WEC 2008

Black Pond

Tyre interface

1 Gadget Chain

If it’s the Black Pond ride then it must be the Silly Hat Ride!

See the silly hats

12 grimesters gathered at the Vic on a bright and sunny summer evening (despite the thread of rain). Astonishingly, Gadget arrived in long pants, Yes Gadget had longs! Yes Gadget who normally wears shorts in the depths of winter when icicles are hanging off any moist protuberance; He who sleeps in his nothings in paper thin sleeping bags in all weathers; He who wore a t shirt in sub zero temperatures in the alps! He who doesn’t feel the cold, wore longs on a hot summer ride. His excuse / reason for this was that, had it rained he would not be allowed in the house if he was really muddy. Sounds like he was on a promise that would only be fulfilled if he arrived clean. Clearly rain was out of the question, so to avoid a betty swollocks scenario Gadget switched to shorts. Tiddler shocked us all with a new bike that did appear to resemble a mountain bike.

Once Gadget has changed and he had finished pumping his front tyre which had an unfixable slow puncture, we were all heading off down from the Vic towards Ewell. Munch took a risk with the authorities by leading the ride through Bourne Hall Park to avoid the one way system. After the Upper Mill bridge Gadget had to pump again! More pfaffing as he soon realised that he had been pumping the wrong tyre (so we stopped to pump again). There were no casualties in the bomb holes in Chessington, the dry ground helping to stabilise and increase confidence in the riders. Unfortunately this did not seem to help the Earl when negotiating a gate soon after the bomb holes and an embarrassing TF was incurred. Any embarrassment suffered by this encounter with mother earth was soon dissipated with an encounter with the Ladies running past the group photo stop. Munch touted his running race and Granty, armed with a camera charmed a lady into taking the group photo. This was successful despite the Tadworth Tiddler marking his excitement quite obvious by the stiring in his lycra!

More pumping by Gadget (and the Tiddler we suspect) and we were off again and were soon at Black Pond for the PP stop and more pumping from Gadget. Gadget and the Guvnor rode down the railway bridge although the GuvNor had to use his arm as a stabiliser causing a nasty graze.

More pumping in Ashstead (CO2 deployed) and the race was on for the pub. Once in the Rat there was much talk of planning cycling weekends and light manufacturing.

A curry was pre arranged and the GuvNor and Gadget were sent as an advanced party to Mr Alis. However Gadget, who obviously had to pump again managed to break his pump causing a considerable delay in his arrival at the curry house. The GuvNor was therefore left alone in the curry house and had to sweet talk Mr Ali into staying open beyond 11pm in expectation of a large party of maybe a dozen or more hungry riders.

The Guvnor got off to a good start by discussing the pros and cons of collaboration of ethnic restaurants in the Epsom Downs area. This of course included the advantages of bulk buying high, cost low quantity items, as well as a common policy on toilet paper. However the strengths of the free market including competition between businesses clearly had the advantage over consortiums. Gadget arrived just as the Guvnors conversation on the free market economy amongst Indian Mafiosi controlled Deli based gags was drying up. Maybe this would herald the arrival of the rest of the party? Gadget did his best to fill the time, but the waiters were soon standing in the road looking for bike lights like alien hunters in the deep west of the USA! We were partially saved by the late arrival of a fat man and his daughter who between them ordered the entire menu and hence appeased the chef. Gadget and the GuvNor were starting to suspect that the rest had ordered another half of Pride in the Rat, so we resorted to a call to the Rat land line to take the orders of the stragglers by phone. The dawdlers’ dinner was on the table when they eventually did arrive looking all funny and giggly (maybe more than a cheeky half was slipped in). Mr Ali was not amused!

More pumping for Gadget and a late but enjoyable night was brought to an end.

The GuvNor