If
you are reading this then success to me and give myself a pat on the
back for getting to grips with the website, if you are not reading it
then I have just wasted the best part of an hour and could have got on
with something else instead.
A
peloton of 21 could have left the park but it dropped to 20, as Dr
Livingston was only stopping to wish those that he had not said happy
new year too as yet and as he was looking and feeling a tad peaky, off
he went back home to bed. So it was a route of roads we knew and some we
did not with a warning to not going flying off the front or you would
get lost, it was the Gaffer leading the ride with MG rounding up the
lost sheep (filling in for Clips in his absence).
On the way out to Bexley the field of G&B were strung out winding its way through Blackfen when Benny had a derailleur malfunction and adhering to the latest ride rules we had 4 team members (not 2!!) waiting for him. It became apparent that the Grupetto where about to have 10 mins of fun before they had warmed up, as of course the chase was on to catch up with the squad, MG, Jason & Bradders TT’d their way onto the back of the group as they hit the village, with everyone re grouping by the time we arrived on the North Cray Road for the first time of two visits on the day.
Then a left up Star Lane, on past the Cemetery of St Mary Cray- no one dying on the climb yet although one member asking “is this the climb of the day”- the response- “this be but a lump in the road dear friend “- trying to hide the anxiety on hearing the reply the group continued on. A pit stop at the top of Crockenhill, for a refuel, no one chasing after MG – thank god, as he was on a mission to take a comfort break and at the junction in Eynsford Gadget has a mechanical with MG waiting in support. The squad power on to the climb of the day for real, Bower Lane. Think that was renamed last year but even with the Christmas break the group were climbing well,the Pocket Rocket up to her usual mischief of climbing like a demon. Gadget and MG then rejoin the group, Gadget keeping out of his granny gear,the Peloton then swells to 23 at the top of the climb as 3 more join the intrepid band of Limited Edition for the drop down Fackendon. Surprising when you descend a climb we are used to going up, you get a different perspective on the nature of the road and actually it looks a lot steeper than when you come the other way.
Shoreham, a place trapped in a time warp Doctor Who would have a field day with. On one side of the village its “Walmington on Sea” with a “Dads Army” tea stop and on the other side it’s “Are You Being Served” minus young Mr. Grace but with waitress service. Who ever heard of such a thing, cyclists drinking from bone china cups and saucers, the Gaffer having a personal table arranged at the entrance to the Station, my goodness how we have come on. Loved hearing the walkers exclaim “It’s all full of bloody cyclists”, too right mate it was too and what a sight we were. Refreshed and refueled with lunch looming for most, it was a flying sprint down towards Eynsford, Benny and MG reliving past exploits and then the rest joined in too playing tag till the traffic started to spoil everything. The return journey up through Ship Lane and onto Maidstone Road began to tire some and the field was spread down the road. The distance the furthest this year so far,the cobwebs not quiet blown away for some from the recent festivities. So goodbyes were said on a lay-by on at the end of Maidstone Road ready for the second visit of the day to the North Cray Road. Like moths attracted to a lamp the big boys were flying. Firstly down Maidstone road the lead changing continually and then going the “easy” way down NC the hammer really went down and all were burying themselves to either hold the lead or just simply power past the rider in front.
A surprise to everyone was that after coming through Sidcup “Team Robb” led by the Gaffer was in front of everyone- why, they took a short cut the little devils!!
A great day’s ride. A slight variation on roads we knew and love and some great early season mileage in the legs too. For a few the fitness level starting to return where it was left after end of season.
On the way out to Bexley the field of G&B were strung out winding its way through Blackfen when Benny had a derailleur malfunction and adhering to the latest ride rules we had 4 team members (not 2!!) waiting for him. It became apparent that the Grupetto where about to have 10 mins of fun before they had warmed up, as of course the chase was on to catch up with the squad, MG, Jason & Bradders TT’d their way onto the back of the group as they hit the village, with everyone re grouping by the time we arrived on the North Cray Road for the first time of two visits on the day.
Then a left up Star Lane, on past the Cemetery of St Mary Cray- no one dying on the climb yet although one member asking “is this the climb of the day”- the response- “this be but a lump in the road dear friend “- trying to hide the anxiety on hearing the reply the group continued on. A pit stop at the top of Crockenhill, for a refuel, no one chasing after MG – thank god, as he was on a mission to take a comfort break and at the junction in Eynsford Gadget has a mechanical with MG waiting in support. The squad power on to the climb of the day for real, Bower Lane. Think that was renamed last year but even with the Christmas break the group were climbing well,the Pocket Rocket up to her usual mischief of climbing like a demon. Gadget and MG then rejoin the group, Gadget keeping out of his granny gear,the Peloton then swells to 23 at the top of the climb as 3 more join the intrepid band of Limited Edition for the drop down Fackendon. Surprising when you descend a climb we are used to going up, you get a different perspective on the nature of the road and actually it looks a lot steeper than when you come the other way.
Shoreham, a place trapped in a time warp Doctor Who would have a field day with. On one side of the village its “Walmington on Sea” with a “Dads Army” tea stop and on the other side it’s “Are You Being Served” minus young Mr. Grace but with waitress service. Who ever heard of such a thing, cyclists drinking from bone china cups and saucers, the Gaffer having a personal table arranged at the entrance to the Station, my goodness how we have come on. Loved hearing the walkers exclaim “It’s all full of bloody cyclists”, too right mate it was too and what a sight we were. Refreshed and refueled with lunch looming for most, it was a flying sprint down towards Eynsford, Benny and MG reliving past exploits and then the rest joined in too playing tag till the traffic started to spoil everything. The return journey up through Ship Lane and onto Maidstone Road began to tire some and the field was spread down the road. The distance the furthest this year so far,the cobwebs not quiet blown away for some from the recent festivities. So goodbyes were said on a lay-by on at the end of Maidstone Road ready for the second visit of the day to the North Cray Road. Like moths attracted to a lamp the big boys were flying. Firstly down Maidstone road the lead changing continually and then going the “easy” way down NC the hammer really went down and all were burying themselves to either hold the lead or just simply power past the rider in front.
A surprise to everyone was that after coming through Sidcup “Team Robb” led by the Gaffer was in front of everyone- why, they took a short cut the little devils!!
A great day’s ride. A slight variation on roads we knew and love and some great early season mileage in the legs too. For a few the fitness level starting to return where it was left after end of season.
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