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I will not post a route beforehand, since where we go will depend on the strength and inclination of whoever turns up, but I have a number of possibilities in mind. From Amersham I intend to head northwest towards the Dunstable Downs and/or Ivinghoe beacon

Fox,

   I haven't measured the distances, but I'd guess at 30 - 40 miles depending where we go. As to how hilly, you can trust me not to tackle anything steep this Saturday. As I said above (see quote) I can adapt the route according to the strength of the riders.

A bump for my own little project.

Chiltern Ride - Next Saturday 29th October, Amersham station 10am

Although I didn't say this specifically in my recent post above, I hope this is going to be a fixed gear ride.

Better late than never, I hope.

I mention above 'the older rider' - Jeff is 70.

Did they obey the regulation about the "Gentleman" staying behind his pacer? John & Stan are pretty well matched on scratch, that looks more like a 2-up team than a GP des Gentlemen pairing.

You're quite right in what you say, but I can't answer your question because Woody was off so early that he'd already finished well before I arrived.

Just as a matter of interest, Jeff and Woody had both ridden the Johnny Helms Memorial two up the week before, Jeff towed by Paul Holdsworth and Woody by Stan again. The result was similar: the Hounslow pair taking 5th place on standard with W &S taking sixth, just over a minute down on standard.

Jeff said he got better shelter from Wouter - although he's no wider than Paul, he's quite a bit taller.

Clearly, neither of these events really gave John a level playing field. His early start must have been a big handicap since it was a lot colder early on.

There is a picture, but it won't load at the moment - I'll try later.

This is nothing much to do with single speed, but when anyone who has posted on the forum (even if only occasionally) wins something, I think it's worth mentioning.

This is my report for the local papers.

Redmon Grand Prix des Gentlemen – 16th October 2011.

The president of the Hounslow and District Wheelers has just demonstrated that his role is not just ceremonial. Last Sunday (16th October) Jeff Marshall, partnered by Wouter Sybrandy, won the Redmon Grand Prix des Gentlemen for the second year in succession.

This event is an end of season classic which attracts a high quality field. The formula is that a veteran (or ‘gentleman’) is paced by a younger faster rider and the result is decided on veterans’ standard (i.e. a handicap by age); so a competitor should be as old as possible but still capable of following his pacers wheel closely at speed. Additionally, negotiating skill is helpful in order to obtain the services of a good pacer.

With a full field, and as last year’s winner, Jeff carried the prestigious no. 120 on his back and must have felt under pressure to produce a good ride. By contrast, Wouter, the winner the previous day of his event in the Rudy Project Time Trial Competition, could face the start time keeper with serenity; his main task was to make sure he didn’t drop his ‘gentleman’.

The 15 mile course starts just south of Dorking with a fast stretch of the southbound A24 and the turns onto the undulating country lane from Newdigate back towards Dorking, making it much harder to follow a pacer. The photo, taken about half a mile before the finish, shows the stress on the older rider.

John Woodburn is a prolific winner of veterans’ prizes and may have been seen as the favourite here. However he was disadvantaged by an early start when the temperature was still low.  “How did you get such a fast pacer?”  Jeff was able to point out to Woody that Wouter had started his career with the Hounslow and still retains his second claim membership.

 Wouter commented “We worked pretty well together – Jeff did call for me to slow a couple of times”. Jeff said “I was on the rivet, I must have asked him to ease off at least twenty times”.

Result:

Veterans’ Standard:

• Jeff Marshall (Hounslow) / Wouter Sybrandy (Signa Sport) 38mins. 21secs. Vets’ Plus 10 minutes 21 seconds.

• D. Hitchcock/ J. McLaughlin (North Hants RC) 39.26, Vets plus 9.39.

• John Woodburn (VC Meudon)/Stan Maciak (Didcot Phoenix) 40.47, Vets Plus 9.30.

Actual Time:

• Chris Yates (East Grinstead CC)/ Conal Yates (In GearQuickvit) 35 mins.16secs.
  

Thanks for the message.

I hope to be able to come, although I can't be certain yet.

