Search results for:

Wicked ride and great company. Much credit to those who laid on the route, weather, full moon, werewolf protection, poppadoms and field mice.

I'm now hugely looking forward to Thursday's overnighter to Southend (and maybe its more genteel pace) even the weather even seems to be coming right.

Best wishes to your friend Jonny - hope it all heals quickly and doesn't dent her cycling confidence.

Hopefully still in - aiming for 6:45 at Liv St. Hoping for full moon illumination as I'm on the commuting lights after last week's cateye fail. Des: 07939 520953

In for next week..

1. clintsmoker
   
2. jonny
   
3. kx.001
   
4. Ved
   
5. shootthebreeze
   
6. Balmain
   
   

Great ride last night - cheers all.

Great ride and excellent company, good to meet some from the forum. My lanterne rouge positioning on each hill was consistent if nothing else, it'll be a long time before I manage that course fixed and finish the same evening. Even perversely enjoyed the rain on the way back to Chiswick - dumping wet kit after a ride always makes you feel you've put the effort in. Nice rolling back with you Guy, hopefully catch you in Richmond Park some time.

1. clintsmoker SKHA (Sean Kelly Hardman Award)
   
2. Ved
   
3. andyp
   
4. mikec ( Lamborghini crushing maniac )
   
5. purple_mj ; SKHA (with a spare front light ftw)
   
6. jonny SKHA
   
7. Sam (my lucky number and hopefully 3rd time lucky that I do this ride!)
   
8. shootthebreeze SKHA
   
9. kx.001
   
10. will
    
11. Balmain
    
    

I'm in but the thought of multiple Ditchlings has me leaning towards gears for the first outing. See you at Waterloo

Thanks Andy will let the legs make the choice tomorrow.

After reading the report on the last epic would like to come along if that's ok... Not sure fixed or geared - I can just about grind up Ditchling on 44x17, any feel for how these hills compare?

Oliver - sounds like a cool ride. Yes the goods lift was open on Friday, although I used the stairs just along the alley as getting 43 bikes up via the lift was taking some time. The Gatwick staff must be wondering what's going on with bikes arriving in the middle of the night two days running. Some wag has even put up one of those cycle route signs by the goods lift.

Next fnrttc is on Thurs April 9th, so if you avoid that weekend I'm in for your next foray.

+1 to what Moth said - great night for a ride if last night's one is anything to go by. If the body was willing I'd be up for a repeat. Enjoy the spin.

Nice ride again Oliver, even if I couldn't quite keep up. Will make a good overnighter. As you say no major hills, but my legs tell me we racked up a bit of climbing overall. 68/70 GI is fine in case anyone is wondering. You've picked your day well: 18mph headwind on Friday night, 10mph tailwind for Saturday. I'm seriously considering gears.

Complete twat of a guard at Brighton, he enjoyed turning us away. But fair play the guy who changed the tickets and thought it was daft and to the lady at Hove who gave us the nod through the gate even if it was against policy. Have a good ride Saturday, I'll make the next one.

Oliver, I'm on for the recce. See you at HPC 10am

Hopefully will make it, but will post one way or the other in the morning so you know. If you are taking the fnrttc route its pretty flat, Kingston Hill was the probably the biggest climb. Link here if its helpful:

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/FNRttC-Aug-08-Shoreham

Oliver, are you still doing the recce tomorrow morning, would it be ok to tag along if my day frees up as seems likely?

Not my ride, but just flagging up that the Friday night rides to the coast are starting up again on March 13th to Brighton. Full list of dates and destinations for 2009 on the attached pdf if I've done it right.

Did a few last year - highly recommended; easy pace, superbly organised, no one gets dropped or lost. Midnight start Hyde Park Corner, Gatwick coffee stop, Ditchling, breakfast in Brighton then train (or ride) back. Anything from 20 to 80 riders, usually a few fixed.

Need to register so they know the numbers, if you're interested drop an email with a mobile number to Simon Legg on fnrttc@yahoo.co.uk.

Went to the London loads of times - propping up the bar stools on the veranda was a regular Saturday pastime. I was out there on an expat deal so the company stumped up for our rent and chipped in with a 'hardship' allowance. Got sent out there to look after Bundaberg rum, unbelievable deal.

Oliver - excellent ride, thanks for the routing and company. Shame to have missed the other guys. Feeling it today though, fixed and Ditchling still isn't a great combination, but hopefully there will be a fitness payback.

Weather looks decent for next Friday, I'm wavering but may leave it for the FNRTTC lot on March 13th - will decide later in the week. Not wanting to hijack your organisation at all, but a 10pm start means you meet a lot of post pub boy racer traffic out in the burbs, whereas midnight from Hyde Park seems to miss most of the traffic - just a thought.

Crispin - no, not Australian. Think this came up a few months back last time I posted; 4 years in Datchett St Balmain. Down at the east end, near the ferry. Top location, still think about buying the place one day.

