Martin Malins writes…
With another 200 next weekend and nothing local in the Audax calendar I needed a 100k ride to keep the km’s up, this Crawley Wheelers’ event seemed just the ticket.
Despite starting only 500m from the Dennis’ household Steve was unable to make it due to a TT the same day. I rode over to Furnace Green for the start in cold frosty and misty conditions. I was the only 5 hrs 100km starter but it was all academic as we all left together; even the 50km riders.
Dave Roberts soon punctured and I did not see him again until back at Crawley. The course went out through Lingfield to the sporting climb up to Stick Hill (which I know of as the Edenbridge junction on the A264) for the first control. I decided to ride the main road back to East Grinstead alone; it’s hardly a conducive road to sociable group riding.
Using my old route up to the club run start at Turners Hill for the next checkpoint I was soon back in the hall for some welcome tea and cake. And then the rest of the 100k group set off for Brockham.
It was in the section up to Brockham that my lack of racing legs became sharply apparent and I was soon left to dawdle happily up to the checkpoint (although it wasn’t in the usual place so I missed it but he saw me so that was OK). The section to Rusper past Henfold was very lumpy but it was a glorious day so I just stuck in and enjoyed it.
And soon the last drag up Tower Road to Colgate where I met a faster rider fixing his chain. A kamikaze nagotiation of the Pease Pottage roundabout and plunge down the A23 saw me finish the 100k course in 4.18.
A lovely ride on a lovely day; shall we see some more EGCC riders next year?
