SAT 13 CLUB RUN - REPORT

[Fabobiker]

Hi everyone,
It was a bit quieter then usual this morning, due to other race meetings today.
But still quite a few riders showed up on a chillier September morn...
[img]http://i35.tinypic.com/2450xw8.jpg[/img] [img]http://i38.tinypic.com/2qvbabk.jpg[/img]

I joined the 17 mph group, and after a few miles, just past Reigate, I had to use my slaloming skills
to avoid a lady who decided to cross the road just as we were coming downhill at 25 mph!!!
As I tried to move right, she moved right too, moved left and she did the same...Think I may have
missed her by 2 inches!!! Anyway the group was going on at 17 mph with some accelerations up to 22 mph, then an exciting bit downhill
at 35 mph, and in the end a quick sprint towards the cafe in Charlwood.
Nice cuppa tea and cake then...
[img]http://i38.tinypic.com/333v05g.jpg[/img]
..should I go Box Hill ?
and yes I went, can't help it, the hills attracting me even if I win another
BLACK JERSEY! My 12'30" time wasn't enough to keep up with these guys..congratulations or in French...CHAPEAU!
The weather became really nice and sunny and here we are at the top of Box Hill
[img]http://i37.tinypic.com/2donic.jpg[/img] [img]http://i37.tinypic.com/esiya0.jpg[/img] [img]http://i38.tinypic.com/2euua2b.jpg[/img]
(Let me know the names of who are in the pictures, so it makes it easier to remember everyone..)
[img]http://i36.tinypic.com/34hb5u1.jpg[/img] [img]http://i33.tinypic.com/2rejd77.jpg[/img]
Ready to go for the way back, and..WOW these guys were flying..
[img]http://i35.tinypic.com/2lj52s0.jpg[/img] soo hard for me to stick to these wheels..
..but really great, effective training, thank you all for another beautiful cycling day out!
Home with 58 miles done at 16mph including Box hill climb..more than happy!
Cheers, Fabo

[Alex P]

The Kamikaze lady was a bit of a surprise, I mean it was not as if we are inconspicious, as you say it would have been better if she just walked across normally but doing the tango halfway across the road certainly challenged the slalom skills and her face as I went past....it was all our fault....of course.

Great ride altogether today with the weather turning from fresh to balmy making my summer kit a good choice..

Roll on next week...

[Fabobiker]

[quote="Alex P"]The Kamikaze lady was a bit of a surprise, I mean it was not as if we are inconspicious..

[Grahame]

Well I had a fun day out.

I took the 2nd 18mph group (Brian "volunteered" to take the first) and had to control the enthusiasm of the group on the way down the Merstham drag, out to, and up the 3 humps to avoid the groups merging. We collected Connor (a victim of Brian's greoup's acceleration up the humps?) near the top and kept together pretty well the rest of the way. Connor struggled a bit on a couple of the rises, but chased back on along the flats before peeling off along Partridge Lane - well played, fella! The rest of the group held on to the wheel of a younger chap who's clearly meant to be in the 19s group up through Rusper and into the "lanes extension". Some people were unsure about the sprint point, so I agreed to lead it out and call/peel off when it was safe for the sprint to start. This worked pretty well, but left me feeling the pace a little!

After a refreshing Bacon baguette (no butter - got to stay healthy ) and 2 teas I said I knew a way back avoiding the road closures affecting the normal return route and that I'd take a group back this way if there were any takers. I looked back after leaving the cafe to see about 30 people on my tail! Why do people like riding behind me? Why are they so reluctant to come past (until we reach a hill, anyway)?

The route back is the one Amy and I pioneered last week:
Leave the cafe in the direction of Box Hill
Take the first right (before Russ Hill )
Straight on until you reach Leigh
Turn right at the "crossroads"
Turn right at the end of this road.
You are now on the "traditional" outward leg of the clubrun which you follow into Reigate (the only "bad" part of this rout is the right turn onto the A25 after the golf club.)
In Reigate get onto the one way system and follow signs to the M25, up the rise, cross the railway tracks (careful Sean ) and take the second right after the station (note: the first right is a no entry), left at the end of this road then first right. This brings you out on the green about 200m below the now mini roundabout after the 3 humps.
Down the 3 humps
Up the Mertham Drag and you're back.

By the bottom of the Merstham Drag I was cooked - too long on the front to make sure the group went the right way, so a refreshing coffee at Regelino's and a cruise into Croydon and the need to work my way around the police tape and into BGs for some new bits (easy Finbarr, I mean handlebar tape, brake blocks and cleats).

Home safely at about 2pm with an overall average speed (door to door) of just over 18mph. Shower, lunch and collapse on the sofa.

[Del]

[quote="Grahame"]Well I had a fun day out.

I took the 2nd 18mph group (Brian "volunteered" to take the first) and had to control the enthusiasm of the group on the way down the Merstham drag, out to, and up the 3 humps to avoid the groups merging. We collected Connor (a victim of Brian's greoup's acceleration up the humps?).

[Andrew G]

[quote="Grahame"] a cruise into Croydon and the need to work my way around the police tape and into BGs for some new bits (easy Finbarr, I mean handlebar tape, brake blocks and cleats).

[Amy]

Did any other groups get hooted at and generally abused nearly all the way down to Charlwood? Seemed to be a lot of unhappy people in cars and all wanting to take it out on us - at least two car drivers squirted us with their windscreen sprays

[Roy Green]

How clever they are

[Marky Mark]

It was national HORNY day.....

Still had a nice ride and even managed to ride home the on the standard CR with Grayhame through the closed roads of Surrey. Nice day