Club Run - 7th March 2009

[Grahame]

It's OK Sean, I subbed for you.

I decided to be selfish today, and rather than the safe "lead a 17s group" opted to see what life was like with the faster boys, so I surprised a few when the 19s were called and I stepped forward. I was expecting a bit of a kicking.

The ride out towards the motorway was OK - faster than I've got used to, but fairly comfortable. But I was tense. Why? The feared Reigate steps were approaching and the question wasn't would I get dropped? It was How badly would I get dropped? I was fine up the first step, but then the guys on the front eased off the pressure on the first flat bit, and I knew this could only mean one thing - the pressure was going to go on at the next rise. At best, I'm a diesel climber and need to keep a rhythm when the gravity goes the wrong way, so these changes of pace knocked me out the back. But I was only 50m or so behind at the summit, so a comfortable bit of descending (Yay for being club freewheel cahmpion) got me back on well before the lights at the bottom. After Reigate, I found myself on the front for the dip after the golf club and the run out to my favourite bit of the route - the S bends. I even heard a call of "ease up" from behind me. Talk about an ego stroke! It didn't last.

Still on the front, but on the inside as we approached the Leigh junction, so I forced the issue and called a left turn (cunningly avoiding two rises/minor climbs on the straght on route). My bit done, time to sit in for a while, expecting to drop off again on the steep bit before Newdigate. That didn't happen, and I was still in touch at the start of the climb through the woods, where the doors fell off - I was dropped like a dirty nappy, and I thought I was going to turn left along Partridge Lane. But, at the junction, the group was only 100m or so ahead and I had recovered a bit, and with a bit of encouragement from Jim as I passed him I thought. "I'll try to get back on during the descent after Rusper. If it works, I'll continue to the through and off, if not I'll turn left along the lanes for a warm down."

I got back on the group and called a surprise "all on" just as gravity changed direction again. (I think I'm allergic to gravity - it makes my face go all red, and my breath to get a bit wheezy), and struggled to stay "just about" in touch before the pause prior to the through and off.

On the T&O, I surprised myself - only missing one turn all the way to the last roundabout, when the first warning signs of future cramping appeared (for me this is a small spasm of the outside quad). So I sat up and cruised in.

Never has a bacon french stick (with no butter - you've got to be healthy) tasted so good. Now to get home. "I must take it easy, find a group and just sit in" was the plan. D'Oh! A small group set off, and who's at the head of it, driving it along at about 20 - 21mph? Muggins. All was well until the dip just before the rusty beetle (a personal landmark), where the doors, wheels, and everything else seemed to fall off. Now, it's definitely time for a gentle cruise home. There's no option. Made it up the church climb with only one other person passing me, enjoyed the descent and then struggled on towards the Merstham drag and a true measure of what state I was in. If I'm feeling good, I can usually cruise up it at 20+mph. Today was an 11mph grovel.

Made it home earlier than usual (after an emergency loo stop at the clubroom - thank goodness for Saturday morning youth orchestras), and recuperation with a bowl of pasta and a bottle of Timothy Taylor's finest rehydration/celebration fluid. Yum.

Thanks to the guys in the 19s group who took it easy on me (and even let me shirk a turn in the rotation).

[Andrew G]

Great write up Grahame, and a fine choice of recovery drink (I went Cornish today and opted for Tribute which I can recommend for similar benefits).

[jon avery]

Ahhhh! Tribute one of my favorites another good one from St Austel brewery to look out for is "Proper job", also a fantastic recovery drink

[Ian A4size]

I'll look out for these drinks- they seem right up my street.

[Sylv]

[quote="Grahame"]Made it home earlier than usual (after an emergency loo stop at the clubroom - thank goodness for Saturday morning youth orchestras)

[Andrew G]

...and I resisted mentioning blowing his own trumpet .