Todays club run

[Marek]

Managed to do just under 100 miles today legs pretty tired. The fun started though when I got home. The misses had managed to get a puncture on the car in town, so I had to cycle up to the town and then mend the car and then cycle back home again. Man just what I could have done without.

Anyway, excellent club run over to the Cafe, think we must have averaged around 22mph with a group of 7, which is pretty good going.

Have to admit though that I was feeling it going up box hill on the way back, did not have anything left in my legs to chase Alan up the hill. Good run on the A road just after box hill think we got up to some good speeds around the back roads. Got back to CSS and then popped into the Newsagent and stocked up on goodies then took it real steady back to East Grinstead.

Good ride guys, and Yohan well played you were riding really well today I don't think it will be long before you start getting some points in the races.

Cheers

Marek..

p.s. Where was Tim Liquigas and co. today, we needed some sprinters in the pack coming into Charlwood.

[Yohan]

..Great ride today, really enjoyed it....it was also brillaint seeing so many new faces, an young riders out on the CR

Yep top ride Marek, you definately blasted our legs to bits on the way to the cafe....you kept yo-yoing from the front to the back, then back again....it was clear when u wern't at the front as i started to get my breath back!
Still gettin used to the running with the 'big boys' in the fast group, but i'm enjoying my riding more than ever, an I get a great sense of achievement jus managing to keep up! Good sprint win too Marek, altho winding up so far before the line completly took the wind out of all our sails, I could barely breath when crossing it!

Well done Sean, great to see you out again, your looking in very good shape considring being out for so long.......I'd like to test that 'SWEAT' that u been guzzilin for banned substances

[Marek]

Cycled up from East Grinstead again this morning. Not too many people up for a faster ride as I think a lot of people were over at the Hilly 50k. We had 7 in our group and we took it reasonably steady until someone started to push it up Reigate Hill.

After the hill Graham decided to show off his speed after all the reliability rides he has been doing. Unfortunately just after Leigh he got a puncture. Heartless Huw wanted to go on without him but I persuaded the group to go back and wait considering Graham seemed so strong. As he was fixing it the slower group came through, shouting and jeering like silly school children at the fact that the faster group had been slowed down.

This seemed to get Grahams back up a bit and so he shot off after mending his tyre. I did a bit of work on the front to get us up to the slower group by the time we reached Rusper Golf Club.

We went through the slower group and carried on our way for us to then turn around and find that Graham had overcooked it and could not keep up. We turned off toward Ifield, decided to miss out the dual carriageway, much to my annoyance as I quite enjoy it (found out in the Cafe that Graham went off and did the dual carriageway on his own, that is pretty brave). Our group turned onto the run in towards Charlwood and we started to pick up the pace, there were only four of us left in the group now with one of the early starters deciding to sit in with the slower group.

I took to the front on the turn and did a stint, then Huw on his swanky new Time Machine in his new red kit and the others had their gos then I went on the front and yes as normal no-one came through. So I decided to try and wind it up a bit more to see if I could wear them down for the sprint, managed to get the bike up to just under 50kph but I could not shake off the others, I just got pipped by Mr Principia whose name I can never remember, it was close but no cigar. What I want to know is how to the pros get up to 70kph in the sprint?

Quite a few people in the cafe and about 12 or so of us went back via box hill. I decided it would be a good laugh to go up Ranmore before going up box, but only three others were up for this, Graham, Prinicipia and another guy on a Trek 1000 whose name I don't know either. Ranmore was quite tough with me leading out then Principia taking me half way, he got a good 10 yards on me and then he started to slow, this egged me on to go past him, managed to put in a big effort to then look around and find that Principia was a fair way off. Excellent fun. Graham and Trekkie followed up with Graham looking fresh as a daisy after climbing Ranmore, reckon you should be trying harder Graham.

We then descended via the hair pin road with the Church on top and then over to box hill. I was determined to get to the top first today as last week I had overcooked myself by the time I got there.

Loads of riders going up due to the Hilly 50km. I sat behind Principia to the second hairpin and then opened the thrusters and managed to get past him and leave him to suffer the misery of leading me up the first two bends. Overtook Steve Cave on the way up much to his annoyance, at the top he complained that I could have at least given him a push.

Loads of ACC riders up the top, all looked quite comfortable sitting there scoffing cakes.

Then on the way back the rain started to fall, hard work cycling from box hill knowing that you have 1.5hours to go but managed to get home wet and another 130kms in the bag.

Cheers

Marek....

[Graham O]

Enjoyed today, but think I need to learn to conserve energy a bit more in the early parts of the ride. Think I am getting better though.

Myself and Paul (Mr Pricipia) had a good run down into Coulsden. Double up time trial style.

Anyhow - see ya next time.

[Paul H]

I'm Mr Principia.

Marek - I'm glad to hear that you took so much pleasure in beating me up Ranmore & Box Hill.

I enjoyed the ride. I know a lot of people dont think you should go so hard this time of year but I disagree.

[Marek]

Paul, I wasn't going hard

Cheers

Marek....

[Brian Nolan]

Hi Marek,

Excellent write up of the club run.. I must reveal my alter ego as ' Trekkie ' - my location details give me away as well... I must admit that I was pretty cooked going up Ranmore and when I saw Lisa & Chris halfway up Box Hill I was glad to stop for a breather ... Then I struggled to stay on the wheel of a ' veteran ' who was going really well.. I had a fast run down the A217 to Rose Hill just managing to get indoors before that cold rain started to fall steadily.. My legs felt a bit ' ripped ' on Sunday so I'd had a good work out ....
thanks to all who were out 'n about