by Del » Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:50 am
What a day!
Left home in Horley to ride the 10 miles to Coulsdon. Normally leave around 8.35 and meet Andy K at Gatton Point about 8.55 and get to CSS just before 9.15.
Today, I left into a howling headwind, with lots of gusts from the side, with a nice dose of sleet thrown in. When I struggled to even get to 15mph up the gentle slope into Salfords, I nearly turned round and came home. Phoned Andy K while hiding in a bus shelter, but was persuaded not to wimp out, and pushed on through the sleet towards Redhil, where I celebrated by bouncing a hailstone of my bottom lip.
Met Andy K at Redhill and then slow progress through Merstham. Well, really slow progress actually. We got to Hooley and today's fast group (which must have included Ant) went past heading South. A bit more mumbling at the side of the road as it started to snow. This time it was Andy who wanted to pack in. However, we looked up and there we saw a group of Agreeables, heading South like a snow-covered Magnificent Seven (I think it was 10 actually).
They saw us and waved for us to jump on. Unfortumately, we were on the northbound carriageway, so this meant getting across to the other side and chasing the group. We both got on just North of Merstham and then enjoyed a good run down to Charlwood. Generally, the wind was much better now, pushing us on, although we still faced some strong gusts approaching Leigh and Newdigate.
Fairly uneventful after that to Charlwood, although by then the wind had taken its toll and I was glad to reach the Cafe. The return from Charlwood has really windy across the exposed flat, so I headed straight back to Horley and home.
Celebrated by going to Cycles Dauphin in the afternonn where I picked up my new Time VXR, bumped in to Amy, who was celebrating by picking up a half-price Etxeondo top in ACC colours, and met another Agreeable, Ben, who was having his bike-fitting checked out.
Doesn't look like the new bike will be going out on the road for a little while yet if the weather forecast is accurate.