2010 NewsClub Runs 06/07.03.2010Saturday - Still suffering from this dreaded winter and only seeming to run Saturday runs, the journey to the 'Eco-Caf' via Downe and Halstead followed the usual pattern with Oz, Phil, Stuart, John and Les from the start but now being joined by his Luckyness who seems to be attempting a come-back.Anyway nothing of great excitement. This week we were accompanied by Paul K whom was sandwiched twix the 'A' group and the 'stragglers' (the 'easy' Saturdays seeming to have gone out the window somehow !). This said, Stuart decided that Lullingstone was more inviting and headed off in that direction (he was later 'safely gathered in') and Lucky took Phil to the 'dark-side' via Badgers not realising that an extra leg via Timber Bottom and 'Bowdens Hill' to round Sat rides to a better 30 miler was expected. All arrived at the Caf' at roughly the same time, so nowt were lost - oz! p.s. A 'blast-from-the-past' was espied on Sat' a.m. riding down thro' Knockholt ...... Kevin Lock !!! p.s.(2). Riding back thro' Keston we were passed by a White Ferrari convertible bearing the number plate ....... OZ1 - what are the chances ? Sunday - So where were you all ? Put off by the chill rawness of the morning ? Surely not. Oz, Mark, Stuart and Phil met up at Corkscrew and headed off towards Brands Hatch and the Speedgate cafe. When the sun shone, it was ALMOST pleasant, when the wind blew it was a bit chilly. Anyway, good progress was made via Layhams, Beddlestead, Pilgrims Way (Oz found some ice - too late - no harm done) to Shoreham, Lullingstone and Eynesford. Then there was a very pleasant valley route (towards West Kingsdown) which ended with a short but sharp climb that caught Stuart out. Then Oz needed a MAP to get us to Speedgate - wish I could have got a photo. Tea and toast was followed by the return through Eynesford, Farningham, (Mark had a puncture to give Oz a rest.) Bowdens Hill, Farnborough to Locksbottom were we started to split-up heading for home. I did Layhams, Beddlestead again to return via Warlingham to Croydon to make a total for me of 64m. >VTTA 10 Q20/10 - 06.03.2010I entered this a few weeks ago, hoping the weather would have turned for the better but I was wrong! and it was a cold northerly wind on the return leg which I found a battle.This was my first 10 mile time trial in 5 years and I returned a time of 27.40, which I was disappointed with but on the up side it's a start, and hopefully it can only get better ! The winner was a staggering 20.38, a minute in front of second place man, but the front runners always have put in amazing times. I look forward to next weeks CDCA with anticpation but mind out for the nasty pot holes at the top of Bletchingley ! - Bazza No pride intact today I am afraid, I drove down to Handcross in awful weather, negotiating lots of standing water. At the HQ everybody was talking about what to do, some who had driven from different directions along the course were saying the road was flooded at two or three parts of the course, one section near the finish almost entirely across the road. Steve Dennis the organiser drove some of the course returning to say it is just wet and the event was still on. Not for me I am afraid, it would have been counter productive and potentially dangerous to participate. I did drive along the last piece of the course and did find the flooded section, it was on a left hand bend with only a three feet section on the opposite side of the road not submerged!! I will be interested when I receive the result sheet to see how many actually started/finished - Ian. Club Runs 27/28.02.2010Saturday - Rain AM. Did anybody get out ? In the afternoon OPCC Croydon branch did 30 miles around South London. Weather almost pleasant by then !Sunday - Rain, rain, rain - again !!! Redhill CC Sporting 18 - 21.02.2010This event starts just west of Westcott and within a very short time ascends Coast hill, heads over to Oakwoodhill via Holmbury St Mary, then Ockley, finishing on the A24 at Holmwood.Two Old Ports were entered - Ian Bashford and Barry Newman. The morning temperature was hovering between 0 and +0.5 degrees, with icy rain falling. I felt the writing was on the wall when I was almost at the HQ and the car didn't want to go in the direction it was being steered and when I parked and got out, I nearly went base over apex. However people were still arriving with Bazza turning up in his cycling shorts legs out northern style !!! You could almost smell the air of anticipation and terror ! At about 0830hrs the organiser put us all out of our misery and abandoned the event on safety grounds so we all kept our prides intact, no DNS for us. Club Runs 20/21.02.2010Saturday - John, Oz, Phil, Stuart - and Graham riding with us