CLUB RUN SAT 6 SEPT 08 - REPORT -

[Fabobiker]

[quote="Jon C C on a Bianchi"]

The usual or conventional CR route followed for many years now is down the A23, through Reigate and then the country lanes to Charlwood -
Recently, however some of us, prompted by Amy and others, desperate to do something different have taken the route out over Farthing Downs, through Outwood, Horley and on to Charlwood. Much quieter country lanes pretty much most of the way and lots of climbs (but nothing too steep).
cheers, Jon

[quote="Del"][quote="Hal"]
How many punctures were there today?

Gerorge
Alan M
Me x 2
Adam

[Amy]

Well, [said with her fingers crossed], no punctures for me yesterday - tires still feel hard - nor any slips up ... yet...

Well, I was so looking forward to trying out my route with a faster group but unfortunately, the best laid plans of mice and men and all that... As John C C says, the route is a bit hillier (the hills were alive with the sound of whingeing...) but nothing really challenging. Farthing Down was a bit harder than usual with a belting headwind (actually it made the whole route down - and back harder ) Maybe people need to get used to the idea of hills

Anyway, Graham punctured for the first time and another breakaway group swooped past - hoped to catch up with them but the hills and weather put paid to that. As it was a straight road with no turn-offs and most people were in sight, I decided to keep "everyone" moving till Outwood where a quick headcount revealed that Grahame and the Camdens were missing. Tried ringing Grahame but no reply so rode back down and found him just beyond the Bell fixing his second puncture of the day but still no Camdens. I wasn't going go on much further so went back to the rest of the group and found - as I'd hoped - that Brigit had John's number and had called them - the broken cleat. I called John back and discussed options with him: as they didn't seem to be too far off, we waited and debated the options - which was the nearest bike shop and what about the trains. Quick check of the map and we decided that the station at Salford would be best. John, glad you sorted out that problem! Now why weren't you carrying that spare cleat!

Also at Outwood, I lost two others as the Rocketeer (sorry, don't know names ) found his wheel wobbled more than a little and decided to beat a retreat to his mates house about 5 miles away. Roy had already gone towards Salford to turn back home as he needed to be back early.

Did what turned out to be an unnecessary diversion through Horley, where I got a little bit lost but thankfully with the help of Grahame got onto the roads I knew and, as we made the final dash to the cafe before the heavens opened again, we saw the mob coming towards us. At least we had the cafe more or less to ourselves

Came back on a shortened version of the outward club run route with a much reduced group: Geraldine and the French guy deciding to do Box Hill as well. Despite all the woes though, feedback seemed to positive: Geraldine like the route down and Grahame did say it had potential - it just didn't feel like it at the time

On reflection, I think it is just a case of gettting more people to know the way and getting acclimatised to the slightly hillier route

[Nicolas]

Yes, we did her alternative route with Amy's group. Oh by the way I am the "French guy" she was talking about, and yes, this is my first post so hi everybody
The route is indeed very nice and we should definitively try it more often, the beginning of the "normal" route tends to make me nervous, and I'm sure I'm not the only one. I don't think it's much more hilly than the "normal" one, anyway there is no big wall to be scared of, but I admit the climb to Farthing Downs is a bit of a shock to the system that early in the morning

Our group (namely 17, actually more like 15-ish) had its fair share of punctures and other more original breakdowns but it was a very nice ride nevertheless. The cake that was surprisingly left at the café saved the day So as Grahame diplomaticly said, "the route has potential"

Geraldine and I came back via a completely deserted Box Hill under buckets of rain. On our way back to Coulsdon, the weather turned really awful but the more rain and wind there was, the faster Geraldine was I had trouble keeping the pace but had a nice workout before catching a train home at Purley.

Jon C C, thank you for the pictures. By the way, is there a way to ask your magic device where it recorded the 12% climb? I'm just curious

Can't wait for next week's edition of the CR!!

[Andrew G]

Keep up the good work Amy, I don't know that new route (not been on many CRs lately so only "seen" it on the map) but it sounds better, if the only complaint is the odd lump then they can come out TT-ing instead . You know it ain't going to be easy to coax some away from the normal though .

