Sunday 28th December

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

I have mentioned this in other posts, but just to advise you that there will be a Brighton ride on the 28th starting at CSS 9:00am. The aim is for a steady ride, not a Brighton Bash. Route will be dependent on the weather, but if OK, expect some lanes included.

Return via Horsham (for a cuppa if you want ). It should just be possible to make it back without lights, but suggest they are a good idea.

Guru P

[Andrew G]

See you at CSS.

[thePinkDreamMachine]

Sounds like a great excuse to sport all my new PINK biking gear....

[Mike I]

I'm in. I might even wear my new socks, but suspect they will be well hidden given the forecast.

[Antloony]

Hoping to be there, all depends on the how my mothers feeling, my folks have come to visit her indoors and me for xmas but mothers been taken quite poorly

[-Adam-]

Enjoy, I'll be getting lost in Wiltshire...

[Jon H]

I didn't get any new attire
Can I still come out to play if I bring the Quality Street?

[Andrew G]

Well I got some Assos chamois creme which I will use but you'll be glad to hear that I won't be mooning people to show it off.

[Del]

Depending on the weather, I'm hoping to make this. Set out for the CR this morning, but changed my mind and decided to go out when it was a little warmer and the frost had left the road.

The frost did leave the road, but a nice icy wind set in instead! Rode up from Horley to my parents at Merstham and thought my hands were about to drop off! Rode back through Bletchingley and Outwood with all the bravery of an Arctic Explorer - and an extra layer of gloves!!

Just in case I get out late, have you decided which route you are taking, Paul. If I don't make it up to CSS I could try and meet you on the way down.

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Sticking to main (ish) roads. A23 to Horley, Balcombe Road to Worth, turning off to Turners Hill, Ardingly etc

Guru P

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Thanks to you all you guys n gals for a great Agreeable ride to the coast - last Brighton ride of 2008 methinks.

T'was a cold day - leaving at 7:30 for a steady ride up to CSS via A264, A23 to avoid any icy roads and everything except the top of my road was fine.

Sorry Cloe, I didn't get to see you before you returned - hope all is well.
We also said goodbye to Steve and Bridget at Turners Hill - hope you had a good ride home

We kept to the main (ish) roads. A23 to Horley, Balcombe Road to Worth, turning off to Turners Hill, Ardingly, haywards Heath and over Ditchling. At the usual seafront cafe, Mr Personality told us they weren't serving food as the staff hadn't turned up so we went elsewhere, and although exposed to the wind, we sat with a view over the beach to the sea with burges, chips and cups of tea.

Jon H discovered a broken spoke and headed back to a nice warm train carriage (I tried desperately to find a broken spoke in mine as well, but to no avail

We went back via Shoreham airport, Steyning, Partridge Green, had our legs ripped off (thanks Ant) on the many draggy climbs, to Nuthurst and Horsham - who'd have thought it......

Tea's ready.....to be continued

[Antloony]

[img]http://i41.tinypic.com/2i6e9zb.jpg[/img]

Guess who the passenger? Ben's the driver but who's taking it easy in the back?

[Marek]

The only person small enough to get up the little stairs to be on the top deck has got to be Mr hasn't it

Looks like you were having fun.

[Antloony]

Correct Marek and yes it was a hoot.

Great ride today, ace company as usual making it a fun day out. Very cold start but warmed up as the miles went by. Total of 101 miles for me so a good effort.

Sorry for making you suffer Paul, you looked like you needed the exercise though

[Andrew G]

Thanks to PVT for organising this. A goodly sized group was at CSS which I'll try and remember - PVT, Bridget, Steve, Chloe, Carl, Paul (Ingram who we decided was Mike's long lost son ), Mike, Ant, Ben, Jon H (complete with promised Quality Street) myself, and the others I've probably forgotten. We met Del en route.

My it was cold today, I don't think it got above zero and there was a pretty strong wind all day. Fortunately it got colder and windier late on in the return leg .

It was a bit more main roady than a usual PVT run to avoid any ice that might be lurking in the shadows but still a pleasant run down. As mentioned Steve and Bridget turned back at Turner's Hill and Chloe turned back early so numbers reduced slightly. I never noticed the wind behind us apart from the last bit in to Brighton it was mainly a sideways buffeting.

Ditchling Beacon was its usual pain for a non-hill climber like me but I know it well enough now and the landmarks for where the top is that it's not as bad as it once was. The views from the top, although a bit misty towards the coast, were smashing in the crisp weather. The descent off the top didn't have its usual max speed for Mike and I as we were just building up and about to overtake a car and then a bus when the bus slowed and indicated for a right turn. I can confirm the brakes on my bike work very well and it was nice to find just how stable and predictable my new winter bike build is when put to the test. No alarms but I think that's the quickest I've slowed from 40mph to 0mph so one new record on the descent anyway .

The seafront grub was pretty good fare for its type and was scoffed out the wind in a bit of a cut in. While waiting for PVT to finish his 2nd cuppa Ben and I played in the toy vehicles.

Numbers down for the return with Jon's train trip and Carl off to meet his family. The run through the airfield and through Botolph is a nice section but the wind was even stronger now, switching from side to head from time to time. My little legs were aching on the rises and draggy sections, Ant and Paul were strong as oxes all day - get your arse to Hillingdon before the winter series finishes Ant as you're really strong at the moment and will do well.

After saying ta ta to PVT at Horsham Del went one way home and the rest of us climbed up to Rusper and retraced the CR route switching on our lights at Rusper. The wind was starting to make life tough for me whenever the road dragged up and for most of the run back from there was a solid strong icy head wind. Thanks to the chaps for waiting when I started slipping off at the start of the Merstham drag and towing me up, much appreciated as the drags were biting.

Back home in the dark with 110 miles and just under 7 hours on the clock. Needless to say I didn't fancy cooking so the curry house has had my trade, mmmmmm lovely.

I've done quite a lot of CBCs at all times of the year and have done longer routes, hillier routes, a night ride in pouring rain, and ridden it much faster as a bit of a tear up. Today though was one of, if not the hardest due to the weather. Nice and clear and crisp, but freezing cold and the bitter wind cut through at times. A bit of a day out all in all, but as always great fun.

Thanks folks.