Wednesday 26th mid-week ride

[huw williams]

We're on a collision course with the big Sportives in May, so once again its into the hills this week in preperation.

Weather forecast is a swealtering 18degrees with little wind so perfect conditions

6PM depart again as I fully intend to add the extra final climb to the route of the previous two weeks.

Arrive at GBs with a few minutes to spare as there's not enough daylight to hang around. Selsdonites can meet us at the top crossroads (Opposite Sainsburys) at about 10 minutes past, others can pick the route up further around and miss out the Chalkpits loop if nescessary.

[Yohan]

..another very good midweek ride on wed, there were 8 riders in total including, Robbie, Matthew, Phil, myself, (Polish guy) appologies for not remembering the rest.
It started at a frantic pace, as we charged up the hill to meet the others nr Selsdon, as we re-grouped at the top, the pace didnt ease up and already we'd dropped a rider. After the big climb in Slines Oak, the monster of Chalkpit Lane loomed, there is never an easy way to ride this as I fought the pain barrier, and tried to maintain a steady pace...alternated between standing and sitting in the saddle...couldn't decide which felt easiest!
Was a very mild evening, and enjoyable ride finshed with a dash back to selsdon....overall best thing you could do with a wednesday evening (after champions league footy of course)

cheers
Yohan

[huw williams]

Good work fellas sorry couldn't make it, got stuck in a meeting til 6.30 but sounds like you had a high ol' time

Did you do the full route?

[Brian Nolan]

Hi Yohan,

That was me that got dropped ! I could not take that 21mph pace up Croham Rd towards Farleigh.. I was a bit fed up but reasoned that my legs were a bit tired from Saturday's Worthing run and 3 days commuting.
I made it up as far as the fields then did a 180 degree turn for the fast ride back down... In the car today and maybe tomorrow so I am fresh for Saturday.. I am determined to do better next week

[Matt Robbins]

Errmm...confession time....we actually even missed Big Hill...but we didn't leave GBs until 6:20....honest!

It really is a great route though...hard to believe you are always just a few miles from Croydon....

Thanks to Alan and Phil for pointing out that I was going in the complete opposite direction for home (Crystal Palace) when we came out of Addington!!!

Other riders out included Alan M, Paul H (who was amazing up the climbs) and the guy on the Specialzed who also had the Gerolsteiner bike (sorry for not remembering your name)!

Quite a few turned back after Chalkpits to get home earlier on the Limpsfield Road...but that's the beauty of the route it's so easy to hook up or leave wherever you want!

[Phil L]

Huw, most of us got as far as the top of Chalkpit, but because of the late start, only four of us hung on to do White Lane, so basically did the same route as the first week.

For me the training is paying off. Beat my personal best up Box Hill on Saturday by a fair margin, and just feel stronger on the hills. Still slowing right down on the really steep hills though, and struggling with the fast pace on some of the long drags. So still plenty of work to be done.

So many thanks Huw for making this a regular run.

[Alan M]

A good ride - I think that the general pace was slightly less frenetic without Huw's direct influence but we seemed to be going faster between the hills. I was glad to meet at Selsdon but it took a while to get going as Phil and I needed a bit of a warm up. I felt that I still had something left for the dash into addington which is when I finally took a turn on the front. I still don't really like the track that goes over the motorway as it is too narrow for cars passing the other way and I keep thinking we'll meet one, but basically I am nervous about going down hills which is probably a good thing on training runs. We lost Robbie and waited a good while but he must have peeled off in a different direction but Phil and I met him coming the other way as we returned to Selsdon. So another good wed evening with the possibility a wet weekend to look forward to.

[Yohan]

Phil
I gotta say you're looking so much stronger, on the hills and the flats, whatever your doing keep it up, cos the progress is looking real good.

Yeah we didnt manage Bug Hill after white lane, but I sneaked a go on my own on sunday, its a cheeky little number...shorter than the others but as steep as they come.

Looking forward to CR on sat, hopefully there'll be another 'traing' group going out.

cheers
Yohan

[huw williams]

Anyone joining Paul Tunnell on his Eastbourne ride this saturday?

[adrian]

[quote="huw williams"]Anyone joining Paul Tunnell on his Eastbourne ride this saturday?

[Brian Nolan]

I want to do the Eastbourne run with him.. Hopefully we can get at least half a dozen or so onto it.. Paul picks out some nice quiet back lanes - last Saturdays ride to Worthing was excellent.