Clubrun 31st October

[Grahame]

Well, aptly for Halowe'en, we had our own Lazarus moment.

Sean AKA Patrick (do a search for Songebob squarepants characters and look at a few recent threads on here and you'll understand) made a reappearance. As he wasn't baying for brains we assumed he wasn't a zombie and let him ride with us.

A large 17's group clearly demonstrated the value of mudguards in wet weather. Uneventful (ish) ride to the cafe, and a short turnround for a ride back with Andrew G, Rob, and a new face. The only real incidents on the return were a couple in a Volvo who clearly haven't read their highway code and insisted that we should be riding singlefile, and a 4x4 driver who was upset about Andrew's (frankly amazing) maneuvre to avoid falling when his wheels slipped out from under him on the concrete section before the church climb.

Oh, and the rain started as I passed into Surrey at Elmer's End and when I returned to Kent the clouds cleared and the sun came out for the list couple of miles home.

[Andrew G]

Took my snotty nose for an easy spin in the 17s and turned off at Partridge for a short one. Glad I decided to go and the fresh air was nice. I know it's been a long time since I was last out but there were more I didn't than did recognise at CSS! I'm rubbish at remembering names at the best of times, don't stand a chance for a while now as I rejoin the weekly runs over winter. A better nose and better weather would be appreciated next time .

The group itself, despite being quite big, rode well. It tended to be a bit of rotating between the front half with the rest riding the wheels, but as I think some were moving up a bit in group they ride with due to the reduced numbers out today this worked well. We got split at Gatton Rd, by traffic as much as anything, but other than that everyone stayed on the wheels and didn't let gaps open.

[quote="Grahame"]The only real incidents on the return were a couple in a Volvo who clearly haven't read their highway code and insisted that we should be riding singlefile, and a 4x4 driver who was upset about Andrew's (frankly amazing) maneuvre to avoid falling when his wheels slipped out from under him on the concrete section before the church climb.

[Alan M]

Went with supposed 18s, which were 19s, swift out and swift back, nice ride and good groups though despite the rain. Stayed with the selection to the top of Merstham rise mistakenly thinking it is all over, when Steve, Anthony and one other attacked and I just thought enough is enough on a rainy day. We had a very welcome coffee at cafe Nero but mark had a pale moment!
[img]http://i37.tinypic.com/2mmi71e.jpg[/img]

[philf]

I'm afraid that Tim came off on that slippery section (Vevers Road?) and landed nastily on his shoulder. Phil (not me - the Phil from Reigate?) rode home to get his car, and came back to give Tim a lift to A&E, while I waited with him. If anyone knows his number, give Tim a ring and see how he is.

As Tim was lying on the verge - looking slightly pale - another bunch of riders turned up (non ACC). I didn't see them in time to yell a warning.....and two came off at the same spot. Luckily neither came down as hard asTim, although I did feel guilty - but at least when Jim arrived we were able to give him plenty of warning.

The odd thing is that there were four of us riding together (I met Phil on the way down, as I was - as usual - late, and he was fixing a puncture, so we paired up for the last few miles. When we got to the cafe everyone was leaving, so we joined with Tim and another rider ). We were all together when Tim came off, but by the time Phil and I had picked him up we realised that the other bloke was nowhere to be seen - he'd gone on. What was all that about?

[Andrew G]

Tim??? Coales?

Hope you're okay Tim.

[Antloony]

Enjoyed my jolly jaunt out today despite the weather. Only 4 of us in the 19's today, started off as 5 but poor Steve B couldn't get his legs to work so that just left Dave K, Nick W, a guest and myself to play in the rain. Pace was even out there, nothing silly, just a good steady ride with a fair share of the work. Nick sufered slightly up through the trees but we eased up and allowed him to catch up, he's getting stronger week by week though through sticking it out with the faster groups.

