Winter 2013 Chain Gang Rolls Out on 2nd January

With an early evening downpour it seemed we were likely to have few riders out as just three of us set off at 7:30. Barny set a quick pace from the outset with Svawek tucked in nicely. I was also holding a wheel, but only for the first few hundred yards, before deciding to enjoy myself on a solo thoughtful steady ride across Pevensey Marsh in pitch black, distant lights reflecting in the numerous stretches of water lying in the sodden fields. By the time I got to Pevenesy roundabout Barny and Svawek still had plenty to talk about, despite the long wait, with me getting there to hear Barny's tale of a cyclist he rides with at Hillingdon circuit road races who ignored a hairline crack in his carbon seat post only to have a catastrophic failure out on a ride shortly after which lead to the necessity for a delicate operation to his nether regions to remove numerous carbon splinters, ouch ........ Moral of the story: when cleaning your bike and noticing any hair line cracks in carbon get the part replaced before riding the bike again. Of course if you have a good old steel frame just pop in to a blacksmiths next time you ride past one, as in the good old days .............

Suddenly there was another approaching light. Malcolm had punctured on the way to the meet. Malcolm said two more were on their way: John V and Jason K had been for a long run before picking up their bikes from John's van parked at Rock-a-Nore and pushing their way in to the wind to miss the grand depart.

Since we were now quorate and Malcolm is always game to set a good pace Svawek decided to the return leg to Bexhill after all, rather than go straight home to Eastbourne. So we had a good brisk group ride back splitting in to two groups on Spooky Hill.

With John's van at Rock-a-Nore I was forced to join him and Malcolm in the Dolphin to rehydrate .......

Next week the usual sort of turn out is expected after a disrupted end to 2012.

The Autumn 2012 Wednesday Chain Gangs ended on some inclement notes, with no BLOG entries.

Wednesday 12 December: Shortly before the meet a message from Colin Enderson was circulated to advise there was already black ice on the Marsh Road. Despite that, and with the mid evening warming up, Barny says there were about 12 riders out but no Simon Prior so the only remaining 100% record finally ended.

Wednesday 19 December: A very wet evening with Svawek being the only rider out getting a soaking.

Wednesday 26 December: Svawek came over to Bexhill in his car and says that he only saw Chris Watson out on his own, getting a soaking.

So the first gang of 2013 as an improvement with a lot of surface water, hence wet back sides, but no rain and a good temperature with a stiff wind not being too strong.

Chris Parker doing a rare write up - I know I could do a lot more and had I taken up Steve's offer of a Christmas present (an old cast off digital camera) I could add some photos but .......