club ride....'MAN IN GREEN...RETURNS'...

[Stu Merckx Man]

fantastic club run today.

the man in green (john) turned up, and with a bulky training group it was set to be fast.

pretty slow going up the duel carriage way, untill we got the hill bit. i was right up the back and so moved up on the outside to the front to give it a dig. puting everything into it alongside george (though im not sure how hard he was pushing), john glided past at bout 20mph!...george responded trying to grab his wheel, i follwed though only just... so much for my dig !

there was no rest in reigate either as we were lucky/unlucky with the lights. but sheltered behind george i soon recovered. up the first drag bit jim bravely did a long session with john into the first bit of the lanes. soon enough though it was john leading with us strung out behind. the only rotation i saw was and was involved with was the rotation for anyone unfrotunate enough to be behind john

up the wooded hill bit before rusper and things got a bit heavy, i only just stuck it out without dropping. then, the next thing i know george and john have got a lead.....hmm should i go with them?...that thinking time was too long..they had about a 50m gap and i decided to go just when we were at the last set of hills...bad idea to try and chase down george and john on a hill...but i put everything into and JUST managed to get in behind...john seemed happy and george still had a smile. blimey i was never going to stick with them!! then matt appeared from no where !

i couldnt drop off now, but i would loose face. so i just stared at georges wheel and dug deep. i was releaved when we started going down hill after rusper, but it got cancled out when the land started to rise again before the duel carriage way. the 3 of us managed to cling to johns wheel towards the duel carriage way where we had a welcome rest to wait for the rest of the lads.

we had a good through and off. when we hit the lanes again, rob seemed to scarifice himself to lead us to the sprint....then paul sneakely blasted past us all out the saddle...john who at this point was at the front simply rode up next to him...i followed and grabbed pauls wheel followed by george. i didnt want to go to early this time so i waited untill the last bend. no chance of beeting john who floated gracefully past the signs and yonder..but i had my sights on second. at the last minute i whipped out from beside paul and just manged to pip him at the line. (2nd)

too charlswood we had an impressive avs of 23mph!! to the big suprise of hal.

on the way back simon gave me and john a good run through the lanes, at one of the hills before turning left at the first church john took lead, simon who must have been nakered couldnt grab his wheel, i only just managed too, and did wonder if it would be better for my well bieng to stick with simon.

fastest ive ever gone back to coulsdon from the church. led by john the 2 of us soon left the peleton behind...but a sense of dread hung over me as i new soon we would get to the mestham drag. i went as far as i could but then told john he could leave me...instead he slowed down for me a bit (noooo). still at a good pace i made it up the drag and john made a megga fast run in to coulsdon, nearly riding me off his wheel several times... unfortunately we hit bad traffic and that was the end of our little escapay.

great run today, avs when i got home 22.2mph!! my fastest yet.

cheers,
stu

[quote]i didnt want to go to early this time so i waited untill the last bend. no chance of beeting john who floated gracefully past the signs and yonder..but i had my sights on second. at the last minute i whipped out from beside paul and just manged to pip him at the line. (2nd)

[Grahame]

[quote="seanhogan(CondorMan)"]Whoever was behind me graciously allowed me to be first past the summit.

[Andrew G]

Started with the 18s (orig 19s but not enough takers) and the pace was about an track until about half way to the cafe. We then slowed a bit to about 17s and some of the group led by Paul, who obviously had twitching legs, set off up the road closely followed by Yohan to step it up to the 19s they originally wanted. I stayed with the rest and we continued our enjoyable steady winter paced ride, even cutting up Partridge to get to a cuppa before the others.

Left Charlwood with an earlier group but I must stop faffing about so much as it's becoming a bad habit and leaves me with a slight gap to close from the off.

Sterling work by Grahame using his engine to tow everyone most of the way to the first climb. Sean was about 50 metres off the front for a while riding well. Looking strong these days Sean, developing in to quite a powerhouse, so I'll watch your PBs tumble next year in your TTs .

Hitting the Merstham drag Sean gave it a dig but perhaps a bit too early. Being on fixed I was winding the speed up to use my momentum to stay on top of the gear but this also served to bring Sean back and set a couple of others up to come over towards the top. Sorry Sean save your spring for a bit further up next time if I'm on fixed.

Cheers,
Andrew.

[Kasper]

Ever thought of a career as a sports journalist Stu?
If you can get your spelling correct i can see you writing reports for cycling weekly!!!

[Stu Merckx Man]

well i don't mind writing as long as i choose to, but gcse and A level english have soiled much of the enjoyment

[Kasper]

AAAhhhh the bitter tang of disenchanted youth!!!!!

You'll appreciate those English lessons when you get to my age and realise what a love of writing and reading can really do for you in the big wide world.Ie Not a lot really!!!!

Only joking Stu,! keep up the race reports it makes for good reading.

[Kasper]

Ps Sean I would have expected better from you as the site moderator:

"younhg man" and "damaned sure" !!!!!

Is this really any way to be setting an example to the younger members of the club on how to compose a measured reply. I don't think so!!!

Please in future take that little time in composing your thoughts before you start belting the keypad, who knows where this could lead!!!

Can you tell i didn't get out on my bike today and am feeling just a teensy weensy bit disgruntled????

[Toks]

[quote]Toks. There are some goals I'm keeping all to myself

[Ian A4size]

A pedant writes,

caff?
eflt?
tioll?
atkign?
gy?
halfwya?
thr?
sown? shurely sewn!
edecided?
( cont. P94)

[Ian A4size]

forwward?

is there a spell chequer on the forum

[Kasper]

Sean Where did you teach English??
America perhaps????

Also geting beaten by someone on a fixed bike when you had the advantage of all those gears!!! TUT TUT TUT!!!

Definitely should have had something in reserve for the inevitable Merstham drag (It goes on and on and on).

Also its important to keep well hydrated whilst riding a bike so I advise you to " keep your powder" wet not dry as Andrew helpfully advised. I suspect ulterior motives.

Toks is right, writing down and telling others your goals is much healthier than keeping them to yourself. Note to self make some goals for season.

[Kasper]

Whats with the cryptic clues Ian? My guess is your talking gobble-de-gook and that the answer is on page 95.