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London Fixed Gear and Single-Speed is a community of fixed gear and single-speed cyclists.
@|³|MA3K
10 Days to go, may as well slot this in here:
My standard disclaimer:
A few things to read before you go:
Check over your bike - Make sure it is roadworthy
-Check your tyres for wear and glass/flints/sharp objects
-Pump up the tyres(correctly inflated tyres puncture less)
-Check your lights and batteries
-Check for loose bolts
-Oil the chain
If you are not mechanically competent, get a friend to help you.
You have 10 days days to check over your machine.
** Prepare for self-sufficiency **
-Bring a spare tube and tube changing tools
-Bring some basic tools
-Bring spare batteries for your lights
(for the way home)
-Bring warm clothes
-Bring a rainjacket
-Bring a Fully Charged Mobile
-Bring a mapbook/gps
**Sustenance **
water** Beer**(we will stop occasionally near shops etc, but you need to have some nibbles so that you don't hit the wall when we are in the middle of nowhere)
Riding in groups
Also, if you are not used to riding in groups, watch out for those riding with you.
Check that it is safe before overtaking, turning, track-sliding, wheelies, 180's, whatever.
Brakless
If you want to come brakless,(as I will be) you introduce an extra element of risk for those riding with you.
Unless you really(really) know how to control your bike under pressure don't show-off too much in the pack and either get to the front or right to the back on climbs and descents.
** Help out, sound off about hazards and if people have been dropped of the back**
Usually if we are riding the first person over a nasty bump or hidden grate, sudden drop, glass, whatever will let those immediately following them now about it by shouting or pointing.
I will shout my loudest if I come across an imminent hazard, my voice, loud as it is doesn't carry all the way to the back.
So if you hear about it from the front, pass it back.
Conversely if you see people being dropped off the back, at the lights or because they are slow or having some mechanical difficulties, pass it forward so the people leading the ride know and can take steps to either wait up, slow down or go back and help them out.
** Get other peoples mobile numbers**
You can collect these in either the numbers thread or at the beginning of the ride, worth having in case you get lost off the back(or front).
Take a few minutes to check out the route
http://www.bikemap.net/route/299411
Be sensible
Do not bring arcane or speciality equipment that needs non-standard tools or esoteric knowledge in order to sort out failures and malfunctions.
Of course if you can change a 650 tub at the side of the road in under ten minutes and have all the tools and glues, be my guest.
Special note for Circle Line ride
Because the route is so short(22km) and makes a tight circuitous route of mostly central London, you have to be able to fix your punctures/breakdowns really quickly so we don't have 100 or so people waiting on the side of the road. The ride cannot wait more than 5 or so minutes(which is ample time for a tube change).
There will be a few rally-points which I will explain on the night but for worst-case scenarios please ensure you know how you are going to get home should your bike totally fail.
Please read the above advice carefully
Cleaned-out, correctly inflated tyres and riding sensibly would have prevented a large majority of punctures previously experienced on some forum rides.