Deepest condolences. Like many others I don't know Eilidh, but our paths most likely crossed on the road somewhere. Step lightly, stay free.... RIP

aserota - first dibs fine, have pm'd you my details.

I have a 59cm Sun Solo that's too big for me. Frame is in pretty good condition; some scratches, but no dents. Headset and stem seem ok, not sure what is worth re-using from the rest - one of the wheels seems ok. Only cost me £11, so free if you want to pick up from Chiswick.

Shit - I've been wondering about this since yesterday but haven't found anything about it online until now. Poor guy. Was lapping in the opposite direction (clockwise) at the same time, as I was going past Pembroke Lodge for some reason the idea of checking out the sight line to St Pauls occurred and I pulled off. Just after that there was some sort of commotion up ahead and in the next few mins sirens all over the place. I rode by maybe 10 mins later and was expecting to see the remnants of an accident with a deer (they were very close to the road that afternoon), unfortunately not. Spoke to the Police, but got a non-committal response - fair enough, but have had a bad feeling about it since. It was on the flat/slightly up-hill straight stretch a couple of hundred meters along from Richmond Gate, difficult to know what could have happened without anything else being involved, its not a fast stretch - slightly up hill and you've usually lost all your speed on the roundabout. Lots of cars about though so there must have been witnesses. Am pretty sure it was a geared Monoc, although there were a couple of fixed lapping as well.

Two minutes later got into a massive row with some guy tailgating me on the way down towards Roehampton gate - he then did some insane piece of overtaking before having to slam on the brakes thanks to the very obvious traffic jam immediately ahead. As I pulled alongside to overtake the window came down and his opening gambit was to call me a 'four eyed bastard' - absolutely wound up to the hilt. Given the events half a mile back I wasn't in the most stable frame of mind either and a heated exchange ensued before I eventually rode off.

Started out as a beautiful afternoon with Richmond park looking at it best - one hour later... Condolences to the Monoc rider.

Took it very easy going across town today, but still got buzzed by a souped up Astra full of chavs in Essex on the way back from the folks place tonight - same kind of thing; tailgated, this time they pull alongside, and you get called a 'fucking cunt'. Very unnerving. Its a minority sure, but there are a lot of pricks on the road.

Lived there for two, Darling Street!

Datchett St for me - off Darling St down towards the ferry. Great spot. Old sandstone cottage which I wanted to buy but a lack of cash got in the way. Worth a fortune now. Bought my first bike for years there and couldn't get up the hill from the ferry. The shame...

Balmain the Sydney suburb - lived there for four years, still not sure why I left.

Brilliant ride - the sea of twinkling lights through central London and an almost wobbling bridge won't be forgotten in a hurry. Thanks to whoever organised it. I'm the guy who bumped into a few of you at the Crabtree the other night so thought I had to come along after such a sociable introduction. The Friday Brighton night ride, Ditchling at 6am and no sleep wasn't the ideal preparation though. There were only two of us fixed on that ride, so walking the Beacon wasn't an option in terms of credibility. By coincidence, the other was a veteran of a couple of previous LFGSS rides who was gutted at missing out on the Bridges foray, but had a pre-booked ticket to Hull for Saturday afternoon.

A night ride to Brighton wouldn't be that difficult to manage, Even Rapha managed it (sort of). The key seems to be to have a few people who know the route, use back and front markers and stop every now and then to regroup. Not that different from Saturday. An easy pace is best as nothing is open for breakfast until about 7am anyway. With a midnight start the timing is about right. We also did a half way coffee stop at Gatwick which gets you out of the cold for a bit. I'm in for the first one - hills are way easier at night

You are meant to register for the monthly Friday rides, but you don't have to be a member of anything. Its just to make sure he doesn't lose anyone in the middle of nowhere which seems fair enough. Apparently they have been running for 3 years, I've done about five this year, and the numbers have hit 60 or 70 a couple of times with no problems regrouping and keeping it together. Maybe worth signing up for the March ride to see how they go.

Joe - Monday evening should be ok, give me a call and see if we can sort out a time. 07939 520953

Des

Blue Sun Solo (Nottingham - Raleigh?) - originally bought from ebay as a first fixed conversion, but too big and has been sitting in the yard for a year. Would rather see it get used.

Frame in good condition, no dents, some minor scratching, but good for its age. Seat tube 59cm c/t, top tube 58cm cc. Ok looking front tyre and wheel, rear looks a bit crap. Headset seems fine, bb has some play. Sturmey Archer 9cm stem. Rubbish brakes set up and and new bar tape needed. IMO would make a good hack conversion, (or keep the 5 gear set up).

Paid the princely sum of £10.76, yours for £11 donation to whatever charity suits.

Pick up from Chiswick, tyres are flat at the moment, will check to see if there is a puncture. I rode it here from Camden, so should be ok.
Des