Can I suggest a possible variation to the route which might make the ride a bit more inviting for single gear riders.
From Marlow, take the road through Lane End to Stokenchurch. This is a hard climb, but does not involve anything like the ascent to Christmas Common on the other road. From Stokenchurch take the A40 to Wheatley. This may sound silly, but in fact the old A40 is completely by passed by the M40 and is almost empty of traffic. Just before Wheatley there is a slightly worrying section when it is necessary to negotiate the roundabout where traffic is coming off the motorway for the M40 service area, but this is the only real difficulty with the route.
After going through Wheatley village, it is possible to cross the main road by a bridge and use the cycle path on the North side of the main road which goes all the way to Headington.
I think this route is quicker, although a bit less picturesque, and so it's handy to know it in case of bad conditions, failing daylight, dislike of steep hills etc.

In general I'm opposed to 'dumbing down' rides by taking out hills, but if that's the only to get people to leave their 'summer bikes' in the shed then I so be it. In this case the Stokenchurch route is probably slightly higher, but the climb is more spread out.

As you know, for my part I don't much mind which way I go because if I have to walk up a hill, I'll just walk.

So:

1. Bernie
   2. Balmain
   3. OLC
   4. Dumps
   5. Clubman
   

Well, it seems it was a reasonable idea, but I picked the wrong day/didn't give enough notice.

Let's try again in two weeks time, Saturday 29th October, same place/time.

I'll post again to confirm nearer the day.

I'm flattered by the comments above about my fixed wheel riding, but I honestly don't think it's all that difficult to do a ride like this one on a single gear.

It cetainly would be difficult if it were necessary to avoid being dropped both uphill and down by others riding modern road bikes, but that wasn't how we were riding. In fact I think most riders would take a bit longer to do this ride fixed, but I doubt whether it is any more tiring. For me, there are limits to what I would try to do on fixed: training runs with others on gears and carrying luggage up mountains are both out, but for this sort of outing, as long as I'm not in a tearing hurry, I prefer fixed.

If you've read this far, have a look at Wayfarer's Saturday Chiltern Rides thread, where I have just posted a ride for this Saturday.

There seems to be a view that fixed is only suitable for riding in areas where there are no hills.

Come and disprove this.

If I was ever much of *grimpeur *then those days are long behind me. I will pick a route which will get us to the higher ground without any balls breaking steep climbs.

I will not post a route beforehand, since where we go will depend on the strength and inclination of whoever turns up, but I have a number of possibilities in mind. From Amersham I intend to head northwest towards the Dunstable Downs and/or Ivinghoe Beacon.

Let’s remember that any cycling on the road is potentially dangerous, and although I’ll try to pick safe roads you come along at your own risk. There will be some steepish descents, so effective brakes are essential.

I realise this is rather short notice, but the Autumn is pressing on, and I wanted to get this in.

Please post if you want to come.

Meet 10 am Amersham Station (Metropolitan Line).
Leave 10.15.

The Oxford contingent arrived without any difficulty.

Many thanks to Bernie for organising a great ride.

I hope to come.

That's a lot faster than me, currently.

Well, I did day I expected you to improve next year.

Since I'm here posting about Hippy's efforts, I'll post what I've just written about our 25. Sorry there's no single gear interest here, although our ladies winner says she intends to try training on fixed this winter. Her 4 hour 28 minute 100 earlier this year has filled her with enthusiasm to attack our ladies' 100 record which has stood at 4.26.10 for the past *forty *years.

Hounslow & District Wheelers Report.

Autumn Club 25 Mile Time Trial (25.9.2011)

Fresh from the Tour of Britain, Wouter Sybrandy was always likely to be the winner of the Hounslow Autumn Club 25. He duly came up to expectations with the fast time of 55 minutes 31 seconds.

However Nic Stagg and Paul Holdsworth (second and third) showed themselves to be at least on a similar level to the elite Sigma Sport rider by finishing within about one and two minutes of him. It should be remembered that most club riders do not even consider the possibility of a sub-hour ride on the tough West of Windsor course, and yet here we have a select group who are only concerned with how much under the hour they will be.

Rob Gilmour comfortably won the Veterans’ Standard prize, and an on form Jill Bartlett was best of the ladies with 1.11.38.

The handicap award to a promising ride by Andrew Caldwell, but perhaps the really outstanding achievement here was the skill of the handicapper, Martyn Roach, whose predictions were so accurate that six out of the thirteen Hounslow riders finished within the same minute on handicap time.

Apart from club members the event attracted a further thirteen private entries from members of other clubs. It was efficiently organised by Neil Ferrelly.
Wouter Sybrandy retains his second claim membership of the Hounslow & District Wheelers.

