Wednesday Chain Gang - New Year, Old Faces, Good Conditions

 There was a fantastic turnout for the first chain gang of the New Year, with 25 or so riders making the start and others joining at points along the way. Is this evidence of New Years' resolutions, or merely because, for once of late, it was not blowing a hooley and pouring with rain? It was quite chilly though.

About half the group rated themselves as ultras last night, making for a large first group. The rest of us rolled out after some confusion over whether everyone had arrived or not, but the starters gun was fired and Lord Buckland and I led the group out.

Ah, the bliss of not bashing into a vicious headwind, or cowering against the rain! Pedalling seemed smooth and effortless, forward progress was made without the roar of a gale in my ears. Very pleasant and very lucky, given that I woke this morning to torrential rain and yet another force 18 gale.

The small group started rotating at the front - Lord B, Nick, Simon G, Peter 'sick note' Baker and me I think. I looked back to see where everyone was and saw a long line of white lights weaving and bobbing along behind us. We rode on and the 'rotation' group' grew to seven riders, with Dan S powering away at the front. I owe Dan a big thank you for very generously waiting for me a few times on the chain gang two weeks ago - thanks Dan, chapeau!

Simon G put in a good pull up on his fixie, spinning the pedals as fast as he could. I pulled alongside and got ahead near the brow of the hill, swooping fast down the west slope to meet Cooden Drive. We continued to rotate as we sped towards the Cooden Hotel and, as usual, I found myself on the front as we reached the short, steep slope down to the tight right-hand bend. The surface was a bit damp and sketchy, the tyres perhaps feeling the cold a little. Having made it round the bend safely but a bit slowly, we were soon turning hard left onto Herbrand and putting extra pressure on our pedals.

Compared to last week's 'Herbrand Hell', this week it was more like Hawaii and I really enjoyed riding at a good pace in a group, without fear of being blown into each other, or blown off the back. But it was chilly. There, I've said it again. We continued to make good progress as we rotated across the marshes. I think Nick hit the front just as we met a thick patch of mist, somewhere near the Star Inn. The air was cold and my glasses steamed up, which meant I did most of the ride peering over the top of them, like Mole from Wind in the Willows, my eyes streaming in the cold, damp air.

Lee on only his second ever chain-gang

On we rolled, the only impediment to our speed was how fast we could pedal and how big a gear we could spin. Ok, it was not exactly Greipel versus Cavendish on the Champs Elysees, but Stewart and I enjoyed our own personal sprint challenge into the roundabout at Pevensey, with me just pipping him to the post, although I think that (out of respect for the elderly) he held back a little. Thanks Stewart - this small victories mean a lot to me. Hard behind us came the rest of the group, special mention of which must be made of Peter Baker, just back from a lung transplant. It didn't go to well - from the sound of his cough, they've swapped his lungs with those of a 60-a-day smoker, so overall I was impressed with his effort. And he has had man flu - rule #5 applies Peter, well done old bean.

We paused to wait for the rest of the riders, chatting and swapping insults, in that way that men do. A cloud of steamy breath rose as a small cloud from where we rested, drifting up and over the street light on the bend, blending with the mist on the marshes. The last few riders arrived, so we duly began the return leg, giving them approximately three seconds to recover from their outward leg. Nobody wanted to wait around too long, getting cold and feeling damp with chilled sweat.

I went off with the ultras, the group not as fast I thought as in recent weeks, or at least we rode with a more uneven pace. As evidence, I made it up Spooky Hill with the group, taking a turn at the front to lead the group over the bridge at the Star Inn, before being dropped on the way to the level crossing. Progress! I made a lonely ride along Herbrand, with no wind assistance this week, becoming aware of a group of white lights gradually gaining on me.

Sure enough, I made the turn onto Cooden Drive and started up the slope, looking over my left shoulder to see a bunch of riders arrive at the Herbrand turn. I pressed on as hard as I could up the slope, getting beyond El Presidente and his chequered board, but Nick caught me as we descended the Cooden Bump, with JV, Gareth and others in tow. We rode briefly as a group before a few more enthusiastic riders made a break for the lights. Honours go to Nick, with JV and then me just behind. Not racing, just testing ourselves.

A noisy group awaited us. Shirley turned up from nowhere, still in summer shorts. How cold does it have to get before you get your longs on Shirley? Steve C came over name check a number of the riders who last night either made a notable appearance of some sort.  Rather surpringingly, it was only the second ever chain gang ride for Lee Smith (4th cousin, thrice removed). Lee has ridden plenty of the JV club rides, but is normally at work during the week and cannot make the start of the chain. Some welcome holiday meant he was able to make it last night - good to see you Lee, and surely the chain is better than the turbo?

Paul Baxter comes out of hibernation

Paul Baxter also made an unexpected appearance. He has, apparently, been in hibernation since August (there was some straw in his hair) - he hasn't been on any rides since the summer. Will he stick at it and start coming regularly again, Steve wonders? Please do Paul.

Sadly, this was also Josef Mager's last ever appearance at the club, although who knows what the futures holds? After a number of years working at ATB sales, Josef is heading back to Slovakia to start a more settled life in Slovakia with his new girlfriend. Josef was was of the regulars for the off road season, so we are really going to miss him in the summer.

Is this a one off return by Paul Fuller?

We also had a very unexpected appearance from Paul Fuller. Paul used to be one of the most regular chain-gangers, but we haven't seen him for a year or so. He is not sure yet whether this is a one off, or a more regular reappearance! Come on Paul, you know it makes sense - come again next week!

There were also many of the regular chain gang crew in attendance, including the unbelievably awesome Stuart Hodd, back on the bike for some Wednesday fun, having missed last week for no good reason that he could recall. Stuart reckons that is the first time he has missed a Wednesday chain gang in two years. Frankly, you did the right thing staying in last week - it was grim.

Steve 'Gadget' Ferguson and I rode a second chain gang at a more gentlemanly pace, chatting as we rode out of Bexhill and across the cold marshes, meeting occasional pockets of warm air, before plunging again into near-freezing pools of still coldness. Unlike in a car, you feel every temperature change on a bike; last night's chillier sections were short and sharp, just enough to pep up the ride without making it unpleasant.

My weather prediction for next week is snow. Well, possibly. I heard someone on the train say it, so it must be true. Colder, anyhow. Wrap up warm and see I'll see you there.

Safe riding, Neil

The mtb sub group say goodbye and good luck to Josef!