Chaingang Report

A lucky rollover week for the rain, with the same three riders as last week somehow avoiding a soaking. I've been wondering about the difference between rainclouds that are a long way up in the sky and the ones that are so low down they're actually scraping along the road. The rain in the high ones often seems to want to swoop down and pummel you from a great height, which is just miserable, while the other kind have effectively almost landed already, so are content to just float around you benignly in a sort of cuddly fine mist, with the result that you're really no more damp than you would have been from your own perspiration, which is what we had tonight. Of course if you get both kinds at once then you're scuppered . . .

The three of us stuck together and grovelled out into noisy 25 and 31mph headwinds. Our reward; a spin back in a magic pocket of stillness at windspeed . Simon G first home to Bexhill. temp 9-10c warmest we've seen for a long while.

For fixed gearheads I used 46 x 17t (about 72") for the headwind grind. For the return I should have flippped for 15t (about 81") which 2 or 3 others also use for chaingang. 72" at 33mph feels bouncy, over 160rpm! more info here fixed wheel tech, Sheldon Brown

Chris P will be at the Harrow at 9 for the usual Sunday Run, but is playing Hockey this Saturday so won't be out.

chris watson