for the first time and "introduced" by John - met up for the usual Saturday jaunt. Les joined us a few yards up the road. We missed out Bowdens Hill again - just a bit too icy - but otherwise tea and cakes were had at High Elms before the return to West Wickham.Sunday - Rain, rain, rain !!! Club Runs 13/14.02.2010Saturday - Ian, Oz, Phil, Stuart - returning again after last week, and Andy riding with us for the first time - met up for the usual Saturday jaunt. Les joined us a few yards up the road. We missed out Bowdens Hill this time - just a bit too icy - but otherwise tea and buns were had at the cafe before the return to West Wickham.Sunday - Sydenham Reliability Trial - cancelled due to snow. Sunday club run - only Andy turned out. Too wet - and potentially icy - for those not travelling somewhere. Club Runs 06/07.02.2010Saturday - Anxious to get a start to the season, one joined the merry throng keen to beat the weather, it was, Phil, Fr J, Mig and a new chap Stuart (NO, another one ) who got our details via a web-search.All the usual 'Fun-of-the-Fair' was enjoyed, 'sept a couple of our gang decided that the tried and tested route wasn't for them, and, (almost) struck out for other directions. Fear not dear reader, all were safely gathered in. Only detour (proper) was when Phil aquired a puncture at the top of 'Bowdens Hill' Tea and cakes scoffed-up ,we went home. ..........oz! Sunday - Old Ports Reliability Trial - more details here » Club Runs 30/31.01.2010Sunday - For today's OP Croydon branch Sunday ride - Croydon, Redhill, Horley, Cuckfield, Hassocks, Ditchling (VILLAGE not BEACON !!), Haywards Heath, Turners Hill, Godstone, Caterham by-pass, Purley, Croydon. Non-stop apart from a nature call.No problems really but a bit of ice here and there caused a rapid slowdown once or twice. 71 miles. Club Run 23/24.01.2010Saturday Three - Oz, Phil and John met at Corkscrew soon to be joined by Les and then to 'eco caf' via 'bowdens hill'. All ok, except Les punctured at Badgers and decided to go home. Nuffin' very special but it was a ride.Sunday - Phil, Oz and Gary - to show/remind the joys of Crowhurst for the coming season, via Layhams , Beds'd ( 15m (+50%)), Limpsfield, Gibbs Brook (inc 'Lake') round the circuit, past the Red Barn, stopped @ 'Occasionally Yours' caf' for Cake and Bacon Rolls. Replenished, we carried on, into 'The Waterworks'. Dear listener, if I tell you that the entrance/corner has got even worse, you'll not be surprised. Up both climbs (Phil had earlier complained the course wasn't very lumpy !), past the Hall, back into G Brook, back thro' the Lake. Then ,via Spring Lane, Wolfes Hill (deeeep joy), A25 ,Clackets ... more holes than road! - Pilgrims ( here Gary decided he'd had enough company, and went his own way home), Pol Hill (8.5 mins (+50% AGAIN !), consistent or what - can I get any slower (probably). Col-de-Farn' and home, knackered, oh so very knackered, BUT, 'appy. oz! p.s, Phil, feeling short changed, carried on for another lap of Beddlestead !! CC Bexley Reliability Trial 24.01.20103 Old Ports turned up for this morning's RT at Horton Kirby - early start 8.30 getaway for Bashers, Barry Newman (Bazza) and me.We started off with a small group of around 8 to 10 and kept it together despite a brisk pace (Bash doing the pacemaking as usual)- no wind and dry and occasional sunshine! Did the 100kms in 3.44 - good course a lot of climbing - c3500 ft - up Tilburstow and Gangers on the way back. Blew the cobwebs away and my pulse was still over 100 about 20 minutes after finishing. ( note to self - death is nature's way of telling you to slow down). Hope those of you who did the clubrun had a good day. See you next week for those who are out on Sunday? Club Run 16/17.01.2010Saturday - Too wet - rained offSunday - Nine met-up at Corkscrew - destination Speed Gate. At least I think it was nine. We didn't stay together long enough to be sure. Ian, Barry, Phil, Mark, Oz, John , Gary, Colin and Dave. Andy threatened to join us but was running late. Mark had a puncture after half an hour maybe - don't know exactly where. Dave and Phil stopped to give moral support, John and Oz went on ahead and the peleton waited up the road. Puncture fixed, off we went to catch the peloton only for Mark to have a second puncture before the join was made. Mark decided to call it a day and so Dave, Phil and the rest set off again. However, having other plans laid, Barry, and then Ian, Colin and Gary peeled-off leaving Dave and Phil to chase the other two. Tea and cakes at Speed Gate then saw the remaining four heading home. Oz disappeared somewhere - puncture ? Or did he find Anita's home ?? Dave and John went back to find him without success. Then Dave punctured and as he was two miles from home, sent John and Phil off homewards. No further dramas. 