Club run 7/11

[Hal]

It has been an age since I rode a club run, tendonitis, holidays, taking it easy, getting up late, back ache ...... but this week all things going well I should be out, for a nice steady 17's. Hopefully getting further than the cafe in Coulsdon. Very exciting.

H

[steve felt]

can you tell me which way the alternative route goes and is up and down or like the normal CR.
cheers steve

[steve felt]

When i get left behind i like to know roughly where im meant to be going.

cheers steve

[steve felt]

I didnt know it still counted as the cr, i thought it was more of an unofficial every man/woman for himself type of thing.

cheers steve

[quote="steve felt"]I didnt know it still counted as the cr, i thought it was more of an unofficial every man/woman for himself type of thing.

cheers steve

[Marek]

If the weather is ok I will be up for doing something a bit different, would prefer a route that took in a few climbs. Lets hope the weather clears up, I got soaked on the way home this evening.

Cheers

Marek....

[Andrew G]

Refreshing wasn't it nice bit of resistance training with the head wind too.

[Marek]

Rode up from East Grinstead this morning and went with the renegades today and had a really good time. A group of 12 with different abilities but we kept it well together. Headed out of CSS via Farthing Down which is a beautiful road to depart Coulsdon, we then headed on over to Woldingham where we cut through the back lanes and ended up at the top of Titsey Hill. A quick descent, some went a bit too quick, and we turned left at the bottom and went along the Pilgrims way until we turned right and descended down to Brasted where we had some very decent coffee and cake at 96 degrees. Rob Quinn even got propositioned by the very cute blonde waitress, at least that was what he thought happened, I think he was dreaming.

A great warm up after the cafe was going up Toys Hill from the easy side and then descended and turned over towards Crockham Hill where we carried on over towards Oxted area. One of the bunch got a puncture which we fixed in a quick time and then I left the group and headed back to East Grinstead. Managed to get a puncture of my own just after I left the group which was a bit annoying.

Really nice ride with a few lumps and good company, will try to get along to more of those rides over the winter. Clocked just under 90km.

Cheers

Marek....

[Rob Q]

Nice to see you out again Hal!

[quote]Rob Quinn even got propositioned by the very cute blonde waitress, at least that was what he thought happened, I think he was dreaming.

[Keith]

[quote="Hal"]Hopefully getting further than the cafe in Coulsdon. Very exciting.
H

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

This once a month CR is becoming a bit of a habit for us. Which is nice - keeps things fresh. Good fun. Lovely day. New chain.

Brought my mate Matt along for his first agreeable experience. loved it. He turned up suitably dressed for a mid summer ride in the south of France - shorts, no gloves and a t shirt. I couldn't help myself: 'are you sure you're going to be warm enough?' I cringed as I realised I was sounding like his mother but it had to be said. Anyway, I managed to find a spare pair of slacks, some gloves and my Iles Baleares shirt - and insisted he put them on. 'I'll be fine, honest'.

Rode with Phil and Alex's gentle 17 which turned out to be very gentle 15 a bit all over the place but a nice atmosphere. Matt punctured in Reigate (conti ultras tyres -cheap but very prone to puncture) - Alex helped out and changed his inner tube -as I rode to catch the front group and ask them to wait. i came back to watch Alex carry out the repair (it's the ACC way). and the group did wait - nice one!!

Jeff won the sprint - only Sam could be bothered to go with him (and even then he rode in such a low gear he looked like he was warming down) the rest of us were chatting.

Having rode strongly I was amazed that we got dropped IN the cafe. I went for a pee and came out and found the cafe empty! We were abandoned!! So Sam, Matt and I rode back together. Caught up with Rachel? before the common riding on her own. She'd dropped off from John C's group (i guess). I was relieved to see that Alan? was waiting for her a bit further on. so she was being looked after so we didn't wait (let's be clear -we would have). Sam sprinted off and won the KoM points and then we were home. 68 kms. Glorious.

[Hal]

Glorious

A really steady, organised 17's on the way down via Lambs Green verg agreeable indeed. Except for the puncture although even that was very straight forward and thanks to the Itialian in the blue kit who helped fix it.

Decided to chance a steady ride back over Box hill, I actually was chatting away so happilly in the cafe that almost everyone else had left so had a quiet ride up to the top of the climb where there were various ball busters and agreeables hanging around.

Steady back to Coulsdon for a cuppa which I needed as i was starting to get a bit tired!

Home with 60 miles on the clock my longest ride since July!

A few mild twinges from the achilies heel on Sunday so I think I will continue to go steady for a couple more months yet.

Hal