Tell us about your weekend ride

Can you send me the route please TB?

One of these weekends I will make good on my promise to ride down to my parents.

Why yes, yes I can:

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2347185

Obviously you can do a nicer route out to Guildford, I just always do that cos it's my old commute so I don't really notice it. Apart from that it worked pretty well - got a bit confusing on the lanes after Farnham because some bright spark had vandalised all the signs, rendering my route directions somewhat cryptic, but obviously not a problem with a Garmin.

I'm afraid I cheated on the way back and hopped on the a31, the tailwind made it too tempting. It was BRILLIANT. But I will do it properly and investigate the bit north of Selborne next time; it looked lovely on streetview.

Cheers.

Yesterday was the 'slide' to Brighton. The sun had been reserved for today, but expensive chainrings don't make us future-gazers. We took our hand and played it.

A meet in Clapham and off, under skies suggesting we might just win. Very soon and within spitting distance of Croydon, James and I had lost the group. We did not panic, or if he did it was well hidden behind his weeping eyes. Nobody wants to spend their time in the Devil's armpit so we resorted to the virtual aid every sham descendant of a hunter-gatherer must - Google.

With luck and navigational sense all my own (by which I mean entirely not mine) we both found our way back to the waiting group to be regaled of tales of a Brighton bound National Express driver with a disregard for the sanctity of life. Having debated between us when our optimism of reuniting with the group was low whether we should simulate a near death experience of our own by wandering around Croydon's IKEA instead, we knew all too well of what they spoke. We'd had our own near miss.

Onward then, reformed and rejuvenated - but the weather, lacking the fortitude of Thatcher recently deceased, was turning. Slow but insistent rain worked its magic before we reached the halfway-point pub-stop at Turners Hill, wet but unbroken. Hungry cyclists need their grub, and this pub needed an extra pair of hands in the kitchen to help their poor chef all set for a leisurely afternoon of feeding the regulars their staples meet the demands of a banquet of microwaving his jaded fingers couldn't match.

Chef could not keep up. Random dishes appeared from the kitchen to be announced by a waiter with all the certainty of a lost tourist. One of our number tolerated a comical wait for his bangers and mash - the free peas served up as consolation for his withering away during his 90 minute torture made little impression, as did my waving of perfectly bland but promptly delivered chips under his nose in a show of support. Without much thought he dispatched his gruel while the rest of us, no longer satisfied from the holes filled what seemed a fortnight ago, gazed and drooled. The bastard didn't offer us a morsel.

All eyes turned to outside, as every new punter arrived more disheveled that the last - it was properly raining now, and our post-hunger slump was kicking in hard. Bikes with sopping saddles are not very enticing but there's no choice other than stick or twist, and I saw no white flags being waved. What followed us right to Brighton were the worst conditions I've ever known. Rain may only be water and wind no more than a breeze but combine the two and things can turn deranged. A few of us skipped the next pub-stop in favour of getting Ditchling out the way. Although I've ridden to Brighton before this was my first encounter with the fabled beast, as wisely we swerved it last time. I'm sure some folk find it easy to ride up but I found it bloody difficult pushing. Come the summit any view was obscured with mist but the wind couldn't be heard any clearer. It bit and it tormented.

Snow was in the air. One by one those who stopped at the pub caught us up as we regathered once more, but mostly for shelter from the elements rather than celebration as we shivered and the light faded. Not since my days scaling the Matterhorn have I known a more sparse environment - had the world ended I'd not have known the difference. The consensus was we push for the finish before we did our best Han Solo in the deep-freeze impressions, but the run-in was what the cool kids call sketchy, and what I call dangerous.

My bike seemed to take on a life of its own. For a while I convinced myself that despite my best efforts my veering towards the centre-line was due to a wandering headset and a bike doomed to failure, but it was the viscous crosswind pushing me close to where I shouldn't stray. I had to fight my bike and myself to stay on course, the visibility next to nothing except when a welcome car overtook and its rear-lights gave me something to aim for. All I could hope for was no mechanical failure as the roads refused to signal our arrival, until - seagulls with their unmistakable call. We had made it. Without a thought for the sea we made for the train station and a return trip to London in a time that made a mockery of our efforts.

