Another classic honeberg vs factberg in the training group
The honeberg'd bike is laden with various paraphernalia such as power measuring devices, angled cranks, extensions, lights poking at funny angles and redundant cables. The factberg's bike is kept as light as possible as any excess weight means extra unwanted BPMs on the ride especially the climbs. Every once in a while though, the factberg riders allows himself to ride at high intensity.
There were about eight of us, and after the unavoidable split on the Reigate steps, we all managed to regroup at the lights. George had done some strong turns on his winter bike into the crazy wind, and led the way up the steps.
Paul got a puncture on the scary downhill after the golf course, so we all carried on leaving him to mend it. No of course we didn't, we stopped and Keith even offered him some help. We then carried on and once again I found myself at the front before the first of the climbs before Rusper.
After taking my turn I tried a novel tactic - attacking from the front up the climb. I managed to break away but further up I could see them chasing, think George was leading. He got back in my wheel and I faked a couple attacks before waiting for something to happen, I think at that moment Paul came through and after taking his wheel for a breather we had a good battle to the top. We carried on with the unspoken aim to hold the group back all the way to the dual carriageway.
Keith said he'd let the bunch do some work then tried to bridge the gap back to us two, impressively he came through and managed to crest the top of the last climb with something like a wheel's length on Paul and me. We regrouped having lost only Kevin since the start.
Through anf off was good with the wind in our back, on one of the downhills while doing 55kmh I realised Jack was on junior gears, with I think a 15t sprocket at the back - he was having to spin pretty fast. As usual with Charlwood approaching, turns at the front began to be more erratic. George attacked and I managed to get back to him, I went past and encouraged him to keep going.
I think what happened next was I was left on my own with about 20m gap on the group. I was feeling strong still but even though it didn't look too good, so I gambled to let them get back to me. Paul came past having launched his customary seated sprint, but that was too fast for me to join him, so I got out of the saddle and gave it all I could with about 150m to go. I was slowly making ground on him, almost gave up but kept going and pipped him to the line by less than a bike's length, hitting a new high BPM since I've been using the monitor - 187 (184 before).
Had to shoot off straight away and did another 58km at low intensity, well for the first half-hour despite the tailwind my heart wouldn't go under 140! Cheers for the ride it was another good one.
About the late start - agree it was bad. I guess it's all driven by the time the training group leaves, so next time will endeavour to get it sorted at 9.15 even if the VC hasn't.
, turned right and went home.
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and go with the Training Group. As always, a great ride - thanks guys.
Thanks to those who waited and special thanks to Kevin for pushing me on the way back .... that's enough for my ride 
