Well, if everybody's stopped bickering
, can we get some ride reports in?
I'll give my perspective on the "18s"
We were called forward by Alex after saying "19s? With Alan and Adam in it? Pah. It'll never stay at 19mph!"
I gave the now seemingly mandatory "Everybody takes a turn at the front, call the cars, holes and other hazards. Etc." talk and promptly set off up the ride out of Coulsden at what felt like a comfortable set-off pace (with Ian glued to my back wheel). Where the road widens Huw pulled alongside me and said "I suppose it's a bit wrong for an 18s group to be heading off uphill at 19 1/2 mph?" We checked back and everybody was stil on, and looking fairly comfortable, so we decided to continue and see what happened.
Good discipline until the right turn for the "steps" when there was a slight gap 'cos of a car coming the other way, but the front group eased off and let the rest get back on. Then a good, steady climb up the steps with everybody holding their places in the group well (except for one guy having gear troubles, but he was still hanging on the back at the top, so no problem there) and still having enough breath to call the holes.
OK through Reigate except for a car driver who thought he could bully us out of our lane at the last set of lights. There was a comment of "He's heavier than us." I looked round, saw Ian, glanced back with an "I'm not so sure" and we held our ground.
Onto the lanes and a good, steady rotation kept the pace high(ish) but comfortable enough for everybody to take their turn. One chap stayed on the front for a little too long on the false flat between Newdigate and the climb up to Rusper, faded a bit after the rotation and struggled to hold the wheel for a minute or two, but he recovered before the main climb, so that was OK.
Through Rusper and turn left, an easy minute to let those who can't/won't descend quite so manically as others of us get back on then a continued solid ride through the run in to the airport.
Final junction and people are starting to maneuver for position for the sprint, the pace drops a bit (to 18mph!) and Huw, thankfully, decides to do the honourable thing and sacrifice his chances by shouting "I'll be the leadout for the sprint," sticking his head down and accelerating. Three of us (at least) caught his wheel and we were off - staying behind until after the corner of doom and still calling out the holes!
Round the final corner and time to go for it. Click up through the gears, stay seated for maximum "spin", edge past the main rival and try to hold off the lactic pain until the line. Edged it by a length or two with a maximum speed of just over 34mph.
We arrived at the cafe with an average speed of 19.8mph
and an intact group
all saying how much they'd enjoyed it.
A bacon french stick (with no butter) has rarely tasted so good.
The return trip and there's next to no takers for Box Hill so Alex and I decide we'd better set a reasonably quick pace to stop this huge group bunching up too much. When Alex faded a touch, Sylvain came through and we got to the bottom of the climb to the church in double-quick time (I think an average along the "flat" of about 22mph
).
I thought I'd pay for that effort on the church climb and I was right. - I think I went up it in reverse gear, so many people came past me. Some had the decency to say "Thank you" for the tow, so that was OK.
I still wasn't properly recovered by Merstham drag, but was in second or third gear rather than reverse. Coffee and banter at Regalina's was good, then a steady trundle home with Paul on the Pearson.
A good day.
