Was it me or was there a head wind in both directions today
.
Did you have a saddlebag to take you dinner home Snoop? Wouldn't have fancied doing the scragging myself.
Spun down to CSS with my Dad and had an espresso in Nona Rosa's before today's club run, first time I've been in there and it's very nice will have to bring a panier next time for all that delicious looking antipasto.
About half a dozen others joined me for the route in via Betchworth, a nice ride out with a good group and with Dombo riding strongly so no more sandbagging in future
. Similar pace to a 19s and Matt and I wound it up at the end to stretch it out and provide a lead out, I've got a reasonable sprint but prefer to do this and help to keep it as safe as possible.
Joined the Box Hill group as that way back is so much nicer. Rob must have had some sandpaper in his shorts the way he pinged off from time to time
. As Sylv said an easier start and then getting a bit quicker as Box got nearer. I always go badly up this hill, just never seem to get in a decent rhythm on the first bit and don't get going until after at least the first hairpin by which time people have gone up the road.
Off the top and with the first couple of little kick ups by Dauphins Rob's sandpaper shifted and Sylv joined him as they got out the saddle to accelerate over them. My legs said "no" to that accelerate up the lumps malarkey and I slipped off. I carried on at a reasonable tempo pace in to the wind on the basis that if they eased or got caught at lights I'd catch them, if they didn't I wouldn't.
In the end neither happened but they were very agreeable and waited by the big Chipstead/Kingswood roundabout for a regroup. Ben was behind me and we waited a surprising amount of time thinking his effort at the top of Box Hill must have shocked his legs but it turned out he'd shipped his chain and spent a while having a wrestling match with it.
I don't know what all those people were up to in Nona Rosa's after their ride but the windows were very steamy
. After waving ta ta in South Croydon I headed up towards Selsdon and recognised the yellow shape in front of me as the old man so give him a bit of a push on the hill and rode home together.
8am at Coney Hall roundabout tomorrow for the Old ports Reliability and it will be a very good weekend, particularly after all the snow curtailed so many rides. Don't worry Sylv it's flat
, you need to come to keep George company tearing round the course.