Another long ride for us slower mortals

[Amy]

After a bit of a hiatus and a struggle with the stupid map site (OK so it's probably more the speed of my dial up connection) here is another ride for slower people

[url]http://www.mapmyride.com/ride/united-kingdom/charlwood/124572847318[/url]

It's about 45 miles from Charlwood back to Coulsdon via Balcombe - tea, I have no idea but we could do a detour to Nutfield where there's a cafe in a designer shop or the garden centre just outside the village.

I also have some more ideas for routes including an alternative to Charlwood via Woldingham and Gangers Hill (down). I'll try and get them on the Mapmyride this week.

[Amy]

I'm up for a longer ride this weekend - anyone want to join me. Speed is planned to be MY speed but probably 15/16mph in reality.

Weather permitting, of course...

[Amy]

reminder! I need to get out for a longer ride - I'm getting fat...

If it's dry or not too bad down to the cafe, I'll definitely stay out.

[Amy]

Well, you lot missed a lovely ride - especially the roads from Bucks Head to Turners Hill and then around Smallfield

I'll definitely do that one again - 78 miles including the cr at [size=85]14.5mph average speed[/size] but it's the miles I need not the speed!

[Antloony]

Well done Amy, some good miles in there. I wish I had come along with you now as shortly after leaving the cafe I got a flat. I told everyone to go on as Mr Locke was helping me out so as soon as we got going it was flat out to try get back to the group. We failed but re-grouped at the top of BH and was told they'd only been there a couple of mins so not a bad effort really. If I'd have been with you I'd have had a nice easy ride and would still have had the energy to cut my trees down once I got home instead of laying on the sofa moaning about my left knee.

[Amy]

What you expecting? Sympathy?

[Andrew G]

Glad you enjoyed your ride Amy, a real shame no-one tagged along for the extension. It's really nice to just have an enjoyable ride on new lanes without thinking about average speeds and just riding the bike for the fun of it.

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

Sounds really great. Any other week we'd have joined you but we had to get back to watch the Giro. We'll probably do something next week. I'll post later in the week.

[Amy]

[quote="Andrew G"]Glad you enjoyed your ride Amy, a real shame no-one tagged along for the extension. It's really nice to just have an enjoyable ride on new lanes without thinking about average speeds and just riding the bike for the fun of it.

[Amy]

Just to say that any riding for me on Saturday will be curtailed as I need to get back to South Croydon by 4pm to meet a little pussy cat at Croydon Animal Samaritans ([url]http://www.croydonanimalsamaritans.co.uk[/url]) who may be coming home with me some time to keep my other cat company.

Poor little girl, she was rescued from a flat in Shepherds Bush and the Shepherds Bush police desk sergeant dropped her in on his way home to West Wickham last night.

[Roy Green]

I like the ride suggestion, Amy. It could be varied as a rather shorter ride, to avoid being locked too much to the b----y A23 too much. F'rinstance, tack across from Charlwood to Salfords, on A23, then take a very nice lane, direction Outwood - it's called Green Lane . Then north to Nutfield, over A25, through to Merstham, for those wedded to the Merstham Drag. Or for the keen climbers, through lanes to Bletchingley, and up White Hill (1-in-6 at top), to Chaldon, Caterham-on-the-Hill and thence Old Coulsdon Common, dropping down to A23. Lot of possibilities to vary from the usual clubrun route there, either outward to Charlwood or returning.

[Amy]

[quote="Roy Green"]I like the ride suggestion, Amy. It could be varied as a rather shorter ride, to avoid being locked too much to the b----y A23 too much. F'rinstance, tack across from Charlwood to Salfords, on A23, then take a very nice lane, direction Outwood - it's called Green Lane . Then north to Nutfield, over A25, through to Merstham, for those wedded to the Merstham Drag. Or for the keen climbers, through lanes to Bletchingley, and up White Hill (1-in-6 at top), to Chaldon, Caterham-on-the-Hill and thence Old Coulsdon Common, dropping down to A23. Lot of possibilities to vary from the usual clubrun route there, either outward to Charlwood or returning.