Welcome to Velocity Bikes Cycling Club's Forum
Please feel free to add any comments regarding Velocity and it's members.
|
||
| Search For Similar Forums · Return to Website | ||
 First |
 Prev |
 Reply |
 Home |
Next  |
Last  |
| Viewing Page 1 of 1 (Total Posts: 4) |
| Author | Comment |
|
Craig
Dec 20, 07 - 8:09 AM |
Sunday 16th Club run
A cold crisp morning greeted three of us at Purbrook Heath roundabout. Diesel Pat was already there, just finishing his usual nature moment in the winter thinned brambles. We spend a few minutes chatting, I tighten the newly fitted mudguards and already start getting the excuses in… might as well my legs will be killing me later… Ninja Tel rolls down from Widley, a few brief words, mainly directed at the missing team mates, and off we roll in a terse tight line…clouds of steam mark our progress as we roll out to meet Richard and Nicky. The brief stop while we wondered which end of Soake Road we had said to meet at was relieved when Nicky u-turned in front of us only to sprint off to collect Richard from the other end. El Padrino rolled up, a big woolly hat pulled down, glasses perched on the end of his nose perfectly balancing the bead of snot… the usual pleasantries and greetings, and a quick route outline, all of course totally wasted as none of us were particularly interested in getting to the Cricketers by 12. The right turn up to Denmead Mill caught us out, and certainly surprised the girl driving the little MX5 with the frosted windows. This drag wasn’t too bad, just smooth enough to open up ones chest , curse the extra layer that you had added at last moment, That big ugly Pikey dog barked as we passed he must be neutered as he doesn’t seem to feel the cold. The Bat and Ball drifted by as a jumble of runners, stuttered and comically tripped over each other to get out of our way all very Keystone Cops. Hyden farm was suspiciously empty, devoid of the turkeys that I shouted hello to, two weekends ago. Only an ‘Organic Meats’ van marked their seasonal exodus to somewhere a bit warmer. Hyden Hill gapped a few of us off, Richard slightly slower than usual, is he toying? Pat off the front , but regrouping before tearing off to East Meon, the road surface stealing your speed as you approach the farm. No worries though , a hard jump as Pat and I wind it up for the sign, won of course by yours truly Out of East Meon and up towards Froxfield, the narrow lanes punctuated by two steep little hills, the first of a few on this ride. Soft pedalling over the top as we slip down towards our first crossing of the 272. Here were some new lanes for some as a hard right leads us East bound, smooth and rolling, though the biting North Easterly wind slows us a little. The view from the top here is spectacular, though today is shrouded by a morning mist. Hammering down Stoner Hill ( Steep ) only giggling and pointing out Cockshott lane as we pass ( who thinks these names up) I wave madly to indicate the hard left turn.. and drop off into the lost valley. This was the valley where Thomas Edwards ( a famous Poet) used to live, a monument to him presides over us high on the hanger to the west. A few icy negotiations and we are out into Flanders. This is single track for roadies, narrow, winding lanes, with an amazing rollercoaster ride towards Oakshott. Numerous horses spoiling any whoops..Even though I had built it up a bit, the next hill never fails to deliver as throughout the season it has become one of my favourites. One in five and about 200m long, its surface is covered with polished pebble sized tarmac, I’ve not ridden the Muur or the Kemmelberg, but I imagine that they are close to this. Pat of course leaves us all in his wake as a hard dig halfway up cannot usurp him today. A brief respite and another sharp rise spreads us out, peoples legs are not consistent today. The resident yappy dog on the corner obviously not brave enough to play and probably curled up on its owners lap. ....... |
|
Craig
Dec 20th, 2007 - 8:10 AM |
Re: Sunday 16th Club run