Result (leading places only):

1. Wouter Sybrandy 55.31
   
2. Nic Stagg 56.56
   
3. Paul Holdsworth 57.47
   
4. Rob Gilmour 1.02.06
   
5. Brent Skinner 1.04.48
   
6. Mark Silver 1.06.04
   
7. Dave George 1.07.02.
   

I do, but only in terms of national placings.

Have you considered aiming at the top 12 of the BBAR?

Speaking as some one who knows only too well the conditions under which you did your 240 mile first ever 12, I don't think this would be a stupid ambition.

By current TT standards you have youth on your side, and I'm pretty certain you will improve next year. However I think team support would be almost essential for this project - I'm not thinking of money from sponsorship, but the benefit to morale which would come from having other riders with you, and from the possibility of gaining team prizes. Experienced helpers can also be highly beneficial.

My own club's record of team wins in the BBAR, although even the most recent of these is now some time ago, is a good example. We worked very much on a team basis - our riders would train together and enter events together. Sometimes a rider would flog himself into the ground to try to get a team win. Have a look at the results in the back of the CTT handbook.

Good luck next year!

Chris, Rachael's surname is Przybylski.

Thanks Oliver. I did have doubts about the spelling, but all I had to go on was the start sheet - I went by the old proof reader's maxim 'Follow the copy even when it blows out of the window.'

I thought readers of this thread might like to see my press report for this event, particularly since Fast Eddy (see attached picture) came a very creditable fourth. It clearly wasn't a fast morning, so when considering the times, don't be misled by Nic's outstanding ride.

Incidentally, Nic is due to test he ability on fixed later this month when he goes for the Hounslow Club Hour record on Reading Track. The 29th is the date booked, so let's hope for a calm dry day.

Hounslow & District Wheelers Report – 19th September 2011.

**Hounslow & District Open 25. **

The Hounslow always tries to win its own open promotions, although in recent years the successes have not been quite as frequent as they were in the past.

  Last Sunday’s 25 saw the club back to its old ways with Nic Stagg carrying off the overall victory and leading the club to a team win with Rob Gilmour and Damian Poulter as the supporting counters.

It is clear that Nic pulled out something special on Sunday since his qualifying time was three minutes slower than the fastest man on the start sheet, Paul Mill of Team Edwardes-Elite Cycling who finished second. ‘I’d felt a bit sluggish during the week, but this morning I felt good all the way round’ he said after the result had been announced. However before the result was known there was tension, and although club members who had been marshalling assured him that he had had a small lead all the way round, Nic had to force himself to go to look at the result board when the times were put up. He came back crestfallen - ‘He’s done me by five seconds.’ His supporters found this hard to believe and went to check.

“No, Nic – you didn’t read it properly, you’ve done *54.*45, he’s done *55.*40, you’ve got it by 55 seconds.”

The Ladies prize went to Rachael Przybykski (Charlotteville), who improved her personal best by almost three minutes. This was only the third time trial she has ridden this year since her main interest is road racing, and she has already won the 2011 Crystal Palace Ladies Circuit League. This is another example of the maxim that to do well in time trials, you should ride road races.

The event was held on the Farnham-Alton course and attracted 80 entrants. It was efficiently organised by Bruce McMichael.

Result:

1. Nic Stagg ( Hounslow & District Wheelers) 54 minutes 45 seconds.
   
2. Paul Mill ( Team Edwardes-Elite Cycling) 55.40
   
3. Niall Digby (La Fuga –Sigma Sport) 56.18
   
4. Jonathan Lewis ( Charlotteville) 56.32.
   
   

Team: Hounslow – Nic Stagg, Rob Gilmour (58.59) and Damian Poulter (1.01.19).

Ladies:

1. Rachael Przybykski Charlotteville 1.05.58.
   
2. J. Wadsworth De Laune CC 1.06.20.
   

Hounslow & District Wheelers Report 6.9.2011.

**Crawley Wheelers Road Race **(21.8.2011)

Paul Holdsworth won the Crawley Wheelers 70 mile road race held on the Henfold Hill circuit last month.

Paul made a decision last winter that he would change his target for the 2011 season. For many years his main objective has been a high placing in the British Best All Rounder, the principal national time trial competition. However this has always necessitated riding a 12 hour event (aiming at around 270 miles in Paul’s case), but while this can be an exciting challenge it may eventually become sheer drudgery and cause loss of speed at the shorter distances.

The new policy has clearly had a good effect; there have been some good short distance results, but this road race victory shows that Paul Holdsworth really is still a contender.

