Club Run

[Andrew G]

Great to be back on a CR after a month away. Good steady run in the 17s with everyone taking it fairly easy. Started clouding up a bit which looked ominous but when we came out of the cafe the sun was out and as Mr. Formby would say it had turned out nice again.

The good weather had obviously perked people up as the run back picked up nicely with most of us having a dig at some point up the Merstram drag and down in to Coulsdon.

Very enjoyable morning, thanks everyone.

[Gavin]

Tough one today went crusing in the 17s today.

I tried it on the sprint but I think it was a dead heat.

Hope to go tomorrow depending on how I feel.

[Marek]

Funny run yesterday. Not many wanting to go in the fast group, probably all saving themselves for the road race.

About 6 of us left in the faster group but by the time we reached the garage we only had 3. This did not bode well so we regrouped at the top of the hill and then decided to wait for the larger group behind.

Up Reigate Hill a young lad (Stuart I think) asked me what had happened to the training group, I said that it had disbanded and therefore we would be going a bit slower. He looked very disappointed so I said if he wanted to go faster then he should try and keep up with me on the hill.

I then attacked Reigate hill and this little whipper snapper sat on my wheel all the way up. I was not holding back either. Over the other side and we had a chat. He is only 16 and this was his second club run. Blimey I was impressed, I told him that he should start racing next year and we will take him out on some longer training runs over the winter to get his endurance up, he seemed very keen.

Into the lanes and we took it at a steady pace, it all went a bit crazy just before Rusper when Sylvain and Stuart decided to attack the group. Dave Kennett went after them with Simon H. Before long we had a little group of riders ahead of the main bunch.

Over toward the other side of Rusper and Stuart got a bit of cramp so he turned back. We carried onto the dual carriageway.

Steve went off first and then the rest of us followed him. Unfortunately Dave Kennett got his waterproof jacket caught in his wheel and the this ripped a massive hole in his tyre. We sent him off in the direction of Faygate station.

This left Simon, Paul and myself left on the dual carriageway and we let Simon do most of the work. We then went into the final run to Charlwood and Simon and I shared turns on the front with Paul keeping his powder dry for the sprint. Just before the last turn I opened up the after burners and thankfully managed to keep the others at bay to take the sign.

At the cafe we got a call from Dave Kennett. Faygate railway line was down due to engineering works. We cycled over to Evans to buy Dave a tyre. Unfortunately, Steve, Simon and I only had about £13 between us and therefore could not afford to buy the cheapest tyre they had which was £15. Dave called and he was hobbling to the shop on one tyre, eek.

I left the others to it and cycled back to East Grinstead up over Turners Hill. Must have got a good 70 miles in the legs, hopefully a good warm up for the race today.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Stu Merckx Man]

although i would love to be an el-natural cyclist who at 16 is already in the training group only on my 2nd ride for the club, it is regretfully not so. what i meant, and was probably miss interpereted by marek....through no falt of his own i should add, becuase i destinclty remember spluttering and bieng thouroughly In decipherable... so well done for picking up the jist of my attempts to converse.

sadly as i said at the top it was not my 2nd club ride...(i joined end of july start of august). but what i ment is it was my second ride with the training group.
sorry for disapointing anyone who thought i was on the path to winning the next tour de france

[siwickm]

Ah, I did wonder, well anyhow lets hope we can get a larger group out for a quick ride on Saturday, much more fun when we have 8 - 10 in the training group.

Cheers

Marek....