London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

The London to Brighton Veteran Car Run ride I did last year was one of my favourite rides of 2008:

http://www.londonfgss.com/thread12197.html

Lewisham Cyclists are organising another group ride down this year--it's on the 1st of November. I'd recommend the meeting point at 8:15am at East Croydon station. I don't think it's on their web-site yet, but will no doubt be soon. Here's some bumph:

However, I won't stay with the group but instead ride down to Brighton FAST and non-stop. I reckon that this is the best way of doing this. Most of the cars can only manage a top speed of about 15mph, so that you keep overtaking them if you can go faster than them.

You have to take some care around some of them (most of them can't really brake or only brake veeery slowly) and they jump all the red traffic lights. The other motorists tend to be very aware of this and take appropriate care. Watch out for the steam engine ones. :)

The route that this ride takes will be signposted very well and you don't need a map, route sheet, or GPS to find your way. It's also my favourite route to Brighton--very flat and takes the least hilly approach to Brighton, via Clayton Hill (the cars can't really climb steeper hills). A23 for a good bit and then various other good roads, with little car traffic. The only thing to watch out for is various other less old cars whose owners want to join in the fun and do the route for a bit. There was a 30s sports car last year that seemed like a total menace. However, they're all driven attentively and the mood is glorious. Lots of people cheering by the roadside and friendly drivers.

I did East Croydon to Brighton in 2 hours and 45 minutes last year and aim to beat that time this year. (I wasn't quite sure what to do in Crawley, where many of the cars stop for a break, and dawdled around for a bit.)

No list needed, just turn up and go. It's a blast if the weather's good. It was beautiful last year and it took me days to come down off the buzz.

:-0

Sounds good...

If i'm free I would like to do this.
Would prefer to ride in a group though if others are interested

I would be up

for this... Anyone want to go fancy dress, vintage tweedy sorta thing?

Not me. :)

Lycra and differential gears all the way.

If I'm free and the group is very small sounds good, but I would like as much as possible to stick with the cars. Will see.

I can picture it now....
A lycra'd up German hooligan, cackling maniacally, while smoking an endless procession of defenceless old cars ;-)

Honestly, it's great fun.

It took me about a week the last time around to come down from the emotional high.

That said, for me the weather plays a major part in this one. It's such a visual ride. If it rains, I'll do it anyway, but for this one rain would definitely be a fun dampener. I'm not normally a fairweather cyclist, but for this one I insist on it.

If it's glorious like last year, and as sunny on the seafront as last year, it's just utterly, utterly brilliant.

Definitely!

Also need to check my diary (ie: ask wife for permission).

I'd be after a steady ride and a good few beers in Brighton naturally.

I'll be up for this if the weather's reasonable (I don't do over 12mph winds)... and my ragged perineum buffs up in time. Like braker said - would be nice to make it a group? So if Oliver's flying solo, may I be so bold...

1. braker
2. joe smith
3. mc_nebula
4. bobby dids
5. rab

There will be two groups going from Lewisham Cyclists--their fast group will set a decent pace as far as I know. You can meet up with them at Cutty Sark Gardens at 7:15am,
Forest Hill station forecourt at 7:45am, or outside East Croydon station at 8:15am. See OP.

I'm hoping that someone as fast as or a lot faster than me will do it. There was a group of four roadies last year, too. I can't remember their club, though. I overtook them near Gatwick while they were waiting for one of their number to fix a puncture.

Subject to weather, this ride looks perfect to me. I love the route down to Brighton, but have never followed the cars.

I'm in Forest Hill so can join there (if I'm up in time). Not sure how fast I'll be - it's been a long time since that Dun Run when I raced two thirds of the way, and most of my riding is more pootly these days.

Quite up for this, might even be able to give the Mercian Tom Crowther an airing.

I remember you were telling me about this ride, Oliver. I will try to make it, not too keen on the early start though, but it sounds like a fun ride.

Sounds good, I'm definitely up for this ride.

