Saturday Version Excursion

[Ian A4size]

Well the weather looks ok for saturday so who is up for a different ride with a few hills? It might suit the growing number of sportive participants that ACC is producing. Proposed route is out to box via langley vale, up over ranmore- maybe the other route than the one we normally use- up along the rolling roads and descend down to the sheepleas drag- right turn and head to West horsley-along to Clandon- back down coombe bottom - over to shere. We can do a cafe stop at lucky duckys if the group wants to. Out of shere up over the hill and out to Ewhurst, Ockley ( chance of another hill here ) then home via newdigate -or Dorking-.
I reckon there are at least 6/7 good climbs all of which you will get cold on waiting for me to get up them . The pace will not be b@lls out and i am sure the climbers will all wait at the top for the slower(me) riders. At a rough estimate 60 miles round trip.
i spoke to a few guys at the club night who are up for it so hopefully a few more might come- if not i will go on me own and stuff the lot of you

[huw williams]

I'll join you weather permitting mate. Usual start time at CSS?

[adrian]

I'd be up for that, Ian. I'll probably jump on on the way to Langley Vale, say at the grandstand at Epsom racecourse. What time do you reckon you'd be passing by there?

[Graham O]

Didn't understand any of that Ian, but if there's hills, miles and sportive, I am up for it.

I amay have to duck out a littlle early, as planning to do the reliability ride on sunday as well.

[Ian A4size]

I will be at CSS just after 9 ish, i can put Graham on a route home if he needs to cut off early.

[Ian A4size]

At a guess for time i would say around 10 ish at the grandstand area , give or take a few mins.

[adrian]

Right - see you there. I'll look out for the yellow blur careering round Tattenham Corner and tearing into the home straight.

[huw williams]

Looks like 'The Shadow' will be joining us too.

[Toks]

Ooo a mini-cyclosportiv with club mates, count me in Ian. I'll do the fast stuff on sunday!

[Marek]

Sounds good but I am under orders to stay at home tomorrow and do something fatherley, like watch football on TV and tell the kid to shut up. I will see you all on Sunday for the RR.

Cheers

Marek...

[Ian A4size]

Wot a beautiful day for a hilly ride . We must have had about 25 out for the "addiscombe half sportive". Straight out the station and up the first 12%er within half a mile- soon had the legs loosened up , the group naturally split as the ACC heavyweight division took a rear position. Out via the lanes to box hill which looked stunning in the sun, switchbacks streching out in front of us. Up thru West Humble and on to the long drag that is Ranmore, that first bit really saps the legs so by the time you get to the steep bit by the hairpin it starts to hurt.
Regroup at the top and off we go along the ups and downs which brings us to the bottom of Sheepleas ( i think)- this is a bit of a drag which seems to go on for ever, turn right down to west horsley- is this a proper road? its about as wide as a car and twists and turns goes up and down, then it decides to go up - and then up sharply, i think the whole group was caught out by this as everyone was out the saddle in the wrong gear wobbling all over the place. After this a relatively flat piece for about 2 miles , a quick left turn soon bought more groans as we saw the road disappear up and up - still it was very sunny! This bought us to coombe bottom where we met up with the other group who had a much easier ride coz they missed a few hills . Everyone froze going down coombe and we warmed up at lucky duckys with cake and coffee.The place was packed with cyclists and there were bikes racked up all along the street.
Out the cafe and yep up we go again- and again then a super descent down pitch hill bought us to Ewhurst. Nice rolling roads thru the woods saw the pace increase- this abruptly ended when that nice man Huw took us up to coldharbour - already tired legs took a beating up those 12% slopes and the group became somewhat disjointed and i am sure i heard a few swear words tsk tsk- still the descent down into dorking bought on some weary smiles, this set us up for a box hill spin- what joy!
Well done to all runners and riders today- it is not an easy ride and to the best of my knowledge everyone was waited for. Having a bacon sarnie now with a big grin on me face

[Gavin]

Had a good day today a bit tired and had toothache so spent most of the time at the back. Had a go at a few of the hills though and felt ok. Great route so thanks for that fat nav....

Another ride tomorrow should have probably just done the club run today but it was the best day weather wise for a long time.

All the best to the racers for tomorrow.
cheers
G

[Graham O]

Ian,

Thanks for the ride. It was excellent and put some decent miles in my legs. Go home and felt like I had been run over by a train..

Graham.

[huw williams]

Now that was a proper ride - big distance, big hills to attack if you fancied it, but plenty of sensible regrouping to accomodate riders not intent on killing themselves before the season starts. And in a group of 24 riders+ riding at close to 70miles, not a single puncture or crash.

Toks took the polka dot jersey but was made to work for it.

Awesome. More extended rides over the next two or three months. Watch this space!

[Ian A4size]

Toks the POWER meister must have put a 100 miles in today- just the right kinda warm up for 2mos race