2013 for me is all about getting back to enjoying my racing and riding. I realised at the end of last year that it’s not BC points that make me happy – for me it’s all about getting out there and riding in as many different places as possible with as many different people as possible. Throw in a couple of races to make things interesting and it’s looking like a pretty sweet year.
Over the last summer I met a lot of great people on the road racing scene, a few of whom, local to Tunbridge Wells, had set up a group of riders who meet up early on Saturdays and Sunday mornings for group rides into Kent and Sussex. The group is completely informal, doesn’t have a name and rides different routes depending on what the riders want. It’s exactly how a bike club should be and on Sunday I met up with them for a quick fifty mile blast;
At four-thirty on Sunday morning the rain was lashing at the window – two hours later it was time to get up and get ready but the weather didn’t look a whole lot more inspiring. After ridding myself of any thoughts of staying in bed, I got some warm-but-not-too-warm gear on and ventured into the rain-soaked Kent scenery. We set off first for Cranbrook and then Tenterden with a few climbs mixed in to test the legs – I’m especially fond of the climb into Goudhurst that the Tour-de-France used in 2007.
After Tenterden our route took us to Benenden and along back lanes to Tunbridge Wells. The final big climb after Horsmonden finished just about everybody’s legs off for the day! The group works really well together no matter who turns up – whether theirs three or fifteen riders out it always just seems a pleasure to ride with the Tunbridge Wells based group.
Speaking of groups, we run our own from the Tribeca Sport shop! Every Saturday at 8 am the shop supports a group ride with the aim of getting both our race-team riders and local like minded amateur riders out for short blasts around the Kent and Sussex countryside. We tested the idea out last year, but this year we’ve committed to riding every Saturday. The rides have proved popular with local riders so far, and this weekend we took the chance to ride out with a couple of the race-team juniors.
Rob came out for his first time on a new bike and had a great time with the 21 mile loop that we chose – he’s going to be racing Duathlon, Triathlon and Cross in the coming year. Our race-team regular from last year, Kate, also joined us and kept up a fine pace on the hills around Penshurst, Ashurst and Groombridge. We set off just as the sun was rising and so enjoyed fantastic wintry views across the snowy fields and woodland that make up the countryside around our shop. My personal favourite spot is just after the climb up Grove road from Penshurst, which is always good, but in the chilly winter scenery its got to be one of the best spots in the country!
Feel free to get in touch with me about joining one of our group rides or just turn up. We ride at 8 am sharp so please be there at quarter to eight to insure you don’t get left behind! Rides for the time being will be approximately 90 minutes and no one gets left behind.
Glen runs THE.TRIBECA.SPORT.WØRKSHOP which is based at 28 London Road, Southborough, TN4 0QB – 01892 533 339 – glen@tribecasport.co.uk . The shop specialises in precision servicing, race prepping, 3D bike fitting and high quality bikes and equipment. Drop in, give us a call, visit our Facebook page or browse our website for more details. He also runs the shop race team and club as well as racing ‘cross, road and cross-country nationally.
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