...Either that or the chef from US Postal circa 2000 had cooked his breakfast for him!...
Dave is known and loved by all for his amazing collection of bike gadgetry but also for never exactly leading the bunch (despite RCC record gel consumption at times!). Well, wipe that record clean! On this ride, which included classic RCC strong guys Andy G, Dave G and Bellers along for the journey, saw Dave gliding effortlessly along at the front the whole way looking for all the world like Tony Martin putting in a shift.
Chapeau to him - goes to show what a week of cycling in the Loire then Calais can do for your fitness and strength.
And boy, what a lovely morning to enjoy it. Slightly nippy to start with but rapidly turning warm and beautiful.
The ride started with an unfeasibly large 18 split into two but huge thanks to Ian for offering to take half the party to Sumners Ponds on account of fearing the the Cheese on Toast Palace would not cope with that many orders... this was ironic because we arrived there so quickly with so much strength in depth backing up Martin and Dave at the front all the way via Ockley and Standon Lane, that I called ahead from Ellens Green to advise that we would welcome 6 x cheese on toasts in 15 mins (it took us 7!) and, lo and behold, we arrived to find them all ready to be served.
In fact it was a candidate for fastest tea stop service ever, so the bunch agreed a loop aturning off down Baynard Lane, Cranleigh, back round by the school and then Ewhurst, Forest Green and home.
Superb riding all morning too from Hugh and Paul, the only riders not in RCC kit, but riding with RCC discipline and good humour. Plus strong contributions from James, Andy and all others.
Back to the Drome with around 52 miles, 2,500ft of rolling climbing and an average over 16mph. Without Dave, that might have been a bit less!