Those lacking blue lips made do with shivering uncontrollably - I found solace in a tub of M&S flapjacks. More rain greeted us in London but I flew home, never more glad for a fridge full of Hoegaarden and a pan of red-onion chutney I knocked up the day before to go with some homemade lamb burgers seasoned with harissa, once saturated clothing had been discarded and I felt a new man. The ride had no right to be as rewarding as it was. If it's tough for one it was tough for everyone. For hours we were drenched. Despite it all we prevailed, but they were the hardest 75 miles I've ever known.

Great read Swine. Find a rep trinket at the base of the rainbow when the clouds part.

I wouldn't take that as generally illustrative of people who race. I also wouldn't return to a club run with them. Clubs in any walk of life attract dreadful people, and some clubs proliferate with them.

Yeh, I imagine they're not all like that - so uptight and up their own arses it's untrue.

And sorry for not getting back to your message - am definitely going to try Rollas in the next few weeks

Anyway, we split the group coming up to the Hogsback and I went with the group led by Cliff, BC's Cat 3 racer.

Airtime Al, a non-forumunger friend, and myself foolishly went out on a Kingston Wheelers 'training ride'; i.e., the one that the racers go on to keep in shape. The ride was led by a guy who rides in cat 3, and about 2 or 3 others out of the 9 or 10 of us raced I think.

Ferocious pace (on a pancake flat route) for the first 40ish miles; around 21 mph. Us three were just clinging on to wheels for dear life. It was challenging, and not particularly enjoyable at times, but a really good insight into what's required if you want to give racing a go.

Cat 3 riders are nothing special. If anything they're the scary group. You only need something like 8 points to be in Cat3 and you can't drop back out without stopping racing for years. It can contain anything from the mediocre middle of the group nothing special rider to the guy with all the flash bikes who knows how to ride but limits himself so that they don't get promoted to Cat2. You often have to go further afield for races which permit Cat2 riders to people don't want to be promoted.

Tl,dr : Anyone can be a Cat3 rider if they race.

London to Southend today. Totally amazing weather, I actually got tan lines!

http://app.strava.com/activities/48768886

London to Cambridge yesturday, first time I'd done it but will not be the last.
Unlike London - Brighton you're out of the urban sprawl pretty quickly.
Starting Hackney Downs we got out through Epping forest and were on to lovely B roads in no time.
A wonderful rain free 100k we arrived in time for lunch.

I grabbed the route off the forum but put it into google. Constructed a double page map and single page route directions. Any other non garmin riders - if you want a copy just message me.
Great fun, any recommendations for another north bound 100k for next week?

Winch and back.

That's one hell of a ride.

I missed the Dulwich Sunday ride by being late so I just did the Saturday club run route on my own. Fuck me - it was windy.

Really didn't have the legs today and I had a major falling out with a Conti Gatorskin which took me fully 20 mins to get back on the rim after a puncture.

BUT

The sun was out and I took my knee warmers off on the way back so all in all, I was pretty happy with life.

Cat 3 riders are nothing special. If anything they're the scary group. You only need something like 8 points to be in Cat3 and you can't drop back out without stopping racing for years. It can contain anything from the mediocre middle of the group nothing special rider to the guy with all the flash bikes who knows how to ride but limits himself so that they don't get promoted to Cat2. You often have to go further afield for races which permit Cat2 riders to people don't want to be promoted.

Tl,dr : Anyone can be a Cat3 rider if they race.

Fair enough- I didn't know that.

I shall amend my description of Cliff to "the nice chap from my club who does a lot of racing".

