A Tough Weekend!

On Saturday morning I made towards Woodhatch at Reigate on my trusty Red Emperor equipped with a 48X17 fixed wheel to let Russell Hicks of the Redhill take a couple of jerseys off me. Being there I decided to go on the 16 mph ride to Tully's Farm. It was just a shame that I did not check the route first!

As usual I ended up on the front, and as I was riding a 77" gear, the pace went up a bit! Through Newdigate, Rusper we went until I was faced with the climb up Colgate which I had to attack to keep going. The legs hurt and not surprisingly: my computer was showing 14 mph cresting the steep bit! From there things worsened! Through to Hammer Ponds we rode then left up the steep incline towards the A281. The run-up gave me the momentum to haul the fixed over the top, much the amusement and astonishment of Russell (and me); my legs burning! Thinking that we would ride to Turners Hill via Handcross, I was once again taken aback as we headed towards Staplefield and then up a killer of a hill which emerged at the water tower on the Handcross road. Legs once again in a terminal state! Sadly, Rupert Burbage did not give me a wheel to follow because he was taking it easy before the SCCU 50 the following day which he won with a 1-49: a brilliant ride.

At least the climb up to Turners Hill was straight forward with the fixed not dropping below 16 mph on the climb. A brief stop at Tully's and then off on the straight forward ride back to Earlswood. From there, although tired but still not stratified, I attacked the climb over Redhill on the A23, and then went totally bonkers on the Mersterham drag up to Hooley. The legs were now really feeling the pain, but, as anyone who rides a fixed knows, going down can be more painful than going up. And so it proved on the descent to Coulsdon where the leg speed was threatening cramp which, luckily, did not eventually happen. 62 miles at 18.5 mph, this with all of the climbs, pleased me!

Russell told me that there was a ride around the Reigate Sportive course the following day, which would be home in time for the footie. I chose this ride instead of the Downs Link ride and off we went again: me on gears this time! Poor old Adrian got the route right but went around it the wrong way! But it was a great ride in really hot conditions with a lot of laughs along the way. A nice sedate ride for me with 76 miles at a nice 17.4 mph.

The SoUther Sportive from Reigate is still open and is a really nice ride with climbs that are not leg breaking but hard. It a a local event so have a go!

http://www.southernsportive.com/?go=sunday&page=event&eventid=304

Weekend Rides 25-26th July 2009

Saturday 25th July
Horsham Nature Reserve. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00/Betchworth 9.45.
Mick Ayliffe (Ride Leader)

Sunday 26th July
West Horsley. Cheam Station South Side 9.00/Leatherhead Station 9.45. 45 miles.
Trevor Hughes (Ride Leader)

I have set up the blog now so that you can comment without signing-in to Google, just look at the blog and comment by hitting the comment link to the right of the 'Posted by...'. Type your comment in the box provided and then where it says 'Comment as: select profile', choose 'Name/URL' from the drop down menu, type in your name and then hit the 'Post comment' button, the comment will be published below automatically.

Steve

Weekend Rides 18-19th July 2009

We are going to continue with the experiment for six weeks. I have set up the blog now so that you can comment without signing-in to Google, just look at the blog and comment by hitting the comment link to the right of the 'Posted by...'. Type your comment in the box provided and then where it says 'Comment as: select profile', choose 'Name/URL' from the drop down menu, type in your name and then hit the 'Post comment' button. I have chosen the 'Moderate Comments' option which means that I need to check and pass each comment before I allow it to be published, I will update the site at the end of each day so keep it current.

I know it seems a bit complicated but once you have done it once or twice it will become second nature!

Steve

Saturday 18th July
MTB Walton on Thames. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00/Hampton Court Bridge 10.00.
Mick Ayliffe (Ride Leader)
or
Cyclosportive Ride No1. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00.
Caroline Harrison (Ride Leader)

Sunday 19th July
Sumners, Barns Green. Cheam Station South Side 9.00/Walton on the Hill Pond 9.45. 65 miles.
Trevor Hughes (Ride Leader)

Weekend Rides 11-12th July 2009

The results for the first attempt at using the blog to sort out who was doing which weekend run was mixed. A few who already had accounts left comments as to what they were doing and why they couldn't make it. Some opened a Google account to allow them to comment and did so. Some managed to comment without setting up a google account and one commented by email.

I have set up the blog now do that you can comment without signing-in to Google, just look at the blog and comment by hitting the comment link to the right of the 'Posted by...'. Type your comment in the box provided and then where it says 'Comment as: select profile', choose 'Name/URL' from the drop down menu, type in your name and then hit the 'Post comment' button. I have chosen the 'Moderate Comments' option which means that I need to check and pass each comment before I allow it to be published, I will update the site at the end of each day so keep it current.

I know it seems a bit complicated but once you have done it once or twice it will become second nature!

Steve

Saturday 11th July
Cyclosportive Ride No3. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00.
Caroline Harrison (Ride Leader)
or
Club run to Clandon. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00.
Barry Gregory (Ride Leader)

Sunday 12th July
Westerham. Cheam Station South Side 9.00/Merstham Station 9.45. 50 miles.
Bob Green (Ride Leader)

Tuesday 14th July
Bastille Day Ride. Ellens Green 8.30 prompt please. 75 miles, lunch at the Hollist Arms Lodsworth 13.30.
Mick Ayliffe (Ride Leader), Steve Edgar

Mick & Sheila's for drinks 19.00.

Weekend Rides 4-5th July 2009 Test

An experiment to see if we can clarify who is going out on which ride at the weekend. There are a variety of ways of getting the info onto the blog, the best way would be to 'comment' and people can simply read the comments on the friday before the ride (I am normally in on a friday night to check the site).

Lets give it a try and see what happens, you can send any suggestions to me for improving the service. I think it will help to assess who can lead the rides, if we need a fast group as well, if there are any beginners out etc...

Steve

Saturday 4th July
Henfold Hill Lake. Organ & Dragon, Ewell at 9.00am.
Steve Edgar, Andrew Adams, Mark B

Sunday 5th July
MTB Ride. Cheam Station South Side 9.00am. 45 miles.
Rob Starey (Ride Leader)