Brighton Run with John C.

[Jonathan B]

I would be up for a 18 group, as I could do with one more long ride before the UK Etape.

[John Czernobay]

Hello Team

Many thanks for the route Jeff. We plan to follow that but we must go into Merstham first to pick up Jim and Leslie and then carry on with the A23 for a little but then swing into Smallfield.

If there are some Agreeables who want to step it up to 18mph, that's fine but you need to leave CSS later; there is no way the Super 15's/J4F/JCZ's Hareem Group can mix it with an 18+, your just so uncouth . All that testosterone, out of the saddle, no coffee breaks but we can meet up along the way and in Brighton .

See you all at 8.50am to leave at 9.05am

Any further questions just ask and don't forget your dinner money

John..

[John the old'un]

Nice one John.
See you all Saturday.

[carl f]

Defo up for an 18+ group,but will need someone who's knows the senic route to go as well
Cheers
Carl

[John the old'un]

I have printed off some copies of that route Carl, so if you are at CS before we leave at 0905 I will let you have a copy. (in a waterproof bag!!! )

[carl f]

thanks Jon, see you there

[Alex P]

The big day is here, I hope the weather holds up but I have a feeling that it will be a bit up and down but I will be there.

Does anybody know where we will end up for lunch at Brighton so I can steer the missus in the right direction.

[John Czernobay]

Good evening Agreeables and it's ................. the week-end

The current low pressure should continue to move across the south-east during the night being pushed through by some high pressure. The only thing is it's a fairly weak system, despite the strong breeze, so it could take some time; plus there is a nasty little low front sitting to the north of these islands and it's getting in the way

So don't be put off by the early morning showers and do bring your light weight macs along we may need them but not for sunny Brighton

Have a great evening and see you tomorrow.

John..

[Alex P]

Well what can I say but what a great day.

On the way to CSS I was expecting 10 or so faithfulls to be there ready for the Couldson to Brighton run, to my surprise there were at least 30+! .

Monty got the faster group off first and then the main group of about 25 set off at a brisk pace in what turned out to be more of an adventure rather than a plod to Brighton. With so many of different abilities in a single group, including Jim, Marco, Mark Bayliss, Robert R.E., Monty, Phil, John C & John L to name but a few and an age spread of 15 years old to 80, it was difficult to keep the group together. Throw in a few mechanicals and route differences and we ended up a very spread out group, but at least we were together in the South of England

We came together at Haywards Heath for a tea break (difficult to find somewhere to cater for that many), split up and met up again at the top of Ditchling and finally at Brighton pier after a windy descent of Ditchling where I lost my bottle (figuritivily speaking) and had apply my brakes therefore not breaking my land speed record of 50.3mph.

We did some great group photos at the pier (which I hope will be posted here) and we all ended up at an Italian restaurant where the proprietor set up one long table for 20 of us, outside the front facing the sea, it was fantastic to see everybody in yellow (well most of us) at the table . People were taking photos of us and shouting from cars (well I think it was aimed at us).

The weather looked like it was turning and everybody made their way back apart from Jeff and me as we had our support teams come to pick us up. I hope the return trip went well as the wind certainly was picking up.

What a classic day, one that I will remember...

[John the old'un]

Fantastic day. I was determined to make it there and back, and thanks to the stalwarts of the 15 Specials group I did just that.
Thanks to you all for the encouragement, and special thanks to John C, Tim, Mike, and Michelle whose support never wavered. Without you guys I would never have made it.
My longest ride since 1962.

[SimonJOsborne]

The Agreeables Grand Day Out! And what a day out it was too, even the weather took pause for the most part.

I thoroughly enjoyed myself, up until 75 miles that is. I was even crazy enough to extend my ride home past Lloyd's Park and along the mad mile as I couldn't get back to Shirley having done 98 miles. I had to make it 101.1 miles, my longest ever ride

Thanks to John and Tim for putting it all together, and the group I was with on the way back that stuck together through all those hills.

[Nick]

The ACC at its best.

Set of with the main bunch lots of chatting laughing and fun, the ride did breakdown in places due to the different abilities in riding. But we always rejoined at the top of hills, I helped/pushed a newer ACC member up a very long hill to find out it was turners hill.

We meet up at some smaller town before Ditchling for some Face cakes and Tea, Monty managed to pour some cold tea over some old ladys shopping....much to the amusement to me and Carole.

Whilst waiting to regroup in Ditchling we done some star spotting and saw Jamie theaskston we was not 100% sure it was him and he looked in disbelief at 15 or so Ladies and Gentlemen dressed in Bright yellow and black lyrca staring at him.

Starting to make my way up Ditchling and managed to stay in touch with most of the main bunch, dig in deep and dig in hard was my moto going up that never ending climb. What a time to find out your rear derailer hits your spokes in the low gear GGRRR!!! a super large round of applause greeted All riders as they made there way over the last brow..........

Now for the best bit of the day the decent lead out the main crowd and then found myself on the front with one other we went left then first right as instructed by tim then to realise we were wrong we had waited then found ourselves on the back end NO need to worry "Head down Arse up!!!" I made my way through the pack and on the front top speed of only 50.8 need to uprate my 50/13 gears I think.

Good run through into Brighton with Monty, Mark/steve (Not sure his name) and tall fella on Bianchi. Had good chat and made our way back...The full force of Marco could be heard i some places the air was Blue with Rants of
"Not another ........... Hill" or " where are the hills coming from and so on. Had a great blast back in places got caught with the weather we regrouped again and again which gave some of us a chance to strecth our legs.

From Redhill? I rode back with Robert Mark/steve and Marco what a blast already over 100 miles on my clock and the pace just got quicker and quicker with just me and robert going onto the daul carraiageway into coulsdon clocking some disjusting speeds and some very real PAIN, thanks for pushing me so Hard. Then after that had a cool down ride home.

Thanks for a Great day.

Total miles = 127.8
Average speed = 16.8
Fun = Beyond words
[size=150]Pain now.......of course[/size]

Just off to support a friend running a local 10km rather him than me.

Nick

[Big Mike]

What a great day yesterday I really enjoyed every minute of it I finally got home after 12 hours in the saddle and with 108 miles on the clock. Thanks to everyone who turned out especially John C and tim

[Andrew G]

Sounds like you all had a great day out. I was a bit disappointed not to be able to join you as a Brighton run is always a good ride, but the sand (not pebbles) in my cycling shoes was from France.

A few pairs of sore legs this morning I'll wager.

[Alex P]

Sore backside and I didn't even do the return trip and burnt my face off sitting at the restaurant facing the sun and with the wind off the sea - should have put my hat on - I'll never learn