CR 12th June

[Keith]

Firstly don't forget Andrew's request for a helper of two for 25th July at Horsham. [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11310#p104047]Details here.[/url]
Being a member of a community is a two way thing. Members are requested to help just once a year (racing members twice).

My legs were feeling good today, so a I had a really fun Training Group ride. Once PaulH had commuted to work and we'd lost a couple, we were down to 6 for the rest of the ride; Me, Sylv, DK, Rogan, Brian, and Jason (an ACC member from way back in the 90's). A few of us got away for the Rusper sign and I was looking forward to a nice rest whilst the others caught up, but in no time Jody C came whizzing by, towing the rest along.

Steady through and off ensured nobody got left behind on the dual carriageway, and kept going nearly all the way to the cafe. Sylv took the sprint by half a wheel.

[Marek]

Started off with the training group, but a slightly new bike position left me a bit down on the power and when the group turned up the Reigate steps and I got caught by traffic the little chase after the group drained my legs quite quickly and then when Sylv put the hammer down on the steps I could not get back on. Then got caught at all the lights through Reigate and after a bit more of a futile chase as could see the group going up past Reigate common I decided to turn around and join the next group through.

This was a bit more manageable for me. Some old faces in the peleton including Dave Pook who I had not seen for a few years. Had a good old chat with him. I managed to get a bit more power down up the hill before the dual carriageway. Good through and off and the sprint was a well fought competition with at least 4 or 5 of us lining up for it. I went quite early and managed to just get the sprint.

Nice chat with Brian Robinson in the cafe, another old face who has not been around for a few years, then a pootle home back to East Grinstead. Adjusted the bike position when I got home, the new foot beds meant that I needed to up the saddle height slightly. Now just the small issue of cycling over the Pyrenees next week.

Cheers

Marek.....

[quote="Keith"]Firstly don't forget Andrew's request for a helper or two for 25th July at Horsham. [url=http://www.addiscombe.org/members/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11310#p104047]Details here.[/url]
Being a member of a community is a two way thing. Members are requested to help just once a year (racing members twice).

[Sylv]

[quote="Keith"] A few of us got away for the Rusper sign and I was looking forward to a nice rest whilst the others caught up, but in no time Jody C came whizzing by, towing the rest along.

[Marek]

Cheers Sylv, you needed to wait one more minute and I would have been back, but to be honest not sure I would have lasted much longer with you guys. Give me a couple of weeks and I will give you a kicking.

Cheers

Marek....

[Sylv]

Seriously, we really did think you'd stopped and waited for the next group, sorry if you hadn't. See you in two weeks then, but i'm not sure if those mountains will do you any good

[Phil H]

Went with Amy and Mike on a longer route down to Wiston. Some lovely scenery in the Sussex lanes (including a llama). Good weather too - although it felt like a bit of a headwind on the way back. Would recommend the route - which I shall tease out of my Garmin later. Pretty much 80 miles starting/ending at CSS which means 90 miles on the clock (all on the big ring) by the time I got home. Felt good today - but that could be the lack of Bwlchs. Encountered a Redhill TT near Faygate - I don't know if we had anyone in that.

[Amy]

Don't forget the cocks we saw

Well, I got my legs ripped off by Mike and Phil fresh from Mont Ventoux and the Dragon Ride respectively Good job the route was reasonably flat though a bit more rolling on the way back.

Set off with the 18s which was far too big and undisciplined... Tried to split it but beyond my core of 3 other riders but those behind us just jumped round us... including at least one who'd first shouted that the group was too big. As the group kept getting caught by the lights, I gave it up as a bad idea and just sat on the back with my 3 riders. In Merstham the group stopped - not sure what for but presumably to get things tidied up a bit. My little group carried on but because I was too slow on the Reigate steps we got picked up again but we lost them again and continued on to Newdigate by the shortest route.

Turned off in Newdigate to Capel round the roundabout of hell (10 turn ) then off again down the Rusper road but turned off to head for Warnham. Initiated Phil and Mike into the old shortcut under Warnham station (the level crossing's been closed for years and the alternatives are pretty unpleasant). Headed through Broadbridge Heath to the lanes south of Horsham, through Itchingfield and Barnes Green down to Ashington. A suggested detour was vetoed by Mike - actually I was kind of glad - so we headed straight to Wiston.

