Club Run 17th March.

[Andrew G]

Excellent ride today, as soon as I hit the road my legs were feeling good, the weather was mild, and the sun was due to come out later. What more could you ask for.

You could tell we were on a promise from the weather with big Robbie out and then Super Ajay came bounding down the station steps.

HUGE group at CSS including more newbies to add to our number, quite a large 15 group today being catered for by Tim and John C. So good to see more potential new members and the excellent base that supports the club.

Went in the 19s which was a good working size group and included George and Paul "resting" for tomorrow. I think a couple dropped back at one point as we seemed to diminish slightly in numbers.

On the way to the cafe in addition to normal turns I did a couple of big pushes really winding it up to give myself a bit of an intervally type workout. I apologise if this stretched it out a bit, but no one complained and just sat on until I died / moved over.

On the final run in George hit the front and tested his legs by winding things up to an amazing pace. I hung on to his wheel for grim death, with Brian and Apples on mine, but then George dropped it on to his smallest sprocket and kicked again! It was still too far from "the line" for me to hang on, and I could feel my earlier pushes kick in, so I dropped back slightly and Brian and Apples jumped across. George kicked again at the finale to cross the sprint line first. I think the rest of us were just in awe.

Thankfully some of the first in the cafe as with today's numbers it got very crowded.

Back via Box Hill in a group that included Alan with his beautiful new bike and bling shoes, and "sleeper" Matt looking as slim as a racing snake despite the lack of training . Good run down, pace picked up nicely with everyone doing strong turns. I got a gap at the roundabout on to the dual carriageway due to the cars, but rather than wait I carried on to give me the much needed slip room on the hill, which surprise surprise I needed as the road went up.

Re-group at the top before the final blast back to Coulsdon, fast and furious most of the way.

Good luck in the race tomorrow guys. I was going to try and get along to support but I don't think my Mum would be very happy if I put back lunch til mid-afternoon!

[Stu Merckx Man]

nice one andrew, training group soon by any chance?

[Andrew G]

[quote]training group soon by any chance?

[Ian A4size]

Well the VCs were out in force this week on the "gentlemens 18" and seeing as it was close to mothering sunday a few "muthas " as well.
A huge turnout meant many groups leaving, quite what montys idea of the "pens" for starting was all about i dont know.
Graham and Paul did a sensible pace up the hill out of CSS for a change, but it may have been Mark with his new wheels.
We were stopped at every set of lights and nearly by the police on a speedtrap coz the pace was good.
We had caught the 19 group ambling along by the feathers- mainly consisting of racers who were taking it easier, sensible riding by Graham and Richard kept the groups apart and allowed the traffic to get by.
Into the lanes and soops came to the front to do his "turn" ( Very short and sweet as well) down the hill!
It was on occasian a very ragged ride - but the holes were called and we all stayed upright.
We acquired a few other riders from the 19 group on the way as i think a few punctures were had. One rider i spoke to said he had not ridden since last summer- and had decided to go in the 19's ( shurely shome mishtake)
his face was as red as his bike!
A small breakaway from soops up the small drag to partridge lane ended when he turned off early for the cafe!
This did split the ride up a little but Graham dragged everyone back on.
Well at least thats the sprint sorted then
A speedy ride thru lambs green and out to Ifield.
We left Mark and another guy -sorry i dont know/remember your name but he was a mate of Seamus O'Hogan- to lead out for quite a while , i was feeling quite good today and what with graham just back after the chest infection i might just have it.
I went far too early - where exactly is the sprint? 4 years an' i still dont know .
Anyhows Richard came flying past as i was dying and yep you guessed it Graham took it by 1/2 a wheel.
Cafe was bogging with about 85+ ACC- prob 90 with Joyce/Keith/Jim and a few others.
A nice speedy ride back in what was a well drilled group full of mixed abilities, racers, 17/18/19 ers. Really good buzz belting thru the lanes chatting.

[Nick]

I went out with Montys group....he read the Rules of the Club Run and by the feathers about 6 riders dropped out????? Also like Ians group we caught we the earlier group and with some good riding we managed to keep a distance of sorts. We decided to take a slightly different route so to make a clean break from the other group, we also road through Rusper into a Lambs green....we had orders from The captain that the sprint was on only when he gave the shout.....when he did I took to the front a stayed out there glancing over my shoulder twice to see a dark figure on my wheel with a speed of over 35 I was impressed to see it was a LADY rider Jo (Mr Munnerys better half).
On they way back I did ask the question of the front riders were they all on a Promise as they seemed to be going for GOLD. Most of the ride back speeds around 21-23mph..Thanks alot you guys as I manged to get home and watch all 3 Rugby games...even though that hill at the end of my ride did cause me to cramp up quite bad.

Thanks guysand girls see you next week.

PS Carole thanks for the tea I forgot to give you the money.

[CaroleH]

Good ride on Saturday!!! Went with the 15's, lots of new faces!!!!

Won the sprint (although did forget to mention to the new guy Pete that we had a sprint for the cafe!!! Tactics, tactics!!!)

Feel I've now passed the test for the slow(!) 17. Be kind to me guys!!!!

Carole H

PS Nick, make mine a cuppa next week, I might need it!!!!!

[Toks]

Hey Carole, with Lance as part of your nickname you were obviously looking for a bit of attention . There are currently no ACC female racers I don't think... If we detect even a wiff of a competitive spirit me, Ajay and the race boys will be coming to getcha

[John Czernobay]

What a great morning and what a turn out. The 15mph Team did a fantastic job as lead pace group for the rest of the ACC , we had to wait ages for some of you lot to catch us, even I was on the front It was a lot of fun.

Nice one Carole , yep, the 17's are a calling your be just fine but your "banter" will be missed.

Toks; ease or slow peddle, Carole doesn't know the meaning of the words, after last Saturday's CR believe you me.

Have a great week one and all.

JohnCz..

[adrian]

Enjoyed seeing everyone out on Saturday, but felt weedy and struggled to keep up with the 19s all day. Hanging on for grim death on the bumpy Surrey roads, I felt like the corpse of the emperor Vitellius being dragged to the Tiber. Except that he had the luxury of being already dead and therefore free of pain.

Was absolutely Friared for the rest of the day and only the later ingestion of Guinness, pints at a time, restored some measure of normality to my weary, aching frame.

Looking forward to my next slow death in public.