Cracking weather, Grommit!
Well, that was fun
After starting off in full wet-weather gear for the 2nd week in a row, it was a quick change at CSS to eexpose the ACC colours before regrouping on Farthing Way (Coulsdon by-pass), a la "what's that coming over the hill" style. So quick, in fact, I must have left my banana on the Biffa bins by the station - so if your passing that way bonked out tomorrow, you're welcome to it!
Probably 65-70 of us at Nonna Rosa's for photos. Angelo is going to put his pix on the Cafe's Facebook page. He showed us some video on his i-phone when we got back. Minor chaos in Coulsdon town centre as we all set off - mainly caused by the road works in Chipstead Valley road causing all the traffic to go "our way" before turning right into Lion Green Road.
Off on to the A23, the 16/15mph groups were together. Together that is, until everything went rather bumpy at the front on the descent to Merstham, just past the Shepherd's Hill turning. I realised just in time that I'd succombed to that relatively rare thing - a flat on the front. A slight feeling of panic arose as I was on the front at the outside with about 14 riders behind me
At this point we split and I sent the others on, all except Phil Nash, Roy Geen and MArk Leedham, while I attended to the puncture. The culprit piece of glass removed, we were soon underway with new tube in place.
It wasn't very far - just after the left turn in Merstham, when we passed the rest of the group mending a puncture. I obviously won the repair race as they didn't catch us until after Crowhurst. Somewhere around Blindley Heath the rain set in again and Roy headed off home up the A22. We obediently followed the route through Horne to Smallfield, rather than the tempting shortcut up the hill to Outward. Somehow I went into dream mode and was about to do the return leg of the Bletchingley road race/time trial course when Phil and Mark brought me to my senses
and back on route.
Onwards and upwards past Redhill aerodrome and the next point of note was a 1in7 to 1in5, single black arrow hill to the tea stop at Nutfield Priory Farm. Phil had to be cautious here with an impending operation and walked the steepest bit. We were just in time to be greeted by mr PVT (aka the guru...in a car
) and Mark McLaughlin's group on the return leg. Into the Farm and another direction sheet was required to find the Cafe and the others
A lovely pot of tea and great carrot cake later, it was a quick pose for the President's camera, a "Hi" to the Captain's wife and back on the bikes.
Phil predicted a gentle ascent to the A25 "you can tell by the tree-line"
Well, no-one had told the trees as the road kicked up - not steep enough to walk this time, though. Over the A25 and then a descent down a muddy river of a road, where Mark fearlessly disappeared in a cloud of spray, followed by Phil, a little slower, and then me - still very nervous on any wet or slippery looking roads since my fall in Oct 2009
As we regrouped approaching Merstham, I felt like taking the direct route up the A23 through Hooley, but Phil and Mark lured me onto Gatton Bottom, under the M25 and up towards Fanny's Farm. Shame we had only just had tea and cake, I thought as we climbed on past Fanny's.
On the positive side, we were now on one of may favourite roads close to Croydon - Chipstead High Road
Soon Phil and Mark turned off down to Chipstead Vally Road and their respective routes home, while I began the gentle descent towards Portnall's Road. Look out
another traffic-calming Kerb build out had been installed just by the pub/dew pond. No warning sign (that I noticed) and well camouflaged in the generally gloomy grey day.
Another cautious descent followed, down past the starting point of the ACC Sportif and back to Nonna Rosas. Only Becky and Amy were there when I arrived and ordered a Latte and old favourite, Fagiolatta
. Soon, George and the survivors of the TG turned up having been up over Ranmore Common and Box Hill on their return. George had a quick coffee with me, while fielding calls about a flat he was letting. Then it was back out on to a traffic clogged A23 to Croydon, home, bike-wash, and Palace Radio commentary of CPFC v Reading. Come on you EAGLES...
Thanks for an interesting route, Captain Jon, and the great company Roy, Mark and Phil.
See you all next week I hope