Thanks to Gavin for the reports this week:
Saturday:
The route was the usual Leigh/Newdigate/Charlwood (Richard punctured on this first stretch to Parkgate, after which we proceeded to the T junction and went right towards Newdigate)-turned right and down henfold hill-right at the triangle in the woods around the circuit- then left and right onto the John Leitch sprint training course (at which point Richard punctured for a 2nd time just as he was to get back onto the group)-right at the T and then left at the next T at the 7 stars-through Leigh past the bus shelter and on to the fox revived-right at the top and then left at the end down the hill and right at the T into Charlwood-straight through and then left at the end towards the black horse-left up horse hill and straight on at irons bottom- left on the A217 and then left at Sandcross-left at the end and past Claude’s old home (Flanchford Rd) and then to the end of that road and then left back to the bus shelter where Tim went home and the remaining bunch proceeded to do an anti clockwise lap of the SL Newdigate course, where we finished.
Sunday:
Weather not too bad to start except a little windy. 5 hardy souls (Keith Reed, Geoff Clifton, Tim Sales, Leigh Smithers and Gavin Garrett) set off on the Sunday ‘recovery’ ride. 50 miles were planned and the reasonably flat Newdigate/Cranleigh/Dunsfold/Rudgwick/Capel route was chosen. Keith Reed set off at the front and the rest were content to stay behind to keep their efforts as low as possible. In fact we were forming an echelon at times to minimize the effect of the wind. Occasionally others in the group came to the front but always the natural front man Keith took over again very soon. Gradually, the rain came and soon became quite steady but we all toughed it out to the end with no stops or mishaps to report. After Newdigate at the end the ‘leader’, Gavin split from the others and all of us returned home to the well-earned hot bath!