Club Run 14/11

[Rob Q]

Were there any nutters who headed out on the CR today

[Antloony]

I was half tempted but then sense prevailed and I got back into bed.

[mlocke]

You all missed a good ride

[mlocke]

4 of us at css so we set off with wind and rain being the prevailing conditions. Once over the m25 though it brightened up and was even sunny for most of the ride though still windy.

The group expanded to six at the cafe who were surprised to see any of us

legs on the way back were beginning to feel the 10k onthursday evening but thankfully the wind was now in our favour and blew us home most of the way.

Coming into coulsdon the heavens opened but this didn't dampen a good steady ride

cheers

locky

[Amy]

Once you were out, it actually wasn't that bad

Being one of the four at CSS, I was a little late because I'd hesitated while it poured down just about the time I normally leave. Didn't think there was anyone out until someone stepped out from the corner of the station building and I saw Locky as I pulled up. A little later another guy - sorry, I think of you as a Mike but I could be wrong.

Set off at 20 past having waited for another 'shower' to pass, Locky and ?Mike on the front towing me and the other guy who turned out to be a newbie (sorry, I hadn't realised till later in the ride and I had meant to ask your name after I'd got round to introducing myself).

I have to admit that the last few weeks have felt like I'm getting that muscle weakness back so tended to be off the back and hanging on - again. I'm ok until I have to push a little harder such as up hill or if the speed goes over what I'm comfortable at. I've thought of all the excuses but it's still niggling away there.

As said, met up with Hal and Peter at the cafe; apparently Matt Day was out somewhere too having ridden most of the way down with them but nobody else turned up. Decided the weather was worth it and asked for a hot chocolate thick enough to eat with a spoon

Coming back was better with the wind behind: though waiting at the temp lights at Coulsdon I was having to hold my brakes to stop from being blown forward

Must go, cat is hassling for dinner...

[Dominic]

I take my hat of to you all who made it. I had planned to make this my first club run for a long time and wimped out because of the weather. Opted for 1hr and 20 mins on the turbo and of course it didn't rain the whole time I was on the damn thing

[Andrew G]

Tamar and I saw you guys out on the CR shortly before Reigate, going through the lake at the lights must have been a feet in the air job .

We were on our way to Peaslake for the playgroup ride .

As Marco said it was a good day. As well as Marco, Tamar, and myself we also met Aodan, Mike, Colin, Tamar's friend Abbie from Kingston Phoenix (seen her at a few cross races before) and her boyfriend David (thanks to Aodan for reminding me of his name). As ever Marco knew everyone you ever meet , he'd raced cross with Mark about 10 years ago.

It was a bit puddly with lots of splashing through dips that are normally dry but once your wet and dirty what does a little bit more matter. The trails we picked were fine though really just a splash here and there, it was good to ride them in such different conditions too. A small off when the front tyre just slipped out off a wet root but just bent my thumb back a bit.

A variety of noises made from our various bikes during the day and many destroyed brake pads, but the chap at the little shop in Peaslake is very nice and has a hose out back so we could all wash our bikes off afterwards to avoid getting the car interior as caked in mud as we were.

Mainly under tree cover so you never felt as though you were in the rain that much, although a lot of it fell, and it also kept us out of the worst of the wind. When we popped out at various spots like the two viewpoints it was wild though, real biblical type weather with a howling gale and rain driven sideways at you up high with the trees bent right over.

All in lots and lots and lots of fun.

Thanks to Marco for the navigating. I'm getting to know the area better and could sort it out now in the dry, I think, but with the rain we've had all of a sudden everything's shot up, so that turning you remembered is now more overgrown with ferns and less obvious.

The rest of the gang trying, and failing, at synchronized jumping like a loon at Pitch viewpoint in the gale and driving rain up there.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/WEBPitchViewpointgroupJumpcrop.jpg[/img]

Marco gets that King of the World feeling .
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/WEBMarcobest.jpg[/img]

[Amy]

[quote="Andrew G"]Tamar and I saw you guys out on the CR shortly before Reigate, going through the lake at the lights must have been a feet in the air job .

[Andrew G]

Glad it wasn't too bad, but also quite surprised. On the drive to and from Peaslake quite a few of the lanes were flooded and also some main road sections too.

[Amy]

[quote="Sean Hogan"]Anyone who went out today is certifiable.