The cafe was the one I thought it was - very pleasant, dogs, ducks, cocks and the like wandering around. Jacket potato for me, scrambled eggs on toast for Phil and a Cornish pastie (with salad ) for Mike. Mike decided not to have a spotted dick and custard

Headed back via Partridge Green - nice road, dead straight, wide and fairly flat for a minor road. Tucked behind Mike and Phil and went into team trial mode Got to a cross-road where a small dog bounced up and down in a garden, absolutely hilarious. On through to Maplehurst, Nutfield, Mannings Heath, Buck Head and Colgate to Faygate where we saw the Redhill Wheelers running a 14 mile (I think) tt. Stopped to say hello to the the timekeeper - known to time triallers as Frank Cubis and to me as the Kingston Wheeler club gnome

Mike rode on and Phil and I stopped at Tanhouse for a much needed tea and cupcake (for me anyway...) before the final push back home... 88 miles on the clock for me and 15mph av.

[Amy]

Don't know about anyone else but what with all the terrible road surfaces my backside feels like it's been beaten black and blue...

[philf]

Amy

I rode around you when I realised you were doing a different route, and John and Sam came with me. By the time you arrived at the lights to tell us that the group was too big I had already spoken to the guys at the front about it - and had been told by the rider next to me that the group was 'fine' ( all 23 of us) - but it was just not pleasant being strung out over 30 metres at the motorway crossing. When the group stopped to split, in the pub car park in Merstham, and you went past, a lot of people thought that your heading off had resolved the problem(although you were clearly in a different group), so headed off en masse immediately - 19 riders! - leaving me, John, Sam and another rider (sorry, don't know your name) watching in disbelief. We waited a minute before riding down together.

The problem was that, at Coulsdon, Alex thought we were 2 groups - the final 18 and the first 17 - and couldn't do much when we all left together. It was really up to the group as a whole to sort it out, and when we stopped at Merstham that's what I thought was going to happen. But it didn't.

There's been a bit of sniping about ACC riding discipline recently, and every Saturday we have the chance to show we can get it right. I still can't understand why a group of 24 adults couldn't sort out such an obvious, manageable problem.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[quote="Amy"]
Set off with the 18s which was far too big and undisciplined... Tried to split it but beyond my core of 3 other riders but those behind us just jumped round us... including at least one who'd first shouted that the group was too big. As the group kept getting caught by the lights, I gave it up as a bad idea and just sat on the back with my 3 riders. In Merstham the group stopped - not sure what for but presumably to get things tidied up a bit.

[Amy]

And confusion reigned all around I did shout that I was splitting the group as best I could but was a bit surprised when you went around me and Mike, Jon, as you had already said the group was too big. I'd tried to kick the whole group into some order but it wasn't reaching the front and was a losing battle and so when you all pulled into the Feathers I decided to just take my little group on alone after Merstham... I'm afraid that being at the back I had no idea what was going on At least it sounds like everyone made it to Charlwood and back with no one falling off.

[Toks]

[quote="Amy"]Don't know about anyone else but what with all the terrible road surfaces my backside feels like it's been beaten black and blue...

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[img]http://i46.tinypic.com/cryjc.jpg[/img]

VCs Alex and Phil doing the ACC Haka before the ride...

[img]http://i48.tinypic.com/2qc3ujk.jpg[/img]

newcomers look on in fear...

[img]http://i50.tinypic.com/vdoh1g.jpg[/img]

Ian "Wow!! Look over there it's the VCs doing the ACC Haka..."
Tim "I think I've got it...Ka Mate!! Ka Mate!! Ka Ora!! Ka Ora!!... just can't quite get the hand movements..."

[img]http://i48.tinypic.com/4lszuw.jpg[/img]

The lovely Robyn (laughing) "No, Tim, it's not scary enough. Look and learn...the bloke behind me in the sleeveless Scott shirt - now that's scary!"

[Phil H]

Are we posting photos?

[img]http://93.97.161.139/bikingphotos/amy_and_cock.jpg[/img]

Caption if you want.