Club Run Saturday 20 Nov 2010

[Antloony]

Well here's a brief report from me.

Bit of a late arrival at CSS, pulled up just as the 19's were pulling out so jumped on the back of the group for what was to be a nice gentle ride to the cafe. Good steady pace all the way. New guy in green was a bit of a nightmare, nice chap, strong rider but boy he needs to learn how to be aware of whats going on around him and ride in a straight line. Had a good chat to him along the way about group etiquitte and how things work though he still needs to observe and learn to keep his line and place in the group but he'll get there and be a good addition to the faster groups.

The group split, 5 or so going off for a T&O, the rest of us heading the quick way for the cafe. Took a long one for the sprint uping the speed a looong way out, a little bit to much of upping the speed as I dropped all but one coming up to the sign, quick dig and job done though

Had a quick go on Geoffs new Felt with the new Shimano DI2 gears....wow smooth or what, you dont even know its shifted gear, very nice. was tempted to ride home on it and never to be seen again

Back out of the cafe after tea and cake and it felt like winter had arrived while we'd been indoors. Keith was shivering away as we left, I'd had enough of being cold and increased the pace to warm myself up expecting him and maybe a few others to follow suit. Looked around after a few hundred yards and I was on me own...oh well, kept going anyway putting in a few miles on my tod. Quick regroup at the usual and it was off again. Easy pace at first heading towards the Merstham drag. Stuck to Dave K's wheel like poop to a blanket while he dug in a couple of times towards the top. I hit the front at starbucks and dragged the remainder of the group which was just 4 inc Dave back towards CSS where we had a short but enjoyable tow behind a double decker

Good ride, legs felt good, fingers crossed for more of the same as very little knee pain at the mo.

[Alan M]

Ok so back to the ride - bored with publicising Sportive now! So had intended a 17mph on fixie but saw a small 18 group leaving in the capable hands of metronomic Mark and decided to try my luck. It was a nice group, a bit fast at times but OK. I always intended to head off at Partridge so pinged off the front on the way up to the turn off and stayed there except for one follower. I had forgotten the necessary spanner for my fixed wheel so tried to hang with Steve on his new retro fixie but his gearing was higher and strength greater so I dropped back but found groups to ride with. Fixed wheel riding is quite demanding in both stamina and attention and I certainly felt I'd had a work out by my return. Good ride but uninviting weather.

[PeteS]

Sorry I was late yesterday , not a mechanical but I took a bit too long reading the map as I was planning a new route, thanks to all for waiting.
9 of us set off into a rather murky day with one of the usual lung burners (Farthing Downs) to get us all in the mood. We took a nice quiet route to Tulleys where the only problem was choosing from the vast array of cakes. The extra loop took us down into Ardingly with the nasty little climb up from the reservoir; then, a left and a right down a fearsome double arrowed lane before climbing back up the other side. After a regroup and a wait for a puncture, we took the lane down past the 2nd reservoir of the day Weirwood, then another little climb up to East Grinstead. It's really hard to get back from there without being on busy roads but after Lingfield there's a lovely little lane past the school which we took up to Haxted Mill. Two more nasties to go with Tilburstow then the final climb back to Chaldon where Conor's Garmin told us we'd climbed 4,600 feet on the ride.
We have had some of the best rides all year in the past three weeks with lots of different faces and some strong groups. It's noticable that some of the "weaker" riders have really improved and whereas we used to wait at many hilltops now there's no excuse as everyone keeps up!

[Rob Q]

[quote="PeteS"]Sorry I was late yesterday , not a mechanical but I took a bit too long reading the map as I was planning a new route, thanks to all for waiting.
9 of us set off into a rather murky day with one of the usual lung burners (Farthing Downs) to get us all in the mood. We took a nice quiet route to Tulleys where the only problem was choosing from the vast array of cakes. The extra loop took us down into Ardingly with the nasty little climb up from the reservoir; then, a left and a right down a fearsome double arrowed lane before climbing back up the other side. After a regroup and a wait for a puncture, we took the lane down past the 2nd reservoir of the day Weirwood, then another little climb up to East Grinstead. It's really hard to get back from there without being on busy roads but after Lingfield there's a lovely little lane past the school which we took up to Haxted Mill. Two more nasties to go with Tilburstow then the final climb back to Chaldon where Conor's Garmin told us we'd climbed 4,600 feet on the ride.
We have had some of the best rides all year in the past three weeks with lots of different faces and some strong groups. It's noticable that some of the "weaker" riders have really improved and whereas we used to wait at many hilltops now there's no excuse as everyone keeps up!

[quote="Rob Q"][quote="PeteS"]Sorry I was late yesterday , not a mechanical but I took a bit too long reading the map as I was planning a new route, thanks to all for waiting.
9 of us set off into a rather murky day with one of the usual lung burners (Farthing Downs) to get us all in the mood. We took a nice quiet route to Tulleys where the only problem was choosing from the vast array of cakes. The extra loop took us down into Ardingly with the nasty little climb up from the reservoir; then, a left and a right down a fearsome double arrowed lane before climbing back up the other side. After a regroup and a wait for a puncture, we took the lane down past the 2nd reservoir of the day Weirwood, then another little climb up to East Grinstead. It's really hard to get back from there without being on busy roads but after Lingfield there's a lovely little lane past the school which we took up to Haxted Mill. Two more nasties to go with Tilburstow then the final climb back to Chaldon where Conor's Garmin told us we'd climbed 4,600 feet on the ride.
We have had some of the best rides all year in the past three weeks with lots of different faces and some strong groups. It's noticable that some of the "weaker" riders have really improved and whereas we used to wait at many hilltops now there's no excuse as everyone keeps up!

[Jon C C on a Bianchi]

[quote="Antloony"] New guy in green was a bit of a nightmare, nice chap, strong rider but boy he needs to learn how to be aware of whats going on around him and ride in a straight line. Had a good chat to him along the way about group etiquitte and how things work though he still needs to observe and learn to keep his line and place in the group but he'll get there and be a good addition to the faster groups.

[quote="Jon C C on a Bianchi"]I don't know who he came with (if anyone). ACC Club run etiquette expects that new riders are introduced to the Captain, if he's not there to the VCs. Had that been done we could have talked to him and explained the situation.

[Antloony]

[quote="Amy"]And anyway, with Captain Ant giving him the once over, I should think he'll learn. Wish I was faster as I have no qualms shouting at people if they do things like suddenly freewheel in front of me on a hill or jump about in the group...
I will then of course explain what they did and why it's not a good idea in a group... Funny, I'm only bolshie on the bike

[Amy]

Can be a bit hard to spot a newbie - I do find that quite often I'll ask someone if they're new and they reply that they've been out a couple of times already.

One giveaway that I find, though, is that they're there at CSS early or on time

[Tim Coales]

[quote="Antloony"]I think that a shout out should be made for any newbies to make themselves known rather than wait for them to step forwards. This way we'll get to identify them and take them to one side and explain how things work etc. After all they don't know who the VC's are. Just my thoughts on the subject.

[Antloony]

Cheers Tim.

I never mind stepping in and shouting my mouth off if I think a group needs a bit of sorting out regardless of whether there's a VC there or not

[Amy]

[quote="Antloony"]I never mind stepping in and shouting my mouth off if I think a group needs a bit of sorting out regardless of whether there's a VC there or not

[quote="Amy"][quote="Antloony"]I never mind stepping in and shouting my mouth off if I think a group needs a bit of sorting out regardless of whether there's a VC there or not