Warm, fast and busy

First Ever Ride With HSCC For James Climpson

Warm, dry weather and light winds helped ensure a good turn out last night, with around 34 riders geared up to make the dash across the marshes.  I think that's the most we've had start this season.

We opted for a subtle, low-key rolling start to avoid a large crowd of riders jostling for position along the front.  A faster group formed quickly, riding swiftly up South Cliff, whilst a middle group of 7 or so riders got going with a reasonable attempt at through and off.  It didn't last long as a larger group caught up and broke the rhythm, to the annoyance of some.  We did our best to bring order to the enthusiastic mass, but it didn't really work - too many riders and too much midweek energy.

On the latter part of the marshes I joined John V and some others.  John had pulled off the front so an organised group could get going again.  This worked and we made better progress as a group than we would have riding in a more disorganised fashion.

For the benefit of the less experienced (and I'm no expert), this is what the chain gang is about.  We work together to go faster in a controlled manner.  We ride no more than two abreast and we ride in single file through hazards, such as the bridge at the Star Inn.  We all do our turn at the front and try to keep a constant or gradually rising pace.  We communicate all the time, for safety and enjoyment.

It's not so easy when your working hard on the road - perhaps you'll find yourself in a faster group or with less experienced riders - but it gets better with practice.  You'll have rides or sections of rides when it all works smoothly - you're in a group you can keep up with, everyone's riding with self-restraint and the group really motors.  Everyone gets a workout and a rest.  It's a real buzz.  Look at the youtube clip below for explanation.

As I say, I'm no expert, so I'll stop going on about it other than to admit that I rode like a knob on a few earlier rides, but thankfully others brought me to heel before I hurt myself and others.

A large group set off for the return, with a little bit of wind assistance.  I managed to hang on much longer than usual, getting to the end of Herbrand Walk, just in touch with a thinning group of a dozen.  They accelerated hard down Cooden Drive and I was dropped.  The rest of the chain gang came into the lights in odds and ends or small groups.  Lots of chat ensued, with differing views on how the evening had gone.  Perhaps it's time we insist on faster and slower groups when there's more than 24 or so riders.  Below this number the chain gang sorts itself out quite well