Falling leaves report

[quote] I felt I was going alright up untill then but riding knowing youve lost a lot of time can be a bit demoralising,

[Richard (Apples)]

It all started very well .
Got onto the to start about 10 mins late as a few of us were going to ride in a bunch.That didn't seem to happen and Adrian and I were riding with two others for a while, and apart from a couple of short sharp showers the sun was shining.

I was spinning away with this little guy in front who seemed happy to do all the work and me happy to let him. He started to drop me after several miles so I looked back for the others and realised I was on my own

I carried on head down into winds from all directions except behind untill the little chaps mate caught me up . We worked together for what seemed like ages picking up riders along the way. Eventually we caught the little fella just before the checkpoint

After getting the card marked and a quick refill off we went at a fair old pace. Then we turned off through a farmyard !! Through some pretty disgusting spray and up a long drag to a roundabout at the top and the realisation that we had gone wrong.

Valuable minutes ticked by as we tried to work out where we were and we eventually decided to turn left (the steepest way ) and began the climb up. I was starting to feel it and dropped away only to be caught by another bunch who'd done the same as us!!

I held on to the back of them pretty much untill they got the jump on me at some traffic lights about 10 miles from home. There I was joined by a guy who's shorts, jersey, elbow and knee had been shredded in a fall and I started feeling slightly better about my aches and pains.

As we got closer more riders strung together and we made the climb up to Crystal Palace with quite a few of us

Then in Huw's words what can only be described as a downpour of "Biblical proportions" decended upon us.
I kept thinking you can never get a cab in the rain so keep pedaling

The clubhouse and the Agreeables were a welcome sight as I squelched in for my pasta and choccie cake.

As I stood in the queue for my certificate I could see the bloke was looking at me in awe and putting loads of gold stars on it . There we are Mr.Appleton he said, and as I walked away I noticed he'd given me a time of 3 HOURS 15 MINUTES

I took it over for Huw and the others to have a look at and then changed it for the correct one 4:35

I was a bit dissapointed to have gone wrong and my computer said 75 miles when I got to the clubhouse but hell there's always next year

[adrian]

Yes, Apples, I got a bit of a shock when I saw little fella and his mate (TransAlps?) behind me on the run-in from West Wickham - especially as you weren't with them any more. I hadn't passed you or them, so something had obviously gone awry!

[Richard (Apples)]

Yep thats them...still from all the reports it seems most people had a few problems to deal with .

Not sure if Mrs.A is going to let me out for the CR this Sat but might be up for a ride on Sunday if you're around

[adrian]

This weekend is looking dodgy - might be able to do Sunday pm at a pinch. But have a full weekend pass for the following as my Mrs A is away. Would love to do something long and hilly on one or both days

[adrian]

Actually, that reminds me - Huw, did you have any date in mind for the rescheduled ToSH?

[huw williams]

Yes my final event of the year is the road race at Eastway on 21st Oct so we'll be looking at a season ending blast around the Tosh on 28th if that suits enough people? What do you reckon?

[huw williams]

Well, that's everyone accounted for, excellent reportage fellas and well done on some great performances.

Just a quiuck reminder that this ride is very similar in distance and route to the three reliability trials run by Catford CC, Old Portlians CC and Sydenham CC that take place in Jan/Feb every year.

They are all about 70 miles and start from Halstead or Knockholt which means you don't have to ride through traffic like we did yesterday at the start and finish of each ride.

If you're intent on racing or doing sportives next year these are great preperation rides and offer a good mid-winter target to keep you fit and motivated. Watch this space for details of when they are closer to the time but normally start the last week in January. Which these days means the weather will probably be better than it was yesterday!

[Dr Frigo]

You all look dry!

[img]http://www.londoncyclesport.com/editorialGallery/galleries/Leaves%20Folder/ND025139.JPG[/img]

[adrian]

..if somewhat mournful. And this was the good part of the day!

[John Cochrane]

Well done to all those who took part and glad that you enjoyed the ride despite the weather.

My original plan had been to take part, as I have done in previous years. Unfortunately due to a fall off the bike, the other day, on my commute to London and not being fully recovered, I gave it a miss and instead helped out on the event.

The plan was that I would be stationed at Westerham, manning the emergency phone, and respond to calls to collect those that needed help and get them back to Westerham where they would transfer to one of two vehicles we had doing a shuttle sevice back to Dulwich.

Problems with the emergency phone meant that plans had to be changed and I ended up touring round the southern section looking for those in need of help.

It was relatively quiet until the heavens opened and a series of torrential downpours went on throughout the afternoon.

Punctures were the problem and the track pump in the car was in constant use. Amazingly only one person took the option of putting his bike on the rack for the lift back to Westerham.

I have to take my hat off to one guy in particular. He had come off his bike and ended up in a hedge puncturing both tyres and ripping the rear tyre cover. His two spare tubes were used in the replacement. Unfortunately the tear in the rear tyre meant that every few miles he would collect more punctures, which he now had to mend. Also one of the tubes had split and another had the valve part company with the tube.

When I came across him he was repairing yet another puncture in a tube that had already been repaired three times. I suggested he might want to put his bike on the rack and I'd get him back to Westerham but he would have none of this he was determined to finish come what may. I helped him patch up the tube and tape was used on the inside and outside of the tyre to try and avoid further punctures. I made sure he had my mobile number in case of need. As I did not hear from him again I guess he managed to finish without any further mishaps. Which I reckon was some achievment.

[Alan M]

Sounds like an eventful tour of duty John. Sorry to hear about your fall. I don't recall being on a ride and seeing so many punctures as on Sunday - maybe it is a feature of wet Autumn cycling - I certainly changed from my summer tyres for this ride. Mudguards next!

[John Cochrane]

From what I heard and saw, with the flooding in places, maybe a dinghy as well as mudguards would have come in handy.

[John Czernobay]

Hey, did we look good or did we look good coming off the Velodrome, what a squad; then it started to rain.......so did we stop like everyone else and put our waterproofs on ......not a chance.......just eat those miles.
I only did the fifty miles but it was a great ride in some beautiful country side and the sun did shine. For my first "big" organised event I was
so surprised just how friendly everybody was. . For a nation that is supposed to be reserved, put people on a road bike and they just, well become a long lost friend, it was really fantastic .

There was something there for everyone, the Velodrome to start, the College grounds, down through South London, a steady climb up and onto the North Downs, a few bumps (one at eight percent) to test your nerve, a beautiful lovely long ride off the Downs into Westerham for the Check Point stop; then along the Pilgrims Way to a nasty left turn (as I was in to higher gear ) to go up Sunridge Hill or Lane to go back over the Downs and back into South London to finish at a Club House in Dulwich for Pasta and a Pint, with of course some great company and all for Charity.

What a great day. See you Saturday.

[adrian]

Well done, John. You'll have seen the nice shot of you applying a bit of lippy; looks like someone's breaking it to me that there's no free food for 70 hilly miles