Where were all the hard men to day part 2.

Sunday 28th November and it was freezing cold the roads didn’t look to bad at home so I set out to meet the club. I arrive at the Green and Mick Farlla and two more of group one were debating if the road would be to icy for a safe ride Mick persuaded them that a ride down the main road to Tonbridge would be safe. Mick tried to persuade me to go with them but Ian had arrived to take group 2 . We waved good by Mick and Co and waited for the rest of the club to turn up. After a while it was obvious that no one else was going to turn up so we set off for a sort ride to the Speed Gate Café. Ian had only just returned from Sunny South Africa so he was not feeling to fit so we started out intending on a loop down Polhill and up the Shoreham Valley. As we got started we noted that the roads were icy free and we kept adding bits to the ride. Thus it was that we explored some of the local lanes that the club usually by pass on our way to more distant climes. Eventually arriving at the Café for a sort fuel stop.
Ian had to get back to his car so I it was more local lanes, and for me what was just going to be a very short token ride ended up as 50 miles.
But yet again why so few out on such a sunny day more turned out in the rain?
Were they all riding the last SERRL race at Hog Hill?
What will happen when we really get bad weather?
This is where I tell you how hard we used to be in the old days riding to Brighton on the first Sunday of January no matter what the weather rain, wind, snow and icy nothing stopped us. The weather forecast is snow in Scotland and every one stays at home.

We have the cheek to put on an event called the Kentish Killer when a threat of cold weather is enough to stop our own riders turning out.

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Comment by David Howard smith on December 1, 2010 at 16:32: I gave it a rest today but was out in the full force yesterday, had to get to work, have no alternative. My Mountain Bike has the cobwebs blown of it for its annual outing.

Comment by Brian Willis on December 1, 2010 at 10:30: Hey David, looks like your kind of day for a ride here today ;)

Comment by Brian Willis on November 30, 2010 at 15:42: I guess the problem is that it can be very difficult to tell unless you actually go out. It was a lovely bright but cold day early this year when Steve came off (I was there). There was sheet ice all over the place in the shaded areas, hard to factor against that.

Comment by Jonathan Harris on November 29, 2010 at 20:12: What the others have said.

I don't think it was about not being hard enough, just looking at the conditions and making an assessment. I was ready to go, but at 8:30 it was -5 and there was ice on the road outside my house. I went running instead.

Comment by David Howard smith on November 29, 2010 at 19:48: There was a bit tongue in cheek in this artical. I have fallen hard on icy many time and know its not funny. But? Sunday turned out to be totally icy free despite being below freezing, and it turned out to be a good ride.

Comment by steve Riley on November 29, 2010 at 17:49: After horse riding on very icy, slippery surfaces on Saturday afternoon I decided that I would prefer not to take the risk of a fall, and putting myself out of action. Its a difficult decision to make, especially if you get it wrong and go out, and it is bad !. I slipped off last year, but fortunately was only slightly bruised.
One option that might be worth considering would be to have a later start, which might give the roads a chance to thaw out. Would anyone support that idea ?? Ta Steve

Comment by Brian Willis on November 29, 2010 at 11:10: You are clearly made of tough stuff David. I'm off the bike with knee issues (again [sigh]), but if I'm honest, as I struggled to stand up on the ice at the back of our house yesterday (coldest I've seen in the 5 years we have been there at -8.6c) I wouldn't have thought of going out. The cold isn't the issue, it's coming off on ice and breaking stuff (me and the bike) that's my concern. Glad you managed an ice free ride, certainly didn't look like that from my viewpoint yesterday.

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