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Hill training - CHILTERNS Sun 17th April
Off to the Chilterns tomorrow with Martin H and you're welcome to join us. Route is 61 miles with 1500m climbing, inc Aston Hill, Whiteleaf Hill, Kingston Hill and Small Dean Lane
Winter tyres recommended - Chilterns roads are famous for potholes and flints, especially at this time of year
START: 9am prompt Brownlow Cafe next to the Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge Estate
Carry plenty of food and drink. There will be 1 cafe stop in Chinnor (at 30 miles)
FINISH: Brownlow Cafe about 1:30 - 2pm and they'll still be serving lunch/cake if you want it
Please let me know if you're planning to come - good idea to swap mobile numbers (we lost Pete G at the start, last time we did this ride) and I can email a gpx file for Garmin too
Reminder of the rules
1) Ride each hill at your own pace. The group will fragment and this is ok
2) Stop at the top (in a safe place) to regroup
3) Between hills is recovery time. We work together as a group, which means:
- 2 abreast ie 2 lines of riders, 1 behind the other. No overlapping wheels. No switching between lines without good reason - and only ever after a clear signal to riders behind and giving them time to adjust to your change of position
- group travels at the pace of the slowest rider. If the person behind you drops back, it's your job to tell the rest of the group to slow down
- if you're on the front, set a pace that you think the group can cope with and adjust when asked. Give shelter to those behind you - if you ride ahead instead, we'll assume you've chosen to leave the group and that you're taking your own route home
- share the work. If you feel strong, great, spend plenty of time on the front. If you're finding the pace tough, then do what you can to conserve energy and others will help you
- if you're on the front, be conscious of the safety of the rest of the group as well as your own. It's your job to look ahead at traffic, road junctions etc and call out any changes in direction, pace, hazards that the guy behind you can't see AND to pick the best line through any rough surfaces, road furniture, debris etc - not just for you, but for the line of riders right behind you. They're trusting you to get this right for them
- point to potholes in plenty of time for the person behind you to avoid them. Call out too, if it's particularly hazardous. Or if it's dangerous for you to take 1 hand off your handlebar, don't risk pointing, just call out
Winter tyres recommended - Chilterns roads are famous for potholes and flints, especially at this time of year
START: 9am prompt Brownlow Cafe next to the Bridgewater Monument, Ashridge Estate
Carry plenty of food and drink. There will be 1 cafe stop in Chinnor (at 30 miles)
FINISH: Brownlow Cafe about 1:30 - 2pm and they'll still be serving lunch/cake if you want it
Please let me know if you're planning to come - good idea to swap mobile numbers (we lost Pete G at the start, last time we did this ride) and I can email a gpx file for Garmin too
Reminder of the rules
1) Ride each hill at your own pace. The group will fragment and this is ok
2) Stop at the top (in a safe place) to regroup
3) Between hills is recovery time. We work together as a group, which means:
- 2 abreast ie 2 lines of riders, 1 behind the other. No overlapping wheels. No switching between lines without good reason - and only ever after a clear signal to riders behind and giving them time to adjust to your change of position
- group travels at the pace of the slowest rider. If the person behind you drops back, it's your job to tell the rest of the group to slow down
- if you're on the front, set a pace that you think the group can cope with and adjust when asked. Give shelter to those behind you - if you ride ahead instead, we'll assume you've chosen to leave the group and that you're taking your own route home
- share the work. If you feel strong, great, spend plenty of time on the front. If you're finding the pace tough, then do what you can to conserve energy and others will help you
- if you're on the front, be conscious of the safety of the rest of the group as well as your own. It's your job to look ahead at traffic, road junctions etc and call out any changes in direction, pace, hazards that the guy behind you can't see AND to pick the best line through any rough surfaces, road furniture, debris etc - not just for you, but for the line of riders right behind you. They're trusting you to get this right for them
- point to potholes in plenty of time for the person behind you to avoid them. Call out too, if it's particularly hazardous. Or if it's dangerous for you to take 1 hand off your handlebar, don't risk pointing, just call out
Comments
I thoroughly recommend The Wee Bookshop caf
Snow on Bison Hill .... Our very own Galibier/Mt Teide!
Dave walters if you're reading this - next time!!?
Rode most of the Chiltern 100 route - cyclotourist stylee.
Surprised the club doesn't ride out this way more often.
JP