SNAP, CRACKLE & POP !

Early text messages greeted me with various reasons for not making the meeting point, from colds, hangovers & weather forecasts.
Despite this, we still had 9 riders at the harrow. Hight H, Alex S, Jon S, Tom N, Simon G, Nick S, Nigel T, Derek M, John V.

    We set off at a pretty frosty 2C, with both Derek & Simon commenting on the amount of icy patches on Sedlescombe Rd North, that they had seen on their way to the meet, but Jon S & myself had ridden from Westfield & the roads had been clear. We decided not to follow the planned route, for fear of some of the steep narrow lane having ice on them, and stick more to the main roads towards Horam.

  We encountered a patch of ice stretching the full width of the road on the A271 as we neared Ashburnham, so when we reached the road junction towards Boreham hill, Simon G decided to bail, fearing the road conditions. The now 8 of us continued up Boreham Hill to Windmill hill, deciding to then take the turning into Joe's lane and head towards Bodle street, and keep an eye on the road conditions. Finding them to be fine, we wound our way towards Horam via Rushlake green, and then taking Horebeech lane up to the Lakeside cafe, only to be disappointed as it was closed. We set off down the road to try our luck at the bikers cafe, which was open & proved to be a great success.

  Re-fuelled we discussed a route back, deciding to avoid the traditional, flatter but cold & exposed route in favour of a few more hills and a more inland route. Heading through Vines cross towards Cade street, Alex Smith suddenly hit the deck on the corner of a short descent, having lost his front wheel on some unseen ice. The rest of us cleared the corner without incident. Nigel was beside him when he suddenly decided that cycling wasn't for him and decided to do his best "Amy Williams" impression, but without the luge. He parted company with his up till then trusted velopede, and slid across the road into the grass verge. He evidently hit his head pretty hard on the tarmac, as he was out cold when we reached him, and wasn't aware of any of it. An ambulance was needed and sadly he detached his collarbone from his shoulder, tore ligaments and suffered concussion. His crash hat having scuffs, dents & a crack through it, as it sheilded his head from the tarmac, proved that they do make a difference when tested, and he was lucky to only suffer a few minor scuffs to his face. No broken bones fortunately, so we left him in the safe hands of the wonderful paramedic that attended very promptly, as they awaited the imminent arrival of the ambulance.

  We couldn't let Nick S suffer any longer, as by now even his goose bumps had goose bumps, as he continues to wear shorts, whatever the weather, so now the 7  of us set off again. We reached Cade street and followed the testing undulations through Punnetts town/ Woods corner/ Netherfield & up to Battle, then along the Ridge to the harrow to complete our improvised route. We enjoyed a bright, chilly morning riding through some beautiful countryside, well most of us.

Speedy recovery Alex!

All the best, J.V