28 Dec- Xmas Social High And Over

A very good turnout today for our post Xmas social ride.

Queen of the Linkway!

Patrick had the honour of leading us down the newly opened link road where all of us gained some Strava top ten placings. Part the way down the road we spotted Shirley going the wrong way having set off too late for the meeting time. After a hasty 180 degree turn she joined the peleton and would end up being crowned Strava Queen of the LinkWay!

Where's 'The Man In The High Castle'?

With the weather very mild for the time of year we proceeded rapidly through Pevensey, Hailsham and onto Alfriston where we decided to have a coffee stop. On the corner there is an expensive but pleasant tea shop (Badgers). On many occasions I have sat in the garden during the summer mtb season but never expected we would be able to do the same in late December. Only the barelegged Shirley seemed to be feeling cold.

Derek, Malc C and Shirley left a few minutes before the rest of us to gain a head start up 'high and over' but we reeled them back in after around a third of the climb. The faster riders raced to the top with Nigel (caveman)  gaining honours for the top spot.

Tea stop at badgers.

The decent down towards Seaford seemed to be endless and with gravity on my side I made it down to the main road first.

We now had the undulating hills of the seven sisters to contend with . As usual on this road there is always some stroppy motorist that wants to get aggressive. This time it was Peter (Shadow) who would be at the blunt end for daring to overtake another cyclist on the climb.

That's where my helmet went!

Reassembling at Friston I was hoping for some exciting footage of us on the steep decent to East Dean but by now there was a great deal of slow traffic that we got stuck behind.

Fortunately the ride up to the top of Beachy was almost traffic free. Without a tail wind the climb was a lot more of a grind than on Boxing day but I really enjoyed it feeling unusually strong as did Derek who seems to have completely got over his sciatica. We arrived at the Beachy head hotel about halfway up the very spread-out field of riders. Malcolm C would arrive last as yet again his carbon road bike was out of action with mechanical problems, forcing him to ride his terrible Carrera which is about two sizes too small but still ways about 30lbs. This lead to myself and Patrick suggesting a ride name for Malc C as 'Mechanical' Malcolm!

Patrick again lead the charge from Beachy head down into Eastbourne and we all rode quickly to Pevensey bay where we made use of the impressively large toilets. The light was now fading , the temperature had dropped and there was a mild head wind against us. Somehow, despite cruising I dropped everyone else and endured a lonely bleak ride back into Hastings old town. There I bumped into the friendly face of Diego who is getting back to fitness after a nasty mtb accident in  the summer. Diego tells me that he should now be a regular on the weds and Friday night rides , I do hope so!

By now Patrick, Duncan and Mechanical Malcolm had all arrived at the pub for one enjoyable road of drinks.

Thanks to all who came out today and made it such an enjoyable day.

Steve C