Hello Wayfarers and friends,
On what was this winter's most bleak and uninspiring a day for cycling (or anything else) about eighteen stalwarts made it yesterday to Merstham, where Anita made us most welcome. Grant punctured before Merstham and wisely returned to his fireside. Ray had been forced to withdraw from leading due to a pm appointment so I took on 'A' group leadership (otherwise I'd have remained fireside) and Cliff had to withdraw from leading 'B' group.
As we 'A' group set off, Anita asked our destination, which was "The Jubilee Oak" in Crawley. We stopped at Merstham Clock-tower to check numbers (nine - Pete M, daughter Jake, Pete B, Bob, Toni, Julian, Steve, Ed S and me) then proceeded in atrocious weather via Nutfield, Smallfield, Copthorne and Three Bridges to the warmth of the said JDW pub. We enjoyed our meal deals and were just thinking about returning, when in came John Bassett, "hounding" us from Anita's, where he had parked out the back and not seen us go. When we did get going for home the weather was colder than before, but not actually raining. We skirted the back of Gatwick airport to Charlwood and then up Blanks Lane to Parkgate and on down Root Hill, our previous downhill route, back to Denbies for tea, from where seven went our separate ways.
Meanwhile, 'B' group set off for "The Plough" at Leigh and were expected, but were not seen to have arrived, for tea at Denbies.
John C was due to lead 'C' group from Leatherhead and with luck we will hear from someone on this ride.
Brian, I enjoyed our Tuesday ride, especially the sleet, snow and hail through Richmond Park. I had a call that night from an old colleague in Chichester who has asked me to visit him. He is not too well. As the weather Wednesday did not fit my "fine weather cyclist" ethos, I decided to contribute further to global warming. Not that I am proud of that. Mike M.
Congratulations to Ed Sharp, long time organiser of the Hilly 50K for SWLDA, for an outstanding success last Saturday when 92 entrants descended to and ascended from Ryka's Café at the foot of Box Hill to take on this mean challenge. Our Hilly 50 had been in decline, but with publicity by our lively DA treasurer Simon Legg and help from the Mitchell dynasty, it is back to its former glory and can be read and seen all about on the following links. My three Clarencourt CC mates averaged 55 miles at 12.5mph with 1350m of climbing, but still managed our City tour on Sunday (also dreadful weather).
http://www.kingstonphoenix.blogspot.com/
http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=87840
http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=89649
Next week it's our Annual Lunch at The Foley Arms, Claygate, celebrating 25 years of the Midweek Wayfarers Section, so group rides will be somewhat curtailed. Your £2.00 deposit leaves £8.00 to be paid to the hosts and we will put round an envelope for a staff gratuity. Bon appetite!
We have six takers for our two-nights tour to Littlehampton 07-09Jun06 and if we get more, the B&B price should be below the £28pppn previously quoted. Look at www.arun-sands.co.uk/ for an idea of the comfort to be expected on this strictly for leisure trip and let me know your interest.
It's 21:15 and nothing has arrived from the other rides, so that's about it from your Frozen Hub.
On what was this winter's most bleak and uninspiring a day for cycling (or anything else) about eighteen stalwarts made it yesterday to Merstham, where Anita made us most welcome. Grant punctured before Merstham and wisely returned to his fireside. Ray had been forced to withdraw from leading due to a pm appointment so I took on 'A' group leadership (otherwise I'd have remained fireside) and Cliff had to withdraw from leading 'B' group.
As we 'A' group set off, Anita asked our destination, which was "The Jubilee Oak" in Crawley. We stopped at Merstham Clock-tower to check numbers (nine - Pete M, daughter Jake, Pete B, Bob, Toni, Julian, Steve, Ed S and me) then proceeded in atrocious weather via Nutfield, Smallfield, Copthorne and Three Bridges to the warmth of the said JDW pub. We enjoyed our meal deals and were just thinking about returning, when in came John Bassett, "hounding" us from Anita's, where he had parked out the back and not seen us go. When we did get going for home the weather was colder than before, but not actually raining. We skirted the back of Gatwick airport to Charlwood and then up Blanks Lane to Parkgate and on down Root Hill, our previous downhill route, back to Denbies for tea, from where seven went our separate ways.
Meanwhile, 'B' group set off for "The Plough" at Leigh and were expected, but were not seen to have arrived, for tea at Denbies.
John C was due to lead 'C' group from Leatherhead and with luck we will hear from someone on this ride.
Brian, I enjoyed our Tuesday ride, especially the sleet, snow and hail through Richmond Park. I had a call that night from an old colleague in Chichester who has asked me to visit him. He is not too well. As the weather Wednesday did not fit my "fine weather cyclist" ethos, I decided to contribute further to global warming. Not that I am proud of that. Mike M.
Congratulations to Ed Sharp, long time organiser of the Hilly 50K for SWLDA, for an outstanding success last Saturday when 92 entrants descended to and ascended from Ryka's Café at the foot of Box Hill to take on this mean challenge. Our Hilly 50 had been in decline, but with publicity by our lively DA treasurer Simon Legg and help from the Mitchell dynasty, it is back to its former glory and can be read and seen all about on the following links. My three Clarencourt CC mates averaged 55 miles at 12.5mph with 1350m of climbing, but still managed our City tour on Sunday (also dreadful weather).
http://www.kingstonphoenix.blogspot.com/
http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=87840
http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=89649
Next week it's our Annual Lunch at The Foley Arms, Claygate, celebrating 25 years of the Midweek Wayfarers Section, so group rides will be somewhat curtailed. Your £2.00 deposit leaves £8.00 to be paid to the hosts and we will put round an envelope for a staff gratuity. Bon appetite!
We have six takers for our two-nights tour to Littlehampton 07-09Jun06 and if we get more, the B&B price should be below the £28pppn previously quoted. Look at www.arun-sands.co.uk/ for an idea of the comfort to be expected on this strictly for leisure trip and let me know your interest.
It's 21:15 and nothing has arrived from the other rides, so that's about it from your Frozen Hub.
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