ACC chaingangs

[Iliya]

I do 18 on CRs so I should be fine. Great! I'll see you all tonight!

[Peachey]

Me and Andy Watmore should be there....

[Mulberry]

I rode the A25 to Sevenoaks last night and I'm not sure if you'll be using it, but thought you may like some feedback. Whilst it's a good road for training on your own I don't necessarily think it works for a CG: -
- it's too hilly from Redhill until Westerham to manage Thru & Off
- from Westerham - Sevenoaks it flattens out, but is too narrow to safely ride 2 abreast or T&O plus the surfaces get's pretty bad
- A25 is almost all unlit so an actually CG with T&O is not advisable unless you all have very powerful lights

We've looked at different options for CGs in our area over the last few years and it is quite tricky to be honest. The only option for main lit roads is the A23 basically which is far from ideal although it has worked in the past. If you were to use the A25 I would suggest you could only do it with a long line, taking long turns on the front and you should still really use powerful lights (ie 2x Fenix or better) in which case you may as well go on a quiet country lane circuit.

The CGs I've done recently which have worked have been with groups where every rider has very powerful lights as this is the only safe way that you can do T&O in the dark and even then it is risky if you are having CG newbies along etc. However most people it seems are prepared to dump £150+ on some lights so it is more feasible than you may first think.

I would also echo Andrew G's comments to wear bright clothing and have several rear LEDs in case one fails. Also try to angle flashing LEDs so they don't point into the face of the rider behind

Good luck tonight and let us know how you get on.

Marcus (NP)

[Antloony]

Brilliant. Thank for the post Marcus, much appreciated.

[Amy]

Should be out - even after a late and stultifying night last night... espeically after last night

For extra training, those stronger and faster can push me up the hills

The annoying thing, I was out on the tourer last night to ride to and from Croydon and I felt like I was riding really well - tonight on the Enigma, I'll probably feel like I'm riding a brick and be hanging off the back

[Dombo]

[quote="Amy"]
The annoying thing, I was out on the tourer last night to ride to and from Croydon and I felt like I was riding really well - tonight on the Enigma, I'll probably feel like I'm riding a brick and be hanging off the back

[Paul H]

[quote="Antloony"]Roll up roll up for tonight's ACC chain gang in what will hopefully be the first of many. Weather looking great for later, dry, calm and still quite mild so no excuses for not being there.

[Antloony]

Its ok Paul, I'm not really organising it, I'm just promoting it on Amy's behalf so its safe, I mean heaven forbid that some one as inexperienced as riding as me should be allowed to organise or even sheppard a group. ...

[Amy]

Actually, it's Phil Hawkes' ride and I have every faith in Ant - after all I proposed him as a VC (among others…) when Monty was looking for names ages ago Only one person made the grade...

[Antloony]

Is Phil a VC. Is he allowed to organise this.

[Amy]

It's just a group of like-minded individuals getting together for a ride.

No, Phil isn't a VC either but it's OK, you'll have me - somewhere, off the back

[Paul H]

But has Phil been deemed not worthy to be a VC like Ant?

[Phil H]

I've never had the audacity to put myself forward and be rejected.

Anyway, that was fun. Feel like I've had a workout. We had enough for two groups of 5, the fast boys doing a slightly longer route. A bit of fun and games on the last stretch from Merstham to Coulsdon. You can see why I don't race now - attacking at all the wrong moments, blowing up just short of the top of climbs etc. Marcus has some magic trick where he can drop off the back a bit, then when everybody else is stopped at the lights, he comes shooting through just as they turn green.

If we can keep this going, it will be good.

Now to look at the Garmin data ...

[Marcus]

I think we had 12 out last night which was fantastic. The decided route of A25 to Gatwick was a very wise decision as visibility was good and traffic wasn't a problem. There were therefore sufficient numbers for an A and B group, each with equal numbers. Peachey and Andy W have been doing this regularly and I'm sure they were pleased to have company.

We all left css together and it wasn't long before the A group ramped it up and disappeared into the night. I struggled on the inclines and as BP (big Phil) said was dropped before catching up at the lights or on the declines. I rode on my own from Salfords onwards. Got in just before 2200.

It was a great workout and preferable to my Tuesday daytime jaunt with SWRC. I got home tired and content in equal measures.

Chapeaux to Amy and BP for getting this going and lets make it an ACC add lets keep it as is. Meeting 1915 for a prompt 1930 off.

I'll be there next week hope to see some more faces - all abilities welcome, as I have proven.

ps if you are coming for the first time as has been said bring sufficient lighting, maybe spare batteries and remember the temperature falls in the evening.

[Amy]

Definitely fun Good showing with enough as said before for two groups of different abilities. At least there was someone there slower than me - thank you, Marcus I was OK on the flats but lost it on the uphills - where were my pushers??

I think my decision to turn at the roundabout just before Gatwick was right as we all got back to Coulsdon about the same time - except for Marcus... We can work our way up to doing the full route - maybe even beat the A chaingangers

I thought I saw Serge coming back somewhere south of Earlswood?