New Year's Eve Ride and Pub Lunch.

[Andrew G]

I'm off work on Monday so how about the idea mooted on another thread somewhere which moved off down the lines of what makes a proper pub lunch.

Looking at metcheck it looks like it will be dry so...

Ride meeting at GBs for a 9:30am start.
Pace: Steady.
Pub: The White Bear.

Ride is Gmap-ed [url=http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1516322]here[/url] but in summary it's 30-35 miles to the pub with a few hills thrown in.

Up to Selsdon, Old Farleigh Road (hill), Slines Oak Road (hill), down titsey and the long descent down Pootlings, left at Four Elms and up Toy's (big hill), right at Westerham and then back along Pilgrims Way, up Clarks Lane / Botley Hill, down Beddlestead and up Hesiers (hill). Then round the corner to the [url=http://www.the-whitebear.com/index.htm]White Bear[/url] pub for a pub lunch and a pint or three.

Obviously the pub lunch is optional and you could head straight home, the route also allows a couple of turn back points if you want to head back early.

I haven't been to the White Bear since I was a nipper and my brother got butted by the goat they used to have there, but it is on the way home and not too far for anybody to get back from after a beer and with a stomach full of grub.

I'll post here if the weather looks like it might take a turn for the worse and scupper plans.

Anyone up for this?

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Snoop Doug]

Oooooo, great idea. Tis my daughter Keira's birthday so I can't make this - shame as I reckon I could freewheel most of the way home from the White Bear . Sounds like a good plan hope you get a good turn out.

Happy New Year

Snoop

[Gavin]

I am on a half day that day so might be able to come along for the ride but lunch might be pushing it a bit!

[CaroleH]

Mmmmm - might be up for this! Need some miles in those legs!! And the pub lunch? PERFECT

Carole H

[Andrew G]

Yeah get the miles in Carole you slacker, Tamar will need your support in the TTs for the ladies team.

Oh by the way usual regroup rules at the top, or over the other side, of main hills.

[Jonathan B]

Put me down for this one.

[jon avery]

Horray! Ta to Andrew i'm back on the forum, And yup i'm up for this one as well

[Jon H]

Me too [img]http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/Cheers.gif[/img]

[CaroleH]

Can't make the ride The hubby is working and being as 3 kids can't look after themselves I guess I'll have to do it!!!! Kids don't half cramp your style at times!!!

Enjoy your ride, I'll be thinking of you all in the pub supping beer whilst I have the joys of arse wiping etc

Carole H

[Ian A4size]

Kids are great, mine are 23 and 25 no prob at all!

Kids are great, 'specially when they are someone elses!

[Andrew G]

A real shame you couldn't make it Carole, it was a great day.

For the record those present were Jon Avery, Dan, Jonathon B, Anthony, Alan, Marco and myself. We waited 'til 9:45 but no Jon H so we set off.

We briefly collected Gavin in the lanes after Old Farleigh Rd but he had to head off to work so couldn't stay long. A couple skipped Slines Oak Road and met the rest of us at the top of Titsey, saving their energy for Toy's perhaps.

I'd stuck some nasty hills on the route deliberately so that we could have a nice easy paced social ride, yet still get some training in on the hills if you wanted it.

Arrived at the White Bear and found it to be, after having not been there for ages, a nice little country pub. Toasty warm, fire, wooden floors the works. We revived ourselves with a pint and some food (proper pub lunch of steak and ale pie with chips for me) before setting off back home - for me a mere 2-3 mile roll downhill

I really enjoyed today, thanks a lot chaps.

[Gavin]

Yeah nice one Andrew shame I couldn't stay longer but I was suffering and had only been 10 miles!

[Jon H]

As it was advertised as a 9:30 start, I arrived at CSS at 9:25, waited around till 9:35, then assumed no-one was coming so headed off on my own. Should have read your post a bit better - I've just realised it was starting at GB's not CSS. [img]http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/style_emoticons/default/HeadSlap.gif[/img]

[Andrew G]

I was surprised you weren't there Jon but didn't have your number with me as I thought you might have had a puncture of something. Our little wait did mean that Marco managed to make it down for the ride though which I know his legs are thanking him for.

I'll hold you to that Sean, let me know when you're free and I can get us lost on a hill in Surrey or Kent somewhere . The advantage of the odd hilly one as well is that being a lot tougher you can get a good hard ride in in a shorter distance so don't tend to be out for so long if you need to get back. I only did 40 miles today but with the hills it seems like further.

[Antloony]

Ah what a lovely gentle run out it was..NOT...

Bloody hills....though fair play Andrew did warn me....obviously not enough though...Im ashamed to say I had to stop twice to put my lungs back inside my rib cage as they were hanging out my mouth at one point.

Was a great ride out, plenty of laughter and chatting along the way (except for the hills where there was lots of sweating and cursing) and a lovely pub lunch at the end of it.

Cheers fella's.