Eastbourne sportive

Hi all
myself and Mike Crane are signing up for this event

http://www.srs-events.cc/event6/how-to-enter.htm

We intend to do the 80 mile sportive from eastbourne on 22 may . I have only done 80 miles once before and said to myself never again, however as this is local and ideally just 2 weeks before the trip to France (200 miles in 4 days), this would be perfect preperation for the stamina required for france, so heaven forbid I am signing up for it.


If you sign up early you get a good discount

22/01/11 to 31/01/11 ONLY £14 (no Bulk discount available)
01/02/11 to 20/02/11 ONLY £19 (no Bulk discount available)
21/02/11 to 01/03/11 ONLY £20 (no Bulk discount avaiable)
late entry £30

By the time you read this post you will have missed the first date but you can still get the next scheduled discount.

It would be great if there was a big group of us all doing this (we can suffer together)


If it is wet, I will pull out despite having paid. No way am i doing 80 miles in the rain!!!



Steve Curtis

Chaingang Weds 26 Jan & Thumbs

With Steve C and Chris W missing you will have to make do with me posting. It also means that only two of us have now been out for all four Wednesday changangs in 2011: Simon G and Chris P.

Nine riders set off taking good advantage of the tail wind out, picking up a tenth rider on Normans Bay: Paul HH late on his way over from Eastbourne. Ivan was driving the lead bunch along on his fixed with Chris P, Duncan and first timer Rover Dave H from Eastbourne making up the grupetto. Malcolm has come on really well and as others eased off he was first to Pevensey roundabout. The headwind made it hard on the way back but Max was happy since it meant he had a tail wind for his ride back to Eastbourne.

A blowy but dry evening, apart from those that got wet coming out of the Dolphin later on.

Max has sliced his thumb open on a milling machine so is not finding it that easy doing simple jobs like quickly truing up wheels in the workshop. When it is injured you realise how important the thumb is. Apparently Matt R has seriously damaged his thumb whilst cleaning his fixed wheel bike. I said the moral of the tale is do not clean your bikes but it is actually do not turn the pedals when you have digits anywhere near the chain ring since it is not uncommon for fingers to get trapped and chewed up when there is no free wheel. Apparently Matt has had surgery at East Grinstead so we hope it mends completely soon.

Sunday 30 Jan: be at the Harrow ready to depart by 9.10am

Chris Parker

Cycle mag launch party in London Jan 27th

I have a drawing and a story in the new issue of Ride Journal. you can download pdfs of some back issues here.

http://www.theridejournal.com/

Launch party is this Thursday 27th at 6.30 pm.up in London at a cycling cafe called "Look Mum No Hands" , 49 Old St. If anyone fancies it give me a shout. If snow holds off then I'm thinking I'll stick my bike on the train and head up around 5 ish tomorrow.

chris watson




Chris Watson

Sunday Run 23 Jan and Runs 29 and 30

Six of us set out from the Harrow using my favorite way out of Hastings: Westfield, Cottage Lane, Seddlescombe, Goatham Lane, Cripps Corner, Adams Lane. With there being a bit of north in the wind we decided to head out east via Beckley, Wittersham, Ebony, Reading Street, and Stone to get the wind on on backs along the Military Road to Rye. The decision was to attack (well struggle for several of us) Battery Hill directly rather than cut inland to Three Oaks then Martineau Lane to climb in stages. Steve Curtis was really strong setting a very good pace out of Rye through Winchelsea Beach and along Pett Level. The leaders were waiting in the bus shelter by Fairlight Church as the last of us made it there well ready for coffee, bacon butties, carrot cake etc in the tea rooms. Wearing our head gear set off a gorgeous six month old Jack Russell / Shiatsu yapping but he soon made friends with us. A great 42 mile ride from the Harrow to coffee, a good option when some need to get back to do other things in the afternoon and for those that do not like setting off cold for another 15 plus miles after a mid ride stop.

Saturday 22 Jan: Had a great ride with Duncan on some mucky inland lanes, including in fill Jenners Lane for the first time ever, and the usual excellent breakfast in Pevensey Bakery.

Saturday 29: I have other things arranged so no bacon butty run for me - anyone want to meet up with others?

Sunday 30: Usual meet 9.00am at the Harrow to set out by 9.10am.
Chris Parker

Calais, St Omer french trip 2011

All the details for the 2011 french trip can be found on the 'French trip 2011 page' page on the right hand side.

S.C

Friday chaingang report

A good turn out for a Friday chaingang with 6 riders. jay was one of them, making his first appearance at the Friday chaingang for some time. A cold night with a mild headwind on the way out. Myself and paul K found stonestile lane a bit easier this week, paul paced himself correctly this time and so made it up quite comfortably.Ivan seems to be regaining his 'Ivan power' and was storming ahead on his fixed wheel. Jay was spared the 'horrors' of stonestile lane as he punctured behind us at Westfield.
S.C

Its a Braw, Bricht, Moonlicht Nicht. Chaingang Jan 19th

Cold but very good weather tonight with almost no wind. Numbers back up to 15 riders. good to see Max, Jay and Josef who have not been seen riding since this time last month.
As usual Steve C and Chris Parker were in the rear group just ahead of Duncan (who wasn't too far behind), Simon G was feeling the effects of a long ride on Sunday so the rear group managed to catch him up near Norman's Bay. Good to see Pete Tadros out, but I expect we won't see him for a while as his wife is due to give birth before the end of the month.

A lively and fun run at the front end, with Pete doing more of the work on way out but nice to see lots of other riders taking their turn as well and having a dig.

SC and CW

Sunday Run 16 Jan and Rides on 22 & 23

Six of us set out from the Harrow. We went down Queensway, Crowhurst, Catsfield, Darwell Hole, Brightling, Boddle Street Green, Rushlake Green. Having played hockey on Saturday, without doing any running for months, my legs were pretty much shot and I had been lagging behind on the hills. I also had a back pack with shoes etc ready for the ESCA Lunch and Prize Presentation at the Horseshoe Inn, Windmill Hill. So I said farewell and the other five set off leaving me to enjoy the sunshine and pop in to get a paper to read over a pint of Harveys as I waited for everyone else to turn up for the lunch. Stuart Crabb was the only other H&StL CC rep. We enjoyed chatting and mixing with our friends from Eastbourne Rovers, Lewes, Southborough etc and had a good meal. It would be great to get a club table up again next year as we did two years ago when six of us were there to see Paul Holdaway pick up the ESCA 50 mile championship trophy.
After Chris parker left us we continued towards Cowbeech and windmill Hill. At this point Chris Chapman also left us (to head back to battle), that just left Steve, Tony, and Malcolm. We took the main road past Herstmonceux castle towards the Pevensey roundabout. Tony was really feeling it as this point but managed to keep going. From here we took the normal 'chaingang route' back to Hastings Old town. There is a really good cafe opposite the net huts where we all enjoyed bacon sandwhciches and several cups of tea, although Tony got carried away and ordered a full English breakfast !! Total distance for the ride was about 47 miles. Another great club ride.

Chris Parker (Steve Curtis)

Saturday 22 January: I aim to have a bacon butty run. Since I may be playing hockey it might be a 9.30 meet rather than 10.00. Text me if interested.

Sunday 23 January: Usual meet 9.00 at the Harrow on the Ridge to depart 9.10am.

Chain Gang Friday Report

For once, we had some good weather tonight. Roads were damp from the afternoon rain but it was nice and mild and the wind wasn't too bad. A good turn out with six riders including Chris Watson who we havent seen on a friday chaingang for quite a while. To me and Paul, Stonestile lane felt particularly hard tonight but Chris W flew up there even on a fixed wheel.
S.C

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

Frozen Bird & Chilled Drink Sun 9 Jan

Myself, Ivan, Paul K,Simon G, Konrad and Mike set off at 8:05 on the first early bird of the year. None of the forecasts had said anything about ice so we were quite surprised to see icy ground to the sides of the road leading up to Crowhurst. Still the road itself seemed ok so we pressed on to Little common and Pevensey before riding on the main road up to windmill hill. Simon wasn't too happy with the roads and so peeled off but the rest of us pressed on. Mike then had a couple of punctures and decided to give his wife a ring for a lift home and abandoned. The rest of us pressed on towards Wood's Corner. From here on the temperature started dropping rapidly and ice started to appear on the road. We therefore decided to cut the ride short and head eastwards towards Ninfield. Konrad needed to get back early and so split off from us at this point heading on a more direct route to Battle. Now, us three remaining riders pressed on following a route that Ivan knows well. The roads became increasingly icy and at several points we had to get off and walk. Eventually we got to Ninfield and joined the main road. From then on we main roaded all the way back to Hastings. An unusual but still enjoyable ride! distance covered 37 miles.
SC

Meanwhile I like that extra hour in bed and was at the Harrow as usual just after 9. There were seven Bayeux tops there but I am not going that well at the moment so set off on my own. I did think of texting the old lags, who were due to meet on the sea front at 9, to find out where they were having their coffee stop but decided to do a non stop ride and get home early for the Man U thrashing of Liverpool. Yes I am capable of doing a ride without stopping for coffee / bacon butties / cakes, but not that often.

