Ok, I have just about recovered from the training group ride on Saturday so can now tell the tale.
Started off with a reasonable group, but as usual a blistering pace. I decided to stay near the front so sat on Stus wheel as he went ballistic along the dual carriageway. I must have hit a pot hole as my speedo sensor came un-attached, either that or it had had enough and decided to blow up rather than read out such ridiculous speeds.
I stopped to sort the problem and asked the others to wait, I fixed the problem, they kind of waited by going at a slower pace. This then meant I spent the rest of the Coulsdon drag working like a dog to get back onto the group.
As I got on I thought may as well keep the pace going so just booted it over the brow of the hill and soon the group was rolling at the mandatory 30mph on the descents.
Came to the Reigate steps and the pace quickened, as it always seems to do when Stu, Paul and George are in attendance. George attacked at the bottom of the hill with an early (too early) effort. Out of the saddle honking it up I just about kept up. Then Stu and Paul put in big efforts and eased away a bit. I can't remember too much, but think Sylvain was well up the front. I managed to not get too distanced and wellied it on the downhill to the lights. Think we lost Paul Tunnell at this juncture, but I was in too much pain to notice anything except that Stu was still there and the pain was likely to get worse.
Then into the lanes and the pace was furious, well for me it was. I sat in for almost the whole ride only doing a couple of turns which lasted a few seconds and then I was cooked. I remember last year being able to dictate to this lot, now they are getting their own back and in some style.
At times I was having the 'I don't want to be here any more' kind of feeling, I have that a lot in races at about mid distance.
Well, I was having that and when we hit the drag up to Rusper through the trees well Stu suddenly came out of nowhere and blew us all away. Then the chase was on with Paul going for it. George and Sylv got on my wheel and I dragged them back up to Paul and Stu. Then we hit the next hill and after the big effort of pulling Stu and Paul back I could not hang on and got dropped. Thankfully the group seemed to slow just a bit after Rusper which allowed me to put in an effort to get back on again. Either that or they slowed down for me.
Down after Rusper and then the hill before the dual carriageway. Paul and Stu went flying up this one. Sylvain looked like he had died a death and I thought he was going to jump into the big puddle at the bottom of the hill to commit Hari Cari.
George was giving it some but was tiring after his earlier big efforts on the flats so I outsprinted him to the top for a podium position in the hill climbers competition (whoops I forgot this was a clubrun not a race).
Then the brief chat about the thru and off. George says:
'Shall we do a super quick one today then'. The response from me, being, no, Sylvain said something a bit more like you have to be kidding I am going to watch you lot ride into the distance as I have 'ad it.
So, we were now down to 4. A quick blast along the dual carriageway with Stu and George doing most of the work. I did a couple of turns but the pace at which Stu was coming through was viscious.
Charlwood sprint and I won it, basically the others were all too weak to compete with my awesome power and handling skills. Better luck next time losers.
Pleasant ride back home with Keith and Michelle.
Cheers
Marek.....