CR 28022009

[Antloony]

The exit to CSS car park

[Marky Mark]

Have you ever tried before, any past form I can then set my bets to?

How far do you think you can do? The steps.... The golf course.... Leigh..... Cafe?

Shall I come along to make sure you get to the A23/M23 split

[thePinkDreamMachine]

Hello.

Last week we had a HUGE group of 16'ers... with lots of newbes.. good effort tho guys and a awesome ride..

i just wanted to mention it, as last week i ended up taking it, not that i mind being bossy for a morning:) but Make sure theres at leased one VC for that group as we really shoudl have been two groups.

have a lovely ride..

chloe x x x x

[Dombo]

I hung on until Rusper so I reckon you'll do the same.

[Antloony]

Right Sean here's a plan.

Make sure your on the front leading the group up the Reigate cols, go at your own pace untill people start to come past you (which they really shouldn't if they're all obeying the rules ) then dig in and hang on as long as possible. The group will ease once over the top and this is where you have a long drag down to the traffic lights to get back on. Easy.

Good luck.

[Marky Mark]

[quote="Dombo"]I hung on until Rusper so I reckon you'll do the same.

[Dombo]

Don't forget the protein. Double scrambled eggs on buttered wholemeal toast with bacon, bowl of porridge for pud.

[Grahame]

No club run for me tomorrow

Mountainbiking from Peaslake on Sunday instead

[Toks]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]Glorious weather on the cards for tomorrow and also the return of Il Capitano (so grupetto rule will be resumed). I'm going to see how long I can hang on the tail of the 19s.

I'm keen to see where you my fellow agreeables think I'll be forced to fall back to the 18s. Place your bets. The closest three guesses will get a pint at the next social I'm allowed a pass to (not this Sunday I'm afraid ....

Sean

[Antloony]

You did well today Sean, I wasn't going to let you give in easily

[Alan M]

First club ride back after 10 weeks away. Took a ride with the 17s, Ok but very untidy group with changes in pace and rhythm. After Partridge group split to 7 or 8 and was much more focused. I led out for the sprint, Richard aka Apples got boxed in and Dave snatched victory from me at the line. Well done. 17ish average. Maybe try for 18s next week.

Return was quicker, 19mph. Monty and a group broke away at the golf course and I couldn't quite hold the pace on the hill. A small group formed for the final part, Kasper doing the front work. Steve breezed by on the drag and I tried to encourage Kasper to follow me in chase but I think he was cooked. We caught Steve at the TLs and, as usual, I followed his wheel back to the cafe. Thanks mate!

Pretty much a typical Saturday morning but very enjoyable and welcoming after my break. Although I have lost some fitness it doesn't feel like I have too much work to do. Did 250 miles last week but need to step up the pace now and throw in some hills.

Alan

[Dombo]

Well done, Sean. That road through the woods is a killer with a fast group - I've nipped up Partridge Lane many times.

[Marky Mark]

[img]http://images.inmagine.com/img/bananastock/bs272/bs272110.jpg[/img] Poor Sean laying on his back with bike attached.

I didn't laugh honest Sean until I knew you were ok.

Had a good strong 16.1 group to the cafe, more banter required please.

The into the loudest cafe you've ever been into, what a buzz in there, could'nt hear a word if your life depended on it.

So then us being a small splinter cell set off for Box Hill, we made it at least 500 yards before poor Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssteve had his 'first' inner tube failure at the temperary roardworks in Charlwood. The next one was the the driveway of the TVR man where free Kit-Kats were handed out, must bookmark that spot

Then 3rd stop for the weeble we call Sean who wouldn't part with his bike for love nor money, maybe it was the German knee warmers that pulled him down.

To the Hill...... Box Hill.
Maybe it was because we stopped a few times or I was just having a good day, or because I wanted to beat Sean up it .
But in my eyes, I flew up there. Not quiet as fast as the very strong Neil and Claire but not far off, even the stretched Limo stuck on the second bend was not going to stop me.

Nice little stop at the top cafe, then a gentle roll out back to the CSS. Neil and A. Nother(s) joined me in a blast to get back doing an average of about 18.5mph to Coulsdon. I had bucket loads of energy and could of gone faster. God knows where that came from but I loved it.

Tim had the hardest time of us all, bonking on Box Hill, well done that man for compleating the course, very brave.

Quality day, Marky Mark

cheers for the pic, Tim was facing the other way, what did you say to him?

[Toks]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]Where can I start. I did it and moreover had one of the best rides to the caff in a good while.
Sean

[mlocke]

I am on the winter bike at the moment which is a bit heavier than the other racing bike and a couple of weeks ago I put some slime, gunk stuff in the inner tubes to help prevent puncures. Immdiately I noticed this and the last couple of club runs have been a little tougher than they should have been. I put this down to the two aforementioned coupled with the additional training (running & swimming) trying to get ready for the tri in Aug.

Well I am pleased to say that yesterday felt a lot different.

On the ride down to CSS I was feeling sluggish but I am gonna put that down to the half dozen ancakes I had for breakfast. Once we got going properly however I felt fine. On the front down towards the M25 though I wasn't doing quite as well as Toby who we later lost to the 19's when th groups almost merged going up Reigate steps. Toby rocketed of up front never to be seen again!!

Once into the lanes the group settled a little better having been borderline raggy for the first portion. The group today was a little strange with a few of the normal faces but many new who I had not really seen before. A couple of these seemed quite strong and a few others not so.

The sprint for Charlwood was an interesting one. In the last couple of miles I gradually moved forward in the group behind the wheel of the 'threat' in the group -Steve. I had made an earlier decision to go for a long one but this kind of went out the window when all of a suddne a large bubble of people formed at the front - Steve made a shout for a leadout man which Neil duly provided. Coming in to the final bend I had a bad feeling about it and was starting to think about not bothering as the group fanned out across the whole road (this was perfectly safe though as we were round the bend and the road was clear). As Steve made his way down the left I noticed a gap on the right. A small acceleration and I was round the bubble and there was now three of us, Steve and A.N Other. The steve put the hammer down but I could see myself slowly edging up on the right. Timed to perfection, I just nipped it by half a wheel at the most on the line - once over the line and the adrenalin settling a bit the ride to the cafe was the usual struggle after the earlier effort.

Came home the short group and there was a good bunch which kept it together all the way.

Felt reasonably string over Merstham which is good for me as I normally hate the draggy roads. Had to reign in one of the guys I didn't recognise as knew the help of a couple more wheels would make or a faster run down the other side.

The stats were:
Warm up from home to CSS 13.6mph (5.5miles)
CSS to cafe 19.6mph (23 miles)
cafe home 19.2mph (19 miles)

Thanks to all and looking forward to next week already