Summer Madness ? ToSH 26/08/06

[huw williams]

Summer Madness ? ToSH 26/08/06

This years official ToSH (20th August) clashes with the Highclere Castle sportive and a Bike Wales event so I'm considering doing an ACC ToSH on Saturday 26th August for those who want to go round this now legendary course.

I know there's a lot of other stuff going on in august but we're going to clash with something this time of year whenever we do it.

Who?s up for it?

We had over 30 riders earlier this year so hopefully, it being summer, we'll have enough our to allow the usuall format of fast, medium and slow groups with a mass gathering for lunch in shifts at the cafe in Shere.

There will also be an opportunity to go shopping in Guildford if you?re stupid enough to follow any group which has Monty in it!

As usual maps will be provided and experienced ToSHers will by now be familiar with the fact that the route can be decidedly shortened by cutting across the tops of hills rather than riding up and down them (ie cheating). This is perfectly acceptable for riders less equipped to climb for over 2,500metres in the space of 100 miles which is what ToSH entails.

So all you warm-weather whippetts who struggled around snorting like stuck pigs when we did it in the spring, promising "I'll see you in August" - come and fulfil your destiny.

You don?t have to super fast to do it. The idea is that you get given a route map and find your own way round (there are plenty of riders who know the route by now) at your own speed. Please feel free to organise your own groups in advance based on the speed you want to go or route you want to take.

The main ride doing the whole course will go off with the club run at about 9.15 from CSS and we usually keep a large, medium-paced group together until after lunch at the top of Winterfold (21% climb out of Cranleigh). After that its every man for himself back up over Coombe Bottom, Ranmore Common and Box Hill.

There are always a great number of stories and experiences to emerge from ToSH rides, so lets see if we can get the biggest turn out ever for this one - its a summer bank holiday weekend so you'll have plenty of time to get over it.

Please post replys here on the forum so we can get some idea of numbers in advance.

Hope to see you there - Huw

[Dr Frigo]

Once again I'll be missing that.

I'll be in Alpe d'Huez mind

[Gavin]

Sylv,

From what I can remember of Alpe D'Huez I am quite looking forward to TOSH and winterfold ..........

[Dr Frigo]

It'll be mostly downhill (and off-road) ...

[Paul on the Pearson]

I'll definately be up for this one as for one reason or another, alien abduction and that sort of thing I've never done the TOSH.

[Kevin Rynne]

hope to be there too!

[Ray Pepe]

Count me in

[Conor Cormican]

Thanks for the map Huw, I will be there provided there are no last minute family commitments.