I'm back........

So yes I disappeared for a few hours, or was it days? Anyway I'm (Lee) back from my ride to Brighton. When I say Brighton I actually mean East Grinstead because that was where I ended up after getting lost somewhere in Surrey. Still I'd clocked 35 miles by the time I had arrived and had a snack in a road side cafe that was like going back to 1979. I say 1979 because that was when the Conservatives last played on the failure of Labour to get into power. which was on my mind whilst I was sitting in the cafe....... Anyway I don't want to use this blog to complain about how the Conservatives back in '79 created a Britain of selfish individualists, but for reporting on my semi successful ride to sunny, yet windy East Grinstead. I set off at 11:30AM and made steady progress until I hit a mother of a hill in a little town called Black Rock (It wasn't called Black Rock but it should have been)...I turned a corner and hit the hill to find a boy, all of about 12 on a BMX starting the climb...so obviously I passed him on my speedy machine....the thing was he didn't take too kindly to such a move and by God he chased me up that mother of a hill and stayed on my tail for about a mile before we hit the real steep bit just at the top. Now I'd like say that I was never in danger of being caught but I was, and I had to dig deep to stay ahead of the whipper snapper to make sure I didn't have a Bad Day at Black Rock......really he was all of 12, on a BMX, and there was me looking the part with all my gear, but riding like a fat middle aged man....errr, yeah well...yes......anyway to cut a long ride short by the time I got home I'd clocked 70 miles. Not the 100 I hoped to achieve but not too bad........happy days.

London to Brighton?

There is growing concern as to the whereabouts of Lee. He set off from home (London) early this morning with the intention of riding to Brighton and back. At the moment (9pm) nobody has heard from him or seen him. If there is no contact within the next three hours we will be sending out a search party.

Peloton of about 30

Rest day on Saturday after Kev and I had got the 100+ ride in the day before. Knew the club run was going to be a challenging one from reading the forum. Outside the shop at 9am and about 30 riders opted for the 'B' ride out towards Rivington. A fair pace was set by Steve Charlton, so I wisely just sat in the pack. Quite an undulating route was taken to the foot of the climb and a good few conversations with the lads. Only rode alongside Kev for a few miles (so many out today). Felt great on the climb and with climbing miles in my legs, I'm starting to feel quite comfortable. It all split on the climb, I paused to take a pic and noticed that I had no signal on my phone. I was alongside the North West TV transmitters????? Fast descent into Belmont and then yet another climb (cheers Matty) with Horwich and the Reebok stadium on the other side. Got into a steady tempo and then one of the many John's got a puncture. Spring into action Bicycle Repairman! Group waited at the bottom. When we reached them there was this surreal scene, wish I had taken a pic. A bunch of about 25 H Middleton CC riders mixed in with a big gang of Mods on scooters!
The hammer went down again when we were all together, through Blackrod, Haigh, Standish and eventually to the cafe. The weather warmed up enough to expose the legs (not sure the cafe customers were ready for it, but I was). Chatted to Annette from the club, who did the end to end last year. So Kev and I bombarded her with questions, sorry Annette.
Great days riding and bagged another 60 miles +, making 250+ miles since last Wednesday. Great, I'm back in work tomorrow and I have P.E. pm. Might not get through the warm up!!