[Fabobiker]

[quote]Yes, we did her alternative route with Amy's group. Oh by the way I am the "French guy" she was talking about, and yes, this is my first post so hi everybody

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[quote="Nicolas"]

Jon C C, thank you for the pictures. By the way, is there a way to ask your magic device where it recorded the 12% climb? I'm just curious

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"][quote="Marky Mark"][quote="Fabobiker"]wow boxhill..is that where we'll be going?
and in the rain as well...????
we are sooo tough!

[Nicolas]

[quote="Fabobiker"]
by the way, what was the average speed of the group you were in?

[Amy]

Hills, punctures, mechanicals, headwinds - yep, I was very much aware that the average speed was very much below what it should've been

Apologies for not knowing/remembering your name, Nicolas but there's new people every week - I just can't keep up and I'm bad enough with names and faces as it is!!

[Grahame]

[quote="Nicolas"](well, Graham was, we where just watching and commenting on his technique of course ).

[Fabobiker]

[quote="Nicolas"]Sorry not having been with you to contest the usual Box Hill KOM jersey this time

[Fabobiker]

..."performance"

[Nicolas]

[quote="Amy"]
Apologies for not knowing/remembering your name, Nicolas but there's new people every week - I just can't keep up and I'm bad enough with names and faces as it is!!

[TimNick]

Little late for comment on last week's CR I know but great ride all round - great to meet you Fabo. Glad you enjoyed your first run up Box Hill, I can't believe how 2 weeks without a CR slowed me down going up there though. Wish I could make a mid week CR (a great suggestion) but unless I can claim I'm training for 2012 I don't think work'll go for it.

I know Amy's started another thread on alternative CR routes and just like to add my relative newbie tuppence worth - I'm up for an alterntive route but'll have to wait a couple of weeks as off to Spain for hols. Def up for a diff challenge upon return and will willingly have a go at other ones as well (CR in reverse etc) presuming it's not the Training Group only!!!!!!!!!!

On the talk of alternative routes and stuff a couple of ideas to throw out there for general view:

1. Any suggestions for a local run that'll top 100 miles (not necessary to Brighton & back -as Jon CC'll tell you I live 8 miles short of a 100 mile out & back route). It'd be great to get my first 100 miler in first 'season' so to speak! Anyone else up for it at a steady pace (16ish).

2. How about a hilly challenge (but at a 16/17s CR stylee pace) but goes:

CSS > Purley > Roundabout after Whyteleafe South > Up Woldingham Road (if you want to really warm the legs you can go up Succomb's Hill!) > Past Golf Course > Along the Ridge > Drop down into Westerham > A25 > Chart Lane > Toys Hill (never been up it but it's there to climb!) > Heaver (Break at Heaver) then return via Toys Hill or Idle Hill > back up over Croydon Road (or across & up Titsey if still have any legs!) to Botley Hill Farm House (perhaps a celebratory drink?) > back down into Croydon/Purley etc. I reckon it'd be a damn hard 50 odd miles.....any thoughts?

3. Mentioned it a couple of times but anyone else poss up for Caen (Ouistreham) to Cherbourg or in reverse - the climb out of Cherbourg'll be fun!? The Fastcat ferry still goes from Pompey till end of Oct I think. Me and the wife did it last year in Oct over 5 days as a first touring hol but it's about 150 - 200k over great quiet roads and considerate French drivers!!!!!!!! Initial plan would be to Pompey Fri night (poss stay in Pompey - my wife's family are all down there), earliest ferry over, cycle to Cherbourg and return on night ferry. Or poss if stay over in cheap accomodation somewhere like Barfleur on Sat pm and then cycle (more rolling countryside) into Cherbourg and come back Sunday day - gives more opportunity for enjoying the French hospitality.

Anyhow off to do some riding in Murcia this week whilst on hols. A bike has been hired to get up the Sierra Espuna which at 1500 metres you can safely assume it'll be the highest thing I've ever been up on a bike. The wife has promised to be in the 'support car' but want's to create a real Spanish experience by screaming 'motivational' stuff at me through a small cheap tannoy - yeah thanks darlin'!!!!!!!!!! If I bump into Pro's I'll make sure the ACC colours show them how to gilde up hill - yeah right!!!!!!!!!!! Then we've got 5 days in Madrid including the last day of La Vuelta (& hopefully Athletico Madrdid footie) so keep you eyes peeled for a ACC top and cap on Eurosport if you're watchin'.

Have a great couple of CRs and see you in a couple of weeks.