I don’t know of any cycling clubs who hold a regular ride on a Monday morning, so when a bank holiday comes around and the need for cycling kicks in, it can be difficult to find a group to ride with. Fortunately, Croydon is host to the large Addiscombe cycling club, a club with an insatiable need for rides to occupy its large membership base. Checking their rides forum yielded the Bank Holiday ride I sought.
The weekend’s miserable weather seemed to have ebbed, and clear skies and sunshine greeted me as I left home, making my way to Coulsdon South Rail Station, the common meeting point for Addiscombe rides. The roads were quiet and it was a pleasant ride over, interrupted only for the standard attempt on my life as a driver coming the other way cut across me on Brighton road into his driveway. “Didn’t you see me indicate?!” He retorts to my complaint. I wasn’t aware you could cut across a major road when you pleased as long as you indicated, but you learn something new every day. Anyway, expletives exchanged, I made it alive to the meeting point.
I arrived nice and early, and took a seat on a wall while I awaited the group’s arrival. Before anyone arrived, I observed a meet up between two drivers of company vans. Words are exchanged, and one driver heads off. Shortly after, the second makes his way out of the station, with his back door open, a full load visible inside. Now I’m no fan of white van drivers but no good could come from this so out I ran into the road waving desperately in hope he sees me in his rear-view mirror. The rescue mission is a success, and the back door closed. Crisis averted!
Having not contacted any of the group to let them know they could expect a new-comer this day, I wasn’t sure what sort of reception to expect. Two riders arrive, and cycle up to where I am. I ask if they would mind me joining their ride today. The reception is warm and encouraging, and introductions are made. More riders roll in and it isn’t long before ~20 riders are gathered. The clear skies have departed however, with dark clouds forming overhead that promise rain. We set off just after 9:30.
We followed the route of the Addiscombe club run, normally done on a Saturday morning. The route passes through redhill and down towards its southernmost point just after Charlwood, adjacent to Gatwick Airport. Sadly the usual cafe is closed for the holiday, and we continue on with empty bellies. The pace is fast, the route quite rolling with few hills. We average 18mph and all riders keep up, so there’s no stopping. The group keeps tight, two abreast and wheel-to-wheel. The group has a rotation system, riders rotating in an anti-clockwise direction so that each takes his turn at the front. This hadn’t been explained to me and perhaps took me an embarassingly long time to figure out why my conversations with the person on my left kept getting cut so short! This always seemed a shame as the riders were very friendly and chatty, but soon enough we would be side by side again to finish off the chat.
The route back took us up the infamous box hill. Box hill is sporting a fresh touch of tarmac ahead of the olympic road race, and the new surface is immaculate. The fitness of most of the group shines here, and I can barely keep the back riders in view as they launch themselves up the hill. We regroup at the top of the hill and enjoy a welcome albeit short break and off again back to Coulsdon, finishing with a coffee at caffe Nero.
Addiscombe cycling club proved to be as welcoming and friendly as their website promised. The club run takes place 9am Saturday mornings and splits into groups of different abilities, ranging from 15mph average riding up to 21mph. They also have regular Sunday and Wednesday rides and on the first Saturday of every month host thier liesurely “just for fun” ride where the pace is determined by the slowest rider and beginner’s can learn about riding as part of a group.
This is a fantastic group for rider’s who are looking for anything between moderately paced rides all the way up to racing speeds. Many thanks to the group for today’s ride.
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