Club Run this Sat 22/03

[Amy]

Wimps, the lot of you

I think the bravery award today should go to newbie, Sarah, who turned up in track mitts (but thankfully long sleeved top and at least running tights under her shorts) in order to maket the most of the day as she won't be able to get out every week.

And well done to Phil Nash, out for the first time in 5 months - a couple more weeks and you'll be fine!

By the way, chaps, you better watch out: for the first time in ages I felt that I had some strength in my legs. Maybe by the summer I'll be back with the 19s

PS Alex, Charlwood was open

[Antloony]

Yes well done to Sarah, she looked freezing waiting at CSS, hope she warmed up ok.

Amy, I think you may have pinched my legs today as mine didn't seem to want to work, never had such a bad day in the saddle, I really did struggle and finally gave up and got dropped about 7k from the cafe and did the rest on my own, there was no way I could catch up like I usually do.

Weather wasn't to bad all in all, the worst of the wind hit me near Gatwick, near blew me backwards off the bike. Was great at the cafe, so peacefull and quiet.

Back via Box Hill again, Sylv flew up leaving me standing and swearing at my legs trying to get them to work.

Run back home down the 217 home to Sutton was fun against the wind

[Steve B]

Top marks to all who went out today .

Looked out the window first thing and thought @%$k that , and jumped back into bed. I ended up having to work at home all day re wiring upstairs. That'll teach me

Hopefully Monday will be a better day. Anyone out

Steve

[Alan M]

Arrived a bit late and had to catch up to 17s. Felt reasonably OK and enjoyed the group which did an 18mph average. I thought this was OK because although we had the wind behind us the weather was horrible and we slowed here and there to keep the group together. I decided to go off on the front about half a mile out from the sprint, as much to have a dig as anything. By then the wind was on the nose and I may have slowed to about 13mph. Eventually a group came past with the big guy with tri bars taking honours.

The return was epic - I did some turns on the front and eventually a small group led by Ed (who I thought was Hal) split of from the front. Mark Lock was the 3rd in the group, although eventually the other Mark joined us and we picked up Tri bar guy who had left the cafe early. ML kept doing burns off the front but was finally wasted on the hills. On the final approach CS it was Tri Bar guy, Mark Ed and myself with Ed doing most of the work. I sat in and when I tried to get to the front was beaten back by the wind. By the time we reached CSS I had an average HR of 150 of my 175 b/m max, so one good work out and 16.6mph.

I waited for Bridget at Cafe Nero and she said the slower group fragmented but a recovering Phil Nash led her towards the ultimate goal of warmth and sustenance.

All in all a pretty good morning out and somewhat better than wiring the house, although no doubt you will get your rewards in heaven Steve!

Depending on weather Monday is a possibility for me.

take care

Alan

[Del]

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.

[Sarah_M]

I have just found this thread. Thanks for the warm welcome. I got a bit lost in Coulsdon so missed saying goodbye to everyone (and giving back the rubber golves someone kindly lent me to save my fingers from dropping off). I really enjoyed the ride.

Paul (OH) is rehearsing the next few Saturdays so I will be on childcare duties. I take the children up to 'Cycling for All' at the track as I have a disabled son so will be pushing him around on one of their adapted trikes when not on club runs. I am looking forward to the next chance I get to go on the club run and will have some warmer gloves by then In fact, they are already ordered from wiggle

Happy Easter everyone!

Sarah

[carl f]

Hi Sarah and welcome.
You have joined a very friendly cycling club
I like you struggle to make it out on sats due to taking kids to ballet,swimming etc
Out of interest,do you know from what age children can start at herne hill track?
Cheers
Carl

[mark mclaughlin]

For some reason there wasn’t many out today?

Got to start on time for a change and joined the 18’s training group. Sylvain led us out with his relentless tempo.

The sizable group was being rapidly shredded with the pace and weather. We were down to 5 as we got to Lambs Green - Ben was just off the pace as we attempted the sprint to Charlwood into the teeth of the Mother of all headwinds. Just got round Ed for 3rd and over 19 av to cafe.

As Alan said the return was ridiculously hard, never known a headwind like it. Ed was doing major turns on the front as he dragged us up to Merstham, over the top we tried to up the pace but at one point we were down to 12mph!!

I was beginning to feel the effects of the freezing wind now, and was starting to blow.
Crawled into GB’s for an energy bar so I could muster enough strength to drag myself up the climbs over Crystal Palace where I was greeted with hailstones!

An epic club ride.

Happy Easter!

[Amy]

[quote="Antloony"]Amy, I think you may have pinched my legs today as mine didn't seem to want to work, never had such a bad day in the saddle, I really did struggle and finally gave up and got dropped about 7k from the cafe and did the rest on my own, there was no way I could catch up like I usually do.

[Antloony]

[quote="Amy"]By the way Ant, I've just realised that your legs haven't been on show yet - not looking forward to that

[Chris L]

Well from what I have read I was not the only one suffering on Saturday, went with the 'A' group and was hanging off the back (thanks for waiting for us at a couple of points guys) until my fellow sufferer, Mark, and I decided to wait for the following group. I was putting it down to the speed of the group, the fact I was on my old bike or the cold. But then I was hanging off the back of the second group as well so I suppose I put it was just me after all.
Monday morning looked not too bad so went for a spin in Richmond Park. Horizontal ice, followed by big flakes of snow, and cold, cold feet. Why do we do it ? Cos we love it.

[mlocke]

Good, hard club run for me today

After about 100 miles commuting then 70 miles on good friday I had every intention of taking this very easy and was thinking of the 18's (or lower)when I was rolling toward the station.

Got there and there were only about 30 - 40 people at the very most!!! As a result Monty called just three groups and I was thrust into the quickest of the three. With fear on my face we set off and the weeks miles bagan to show as the pace was pushed higher. Got caught at a set of lights and Chris & I was debating if they would wait and what we would do if they hadn't. As we rolled up to the little green on the left turn the guys had waited and so we all set off again.

Managed to hang on for most of the hills (which Sylv doesn't seem to realise are in the way as the pace doesn't drop) after which I was well and truly cooked and chris and I waited at the top of the hill after the turn off for the longer route.

Picked up Monty's group behind and the pace again was feeling quite brisk - everyone must have been feeling the cold?

Coming to the sprint Alan took a lunge from about 3/4 mile out. Monty and the big guy with tri bars (sorry dont know your name) latched onto the back of his wheel and as we came round the bend I went across the gap too. As soon as I did the wind must have decided we were all going too fast and promptly slowed us all to around walking pace.

With that the big tri bar guys went for it and I wanted the shelter of his frame so latched onto his back wheel - I think at this point we built a pretty big gap and as we approached the line I came round to take it by a half wheel - max speed for the sprint was about 22 mph(slow !!) with a massive headwind. Being a guest in the group though I think the 'official win' should ge to the tri bar guy.

Good run to the cafe with 18.9 avg on the clock which I am pleased about given the wind and the weeks excertions.

Left the cafe and as Alan had already said Ed, Alan and myself developed an early break on the main bunch and managed to hunt down a couple who must have left a few minutes before us. I dont think I have ever ridden quite so hard and the pain in my hip was really bad at this point so for the climb over the golf course decided to take it steady. Ed who was looking very strong carried on with alan over the col dela golf course

Rest of the ride was very steady, slow and painful all the way home.

No commuting for me this week to see if my hip gets better.

Looking forward to next saturday after 4 day week!

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Chris L"]I was at Herne Hill and while it was a bit chilly it stayed dry. However I was glad I wasn't out in that hailstorm that happened later if its like that Sat AM I might just stay in bed..
BTW this was my first visit to the Good Friday meeting (and the track) and the paced racing with those incredible motorbikes bikes was fantastic, I wouldn't have thought that bikes racing behind motorikes around a cycle track could be so exiting. I really enjoyed the afternoon and would just love to have a go on that track.

[Marky Mark]

Brass monkeys?. There is nothing like the feeling of fresh hail hitting your face at a combined speed of 48mph.
I'm so glad I had my armour plated lycra shorts on.

It still wasn't enought to slow the Road Runner down

Marky Mark