Presidents 10

[ajay khandelwal]

I remember my first President's 10 in 2003 I think, when Darren from Australia won it ! Monty had just flown back from Mallorca and managed to get there and ride it. And the best was Marco, who dressed up as a mutant ninja turtle (black head to toe) and rode it in a shopping bike with a sound system. He had his mate Graham (with moustache) in tweeds giving him company. I think he got a flat but still made it around in 30 minutes ! I think that captured the spirit of the Presidents 10 for me. Its a very emotional and funny day with Joyce handing out the awards and trophies.

So I was thinking of those down at the President's ten when I was doing the CR on Sat. Big up to Marco from fighting off a year or two of injuries to get a 23 minute time and all those who have kept getting better and better times.

Bumped into Addiscombe race demon Toks who was down at CSS to promote his latest venture of the East Way memorial ! Big up to Toks and his efforts on that and I will definitely be trying to get down there to support.


We had 3 groups, fast group with about 15, led by Marek ' we won't go fast honest, its basically recovery' , 'er yeah right !', I took a steady group and Snoop Doug and Nick took easy group for some new mountain bikers. Well done to Mike (new) and Jim and Grahmam (friends of Alan 'the dope' Malarkey) from the 'Over the hill gang' their name, not mine.

The steady group was ambushed by Kevin Rhynee, and Robbie and a few others in professional kit. They looked good, but luckily Robbie went backwards when we hit a hill and everyone breathed a sigh of relief. We had another new guy called John who was involved with Geoff Thomas RAAM ride and he enjoyed it so much he tagged along for the dual carriage way and then box hill on the way back. First time he'd ridden in a group. The through and off was good, averaging 19 mph for the whole ride I think. Richard Munday attempted an early break as he was on his cyclocross bike with smaller gears. I shouted 'chase him' as I was too lazy to do the chasing but wise enough to know what a slippery character he is, taking his wheel out of sucking range. Luckily, we managed to bring him back and a group crossed the line together.

I was telling Robbie and co. at the cafe that they should have stormed the President's 10 because they've never done a 10 and they'd get a hefty handicap and walk off with the prizes, so there was some fighting talk down there! Kevin R is talking about a training break in Ireland so watch this space. Jim and Graham from the overhill gang looked at our photo of 3 million members + and wept tears, saying 'we've got a web site too and everything but it hasn't made any difference!'

I got a puncture on the way back outside of Charlwood, same place that Marek dented his new wheels ! Watch out for that one ! Hole, hole Hole! I managed to catch Phil on ride in, who was on a fixed, but had also punctured and so we compared tales of what might have been on the Merstham drag. He'd just come back from the Alpes doing a training camp with Burkhardt and was good to hear about that.

Caught up with Alan at cafe to hear about presidents 10 and his plans to blow everyone away next year with a new carbon monster, so watch this space !

[Marek]

Those pesky cobbles which have disappeared in Charlwood are a right pain, and set me back a fair few quid. Can we not charge an extra quid on everyones membership next year and with all our members we should be able to afford to get the whole club run route resurfaced, or at least get those stones replaced in Charlwood.

Cheers

Marek...

[richv]

Marek if you want the route resurfaced write a very short letter to the local highway authority saying that you have had a nasty accident there but luckily you weren't injured and you're sure it could be much worse next time.

You'll be surprised at how quickly they respond.

[Paul on the Pearson]

A big thanks to everyone who organised the presidents 10 and to Phil N who told me about it and suggested I give it a go, which, when sitting out in the sun at the cafe with a coffee seemed like a good idea, little did I know what I was letting myself in for. What can you say about a ten. The countdown, felt strange being held up with both feet clipped in and not going anywhere,5,4,3,2,1:-
28minutes and 3 seconds of pain began. The ride out wasnt actually too bad and managed to keep my speed well above 20, but the homeward leg was, to say the least, tough. After the second roundabout it was an uphill grind into the wind and the speed went down to around the 12/13 mark for a bit, but having watched the TT on the same circuit last week knew that once you reached the church it was pretty much all downhill, both geographically and now physically as my legs had gone and it was only gravity pulling me homewards.
Dizzyness,white spots in front of my eyes and when I dismonted from my trusty stead had a walk like a constipated John Wayne.
Would I do it again?
Yes

[huw williams]

Marek - this is a brilliant idea. I've often wondered why we don't use the fact that we have so many members to our advantage more often. Maybe upping the subs could cover the cost of a new road?

Goverment figures quote that to build a two-lane highway with all relevant safety barriers, signage, traffic lights etc in place costs £3m/mile.

The basic club run route CSS - Charlwood - CSS is 45 miles and would therefore cost approximately 135 million pounds to build a new road. Split over an estimated 200 ACC members this would mean a membership fee of just £675,000 per rider - well worth the cost I'm sure you'll agree.

This doesn't take into account the extended run down to the Dual Carriageway for the through and off but those roads are pretty good anyway so we could leave them alone.

Also, little hamlets along the route (ie Reigate) would benefit from the improved road surface so I'm sure a few of the locals would chip in with a few shillings, further reducing the cost of the subs.

[kieran]

Rich, Huw, I'd like to volunteer my services as treasurer for this idea, I'm very trust worthy and will not run off with any of the 135million!!! Please see me at the ACC road race, cash preferred and in nondescript brown envelopes please.