I stuck to the main roads, always easier on your own. Westfield, Cripps Corner, St John's Cross, Battle (forgotten what a long drag that is on the A2100), North Trade Road, Boreham Street. I saw rider a long way ahead on Boreham Street Hill who later turned off to Wartling, as I did, so drew up along side and had a good chat with the guy on custom Chas Roberts before leaving him for a burst of effort up Spooks Hill and the run back in to Coden and St L.

It was one of those mornings that as you came down the hill at Wartling on to the Marsh the Downs from Eastbourne to Lewes were crystal clear with the sharpest of crests, it was fantastic to drink in the view. It seemed a pity to go back early after 38 miles (not actually sure, computer battery was dead!) when it was such a glorious warm (by then) morning to be out. Another reason for the 9.00 meet and not 8.00 !!!!

Chris Parker

Vitamin D ride Sat 8 Jan

Well it was actually the bacon butty run but may be I ought to change the name to be more inclusive i.e. vegetarians very welcome for egg butties.

It was great to see a bit of sun and have an easy ride after a week back at work leaving and returning home in the dark. Three of us (was gong to be five) met at ten at the Crematorium on the Ridge having just seen off the overnight rain. I make no apologies for often leaving Hastings on the same lanes: Stonestile, Cottage, Seddlescombe, Goatham, Watts Palace, Adams, Northiam. I was more than ready for a breakfast in a bap but was very disappointed to find the Northiam cafe closed for refurbishment but it is due to reopen under new management on 10th January. We decided to retrace Adams Lane then cut across to Battle via Wattlington. The cafe opposite the Chequers was also closed but the Coffee Lounge at the bottom of the High Street did us well. The lanes were wet and muddy but it was great to get some fresh air and try and do regain a bit of fitness.

Saturday 15 Jan I am likely to be doing something else but if plans change I will edit this post.

Sunday 16 Jan I aim to be at the Harrow at 9.oo to depart by 9.10am as usual.

Chris Parker

Very wet friday chain

Having checked the weather forecast, I thought we would escape most of the rain on the Friday chaingang. How wrong I was. It started raining properly at rye so we decided to do the shortened version of the Friday chaingang. this meant a monotomous ride into rain and a head wind along the main road back to Winchelsea followed by the ride up battery Hill. We (myself, Simon G, paul K and Ivan) were glad to have got out, hopefully the weather wil be kinder next friday.
S.C

Chaingang Report Jan 5th: Simons-1, Chrises-2

Chaingang has been all about the Simons lately as winter digs in and the big turnouts we saw not so long ago have dropped off the back of the relentless hibernal months like a tired cycling metaphor stretched too far. But this could be the tipping point. This week we had one more rider than last week, two Chrises; W&P and one Simon; G.

Even tho' forecast was for rain, the prospect of another week without a ride seemed worse than risking a shower - in the end there was only one short spell it felt like it was raining proper, but gusty winds blew the squall quickly out to sea before any damp could soak in. The rest of the time it was pleasantly "misty"and we were all just glad to be out for a spin.

posted by Chris Watson

HSCC on facebook

I have now set up a facebook page for the Hastings and st leonards cycle club on facebook.
To find this page log in with your own facebook page and then search for Hastings and st leonards cycle club.
Once you have found it, click on 'like' and then you can post on the wall
You can also upload photos etc
Hopefully this will attract new cyclists

steve

Sunday 2 Jan Club Run

Three of us had a medium length easy ride in dry, still but cool conditions. We set out to Westfield, then Cottage Lane, lanes (where I was blnded by the sun and almost rode in to a horse!) to Goatham, back to Cripps Corner then Adams Lane to Northiam and the lane up Standen Hill to the north of Sandhurst. Tony King had not been out since the last bacon butty run in the snow and with Summerfields closed for refurbishment had not been spinning but by then was going better than me as I faded with the after effects of the bug. We decide to miss out on coffee as I struggled back past Bodiam. Chris Chapman rode strongly but patiently waited at the tops of hill as I faded badly on the way back to Hastings.

I aim to have a 10.00am meet Saturday 8 January for a bacon butty run, please text me if you want to know where we will meet, and aim to be at the Harrow on Sunday 9 January as usual at 9.00 to set out by 9.10am.

Chris Parker