Club Run 14/7/07

[Jim B]

Cheers Stu and Hal.

Great training today. Nowhere to hide when there's only 3 of us.

I did a run this afternoon and that's when I realised how much effort we'd put in this morning. Not made it off the sofa since!

[Steve B]

Flippin eck, their all out to get me

Started with the training group, although shouldn't have as my legs just weren't recovered enough, and by the time the 5 of us got to the Reigate steps, the inevitable happened and I dropped right back leaving the group of 4 to continue. Got to the common and there was Marek waiting for me

As the 19's came round the corner we both jumped in, Marek at the front to do some work and me back in the pack to try and ease the legs back into life.

Not sure at that point what had happened but there seemed to be 2 groups all together, but there wasn't any problems with the large numbers so no need to split

Good steady pace being set by various people took us to the short thru&off stop. Some had turned off at partridge and some at Ifield?, so there was about 18 left to be split into 2 groups.

Dual carriageway was pretty quick and quite smooth. On to the run in to Charlwood, Marek and Paul H hatched a plan to blow my legs off so I couldn't sprint, by the pair of them jumping off the front together hoping I'd tire myself chasing them down. Luckily for me Rob was quick to spot the break and I jumped on his wheel and he towed me back . I then went to the front to do my bit and the B*$t*rd$ hung me out to dry So I just kept a decent pace going, not too hard (87% max HR) leaving enough for a sprint at the end. Then Rob took pitty on me and came round me and led me up to the the right bend and into the final straight.

Just before the left kink, I got out of the saddle and hoped my legs would take me to the Charlwood sign. I could feel Marek breathing down my neck but fortunately didn't see his front wheel come into view. I think 5 or 10metres more and he would have had me.

Ride back via Redhill was nice. Decided to have a dig up through the golf course and up Merstham drag, but that man Huw was right up my jacksy both times, he's just too good when the road rises. When the road's flat too actually

Another fine day in the saddle

Sylv - good job you spotted your handlebars today and not when you were in a race Stick to Aluminium

Steve

[Toks]

[quote="Yohan"]

I can feel my form returning, and felt good coming off the dual carrigeway, was looking forward to the sprint, and after Huw leading me out managed to pull around the 2 or 3 in front to snatch it.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote]We do wait for people at the tops of hills if they are struggling

[sid_day]

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed the CR on Sat.
The headwind on the way to the start was a bit intimidating but I was pleased with how I went just after a couple of weeks back out on the road.

I think as a club the group riding etiquette just get's better and better.

Having been on Cr's on and off for a few years I have noticed the improvment.

Communication is good (spotting obstacles, cars etc), awareness of other riders is good, we the acknowledge the effort made by others even if we aren't feeling strong enough to take a pull on the front.