As we crest we turn right, Pat sails off to be greeted first by the climb past Slade farm. This can be very hard if the tarmac is slick with mud but today it is just the cold air rasping at your lungs. (ok maybe the 1 in 6 as well). No-one believed me that the next right hander was for real… honest, it does go somewhere, another whooping roller coaster, until the ride is spat out on the wide road between Steep and the A32. This marked a subtle change in the character of the ride, the idea was to get some proper riding in, then allow the call of a pub lunch, drag the hungry hordes to the front to pull us along to Curdridge. Even the tailwind would have been on their side. Pat took over and sat on the front for a few miles of smooth road past Basing Park. More digs approaching Privett only to be robbed by the sign being two meters to the left… ha..Nicky was obviously feeling feisty as well as she has a good dig over into Filmore Hill. Filmore hill is a smooth fast decent, only one right hander as it steepens, your grin is slightly spoilt by the cross roads at the bottom, These are good lanes in this part, though they can be saved for another day. We regroup at the 272 again and dart across like guilty squirrels.. Another climb, not as hard as I remember, maybe that tailwind is stronger than I thought. Again Pat and I have a good dig at the top, just for bragging rights. A nod as I have to concede… ****… looks like Pat is in polka dots this week. We freewheel down past Brockwood estate enviously watched by a group of muddy motocrossers who wave a cheery greeting as we loop to the left and up towards the long drag to Wheely Down. In all my years of riding I have only ridden this direction about 3 times… Richard takes a swig of something and he is off like a rocket, easily distancing the rest of us and only Pat stays with him.. Obviously he had been playing on those other hills.. At the top of Wheely Down the ride swung right toward the Preshaw circuit. This section was not really to my palate, but was certainly the quickest way westbound.. Wider roads and an increase in traffic volume certainly unbalanced the cosy familiarity of the lanes. Pat and Richard shared the work along Stephen Castle down towards the top of Beeches hill, while Tel and myself eased along, unspeakingly acknowledging that legs were not as strong as the others obviously were. Beeches hill is a good descent, but if you swing right at the top the descent lasts for about 2 miles of smooth, fast and not too technical roads, flying through a sprinkling of houses until pulling up for a breather at the junction.. Furtively crossing the main road between Colden Common and Bishops Waltham we start out again on uncomfortably wider roads, though soon the lanes beckon, as we turn left towards Durley. The sun hadn’t reached these parts and I finally felt the benefit of my newly attached mudguards. A sharp rise opened gaps again as Richard and Pat had a solid dig for the Curdridge sign..( Pat I think) The car-park of the Cricketers was mainly empty, Richard and I nipped in anyway, just to say hello, and of course to give Mr Wyatt a suitable ribbing… the GS Stella crowd had warmed up and were probably on their second round by then and were all too happy to pass on their regards to the absent intrepid Mr Wyatt. So with the wind taken out of my sails, we were off again. Nicky was already half a mile up the road with Richard closing that gap down. Pat fired up his diesel and dragged Tel and I back on, just as we crested into Waltham Chase, the sprint for the missing sign was duly taken by me The headwind greeted us again as the long straight roads back through Soberton Heath were interrupted by the slick climb to Woodend by Newton. The gaps were growing on every climb now as Pat and Richard span away, Nicky in between and Tel and myself thoughtfully taking the rearguard. Newton came and went as did Rudley mill, with all of us rather bemused by the cheery Tourettes seasonal greeting from a chimp driving an open topped Merc joining from Bunns lane. Pat and Tel obviously eyeing the extra miles back into Portsmouth as us lightweights turned for home… The ride abruptly ended at Denmead green, as every one swung off and I headed east for home, a bit of an ignominious end to a ride that had early promise. Roll on 2008 GPS Fred will lead us further afield. Happy Christmas and see you soon.. C |
Martin
Dec 20th, 2007 - 8:53 AM |
Re: Sunday 16th Club run
Craig Very nice write up of the weekends run. Have you been spending time with David Duffield, as its very 'duffer-ish'. If you' d mentioned castles and cheese in the write-up you would have nailed him to a tee. Is Craig the long lost son of Duffers??????? Martin |
|
Richard
Dec 20th, 2007 - 5:12 PM |
Re: Sunday 16th Club run
Great write up. The day was a good one with lots of action on the ride and some good moments missing the ice in the lanes. The last club run of the year will be on Sunday and its looks like it will be dry and alot warmer than of late. Craig - have a good xmas in Madrid. See you when you return. Rich |
| First |
Prev |
Reply |
Home |
Next |
Last |
bravenet.com
