Mid week ride (Tues, Wed)

[ajay khandelwal]

Thanks for the encouragment Huw...I saw the Flanders DVD yesterday..no one told me about the 22 % climbs...see you in about 1 hour Gavin...The racers to watch this year are Toks 'Eagle Man' whose bird-like climbing and sleek handling skills will bring him results in high level races, Huw 'Begian Circus' Williams who will be taking his performing skills to finish amongst the country's fastest in cyclosportives. Then there is the every dangerous Marek who might just get serious enough to lead out the third cats on a rolling course. And ofcourse newly annointed champ Tim Harris king of the rouleurs who can produce a some seroius wattage and a flying sprint from 500 yards! Moving down the ranks we have track style rider Yohan and surprise super grimpeur Kieran who look like they may be taking some 4th cat points. And then there are the TT machines John Hemming, Richard Viney and Rob R Evertt, with Richard Viney hoping to translate his TT prowess into solo break aways at Hillingdon. And I don't know Adam from Adam but he sounds fast too, not to mention the new Polish rider with the rusty bike ! Others on the fringes, new member Matt and the Shadow might be tempted to dip their toes into the racing scene. All I can say is I need to play catch up with guys because it looks like the Addiscombe road race break is already down the road as soups dozes in his arm chair !

[-Adam-]

Peaked!?

I only seriously got back on the bike again at the end of feb after doing virtualy nothing since november!

Im just warming up!

Besides, i prefer to ride everyone off my wheel than actually attack or chase down he who does. Still if it comes to it, i will, i clocked 28kph after the second hairpin chasing someone last september.

Good luck for Flanders Ajay and everyone else who's doing it, must say im envious. Though i guess my arse is probably grateful for missing the pave this year!


Adam

[Gavin]

Esssh

2 hours of quality riding tonight.

Really tired now 30 miles and a few hills on the way.

AJ, Sean did you make it home?

Sorry about the pothole AJ I was distracted by the tiredness of sprinting up hills.

All the best.

G

P.S Have to make it a regular event but a bit later so more people can make it and it should get lighter till later.

[Gavin]

He probably got the train from merstham!

[ajay khandelwal]

Yes guys - no ride would be complete with out jumping on board 'the train' for a free ride ! 7. 41 from Merstham. Need to brush up my puncture repairing skills tonight before the cobbles ! Thanks for a great ride !

[huw williams]

You aint gonna get the luxury of a 7.41 from the Valkenberg this weekend!

I'm going to start a regular wednesday ride from Butlers aimed at riders preparing for Sportives - A 2 hour steady ride but with a couple of taxing hills... and we wont have to waste time riding south down the main road in rush hour traffic.

5.30 start next week then later starts as we get more daylight.

In a few weeks we should be able to start at 6pm (enabling more folks to get there after work) and ride for up to 3 hours

Any takers?

[huw williams]

Love to have a go at it

[Gavin]

I was being pulled along at 30mph on the flat by Nigel on the drag down to cousldon south.

That was a glorious tail wind after nigel went home was crusing at 20mph with pulse at 135 usually at about 155 for that kind of speed.

Huw, yes would be interested when it starts at 6pm. I finish work at 5.30 usually and work in london town so it would take me a while to get back.

Try and speak nicely to my boss about the next couple of weeks wednesdays cause it would really help going on a Huw 'steady' ride........

[DavidKennett]

Hi Huw,

Would be up for some evening hilly rides Give the legs a stretch

[Graham O]

huw,

I would be up for mid week rides, but can't do wednesdays at present. I am trying to get out on Thursdays.

If anyone's up for Thursdays let me know..

Graham..

[Phil L]

Huw, I'm up for anything that will help me around the Gran Fondo Cymru, so I'll try make any Wednesday ride that helps me improve on the hills. I work in London 9-5ish so I'll probably cycle to work those days and meet you guys on the way home (ruck sack and all). Since things are quiet for me at work at the moment, I should be able to squeeze in a 5.30 start too.

[Alan M]

For those of you that can get out occasionally during the day either on Tuesdays or Thursdays there is a regular ride, "the over the hill gang" is mainly older blokes but with a fair mix of age and gender - but don't be lulled into thinking that these guys lack pace - a good number leave me standing on the hills and they all have good endurance. Many of them race regularly in the league of Cycling Vetrans.

The rides are from Betchworth and start promptly at 10. The meeting place is a small church hall about 100 metres South of Knights garden centre. I tend to try for one ride each week. Geraldine attends regularly as well. Sometimes there is a fast loop for stronger riders and usually there is a sprint on the way back. Oterwise the pace is steady at 17/18 and pretty safe. The Thursday session is the more moderate and less well attended of the two but I have seen more than 20 out on a Tuesday. Each week they go to a different cafe - the one in Balcombe is excellent. The routes are varied and interesting, not too hilly. I usually manage between 75 and 85 miles including the ride there and back from Sanderstead.

I think that the protocol is just turn up and say that you would like to ride - anyway that is what I did - they all know Geraldine so you could mention her or me as a contact.

Dave Gill, Email : dxgill@tinyworld.co.uk
Telephone : 01883 346320, organises it but if you PM me with your email address I could send some more details.

Enjoy and maybe I will see you out there some time - When I go I would be happy to meet anyone at CSS no later than 9.15 because they don't hang around and wait.

Cheers