Those who looked out of their window at 8:00 on Sunday morning would
have seen the effects of increasing windy, lowering and increasing
cloud
and other signs of the heavy rains that were forecast to sweep across
southern England in the day. But did this put off the stalwart Redhill
CC Sunday Club Run riders ? Not a bit of it.
With Mike Ormerod (who was due to lead the ride) off sick, Duncan
Murdoch took over the lead and started us out to the south west with
the
aim of a brisk 3 - 4 hour ride without stop - the consensus being that
in the conditions it would take some real determination to leave any
comfortable hostelry and venture out again to battle the elements - far
easier to keep going.
Well, of course that rain that was forecast fell with increasing
strength ensuring that the intrepid bunch got pretty wet as you will
imagine. The riders with the short straw were those following Duncan's
non-mudguarded wheel. Those of you with a power shower and who like to
wake up putting your face into the full flow will understand what this
was like! Surprisingly with so much grit and debris on the roads, only
one puncture between us.
Newdigate, Warnham, Loxwood, Alfold, Cranleigh, Albury and then the A25
to Betchworth before cutting off at Brockham and back via Reigate Heath
before home.
Just under four hours of riding 90 plus kms. Wet and demanding. Tough,
yes !. Enjoyable - in a perverse way. Good exercise - of course.
Character forming - oh yes !
See you next week, same time, different route - and hopefully better
weather !