My first ride of note in a while today and what a day to return! A new bike to shake down and a knee issue to test whether it had been dealt with meant a trip down to some familiar Kent lanes.
It was gloriously warm, though I overdressed and had pockets bulging with arm warmers, gloves, jackets, snow shoes...
The good news is the bike's a joy to ride and had me grinning ear to ear as it willed me to push it as fast as I could. The bad news is that the knee issue is still here, so fast wasn't very fast at all. Hey ho, back to the stretches and foam roller torture.

http://app.strava.com/activities/48825298

Went out with Brixton this morning

I passed some BC riders as I came down Hogtrough Hill. Smiles all round, so guessing it was a good ride.

Went out with the Cadence team again from Crystal Palace
Urge anyone looking for a great sunday of hard riding to come along
http://goo.gl/maps/BnvMa

I did an hour on the rollers. That's right. Read it and weep.

I had a v nice roll along the Thames Path from Greenwich to Dartford today. Mostly traffic free and good trip through London's old industrial past.

Nothing in comparison to the epic rides/ride reports of Wrongcog and t'swine but it was so nice to be cycling in shorts and t-shirts and without traffic after a really long week.

Headed out in the sun today to ride from Bury St Edmunds to Cambridge & back. Despite the wind i got back to the outskirts of Bury feeling relatively fresh so added an extra loop. 81 miles total and found some lovely villages (& a great pub) that i've never been to before, despite living here for the vast majority of my life

http://app.strava.com/activities/48797186

Foolishly mentioned to dimi earlier in the week that i was tempted to chase down the hipster brighton ride after the intermediate track session. he immediately said he was up for it, so i had no way to wimp out.

So we rode out from london on our track bikes in to a headwind with tired legs at midday a few hours after the main ride had left, but we made good time (mainly from not stopping, rather than actual speed). Caught up with the ride at Turners Hill and managed to grab some food and a few pints to refuel.

The ride from turner's hill as 'Swine mentions above was a bit full on;. But awesome! torrential rain, mist and crosswind made it a completely different experience from every time I've ridden to Brighton before, and made me glad to have done it.

http://app.strava.com/activities/48644263

Bloody hell, the wind sure managed to blow a lots of fluff on your face

Seems like repping TricityB for being mighty is becoming a weekly habit.

Went out with the Cadence team again from Crystal Palace
Urge anyone looking for a great sunday of hard riding to come along
http://goo.gl/maps/BnvMa

Is this the ride that had lots of riders in Dulwich jerseys? What time does it leave Cadence? How far in total - looks a fair old distance that - and what was the ave speed?

Raced Toachim House GP this weekend. 2 day stage race. Mental fun.

http://ridehardridehome.co.uk/the-rider/races/stage-races/tochim-house-gp-e123-stage-race/

I travel a bit for work and my current Asian jaunt left me a Saturday to spend in Melbourne, where I had never been before. Found a shop that hired road bikes and decided I would head out with the bay to my right and keep riding until I had seen enough, then turn around and head back. Went bout 45kms out to Frankston, by which point the road was getting narrower and drivers less willing to share road space as those closer into town. Decided I had had enough and I needed to leave time to return the bike before the shop closed. Of course the trip back was dead into the wind. Still, a fine day, would do again.

set off late morning on saturday to be slightly confused by weekend trains, changed my start point to Bishops Stortford via the slow slow stopping service. was a bit worried about the rain but in the end I stayed more or less dry until the last 45min. minimal pedaling all the way, thanks to a mighty tailwind and a freewheel. pretty fun. lots of squashed things, super tame hens hanging out in the road, a signpost to Little London, climbing Quicksie Hill, leaping lambs, lots of village club football matches. I really do like this route at the moment - weaving around the M11 on little lanes. There's a bench in the middle of nowhere overlooking the motorway, it's just fantastic.
met at destination with friendly rats and epic amounts of curry.
[ame]http://ridewithgps.com/routes/2355902[/ame
[/ame]

Did 2 laps of box hill and 3/4th lap of Richmond yesterday, great weather just a little windy;

[ame]http://connect.garmin.com/activity/297828666[/ame]