The roads may well have been awash the day before when I ventured out in the rain for yet more Xmas
shopping, indeed local TV news even showed places as near as Hellingly and Sharpsbridge under water, but as
this was almost certainly my last chance for a club ride this year I was determined to get out. With more showers
likely and the lanes sure to be filthy club colours would be temporarily hidden under hi-vis waterproof jacket.
Suitably clothed I squelched my way up the garden path, rigged up the lights and launched the good ship Marin
onto the open road.
I left 3 In Gear riders chatting in Cross in Hand and inherited a tractor and trailer trying to take advantage of my slipstream until I turned left on to the A272. The absence of riders outside the In Gear store made me momentarily concerned I may find no club-mates at the bottom of the hill, but I was heartened by a flashing tail- light visible as I rounded the corner; Lewes Wanderers are surely a hardier breed.
The flasher was Mark Longhurst who was in the good company of Alan Lloyd (this week on a Specialized fixie) and Doctor Stuart making a welcome return. Before long we were joined by Ian McG, Carl, Terry (braving shorts and our remarks), Gibbo + Simon Farmer and finally Rob P who squealed to halt in front of us, or at least his Giant did, I don't think Rob was quite that pleased to see us all. Those of you at the Star Pub night a few days earlier may remember Mark promising to devise this week's route; the one man who didn't was Mark, so it was left to Ian as usual.
So it was that 10 of us set off North only to be halted by a red light at the junction with Church Street. Almost all attempted to stay clipped in whilst waiting, but none seem likely to endanger the world record for the 'surplace' of 63 minutes by Vanni Pettenella in 1968 (for more info read the excellent "Pedalare! Pedalare!" by John Foot). Westward Ho through Fletching and across the A275 at Sheffield Green to Freshfield Crossways the tightly packed formation was splintered on the climb to Horsted Keynes, but reformed for the run up to Wych Cross. Turning left at Chelwood Gate had made scaling Kidd's Hill more probable than possible; whether that influenced Rob choice to leave us quite then he'll have to answer. What momentum we may have carried up "The Wall" was lost when Terry became the first puncture victim of the day as we approached the ford. Alan and Mark went on ahead, but kindly walked the last rise so as to allow the rest of us to catch up.
I'm afraid to say the festive spirit was found lacking on the descent through Duddleswell as white van man took exception to being fractionally delayed in order to overtake a bunch of cyclists. Having hooted his horn continuously whilst going past he then screeched to a halt in front of us. Quite what he thought he was going to achievebygettingoutandconfronting9'gentlemen'withheadprotectionIdon'tthinkheknew. Therunthrough the back lanes of Fairwarp and Maresfield was punctuated all too literally by Carl sustaining his second flat in a fortnight and Stuart's rear light falling off.
Oast Farm had asked Ian to call ahead to confirm we were coming, but it looked more like the club had hired the place out - a very healthy turn out for some less healthy, but delicious, sustenance. As the clouds lifted so mine, Paul's and Simon's hilly run back to Heathfield passed without incident. 44 satisfying miles in total.
Product Review : Rear Mudflaps - Spray Reduction
Mark's cut from a child's welly boot narrowly beat Paul's section from a plastic plant pot as far as I was concerned, but results may have been skewed by Gibbo's childlike desire to splash through every puddle he can find.
I left 3 In Gear riders chatting in Cross in Hand and inherited a tractor and trailer trying to take advantage of my slipstream until I turned left on to the A272. The absence of riders outside the In Gear store made me momentarily concerned I may find no club-mates at the bottom of the hill, but I was heartened by a flashing tail- light visible as I rounded the corner; Lewes Wanderers are surely a hardier breed.
The flasher was Mark Longhurst who was in the good company of Alan Lloyd (this week on a Specialized fixie) and Doctor Stuart making a welcome return. Before long we were joined by Ian McG, Carl, Terry (braving shorts and our remarks), Gibbo + Simon Farmer and finally Rob P who squealed to halt in front of us, or at least his Giant did, I don't think Rob was quite that pleased to see us all. Those of you at the Star Pub night a few days earlier may remember Mark promising to devise this week's route; the one man who didn't was Mark, so it was left to Ian as usual.
So it was that 10 of us set off North only to be halted by a red light at the junction with Church Street. Almost all attempted to stay clipped in whilst waiting, but none seem likely to endanger the world record for the 'surplace' of 63 minutes by Vanni Pettenella in 1968 (for more info read the excellent "Pedalare! Pedalare!" by John Foot). Westward Ho through Fletching and across the A275 at Sheffield Green to Freshfield Crossways the tightly packed formation was splintered on the climb to Horsted Keynes, but reformed for the run up to Wych Cross. Turning left at Chelwood Gate had made scaling Kidd's Hill more probable than possible; whether that influenced Rob choice to leave us quite then he'll have to answer. What momentum we may have carried up "The Wall" was lost when Terry became the first puncture victim of the day as we approached the ford. Alan and Mark went on ahead, but kindly walked the last rise so as to allow the rest of us to catch up.
I'm afraid to say the festive spirit was found lacking on the descent through Duddleswell as white van man took exception to being fractionally delayed in order to overtake a bunch of cyclists. Having hooted his horn continuously whilst going past he then screeched to a halt in front of us. Quite what he thought he was going to achievebygettingoutandconfronting9'gentlemen'withheadprotectionIdon'tthinkheknew. Therunthrough the back lanes of Fairwarp and Maresfield was punctuated all too literally by Carl sustaining his second flat in a fortnight and Stuart's rear light falling off.
Oast Farm had asked Ian to call ahead to confirm we were coming, but it looked more like the club had hired the place out - a very healthy turn out for some less healthy, but delicious, sustenance. As the clouds lifted so mine, Paul's and Simon's hilly run back to Heathfield passed without incident. 44 satisfying miles in total.
Product Review : Rear Mudflaps - Spray Reduction
Mark's cut from a child's welly boot narrowly beat Paul's section from a plastic plant pot as far as I was concerned, but results may have been skewed by Gibbo's childlike desire to splash through every puddle he can find.
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