New Year's Eve Pub Lunch Ride

[Andrew G]

After last year which turned out to be quite successful I'll be doing this again .

Details as per last year, which were...

Ride meeting at GBs for a 9:30am start.
Pace: Steady.
Pub: The White Bear.

Route is gmap-ed [url=http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1516322]here[/url] but in summary it's 30-35 miles to the pub with a few hills thrown in.

Up to Selsdon, Old Farleigh Road (hill), Slines Oak Road (hill), down titsey and the long descent down Pootlings, left at Four Elms and up Toy's (big hill), right at Westerham and then back along Pilgrims Way, up Clarks Lane / Botley Hill, down Beddlestead and up Hesiers (hill). Then round the corner to the [url=http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/15/15170/White_Bear/Fickleshole]White Bear[/url] pub for a pub lunch and a pint or three.

It's deliberately got some hills in so it can be a social ride but you can get a bit of training in if you want on the hills, even do 'em twice if your quick enough.

Obviously the pub lunch is optional and you could head straight home, the route also allows a couple of turn back points if you want to head back early.

Cheers,

Andrew.

[Jon H]

[quote="Andrew G"]After last year which turned out to be quite successful I'll be doing this again

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

Bugger - I've got to work that day.

Guru P

Might be able to meet up for lunch though....what is ETA at The White Bear?

[thePinkDreamMachine]

Sounds great..

[Roy Green]

Might make it direct to the White Bear. A full 2-1/2 miles, but it is uphill.

[Snoop Doug]

Dearest darling Keira

Sorry I can't make your 6th birthday, I have to go out cycling with my club mates.

Nah - I'll never swing that....have fun

Snoop

[jon avery]

Shame , i enjoyed it last year, but will be coming back from Gran Canaria, hopefully with a tan

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote="Snoop Doug"]Dearest darling Keira

Sorry I can't make your 6th birthday, I have to go out cycling with my club mates.

Nah - I'll never swing that....have fun

Snoop

[Antloony]

I fancy this, was a nice sociable ride last year.

[Marky Mark]

I can make it if you include Stanstead Airport in the ride and if you you can bring my bike I would be very happy,

Yours, Marky (I want) Mark

[Andrew G]

Bouncy bouncy .

A couple of people have asked about ETA at the pub as they may not be able to make the ride but might be able to get there. From memory we got there at about 12.30 last year as this allows for a little wait for folk at the start and there are a few stops and re-groups on the route. It is a social ride and not a leg ripper.

[Andrew G]

Me again .

With the current cold weather, and (following seaweed consultation) its continuation through to Wednesday, I'll be changing the route from last year but still definitely doing the ride - The White Bear does a nice pint .

Sorry for those who were looking forward to Toy's Hill but the run down to Four Elms is fast and in to a hollow, combined with the water that sometimes runs off and across Toy's and the tree covered descent down from the top, these bits could potentially have a bit of ice.

For people who may want to miss the lunch and scoot straight home you'll miss the best bit but the (still pretty quiet roads) route is :
Still do Slines Oak but then head along Pilgrims Way and up Polhill, a little bit of main road before cutting back in along Shire Lane and up the hill at the end, then down to Coney Hall before back through Layhams Farm to The White Bear. ETA should be similar (or maybe a bit earlier) as the route is a similar distance and the time saved by not having to climb Toy's will probably be countered by the cold weather slowing things a touch. [url=http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=2458722]Gmap[/url].

9:30 meet at GBs (THAT'S GBs JON!)
(A pefect haggis shedding ride Sean ).

[Rob Q]

Hi Andrew, what kind of pace is this ride? Is there a mixed bag of riders? I normaly go with the 17 on the CR's

Rob

[Antloony]

[quote="Rob Quinn"]Hi Andrew, what kind of pace is this ride? Is there a mixed bag of riders? I normaly go with the 17 on the CR's

Rob

[Andrew G]

Hi Rob, As Ant says you'll be fine. It's New Year's Eve and the key phrase is "it is a social ride". No-one is dropped apart from on hills where everyone goes at their own pace (you can race up them if you want) and we wait at the top until everyone is there and ready to move on.