Friday.

[Andrew G]

Off work.
Supposed to be dry.
Going for a long one.
Starting near Selsdon, if anyone is interested in joining me give me a shout and I'll try and fill in some details.

[Alboy]

Might join for a couple of hours if ok with you?

AL

[Andrew G]

Anyone's welcome Al, rough info...

Start at Planet Spice Indian Restaurant at the bottom of Featherbed Lane - [url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=CR2+8JT&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=19.543246,39.375&ie=UTF8&z=16]here[/url] at 9am.

Pace will be steady but reasonable (18s group sort of pace all ride). Heading out via Ashdown Forest (bit lumpy) down towards Lewes to start with. West from there to Storrington and edge of Arundel. North to Haslemere and then back either Rusper and CR reverse or cut across to come back through Newchapel/Lingfield area.

I guess I'll stop for a cuppa somewhere but don't know where, probably either Storrington-ish or Haslemere-ish.

[Roy Green]

I'm also going out for a longish ride Friday, Andrew, but keeping well out of your way (can manage 18s fine on flay/downhill with wind behind)!

[Marky Mark]

Workshy slackers!

I'd love to, but I'm skiving playing golf
MM

[mrP(Boonen)VT]

[quote="Andrew G"]Anyone's welcome Al, rough info...

Start at Planet Spice Indian Restaurant at the bottom of Featherbed Lane - [url=http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=CR2+8JT&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=19.543246,39.375&ie=UTF8&z=16]here[/url] at 9am.

Pace will be steady but reasonable (18s group sort of pace all ride). Heading out via Ashdown Forest (bit lumpy) down towards Lewes to start with. West from there to Storrington and edge of Arundel. North to Haslemere and then back either Rusper and CR reverse or cut across to come back through Newchapel/Lingfield area.

I guess I'll stop for a cuppa somewhere but don't know where, probably either Storrington-ish or Haslemere-ish.

[Marky Mark]

Sounds like my run with Robh last week...

Our route togther starting from Reigate was Dorking, Shere, Cranleigh, Alfold, Loxwood, Wisborough Green, Fittleworth, Arundel, Findon, Washington, West Grinstead, Southwater, Broadbridge Heath, Rusper, Lambs Green, Charlwood.

Ding-ding Round 2

MM

[Alboy]

Went out and can only manage around 16mph.

I will pass on this and do the club run Saturday as doing the next ten two up on the MTB with MArco.

See you soon.

AL

[George]

Everyones bottled it Andrew, looks like its just you and me then

[DavidKennett]

Featherbed Lane, 9am, mmmm

[Andrew G]

, better pack a couple of extra pieces of flapjack.

[Andrew G]

Well I must have scared George and Dave off . I set off at 9.05 (see I did wait) up Featherbed Lane and out via Titsey and Crockham and on and up to Ashdown Forest. Really nice up there today and the roads were lovely and quiet.

I carried on down to Maresfield and then did a little jink down a lane to Offham just above Lewes on the South Downs. I headed west from here and down a lovely lane past Ditchling to Hurstpierpoint. A wiggle south west to Upper Beeding and then Steyning. From here it was up the B2135 through Partridge Green to Dial Post, no SCCU 100 HQ anymore as they're rebuilding the village hall I think we'll be down at Ashington this year.

From here I had a nip over towards Storington, but before dropping in there I had another look at the map. My original rough plan was to try and head over north east towards Haslemere, the problem was there isn't a nice convenient B road or directish route to get there. I had no definite route in mind I was just out for a long ride in an area and down some roads I don't really know, so I decided not to bother heading over to Haslemere as it would mean a bit of jinking about and quite a bit of map checking. I was really enjoying the ride and didn't want to have to keep glancing at a map so I headed north towards Loxwood and then across but cut early through the lanes by the Green's villages SW of Horsham. I thought I might bump in to my Dad around here as he was off on his "Age Ride" today - excellent work from Sr but I'll let him tell you his tale. I cut over Southwater and dropped on to the B2110 under Crawley to head towards Turner's Hill.

From here it was cut up towards Lingfield and then pick up my alternate CR route to head home via Four Elms and climb up past Chartwell to Westerham. then just a simple matter of of up and over Botley Hill and the run back through the lanes to the White Bear and back down Featherbad Lane.

A cracking ride and I was on an A road for all of about half a mile, the rest was all on B roads and lanes. Nice shorts and short sleeve weather, blue sky, and very quiet roads all day. I was glad I didn't go over to Haslemere as that would have meant a return run back down the CR route and I'd have been on busier A roads from Reigate to home, as it was it was beautifully quiet all day, well apart from the voices in my head.

In total it was a nad's over 120 miles (nice to hit the double metric ton) and I was riding for just over 7 hours so 17s average I had flapjack and Clif bars so I didn't bother with a stop, just nipped in to a shop for a bottle refill. With my Dad's ride Team Green clocked over 200 miles today .

I've had my recovery drink (Black Sheep), think I'll have a kip now as I have to say I am a bit knackered.

[Snoop Doug]

Top ride Mr x 2

[Antloony]

You lucky lucky barsteward. Would have loved to joined you today for that. Good stuff.

[Roy Green]

Taking over from Andrew, as the senior member of Team , I was happy to finish up with 84 miles, well over my 'birth year total'. Took me around 6-1/2 hours.
To explain, each year in my dotage, I'm aiming to cover at least the number of miles of my age, on a lone ride. That meant 73 this year. I took over this concept from a good friend Bernard Thompson, a photographer par excellence of cycle racing, especially time trials. Sadly Bernard passed on, aged 83, in November 2007, to seek out Other Routes up Above.
It has been a good day weatherwise for those of now diminished pedal power. Moderate temperature, dry, above all with little wind, just a southwest breeze; the ideal direction for easing the return trip. I left about 8.45am, to follow, somewhat mundanely, the club run route to Newdigate. From there, through Rusper to Faygate, and straight over direction Colgate, though no bright smile from me when I hit the long climb there.
On then to Horsham. Must get PVT to post some direction-finding advice through his home town! Cutting unintentionally SE for a while on A281 bought the unexpected bonus of a nice cafe at a big garden centre. Mmmm, bacon and brie panini! After, I found some nice lanes through to Southwater, a name more usually connected with a noisy dual carriageway time trial turn point, but this village and lanes round it are very pleasant. Thence on for some Green village visits, to Dragon's Green (my own turnback point), Barns Green, Brooks Green ( Junior would have been somewhere near me, too!)
I took to the A24 for a spell, easier on the legs, but glad to turn off from the traffic race at the Beare Green (another!) 10-course roundabout for Newdigate. I'd run out of drink and was near hallucinating; Bob's Store in this fair village was so welcome. As was a can of Red Bull, bottle of Oasis and Tracker bar, enjoyed relaxing awhile at the bus shelter seat opposite. Save your money on expensive energy food/drink - after this I felt very sprightly all way home, via Club route - Reigate - A23.
Heaven was then a warm foamy bath, big chicken meal, bottle of Theakston's Old Peculier ale (perhaps appropriate for me!), early night and Saturday lay-in. And no doubt stiff aching body for a time, but it was worth it!