CR 040409

[Dombo]

Hope you all had a good CR.
A lonesome one for me today. Inclement weather first thing so I gave CR a miss and sent Mrs Dombo to fetch my Telegraph, pink'un, and warm chockly croissants from the local shop. Popped to GBs for some new bar tape and made a total horlicks of fitting it to new bars, kcking myself as sun came out at 1030.
Did a pleasant hilly run to Hever Castle and back via Woldingham, Crockham and Titsey Hills. Clocked 44mph only down Titsey - must remember to tuck low and stay off the brakes. 42 miles all told at a feeble 16mph, kept low by single figure speeds up Titsey and Burntwood Lane.
Nice to do a different route for a change but missed the banter and precision of our peloton.

[Alan M]

Well, eventually I have rejoined the 19s. Today's ride was pretty tame with less than 19mph but against the wind and rain. We had a small group and developed a good through and off up to Partridge where Rich and Mark ploughed ahead and one or two dropped back. We waited and regrouped for the last part to Lambs Green where we were caught by the 18s. For the sprint I led out the first bit and Rich took over. Mark and Steve contested and Steve won it but not with ease.

I joined the Guru Paul transfer to Bletchingly and the race. This was a hard 11 miles and we rode one side of the course which was undulating to say the least. I was posted at the far end of the course so rode the other side of the course noting the 3 climbs therein. I passed a pleasant and sunny 2 hours watching 6 laps of the race and directing the light traffic. We appreciated the refreshment brought round. Eventually we headed back to the HQ and from there 5 of us rode back to Coulsdon by way of some formidable hills. By the end I had close to 60 miles and a good work out in the bag.

[Alex S]

I had a good ride, went with the 15s going out as I just wanted to get some slow and steady miles in on my singlespeed, drizzled the whole way out but a big grinny John came along and got everyone in high spirits for the whole ride, which was nice.

Got to the cafe last just as another group was going back, so I got chatting and ended up going back straight away without even stopping for cake. The group was pretty big going back, and everyone was riding with an almost aggressive pace. I found myself pedalling at my top cadence just to keep up, a bit of a shock to the system perhaps after the 15s on the way out, but I managed to just about hang on the back and got back to CSS in record time.

Overall I was a bit miffed about the gorgeous sunshine + warmth as soon as I got back home, but a very good ride nonetheless.

[Christophe]

First time out with Addiscombe... was in the 17 group, thanks for the guidance, really enjoyed the ride bar the weather in the morning..
Total 122km that's including commute to and from.


See you next week oh... am on holiday ... so it will be the weekend after that
Christophe

[Antloony]

Quiet training group again this week, just Stu, Grahame and myself set out at 9.20 (so much for the big talk about getting people going on time...though what do you expect when the VC's can't even be arsed to roll up till gone 9.15)

Despite the rain and heading into a stiff breeze we set a good pace...well when I say we, me and Stu did, G just sat in hanging on 90% of the time but managed well . Not as quick a ride out as last week but still averaged around 21mph to the cafe. Got trounced in the sprint by Stu, he got the jump on me and my legs didn't want to know, I was matching his speed but had no chance of getting infront so left him to it to take an easy win.

Was hoping for an easy ride back, that lasted about 20 secs when Stu came past shouting 'come on Ant' and that was it, off we went. Had a few stragglers hang on for a short while but once we hit the climb to the church we dropped all but an Aussie guy who's name escapes me (Rich?) He was going well and kept up with us though he admitted it was hurting to hang on and he slipped back at the top of the Merstham drag but we waited and once back together the pace picked up again.

Felt good again yesterday, its nice to get a proper workout when there's only a couple of you sharing the workload...

...and I even went out on my own again today for a 30 mile blast...thats 2 weeks in a row I've done that....not like me.

[Dombo]

[quote="Antloony"](so much for the big talk about getting people going on time...though what do you expect when the VC's can't even be arsed to roll up till gone 9.15)

[Antloony]

[quote="Dombo"]Lighten up, it's a bike ride, a club run, not the D-Day landings

[MJ_1993]

lol. really i think the club runs should start later so that we're riding in the sun with a nice breeze, not the rain and a sh*tty headwind!!! (there sylv, i've proclaimed it to the world) =P especially when you're the first one there, and theres only 7 people till about 9.10, meanwhile mr avery is hatching plans to do a solo club run, i must say though he makes a pretty good stand in VC, while we wait for the real ones to turn up...

[Graham O]

Ant - As you pointed out, I did hang on for most of the time. Tried to come through 2 or 3 times, but didn't last long. Overall, it was fun...

It was however, still much harder than going out with the 19s group. Jumping from the 19s (aka 20/21) to the training group is quite hard, but to be honest, not that hard provided that you are allowed to sit in and that there are some regroupings. Thanks very much for this chaps. I reckon that I'll try to stick with this now. Will probably go through a month of getting dropped every time that the road goes up hill or someone attacks, but its a necessary evil...

One thing that would be handy through is if the Ant \ Stu could avoid the puddles. I did consume quite copious amounts rainwater. I also managed to snap a spoke going up the merthsham drag, so I must have been pushing quite hard. The dt swiss wheels maybe pretty and fast, but they aren't really designed for lots of sprints and changes in pace. The fulcrums have now been refitted to my bike..

Thanks Again...

[quote="Graham O"]It was however, still much harder than going out with the 19s group. Jumping from the 19s (aka 20/21) to the training group is quite hard, but to be honest, not that hard provided that you are allowed to sit in and that there are some regroupings.

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Antloony"]Quiet training group again this week, just Stu, Grahame and myself set out at 9.20 (so much for the big talk about getting people going on time...though what do you expect when the VC's can't even be arsed to roll up till gone 9.15)

[Snoop Doug]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]At least this time I had an excuse and wasn't even there.

Sean

[Alan M]

[quote]visible leadership

[quote="Alan M"][quote]visible leadership