Club run 25th Feb.

[Ian A4size]

WINDY or what?
There were probably about 35 at the station today maybe a few more on what seemed at first a grey day, however once underway the sun broke thru and stayed for the entire ride. I guess it was a bit quiet because there is race training tomorrow and a few early season sessions around the various race tracks.I dont know why i did it but i suggested a hilly ride today , what with having the best part of 2 weeks with no training as i have had a bit of tendonitis. So off we went with i guess about half the group coming with me, straight up to the first hill which is just around the corner so you hit that one "cold"- quite a few compliments about the hill were soon finding there way over to me-Sean was most impressed , it does go on a bit and there was still snow at the top!
A nice descent down castle road thru the hairpins keeps you on your toes then back out to the chipstead road. I managed to keep the groups apart ( with extra slow hill climb stylee) as the sportive secretary and his evil sidekick Graham upped the pace and cars were able to pass with ease. Continual regrouping at all junctions kept the pace at a reasonable 16mph .The sportive secretary then showed his prowess and became "cartographer man"- choosing a route which enabled us to lose every piece of altitude we had so far gained and plunged us down to about 100m below sea level- just so we had more climbing .
A couple of riders took the usual route to box hill which in itself has a few long "ups" on the way.
Up the zigzags at a leisurely pace ( why do i do this?) and over to the top of pebble hill- where i sat behind Huws flatmate-Simon - who was doing the route on a fixed! It really is a joy to descend behind someone on a fixed -16% gradient means a new fastest rpm PB (I just love watching the marching motion) Still he was just as quick up box, or so i was told. Onwards to the cafe thru the lanes and i only got dropped the once( but it was for a long time). Absolute gale on the way home and i was pretty tired by now, at times the wind just stopped you in your tracks- so i took the brave descision to just ease meself home, absolutely shafted by the time i got in any later and i would have needed lights. Good day out with a good bunch of guys- 3 1/2 hours ride time for me. Lovely

[Alan M]

Excellent ride out today - big respect to all those doing work on the front (not me) particularly the man on the fixie on the way back and against the force 7 gale.

[Ian A4size]

I did a bit of work at the front, but not as much as "graham Diablo". He is a very strong rider despite suffering EBS

[huw williams]

A great day indeed. The only thing I can think of to negate a 30mph headwind is to stick Smythe on the front as you can trust him to metronomically tap out at least 20mph, fixed, geared, uphill, downhill, snow or sunshine. He's like a terminator that man, he just never stops, and if you think that was fast you should try riding with him on a one-hour lunchtime session where we try to do a hilly 21miles in less than an hour (tickets available on request)

Appologies to anyone who got repeatedly dropped as apart from the great Smythe, Jim, myself, Graham, Alan and Yohan were more than guilty of occasionally raising the tempo to ill-advised levels, especially on the run-in to Newdigate and Charlwood. The Shadow burried himself all the way down in order to stay with us and outsprint me for the sign (a classic manouvre which saw him on the front for all of 5 yards during the entire ride). At the Cafe we seemed to be left with about half the riders who had left Box Hill. Anybody still out there?

All regular attacks were nullified by the effects of the wind on the return journey which was as bad as I can remember. Sticking your nose out of the pace line to even think about taking a turn at the front was like being punched in the face by Tyson in the 80s. Great resistance training though.

61 miles over hills and into a hurricane dragged out what little there was left in my legs after a hard week, to the point that Paul's training session, Ian's Penshurst ride and the training race at Eastway all had to play second fiddle to the sofa on sunday.

Next week more of the same no doubt

[Tamar Collis]

Things were not much easier for those of us who did the normal club run route. Dave Kennett led up the dual carriageway and looked like he wasn't even trying. Ditto the 3 others who thru'n'off'd with him. SuperAj and I got dropped. As did another chap (sorry I've forgotten your name) who we didn't realise was behind us and didn't know the way to the cafe. Luckily he is resourceful and made his way their OK.

The weekend was completed with some race practice with Paul Tunnell on Sunday. There were about a dozen of us on the Newchapel Circuit doing drills to close gaps, both solo and working together.

[jon avery]

I was the one who got dropped Tamar! Ended up in Crawley town center. Had to ask directions but made it back to the cafe. Thats the last time i listen to Ajay! Straight on he told me, i looked behind and everyone had turned left. I think i was left with riders who i was not in the same league as!

[Brian Robinson]

After almost 3 months of no cycling (2 club runs and a turbo!) I had completely forgotten how hard a hilly ride can be. The 1st hill was a cracker, I didn't even know it existed so close to Coulsdon South, is it the hillclimb for 2012 olympics? Generally struggled on the hills but had a cheeky race with Robbie & Andrew up Boxhill for last place which I duly won. In-laws were visiting so decided to cut short at Boxhill and head back to Croydon, at which point I realised why I had been feeling so strong on the way out to Coulsdon first thing. The thought of sitting in a large bunch was very appealing.

Knackered but glad to be back on my bike!

[Graham O]

Best bit of the ride was sitting behind Yohan going down some hill. It was a bit quick....Excellent...

We should do anothet one of these in the next couple of weeks and try and push the miles up a little. A steady paced 80 / 90 mile ride would be a good test.

[Ian A4size]

El Diablo, i intend to do another hilly ride next weekend as the weather promises to be ok, but if its really icy then we can ride later or do the normal route, the sportive gang really seem to like the longer rides, i think more people will come if the pace is not being continually upped, difficult i know if you are good on the hills ( not me mate). Lets see what Huw thinks- maybe we will end up doing 2 routes but somehow that seems to spoil the vibe of the ride.
For my sins i went out on Sunday with Paul Brown for a quick 2 hour spin, and had my @ss well and truly kicked all around the surrey lanes again, well windy plus hail and snow and rain, still chicken jalfrezi put it allright!

[huw williams]

My weatherman is saying 6° and no wind so it looks perfect.

My weatherman is also saying there might be a longish spell of wet weather following the weekend so it would be a good idea to get a big one in just in case.

I was planning on doing the same out-run over Ian's Box Hill route and down to Charlwood but instead of turning left to the cafe carrying straight on through Rusper, going accross the dual carriageway and then going through the lanes of Colgate, Faygate, Turners Hill, Lingfield and Edenbridge. From there there's the option of turning for home or taking on the extra loop of Toys, Star and Saltbox Hills.

It's between 4.5 and 6 hours depending on the choice of route from Edenbridge so come prepared food and drink wise. Anyone fancy it?

[Tamar Collis]

Sounds monstrous. I'm up for it if my back don't play up.

[huw williams]

Excellent - I'm going to insist on a steady pace for this one, so chronic dissability should not be an issue

[Tamar Collis]

Damn...no excuses then! Guess I'd better bring extra fig rolls

[huw williams]

At least a packet or two - Sportive preperation ride so no cafe stops!

[Tamar Collis]

No cafe stop??? How disagreeable. How about we have one when we get back to Coulsdon?