by Sylv » Sat Nov 08, 2008 6:48 pm
I had to get up early this morning and so as it was pretty nice out there at 7.30am was getting myself ready for a pre-clubrun spin ... then it started chucking down - so I left it as late as possible leaving home (9.05). On the way to CSS it was feeling horrible with that headwind and driving rain, I was wondering whether on the way back I could think that it had been a great ride and that it was all worth it - well yet it was
[quote="Keith"] So strong that we left him out on the front for an unagreeably long time. Sorry Sylv
That must have been the longest turn in acc history
Lazy sods! Usually I would just start freewheeling until someone would dain offer help, but I was interested in seeing how long I could keep it up. I was doing some lab-like wind tunnel testing of my position to get as aero as possible (which got Marek complaining
). We got to that nasty drag just before the hills before Rusper, and in a last-ditch effort I got out of the saddle to try and get away. Didn't work, so I readied myself for the climb. Still no-one coming past.
Then lo and behold Paul H slingshots past me apologising "sorry Sylv", I jumped away and incredibly managed to get back onto his wheel, it was just the two of us and I knew now there was not a chance in the world I would take a turn a turn at the front before the final rise ... Even if Paul tried to swing to the side to let me pass
It was a bit cruel but got me to the top way ahead in the end. I was going to wait for the others but then Paul came through attacking again, so I followed suit and we had a great duo ride all the way to the dual carriageway, each one of us getting to the top of one of the climbs first. Paul had said he'd be taking it easy as he was planning to run in the afternoon, but that seemed to go out of the window completely
I bet he was glad not to be doing the Ballbuster though.
I think Marek and a couple others took the short way so it was a reduced group of five for the thru-and-off, tailwind was great. Joining the lanes again I was wondering what effect Paul's Powercranks would have on his sprint, but he said they weren't turned on, acting like normal cranks, so I was reassured it would be a bit safer
Had another good fight with Paul, fair and square side by side, but I was out of the saddle while he was still sitting down - I always find that very impressive.
Blimey! I thought, how fast do we have to go to get the seats near the radiators in the café - that's out of order!
Had to stand up shivering. Paul Hal and I left super late so we only caught a few small groups, we weren't hanging around though, we lost Hal at some point. Also saw loads of punctured people, and Kasper walking his bike in Purley who I was told afterwards had a close encounted with a van - he seemed ok when I saw him though. Finished the ride off with some spinning practice along the A23. Great ride then despite the elements. Well done to Aodan Tim and a few others who did the off-road ride, there were loads of mtbs outside the café (including a nice small Orbéa (I think)).
Oh and yes Chloé's bike is very very pink! [img]http://www.ragebox.com/dts/images/smilies/wolfeyes.gif[/img]