1. braker ....looks like i'll be bikeless until late November
2. joe smith
3. mc_nebula
4. bobby dids
5. rab

Er? What happened?

Ok, I'm well up for doing this, but I'm not up for a fast sprint to brighton. As I understand it, the cars go along at around 15mph. Anyone want to join me on a sedate cruise down there?

I'm seriously torn here, do I gently cruise down, or dust off the old road bike and blast down, either way, i'll be there!

Planned sale of current bike, and new build behind schedule.

My knee is fucked and I'll be on 68". Be happy to keep you company. I also suffer from a medical condition that means I need to consume yeast and hops on a bi-hourly basis. Sound ok?

My dad does this thing in a 1902 Delahaye. He would love it if I dooed it too, like on a bike'an dat. I've done it twice in the ride and this year it'll be a blast riding with y'all. (Ps. I don't actually talk this way! Just DRUNK!)

Ps. I live in Brighton so if any of you need a place to crash.................you can't do so at mine!

(you can really)

Me and my brother are up for this (weather permitting).

I've only ever done short distances on my fixie so will be a first. Although I may bottle it and try to find a geared bike from somewhere.

see you at east croydon oliver ,was a great day out last year hope the weathers good

Added to the calendar. Feel free to edit.

Cheers, hippy. No edits required.

Edit: I can't edit the calendar, anyway, or at least couldn't the last time I tried.

People doing this fixed or geared?

I'm doing it geared, but the route is flat and it's very doable fixed.

I'm up for this one. Gears or fixed it is great day out.

Yeh I'm thinking geared if we're going for quick time.

How are people getting back... riding?

I may well be up for this

I can probably add you to the calendar if you PM me your google account email.

Don't have a Google mail account--I'd have to get one first. I will if it helps to have more people maintaining the calendar.

at present i'm going fixed, rather be geared though so i'm on the lookout for a bike...

Was this that chance bargain Mercian you were telling me about? Either way, leave that shit at home if it's geared. Man up! :D

I really like the idea of this ride, but it's the day after Muddy Hell and a 8.15 start might be a bit early on the expected hangover. Maybe i'll lie in a bit and catch a train a bit of the way down and join in halfway, or is that too much cheating?

I think I'll use whichever bike's the cleanest, got to reprazent with all those old cars around.

Got a new geared ride sorted. Nothing gonna stop me now. >25mph or STFU

I'd be really tempted to bring the cruiser to fit in with the relaxed theme of the day, probably end up bring the old geared Raleigh though.

I might come along. It's nearly on my birthday.

Anyone know where a train back arrives? Don't think my knees would get me both ways.

To anyone not sure about riding fixed, I've done a hilly charity ride to Hove several times on my fix without too much effort and I'm a bit of an old shuffler.

Think most of the trains back to London go to Victoria

Yes, also a couple to London Bridge. Trains every fifteen minutes, and bike carriage is relatively easy.

I'm in for this, probably on my fixed. Could be interesting as I'm away for a week Beijing til the before this!

Cheer on the antiques of automotive engineering as they embark on another epic journey

Sunday 1 November 2009

Start: Hyde Park, London

Finish: Madeira Drive, Brighton

This is definitely one for car lovers. Owners of cars manufactured before 1905 are invited to participate in this annual run from London to Brighton, everybody else is invited to come and watch. Less of a race and more of an endurance test, the grand old machines and their drivers will attempt to cover the 60 miles to the coast, setting off in pairs from Hyde Park in commemoration of the introduction of the 14 mile per hour speed limit in 1896.
Decide whether you want to get up early and watch the cars leave from Hyde Park, or greet them in Brighton at a more civilised hour, then call us for tips on where to find the best views and details of the other activities talking place over the weekend.

I'm in, fixed.

See you guys at east croyden?

Yep!

Yep! (as long as the weather is dry)
Anyone riding down from N.London?

I'll be joining Lewisham Cyclists from Cutty Sark Gardens--see OP.