Club Run 15th March 2014

[Marek]

First club run for me this year as have been doing a bit of running over the winter. Did a couple of indoor sessions during the week so thought I would risk going out with the training group. Good quick start and I was feeling pretty good, the warm up from East Grinstead obviously helping at this stage of the ride. I think we may have lost a couple of riders quite early on as the pace was pretty ferocious with Dan and Paul putting in some monster turns.

Managed to hang onto the group up the Reigate steps, when I am off form I normally get dropped on here but I think the guys were taking it relatively steady. Then into the lanes and we started doing through and off, I felt ok at first but then as we got closer to Rusper my legs were starting to feel the lack of miles. Managed to just about hold onto the group and then we had a quick breather before hitting the dual carriageway. I wished I'd had a gel or something at this point as I was ok for the first part on the flattish section but when we hit the little hill up toward the Ifield traffic lights the legs said enough is enough. I watched the guys ride off into the distance. Dan and one other were also struggling a bit so I rode with them a bit more and then decided to take it a bit easier and just pootled along expecting a nice cup of coffee at the Pine Cafe.

I got there to find no bikes, no riders and no cafe. This mentally screwed me up as I was now hanging, very hungry. Carried battling on and got to the outskirts of Horley where I found a 'Premier Foods' shop. I got a ham sandwich, pack of crisps and a Mars bar. This all came to less than £2.50. Now, when something calls itself Premier you have an expectation that, well, it might be good. Jeez, I realised why my Ham Sandwich was only 99p, I am not sure that it was Ham, but anyhow it all went down. The Mars bar was left to last, fantastic. I must have looked a right mess as I laid out on the floor outside the shop to rest my aching legs. Then hopped on the bike and zipped back to East Grinstead feeling a bit better after the food.

Cheers for the ride guys, I guess you must have carried on back over to Rusper to one of the farm cafes. Need to work on my endurance to be able to hang on till the end, will be ok in a couple of weeks, have a four day training camp in Spain next week so that should hopefully give me a bit more endurance.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Dominic]

You must racked up some miles Marek! I turned off through Charlwood and would have waited if I knew. I even had a spare banana you could have had. Much better for you than ropey ham!

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Hi Marek

We're stopping for coffee at Tan House Farm

Cheers

Jon