80K for me by the time I got home - tired. Hope everyone get back OK. PS Oz Report - ....home-wards we pressed, all going 'O.K' ,and, shunning the delights of Crockenhill (and the 'locals' !) and the Crays and Orp' carried on thro' Farningham and Eynsford onto the A225 and Lull' and the loooooong pull thro' to the A21 On struggling with the climb past Shoreham Lane I thought 'ear ,I got one of then 'Triple Clangers' on (as used by the 'Clunkers' group ) - why not utilise it. Now, it's funny BUT 20th gear on the Bianchi is obviously lower than 16th on the Roberts ( well, that's my excuse) and,'slamming' it into 'Granny Ring said Chain (presumably suffering from "Chain Suck "(sure does !!), the bottom run of the Chain decided to accompany the top part AND, wedged itself the wrong side of the Chain Stay AND, no amount of 'persuasion ' would extricate it WHAT TO DO !!!, (by this time I was ALLLLL alone !!) only way out (short of 'phoning the Boss ) was to remove the 'rings and free it , By pure fortune I was carrying an 'Multi Tool-ette ' AND, although it bore a Allen Key of the right size it was too short to enable full rotation MEANING ,the 'rings were removed AND re-fitted in a series of 1/8 turns ! BUT, not wanting to make a to-do, just got on with it AND arrived home, late(er) oily AND ,fed-up . Club Run 10.01.20105 Go Mad in White StuffFor all those who missed out on todays fun and games let me fill you in. With the WK Reliability cancelled and threat of a Sunday morning on the Turbo Mr Hickman suggested a clunkers ride to get us out. Basically drag old bike with big tyres out of the garage and tally ho! Dave, Paul, Colin, Bash and I assembled at the appointed time. To be honest of the 5 of us only Paul had bought into the clunker concept riding the now infamous Falcon Scorpion in walking boots. The rest of us cheated with a collection of Marin and Specialized MTBs, with SPD's and all. I was roundly mocked for my MTB'ers baggy shorts- though I thought i looked rather dashing. We followed the Saturday route more or less. It was a little bit hairy early on with Paul(by now dubbed The Falcon, or il Falco to his friends) and Colin managing a nifty syncronised skidding manouver at one stage. It was all good fun but the familiar landmarks did seem to take longer to arrive on mtb'S, amd Dave and I noted that was bloody hard work. Stopped at Bombers Lane for photo's then onto Shire Lane and the eco cafe. All cheerfully spattered in salty muck from the road. Fun morning out- cheers guys Gary Blunt 10 mile run 03.01.2010Tadworth 10.So here I am again just pulled up next the grandstand at Epsom race course. The temperature is a bone freezing minus 2, I did the same event last year and said never again but as we all know taking part in these events is what keeps you going and why we spend hours and hours training. The entry sheet was full at 1000 but for some strange reason some people decided that they would rather stay snuggled up in bed !! I had a gentle warm up and joined the other 650 odd ( in both senses of the word ) competitors at the start line, the klaxon sounded and we were off, the ground was very hard under foot as you might imagine and the course was what as a cyclist you might call a little lumpy. As the field thinned out I found my rhythm and plodded around two 5 mile laps of Epsom downs and the surrounding area. The race is well marshaled and despite the below freezing conditions well supported by many locals which as we all know is well appreciated. The winner did an amazing 55.13 and was over two and a half minutes in front of the next finisher. I completed someway behind him however in 1.25.13 ( not quick but a minute and a half faster than last year ) He was probably changed showered and in the pub by the time I got round........Never again !! Club Run 02/03.01.2010Saturday - a cold and frosty morning meant many put discretion first but Colin, Ian and Phil met up at Coney Hall for the Saturday run. While Phil changed a puncture Ian planned a route to avoid any ice through Hayes, Keston, Keston Mark, Farnborough to Badgers Mount and then back via Orpington and Farnborough with a tea stop at the usual cafe. No ice or any other hazards of note. - 50K for meSunday - waking early for the 9:30 start I was hoping as I looked through the curtains to see a covering of snow. No such luck so could not find a good reason not to sally forth. Ian, Dave and Andy made the same choice and so again a route likely to be safe was chosen - Keston, Biggin Hill, Westerham, Riverhead, Otford to Lullingstone for tea. Then the usual return through the lanes under the motorway. Even these roads were ice-free and so all returned safely. 70K this time. |