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You're fine to fit new brakes.

You want to investigate 650b stuff like the Tektro 810A sidepulls (which have 61-78mm reach).

http://www.bikeparts.com/productinfo/Tektro-Sidepull-Brake61-78mm-reach-52715-89695.html

More info on 650b here: http://www.freewebs.com/650b/

Not suggesting you go 650b instead of 700c, just that the stuff built for 650b will solve your problem.

I didn't. My camera is with my wife somewhere in Florida this weekend I believe.

Roberto took loads though... hopefully we'll get to see those :)

We left at 9am, we arrived at 5pm-ish. So that would say 8 hours.

But we got lost a few times, took a detour through Redhill that added a big hill and a stack of miles, and we stopped loads. Basically it was a no-one left behind policy, so if things got out of hand we pulled over and re-grouped. But we couldn't speed off when the tail arrived as we would've rested and they wouldn't have. So there was a lot of sitting around, getting started, slowing down.

This is why the second half was a lot faster, we basically only did this twice on the second half, whereas the first half it happened so often that I couldn't even tell you how much we stopped.

It was all great fun though, a hell of a day out :)

Forever

And I punctured. Front one too. Slammed into a pothole and within 50m or so it was pretty obvious I'd killed my tube. Pretty lucky not to have killed my rims though. Velocity's are truly bombproof.

Mine are not just narrow but also squashed inside. I had custom insoles made, and they basically fill in any space below the feet so that every drop of downwards pressure is converted into power into the cranks. Can be a little tight fitting in hot weather after 30 minutes in the saddle (there's no space anyway, let alone any for the feet to expand into).

I love them though, I'd buy another pair of Sidi's without hesitation. And yeah, I'd get the insoles again too.

Bromance, wonderful.

It were right good fun.

A few wrong turns early on, and we moved way too slow whilst we were getting used to group riding, but the second half we flew down... though Ditchling Beacon was only mastered by a few people (I walked most of it).

An absolute blast though. It's a shame it was so bloody cold down in Brighton though. With nowhere near enough locks for the bikes, we ended up sitting outside the Fortune of War pub down on the beach freezing our collective asses of.

Anyone I met today, hi nice to have met you. A splendid bunch of people.

One tip for anyone else ever riding with Roberto though... don't sit on his wheel on a climb. The sod slowly creeps down gears (yes, he rode gears), by the time you realise what's happening you're turning the pedals so slow that you're fucked for the remainder of the hill.

Rattlebag Long may london fgss stay this way.

I give it until June ;)

It's early... I want my bed back.

Old fashioned is the way I do it ;)

You're being modern :)

Press shift at the same time as you click the link... or middle-click if you're using IE7, Firefox or a browser that supports tabbed browsing.

I'd rather you get the choice as to whether you want to open a new window or not... and you get that choice if I just leave the links alone.

Very nice.

I wish I'd known you were getting Araya rims. I procrastinated over buying Ambrosio and finally settled for Mavic's. But it's Araya's I wanted. Only a week too late... the rims are in the shop, the spokes cut... ah well.

Next time I need anything though, I'll ask you first :)

Heh, I can help too.

I'll bring some beer.

Stef_82 p.s is there anything else i should bring?

Wallet and keys? You'll need a drink at Brighton, and I'm guessing you want to get back into your home when you get back.

Has anyone even spared a thought as to how we're all getting back?

Shit... I'm bringing the smallest D-lock I have too. I want a drink when we get there.

docus Hmm, I'm unexpectedly free tomorrow and could make this... but I'll have a pretty mean hangover...

Fab, see you there tomorrow morning then!

I'm coming from Kew Bridge. Last night I was out drinking (and cycling) ;)

I'll have a backpack (not a mess bag), but as lightly loaded as possible. Which is basically the essential tools for any mishaps or punctures, spare tubes, food (some energy bar and gel things), wallet, mobile and shower-proof jacket.

Thankfully the backpack has compression straps so I'll be alright.

I had drafted a tool bag I wanted to have made, but unfortunately the guy who I asked to make it has a full build queue and I wouldn't have got it for a few months. It was going to hang the length of the top tube, the space where an old frame pump would've been.

I'm still undecided on helmet or cap... I wear it so seldom I barely think of it nowadays. But riding in a group of fixed riders, people unaccustomed to riding in groups... I think that when we get a little tired towards the end the chance of a an accident increase. I'll see how I feel tomorrow. Right now, I'd probably go with it, even though it is uncomfortable.

I think most of us are solo. We can just figure out according to the pace we're comfortable with, whether we're at the front, back or a broken tail chasing the pack.

I don't know, as I haven't spoken to Andy, but I think there will be quite a few people there tomorrow, most of whom are couriers and ex-couriers. If you turn up and feel intimidated or full of trepidation, seek me out (bright yellow bob jackson, red backpack of some description) and I'll say hi and break any ice that needs broken and introduce you to anyone else who has turned up already. That said, couriers aren't unapproachable... but as they'll mostly be with their buddies it is easier to wake up to the congregation of soloists.

Oh, if any of you have bottle holders, be sure to fit them and bring some liquid. Even if you're used to doing this mileage it's a good idea to lubricate along the way. You'll definitely be thankful of a supply of water at the top of the beacon at the end, even Turners hill will be a bitch by the time we get that far.

Adding you to the links... any help you need from me, just ask.

RPM hell, I'd ride the brooks naked..

See you there then!

Cyclopaedia on Kensington High Street are pretty friendly. Again with the lack of anything you'd want to buy (nothing 1/8, terrible tubes and tyres, etc), but were very friendly and helpful when I suffered the humiliation of a puncture that one day I didn't carry spares.

Dragons are more expensive, but have the benefit of having replaceable walking pads on the bottom. If you're going to be doing a lot of walking (in and out of buildings, stairs, whatever) and want real value for money then it is worth spending more.

Then you can just replace the bottoms of the shoe rather than the whole shoe. And whoever heard of the tops breaking?

So yeah, the couriers shoes would be scuffed, my Dominator 5's are going that way but when my Dominators lose the bottom I need new shoes, the couriers with Dragons simply replace the bottom and are off again.

You only need to have replaced the bottoms once to have saved money on the cost of a new pair.

Sidi's will last you years (providing you take care of them in winter and consider over-shoes in the really bad weather).

They look pretty normal, they fit incredibly well, they're MTB shoes so the cleats are recessed and you can walk in them.

Just good cycle shoes.

Kinda peaceful watching that.

it's how traffic should be, uninhibited and always flowing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjrEQaG5jPM