Sunday Ride: 20th November 2016

Broken Bikes, Deep Water & Disgruntled Rider

Five of us braved the start of a not very nice post Storm Angus day. Within half a mile Maggie had a puncture. With four strapping knights in (virtual) armour that shouldn’t have been a problem. It soon was.

A brand new (for winter) Gatorskin Hardshell in a deep rimmed rear. Hardshells, so Tom googled, are bu**ers to get off at the best of times. When the deep rim prevented any tyre lever from getting any purchase – indeed where the tyre bead was invisible – there was no way the combined intellect of the Anerley BC could think of a way of getting the tyre off. As for getting it back on again – it must be possible but how?

Only a bike shop could solve this puzzle so Maggie retired from the ride to a cafe in wait of a shop opening. Are you still there Maggie?

We made up the numbers by collecting Belinda at Marden Park and then Bob the Builder decided to find his own way. Our way led to this railway bridge on Tandridge Lane, Crowhurst (next to the old Bricklayers). Except it didn’t look like this. On the right were three stalled cars. Under the bridge was around 18″ of water with more pouring in from the fields.

We turned tail and worked our way round through Lingfield. The lower picture above is of part of my rear mudguard which decided to part company. Patched up we continued. Things couldn’t get worse could they?

The Tea Stop was Snowhill Garden Centre near Crowhorne. With the delays we arrived at 11:20 and they stopped serving breakfast at 11:15 sharp. The sausages, bacon, eggs and baked beans were served to others but NO NEW ORDERS to a the bedraggled starving cyclist. They weren’t polite about it either and the chocolate cake didn’t make amends. a very unhappy bunny. A place we should possibly eliminate from the runs list?

The threesome wanted a speedy run home. I needed more miles so we parted company at Tilburstow Hill. Hence the map below shows me wandering west to Reigate Hill before descending to Chipstead.

Trust everybody got home OK. My route mileage telephone box to telephone box was 49.24 miles at a moving average of 12.57mph making it a nice 100km door to door.