Sat 29th Nov Club run

[Dombo]

We don't seem to have regular posts on these as we did a few years back so here goes:
Set off late and rather than do the CR route and get swept up by a group I headed for CSS only to see what looked like the 18s steaming towards the Farthing Way roundabout. A quick grab of the back brake slid the rear wheel round Rockford/Bullitt style and I was in hot pursuit, catching them at Monty's Cafe lights.
A pleasant pootle along the A23 ensued, chatting and admiring each other's mudguards - those lightweight crud catcher jobbies seem popular and I can vouch for their efficacy - no more gritty wet bum misery for this Agreeable, and the bike won't need cleaning for a good few months.
I stayed with the group until the Reigate steps when a tinkling from the front wheel announced that my computer transmitter had slipped down the forks and was catching in the spokes so I stopped to remove it.
Various red lights along Reigate High Street slowed my progress and I sadly lost the group, watching them disappear into the distance by the Balamory houses.
By now the trusty steed can pretty much find its own way around the CR route, including short-cuts, but I never found them again, stuck in that twilight zone too slow to catch one group yet creeping ahead of the one behind.
Having decided against an early coffee on my own I turned for home, only to puncture and discover to my great sorrow that the patch on my replacement tube had come away; after I'd fitted it and pumped it up. Luckily my second spare was ok but without the usual Agreeable puncture repair advice it took longer than usual to fix.
For a laugh I set the Garmin to take me home and it took me a curious back-route to Redhill where I met up with the guys who came to Del's aid when he crashed. They send their regards and are glad he's back in the saddle leading the Sunday rides.
All told, a good short ride, average about 17 and top speed about 31 which must have been towards the end on the run home.
If this is in the wrong thread could the Mods move it please and please note. I haven't forgotten I owe Marco cake and a beverage of his choice for my pathetic and ill-informed support of the Cheating Texan drug-monkey.
There is no statute of limitation on wagers.

[Amy]

Interesting day for me - very tired from other things going on but was determined to get out on cr (in order to spend rest of weekend resting). First of all I realised too late I'd forgotten a water bottle. Plan was to take it easy with the slowest group anyway so I figured I shouldn't suffer too much and could just nab a sip from someone if I needed it.

A slight incident at CSS which we won't mention - but no idea how it came to happen... or the other one when ... but enough... The slowest group went out with 3 other VCs and me. Mostly stayed together until someone called a puncture - didn't know who but Alex said for us in the front to go on, we were splitting up with the slower ones staying with whoever had punctured. I asked if at least one VC was with them and Alex said yes - I also thought Phil was with them otherwise I considered pulling over and waiting for them. Andrew F and another guy ?Bill set a lively pace on the front even with me telling them easy every so often. Through a slight lack of communication we took a shorter route to the café by following Partridge Lane all the way round - not that I minded at all....

After a cup of tea and a quick visit, I realised that Pete R and what I thought was the slower group had not yet arrived. I phoned Pete to find he was on his own after a particularly awkward puncture repair. One of the missing riders, Claire arrived and said that they'd had two punctures and the rest were just 200 yards down the road. As everyone else was leaving I went back to find them and help with changing the tube - good thing too The Var tyre lever was very useful. Pete arrived just as we were finishing putting the bike back together.

Back to Tanhouse for a second cup of tea and a piece of Bakewell as I was hungry, then a gentle ride back helping escorting two new guys, one who was getting more than a little tired and... umm, other problem... back to CSS via the short route.

All in all a better ride than I expected

[Andrew G]

[quote="Amy"]... Through a slight lack of communication we took a shorter route to the café by following Partridge Lane all the way round - not that I minded at all....