Clubnight discussion this Thursday 25th Feb

This Thursday evening we have reserved the back room at the clubroom to have a discussion on group riding and anything else you want to talk about. The aim of this is to help new riders with the club to fill in the back ground that everyone assumes everyone knows but is rarely explained.
If the evening is a success we will put on other evenings from time to time and may invite outside speakers. We are open to suggestions. Stories about activities like epic rides, End to End or Geneva-Nice or Cheam-Rome, Kennet & Avon for instance would be welcomed. Mick has suggested that Barry could talk about his racing trips to Belgium with the Juniors. Training, nutrition, sportives, equipment, the clubs website and IT facilities, using a sat nav etc could form an evening's discussion. Anyway we can discusss how this might develop. But only if you turn up at the clubroom on Thursday 25th Feb at 8.30pm. Let's give it a go.

MTB: Kennet and Avon Canal.

This year's Kennet and Avon ride is planned to take place on Thursday, Friday, Saturday 6th, 7th, 8th May 2010.

Anyone interested in riding please confirm it by 6th April so that I can arrange the digs along the way.

Paul.

Guildford - Brighton - Guildford

A 90 mile(ish) one day ride on what is almost the longest day of the year and one week after the London to Brighton cycle ride. I did the ride a few years ago, from just south of Guildford starting at Bramley, it is a good day out.


Proposed (rough) itinerary

9.00am Start from Guildford Station, road to Bramley

9.30am Off-road to Bramber on 'Downs Link'

12.30pm Shoreham by bridleway, road to Brighton

1.00pm Lunch in Brighton

3.00pm Return by same route or return home by train

6.30pm Bramley

7.00pm Guildford


There are a few variables...

Bike
I have done the ride on a mountain bike and a cyclocross single-speed but you could also use an old fashioned 'rough stuff' or touring bike providing the tyres had some grip and you took the guards off.

Route
If we detour from Guildford to St Martha's Hill, the start of the Downs Link, I think it will rule out any bike but a MTB and will add a lot of time in. I don't think it is necessary to the day but let me know your thoughts.

Restaurant
I need people's opinions on whether we should try and book anywhere up. It will depend on numbers and whether any want to drive down to meet us in Brighton and just meet for the meal.

Non-riders
Members who would like to drive down could, potentially, have a few places in cars for people who don't want to cycle back or have had too enthusiastic a lunch!

Numbers
It would good to know how many are interested, I will put up a 'closing date' a few weeks before.

There is a good pdf file with Downs Link mapping available from www.westsussex.gov.uk/leisureandtourism/prow/pdfs/DownsLinkRouteGuide.pdf

The day is a 'work in progress' so your comments will be welcome.

Really inspiring off-road article on the Penine Way!

One for the future?...
http://www.everydaycycling.com/edc/routes/20081107_pennine_bridleway_nick_craig.aspx

Midweek MTB Rides

Hi Everybody,

I would like to see if anyone is interested in doing a midweek mountain bike ride now the nights are getting lighter. I thought we could start the rides either at Box Hill, Epsom Downs or Westcott depending on who was going out and time. The rides are for reasonably experienced riders but not necessarily quick, they are just hilly, a little technical in places and over a wide range of surfaces (don’t let that hold you back I am rubbish! - and not fit at the moment). I normally ride for an hour and a half minimum and am thinking of staying out longer as the evenings open up.

Please leave a comment if you would like more information or to suggest a meeting place or route and I'll get back to you.

Steve

Coast-to-Coast map

Early days for this project, this is just a test to see if I can import it into the blog. I'll put more details in nearer the event.


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