Quick then slow ride with Stu

[Marek]

Met up with Stu today for a steady ride, although that was not what was on the cards. Arrived at Outwood windmill to see Stu ready and waiting. I asked him what he fancied doing, his response was 'a hard one'. Oh great I said in desperate trepidation, after a long ride yesterday I knew I was going to be in for a kicking.

We headed over to Turners Hill where I managed to have the pace to get up over the hill first, although Stu had dragged me kicking and screaming into a headwind all the way to the bottom of the hill. It reminded me of riding with Dave Findlay who used to just sit on the front in a headwind and hammer away with all those behind swearing and cursing and not daring to go around.

After Turners Hill we headed over to West Hoathley and then descended down past Weirwood Reservoir. At the bottom of the descent we headed upwards towards Wych Cross. Stu was now starting to play with me in his Contrador style, he kept on kicking away and I would have to put my head down and wind myself back onto his wheel, and then he would go again. This was getting painful. At the top I was pretty cooked but I knew where we were going next, the Wall.

We got to the Wall and Stu basically disappeared up the hill, as he went past me I was swearing about why I let myself in for such punishment, much to Stus amusement. It seemed to take me an age to get to the top where Stu was standing waiting looking as though he'd had an easy ride up the hill.

Then we headed to the Ladies Mile circuit and then up to Groombridge. Another long hard climb, now I was suffering and planned a cafe stop in Penshurst. We headed over to Penshurst and then I asked Stu the time. 11.20am, oh no, I needed to be back in East Grinstead for 12 so no cuppa. We then headed to Edenbridge, but just outside Penshurst I was in a bad way. The hope of a cuppa and the fact I knew we still had a fair trek back killed me off. A quick energy gel and Stu emptied all his remaining food onto me and then off we went. Mainly flat route to Edenbridge but every time we hit a drag I fell back and Stu would have to soft pedal.

After Edenbridge we headed to Lingfield through some back lanes I know, we were now riding into a strong headwind and Stu said it was like riding in Belgium, except I am sure he normally rides at a much faster pace.

At Lingfield we split up and I headed to EG and Stu probably headed to find some more hills. Got home and jumped in the bath, thankfully the misses had made a huge bowl of pasta which I then devoured.

Cheers for the kicking Stu, probably needed that to kick me into shape. Hope you enjoyed the route.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Sylv]

We had good fun with Stu kicking ourselves on the climbs on that hilly ride we did one Sunday, we should do it again (followed by the chinese all-you-can-eat as suggested by Huw)

[Marek]

Maybe do something in a couple of weeks when we have a racing break. Sylv are you doing Brenchley on Sunday?

[Sylv]

No, visiting family after tomorrow's national points race (mtb).

Good luck to all with the race, please do kick some butt.

[Marek]

Sylv, it is hilly and it is a first cat race, I will be lucky if I last one lap. I don't think I will be kicking butt, but if its not raining I will ride the course for the training.

Cheers

Marek.....

[Sylv]

Sorry - kick some 1st cat butt

[Stu Merckx Man]

yeh that was a good ride today.

i was feeling really good for it all, and seeing marek suffer made me feel even better . to mareks credit though he said its his first proper ride in 2 weeks, so he did well considering.

the hills were good fun, up the wall i felt fantastic, like i was floating up, it felt like all i had to do was stand on the pedals and up i went!

towards the end it seemed like marek had bonked. like he said, he was suffering big time into the wind and on any rise in the road. although i sympathized greatly, as i have been in this position many times before, i did feel some pride in having reduced him to such a state .

i felt fine for all the ride with marek, and most of the way home. marek had given me some directions, but i managed to get slightly lost for a bit, but eventually found a sign post for bletchingly. for the last 5 miles or so from home, i started to run out of energy and had to get out of the saddle on more of the hills, but nothing too bad.

got home with 80 miles on the clock and feeling like i had done a good hard ride...just as requested!