What a Wimbledon final! But now that's over, here's this week's news &
reports....

===

RIDE REPORT
Ashstead & Epsom Commons 06/07/08

An interesting start this morning. Our scheduled leader had actually
forgotten that he'd volunteered and only realised on arrival at the
library. Without maps and notes, it was announced that riders would
have to be patient as the route was being worked out on the fly. But
no problem. The entire club runs on the goodwill of volunteers so the
occasional mishap is only to be expected.

A meander to Nonsuch Park started the day, We've tried this route
before but the weather scuppered it when an afternoon bridleway became
too muddy and forced a retreat. Today, we had all four seasons during
the ride but the recent dry spell meant that the off road sections
were still fine. However, a protracted puncture stop resulted in the
wet riders not getting to the Woodman pub for lunch until 2pm.

As a knock-on effect, the late lunch meant that popular opinion
favoured the quickest route home. That means we can still try the
afternoon stretch of this particular route on another day. It's a
shame because in fine weather, the view as you crest the Epsom Downs
is spectacular and the remainder of the route from there is virtually
all downhill. We'll have to go for 3rd time lucky!

15 riders, 30 miles. See the pix on Flickr at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157606018002969
or
http://tinyurl.com/5f9mql

As relayed by Mark W.

===

NEW PHOTOS

We now have pix for the Derby Day ride:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pollardshillcyclists/sets/72157605942391690
or
http://tinyurl.com/5k6wr8

There are also some fantastic new images from last week's PHC+ ride.

===

THE FUTURE OF THE PHC+

Earlier this year, an impromptu meeting in the yard of the George pub
at London Bridge saw the addition of a monthly longer and faster ride
to our schedule under the "PHC+" banner. It's something that we'd been
asked about many times and I finally felt that the time was right and
a show of hands agreed with me. However, they've not been very well
attended and on each occasion an alternative regular ride has been set
up at the last minute. Without access to a show of hands, I'd like to
ask the list if we should reverse the situation? I propose that we
only schedule regular rides but that any member is free to offer an
alternative PHC+ style ride on any day. The ride would need to start
from a railway station or at the library and the leader should give at
least 10 days notice so that I have time to prepare the details and
put it on the website.

Can interested parties please let me know their thoughts?

===

PHONECALLS

Apologies to those who called me late last night or early this
morning. I wasn't able to get your calls in time. Normal service has
resumed....

===

NEXT WEEK

This might be our last ever scheduled PHC+ ride? We're heading to
Dorking and then down to Brighton. A lot of the route will be tangled
up in the Coast to Coast charity ride. We tangled with this a bit last
year and it looks like a nice event with a steady stream of riders
making their way to the coast. Unlike the overcrowded London to
Brighton ride of mid-June, the train companies are quite happy to
bring you home, with your bike. We'll ride at a nice steady pace and
aim for fish and chips on the beach. 9:30am at the library. Almost
certainly all on roads.

Those who don't fancy the miles needn't be left out. Laurence has
offered to meet riders at Horley station at 10:45 for an 11am
departure, following much of the same route. We'll all try to meet up
at some point, hopefully for the big swoop into Brighton together.
Full details are on the website but I should stress that everyone
needs to buy a return to Brighton (not Horley) as that's where you'll
be returning from. Please organise yourselves for the Group Save and
definitely be in the queue for the tickets at 10am. Those arriving
after this time won't be leaving enough time to get tickets and get to
the platform. 10am outside East Croydon by the CEX shop.

Mark
PHC Co-ordinator
07711 688189

http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk