by Dr Frigo » Mon Nov 06, 2006 10:09 am
[quote]just before mestham, a couple of people dropped out
I missed the start by about 20 seconds, and seeing the group in the distance put a little effort to catch up. Well it took me almost four miles, just before we ride under the bridge on the dual carriageway, of maximum effort to get back to someone's wheel. Then just two miles later, having barely recovered, on the climb before the service station turn, I dropped my chain and couldn't put it back on whilst riding, so had to stop for ten seconds - and that was it, the group was already miles ahead. As I wasn't feeling great I decided it wasn't worth the effort again, and that I'd soft-pedal waiting for the next group. Kieran and Simon "Hulk" went past, Kieran told me Simon was on a mission to catch up with the front group - good luck to him, I thought, I'm not taking part in this foolishness! Kieran and I rode for a bit until we got caught by the 19s, then we had a nice fast-ish ride all the way to the café.
Only about three of us were up for Box Hill, until one by one we finally decided to go back the short way. By that time the front group with Stu was miles ahead, we didn't regroup until the church stop. When we got back in Croydon I was feeling better than I'd started, so went for an extra tour and ended up doing 128km.