Posted on Wednesday 27 June 2007 by Camille Savory
Do it as your first, do it as your fastest, do it on fixed… Last year it was my first, I don’t do fast, so it had to be…
To ensure success, I had formulated a [cunning plan] and route-sheet marked with little arrows. Did it work? Well…
Posted on Friday 27 April 2007 by Camille Savory
Cough, sneeze, those of Central London who are still standing head West (the tug of apron strings or merely sunshine), in search of Bluebells. A picture for posterity and we’re off in the usual formation: the fast, the steady, the take-it-easy (and sadistic).Wheezing in the wake of our Esteemed Secretary (fixed, de rigeur), I think he’s doing it with his eyes closed. Possibly asleep. Inez and I fuss and chat and snack and query directions while he sensibly ignores us, bar the odd warning shout of ‘gravel’ or ‘granny’. Neither the lumbering horsebox on a steep downhill or the fact that we tailgate with smoking brake-blocks when the traffic picks up on descents elicits a reaction.
Posted on Monday 26 March 2007 by Nick Bloom
Stevenage ‘Start of Summertime’ Audax 25th March 2007
As usual, National Rail had conspired to cause maximum confusion for the Stevenage Audax - first there were trains from Finsbury Park, but not King’s X, then there were none. As it turned out, they were all working. As a result of this, Nick & Denise gave up on the 200, leaving Robert and Simon as our intrepid pair. I had entered the 200, but, on waking at 6 to a grey drizzle, decided I couldn’t face it and slid under the covers for my stolen hour, still arriving early for the 100. Roger Cline was already sat in the cafe, having been prepared to ride out. Soon others joined us - in the end, 11 were on the 100.
Posted on Monday 19 March 2007 by Camille Savory
Sunshine. Daffodils. Birdies. Wind. After the first pacy 10km, we two (Camille and John) (independently) consult lungs, stomachs and knees, think ‘Nah’, and let the pack gradually disappear into the distance. Our steady pace left plenty of time for bananas, performance destroying drugs, lunch and the odd pointy thing. Assured (mostly) back seat navigating nearly snared us two lost 200km-ers for company, along a charmingly pretty route. What more could you want? Well, a nice big pack to shelter from the blasted eternal headwind.
Ah, well.
Posted on Sunday 18 March 2007 by Nick Bloom
‘Up the ‘Uts’ - 160 km Audax from Ugley, Saturday March 17th
Forcing myself into action on a Saturday morning, I get to Ugley for 8am, parking opposite a twin of my Defender (so that they can have a nice chat whilst owners are off). The Comrades CC is one of a group of club huts in the area - hence the name of the ride. The 200 lot are just off as I sign in and grab a coffee, standing outside to acclimatise to the decidedly fresh morning, and to chat with some familiar AUKs. We’re off at 9, and I pass the CLCTC group riding up from the station for the 100k at 10.
Posted on Tuesday 31 October 2006 by Camille Savory
Dinkily numbered and purpled-up, the mob converge (trains not withstanding) to start the End of Summertime 100k. Those organised or unconfident had blagged early start times but we built in some nifty handicapping. Put the etapers and esteemed on fixed, get mile-eaters riding 50k to the start, and give Inez builder-itis. Finally set Simon to hare ahead with the racing clubs to prove that purple can pace-set, until he gets tired of their showing off.
The route was straightforward, a litany of familiar names, and rolling enough (flat – pah) to be interesting but not enough to swear (pardon, Nick?). The weather could not be bettered, with only a splash of autumnal mud, and the controls were just that (those dinky little numbers weren’t solely for effect). The Hare Street halt saw us beginning to congregate, and at the Saffron Walden turn a plan was hatched. Then, at Reed, the pre-arranged signal (‘Hurry up and finish that cake’), a wagon train formed and the 11-strong purple peloton set sail in full glory.
So it wasn’t a perfect echelon, and a couple of overshot turnings testify to the slowness of our democratic decision-making… But a solid swathe of purple black and white, complete with fixed outriders, sweeping past ancient churchyards was a suitably awe-inspiring if gothic sight. Admiring, nay envious, comments were many – it was obvious that that diverse pack in pretty purple have more fun.
And thanks to little green riding, we were piloted safely back into Stevenage (then we got lost in the park) just as the sun was sinking. Indeed, the sole down-side to the day was the end of summertime. Roll on spring.
Posted on Monday 30 October 2006 by Nick Bloom
On Friday night, over 30 Central London members, plus assorted other interested parties, squeezed into the Calthorpe Arms for a somewhat fraught AGM - the anuual festival of ‘The Picking of The Nits’. But sanity prevailed. matters were sorted, and we moved to a second meeting, at which we did at last decide to seek DA status. My heartfelt thanks to all of you for your support and timely interventions. We can now move on to that which we do best of all - promoting cycling.
As if in celebration, 16 turned out for the Stevenage End of Summertime Audax - amidst a field of 359. If the trains, as usual, worked against us, the weather was perfect - the early chill soon left as the late autumn sun warmed us up. The controls processed riders at speed, even the Saffron Walden cafe queue was manageable. If we were a ragged group before lunch, the long gradual grind to Geat Chishill and on to Reed split us further. But we managed to gather a fine group to ride in to the finish together. Maybe not a true Purple Peloton, maybe more an intermittent stream of purple p…, but for a while it looked great.
PS the Central London ‘Winged Wheel’ stickers are now ready. I’ll be selling them on rides, or send me an SAE and a cheque (£1 per sticker)