A traditional club run Sunday 30 September 2012 and weekend plans

The 9.00am Sunday meet at the Harrow (set off at 9:10) has been a regular fixture in the Hastings cycling calendar for over twenty years since the assembly point was moved there from The Briers after a schism. Although there are riders there nearly every week the H&StL CC turn out has been variable for a few years due the programme of other rides, races and sportives etc. So it was great to have a turn out of seven riders on Sunday (local In Gear and Bayeux were elsewhere). I had emailed my intention to be there more than a week ago but it seems it was my text on Saturday that reminded several of the ride. I always decide the route on the morning when I see who is out and what the conditions are like. With a group of strong riders and light early morning winds the ride was nothing like the one I had anticipated!.

We decided to go out to Lydd via Rye Harbour and Camber. Most of it was in classic club run style riding two abreast, when conditions allowed, on each other's wheels chatting away. Paul B bumped in to us at Rye Harbour as he was on the way back from his ride so he turned round and joined us for a while. So lots of extra chatting for a bit. From Lydd we cut though the quiet lanes to the Oasis Cafe at Old Romney. I always liked it but it is even better now under new management. The cheesy scrambled egg is something else and the coffee pretty good. .

We then went on the lanes to Ivychurch before cutting across to the Fleur de Lys roundabout and joining the road to Appledore and on to the Military Canal. By then the wind was up and it had turned to the SW. So Ivan set a superb tempo in to the wind as we strung out single file. Ivan was on fixed (a wheel I always trust, if I can hold on) and I held on tight at six inches from his wheel for over four miles before sitting up to see where everyone else was, leaving Ivan to plough on. I knew Steve B was on my wheel but had not realised that everyone else had let the wheels go. Many thanks to Malcolm who held back and paced the back marker all the way in to the wind, in can be a bit demoralising on your own off the back as company is always appreciated..

The new surface of the Rye to Winchelsea road beats the old concrete slabs with clunky joins hands down. We reassembled on the way out of Winchelsea where the main group ride ended and everyone split to set off home but four of us stuck together to take the lane past Ickelsham windmill, the main road, Three Oaks and Rock Lane..

By the time I got home I had done 62 miles at over 16mph so Ivan would have done the 55 plus mile run at over 17mph (so he was taking it easy for us) and the back markers at 15mph. A great sociable ride in good conditions but rides should be getting out their autumnal kit and wearing quite a few layers to cope with the cooler start and cooling off when stopping. I had the wrong kit last Sunday on a Harrow run with two others when my feet got wet and wind chilled so much that they were numb when I got home and it took 15 minutes before they came round after a warm shower..

Weekend runs etc programme:.

Saturday 6 October: bacon Butty run setting out at 10:00 sharp from Bridge Café Cinque Ports Way. 30 miles with coffee..

Sunday 7 October: meet Harrow at 9:00 to set out at 9:10 for 40/50/60 miles .

Saturday 13 October: I am not available to lead a run. What about someone else?.

Sunday 14 October: I am not available to lead a run. What about someone else?.

Saturday 20 October: tbd .

Sunday 21 October: ESCA hill climb Firle Beacon. CTT entry form 2 weeks before. 10:00 first off .

Saturday 27 October: tbd .

Sunday 28 October: Kent CA Reliability Trial £3. A cheap sportive on lanes further afield! 40, 50 or 100 miles .

Saturday 3 November: tbd .

Sunday 4 November: Battery Hill climb sign on 9:00am in Country Park for 9:30.

Steve will be leading various rides. He has finished off road rides for the year now. Read his emails for his plans..

Chris Parker