I'd said I'd take a B Training Group today the reverse route of the CR. At CSS it was a bit vague what was happening so we set off as a 19's / B Training Group, but it was more of a training group type ride than a normal 19s.
Those present : Toby "The Horse" (steady Ian! 'tis due to his height and strength), Andy (Bianchi), Mark "Lockey", Ant, Paul D, Paul B, Neil, Kasper, and we were also joined by Paul H on Chipstead Valley Rd.
We set off and soon picked up to a strong pace driving in to the wind, throwing in quick rotations so we could all pull it along pretty fast and then get off the front before dying. Paul D was on the front as we hit the first climb just before Kingswood but was in way too higher gear and suddenly shot backwards, meanwhile Mark stormed up the climb flying off the front. As we joined up again round the corner Paul had vanished but then reappeared in front of us a minute later , sneaky shortcut he knows there.
Along the top road to Box hill we were hammering along with pretty much a good rolling thru n' off, but Paul B was slipping off the back, we eased to let him back on but then he started dropping again when we picked the pace up again. We stopped at the top of Box for a quite tete a tete and Paul said he was having a bad day so not to worry when he dropped off next time.
Down Box and then along the dual carriageway in to a really strong head wind, left and on to the main road where we needed to go right. We were greeted by a no right turn sign but nipped across the road so we could carry on as planned. Worth noting this for other groups who go this way round the CR, I don't think it's a problem you may just need to dismount and nip over.
Left and up the steepish hill, we split a bit on here as everyone did there own thing be that twiddle or power up it, but then regrouped again on the descent before picking up the thru n' off again. This next section is a bit of a roller with a couple of little lumps and a drag or two, just think how quick you normally bowl along it going the other way and you'll realise it ain't flat.
Kasper and Paul D were struggling to hold wheels by now and they both dropped off as we got to Newdigate. I know we said we wouldn't scatter people all over the countryside but as they were together they'd be able to ride in together and cut up Partridge if they wanted.
It was only as we went through Newdigate that it struck me that going this way you still pick up the normal CR route with a reasonable part of it still left, and all the draggy sections to come . Still sore legs or not we continued our fast pace and either thru n' off or lined out with the leader flicking off as and when their legs told them to.
The next victims were Mark and Ant who both slipped off simultaneously as we approached Partridge and the climb up to Rusper. Again as it was so near the cafe and they were together we carried on, it was only as we dropped down the big hill that Ant suddenly came flying back , he must have picked up a little something in Rusper we'll have to test him .
We cut back by Lambs Green and passed a 17s group here before tearing off on the final run in to the cafe. The only dodgy bit of the ride for me was approaching the sprint I was sitting at the back and just starting to wind up a fairly big gear when a couple in front eased up and spread across the lane, I had to ease up and when they went again I was in to big a gear after slowing to get going again. Please can people keep going that close to the sprint, if you're stuck on the front just go for it rather than ease up as people are picking up their pace and it'll keep it safer, it's only a CR sprint.
All in an excellent ride out, very hard and I thought a good training ride. I'd strongly recommend going out to the cafe this way to all the other groups from time to time as it mixes things up a bit. You still get to the cafe for a chat but I think it helps spread the arrival a little bit, slower groups should set off from CSS as one of the earlier leavers as it is a bit of a longer ride out. It's really nice to change things about too and ride the different roads, they are completely different riding this way to coming back via Box Hill.
Came back via Redhill but my bike was at the back so by the time I'd rescued it and set off the first group was way off down the road . Hey ho, head down and TT up to them then. Blimey this was tough, Grahame was on the front of the group tapping out a quick pace as I kept looking at my speedo and even though I managed to hold it between 24 and 27mph it still took me until the right turn across the main A road to tag on the back for some much needed shelter and rest.
A really enjoyable CR, though one of the toughest for me, and Andy (Bianchi) and Toby definitely need to race this season as they are very strong.