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