Nice easy ride back, good chat to Sreve B who managed to find his legs a bit. Easy pace up to the church where I put in a dig just to test my legs as they've been crap last 2 or 3 weeks, luckily they were on form today and I didn't make an ar*e of myself by going backwards. After the usual regroup sat in up the Merstham drag behind Alan M with Steve and Nick and guest till we reached the top where I launched the first attack. Pace was quite high and one by one people dropped off just leaving guest (who was this mystery man, friend of yours Steve?) and myself on the final 2K back towards CSS.

Nice to see a couple of faces which haven't been seen on a club run for a while.

Felt better on my bike than I have of late, been trying to do a little more in the week though that won't last for long due to a manic work load.

Sorry to hear about the accidents over the weekend, hope all involved recover quickly and get back on their iron horses soon.

[Amy]

Hope you're feeling better, Tim, and it's just bumps and bruises and nothing more serious.

First club ride on the winter bike so it was an excuse to go slowly and work my way back up the groups again . Spent most of my time at the back of the group helping the rear-enders of Grahame's group until we got to the climb before Rusper when I just ended up going up through the group. So as I went past Grahame I asked him to take over my duties and continued on with the front runners to do the extra loop. Speeded up quite a bit with (I think it's a) ?Mike on the front, especially as we headed for the sprint into Charlwood

Can't really remember the ride back for some reason but it is amazing how guys will suddenly find extra legs after a girl/female passes them Oh yes, and Sean aka Patrick (and thankfully wearing black shorts) kept speeding up and then running out of steam a few yards up the road - killed my legs going up the Merstham drag when my rhythm got interrupted getting stuck behind a Sean traffic jam

I really do wish you lot'd get mudguards - being so low down means I eat even more road dirt than most I know mudguards aren't going to stop everything but it'd help

[Dombo]

[quote="Amy"]

I really do wish you lot'd get mudguards - being so low down means I eat even more road dirt than most I know mudguards aren't going to stop everything but it'd help

[Tim Coales]

Hi all,
Yes I fell in the same place - must have been oil on the road which couldn't be seen because of the yellow concrete. The front wheel just went as if it was black ice. No chance of any fancy stuff like Andrew Phil Kemp did well to stay up and get between me and my bike which slid on across the road. Thank God, nothing was coming the other way.

Big thanks to Phil Foyle for staying with me, and Phil Kemp who picked up my bike and dropped me East Surrey hospital for a checkover. (I was in a lot of pain!) After waiting 2 plus hours in the 'Urgent Treatment Centre', I was finally seen by a nurse, given some pain killers, saw a doctor and had a couple of x-rays. Nothing broken, just impact injury to the "rotator cuff" muscles that hold your shoulder together. Made a hole in my Addiscombe Bib-tights (and my knee!) but other than that just a few scapes on the pedal and scuffed bar tape.
While I was there a guy came in on crutches having come off his MTB on Reigate Hill (off-road). He overtook me in xray with a double fracture just above the ankle. Ouch!
Discharged with painkillers and a sling. Couldn't even put a shirt on yesterday, but shoulder less painful today so ventured into work.

Can't help thinking I'm a bit of whimp - some of those Tour riders get up and carry on - maybe it's the drugs!

I have to work the next 3 Saturdays, so hope to see you all either at the ACC CycloX promo on 22nd Nov or on C/R on 28th assuming all is well.
Tim

[Andrew G]

Glad to hear it's nothing serious Tim, hope you're back on the bike soon. I dread to think how long you'd have to wait in the ordinary treatment centre, nothing like a bit of re-branding eh, makes you get seen so much quicker .

[quote="Amy"]Excuses, excuses. I'd have thought with all that speed work you'd been doing you'd have dropped me on the drag as it is.

[Paul H]

[quote]As Tim was lying on the verge - looking slightly pale - another bunch of riders turned up (non ACC). I didn't see them in time to yell a warning.....and two came off at the same spot. Luckily neither came down as hard asTim, although I did feel guilty - but at least when Jim arrived we were able to give him plenty of warning.

[Alan M]

Rest easy Tim, sorry to hear of this, Alan