10 days to move it.

[Antloony]

[quote="Marek"]When we got to the hill a few guys hammered it off the front. I tried to go with them but the legs were not too pleased about playing at that speed so I then tried to hold onto Antloony. He went past me quite quick so I decided to try and peg him. He then looked to tire a bit after the second hairpin so I went past him and thought that is the last I will see of him. I was wrong, the Venge came shooting past me on the last straight and again my legs were pretty much done.

Marek.....

[Keith]

Well done to MattW, the only other TG rider this morning.

Impressed that he was able to sit on my wheel all the way to the cafe as I got in an hour's threshold session.

[Amy]

[quote="Keith"]Well done to MattW, the only other TG rider this morning.

Impressed that he was able to sit on my wheel all the way to the cafe as I got in an hour's threshold session.

[Andrew F]

Good ride today if a little breezy. First time out with the 17s. A little quick to start off with but after Reigate the pace slackened off to something more acceptable. Not much chatting as working too hard. The café stop refreshed the legs and it was a quick sprint back to Coulsdon in a small group.

Many thanks to Lyndsey on the way down for encouragement and to Bridget on the way back for company and drafting. All in all a very agreeable ride.