“After 20 miles a three man break had gone up the road. I managed to get across to them and we were able to work well together – in fact we virtually rode a team time trial for the remaining 50 miles opening up a four minute lead over the bunch.

  On the last lap Richard Simmons (London Dynamo) attacked on the steep climb about two miles from the finish, opening a 50 yard gap. I worked with the other two (Marcus Bruton and Michael Brown) to get him back and we caught him with 200 yards to go. Although I don’t rate myself as a great sprinter, but knowing the others were tired, I thought it was the moment to seize the day and went for it. I was right.”

Result:
[]](http://www.surreyleague.co.uk/index.htm)Surrey Cycle Racing League. The UK's premier cycle racing league.

                                                   August 21, 2011 - Crawley       Wheelers - Henfold Hill - 2/3 - 70 miles
                             Pos
                 Name
                 Club/Team
                 Cat
                 Race #
                 Time
                             1
                 Paul Holdsworth
                 Hownslow & District


                             2
                 Marcus Brueton
                 Norwood Paragon CC


                             3
                 Michael Brown
                 Progressive Cycle Coaching


                             4
                 Richard Simmonds
                 London Dynamo



                             5
                 Jamie Pine
                 London Dynamo

                             6
                 James Wilson
                 BanjoCycles.com


                             7
                 Steve Salmon 
                 Bigfoot Bike Club


                             8
                 Charlie Fawke
                 Progressive Cycle Coaching


                             9
                 Stephen Broomfield
                 Addiscombe CC


                             10
                 Thomas Crouch
                 High Wycombe CC

Although the Surrey League has no direct connection with lfgss, I thought there might be some interest in the racing results of participants in the Hard Day Rides.

Paul has been a mainstay of these rides, and his success in this event is worth a mention.

I haven't committed myself yet to a 2012 ride, but it's a possibility. I believe anyone who comes along will get an insight into the traditional racing man's early season methods. I certainly know there are other ways of doing things, but I like the thought that the old method can still sometimes produce results.

you should be able to be pretty ambitious tomorrow - 250+? Good luck, anyway.

Having made a (lucky) accurate guess, I can't resist drawing attention to it.

I did about 180 miles. I won't be credited with all of them because, like Hippy, a significant amount of my mileage was done off course.

It is, in the end, always the responsibility of the rider to stay on the course, but in yesterday's event it was very difficult to do. Obviously one might blame the organisers, but I think they had a difficult task on their hands. There were two sets of unexpected one way traffic lights and the finishing circuit had to be moved - I believe this was arranged during the event. I think they did a good job under the difficult circumstances.

The course details were so complicated they made the mind boggle. I tried to follow it on the map, but I soon realised I'd never be able to retain 12 hours worth. Just as well I didn't lose too much sleep over it, because when we actually rode the course had been changed!

Matters were not helped by the way that in a marsh one place looks pretty much the same as the next: drainage ditches, windswept reeds and grass. Can be hard to remember whether you've been there on the previous lap or you've gone off course again.

I had hoped to get to 200, but bearing in mind that I had not intended to race at all this year, I'm reasonably satisfied. I believe Hippy has shown a real talent for these long distance events which should be developed in the future.

Good luck, hippy! Have a great ride!

I know it seems improbable, Oliver, and I'm not surprised you missed it, but I'm also riding.

I think it's flatter than the 24. The Camber and Ivychurch circuits are on the marshes and seem dead flat (but they may prove to be exposed to the wind). The other sections near Ashford certainly don't look mountainous.

Anyone doing the KCA 12hr in Kent?

Yes.

As you've probably noticed, I'm starting four minutes ahead of you.

I'm just riding to get to the finish for the sake of my club BAR, so you should go past me very quickly.

After your 24 (assuming you've recovered from it) you should be able to be pretty ambitious tomorrow - 250+? Good luck, anyway.

For those of you interested in equipment, I can say my only change for this event will be to use heavy tyres in the hope of avoiding punctures in the heavy rain which has been forecast. I did daydream for a couple of minutes about riding fixed, but I'd already abandoned the idea before seeing the weather forecast which includes strong winds as well as the rain.

Immediately below the handlebars and connected to the brake levers are rods which go into 'sleeves', which have clamp bolts ar the top. These clamp bolts can be used for brake adjustment (it's the only means of adjusting the front brake).

When lowering the bars the rods often reach the bottom of the sleeves and prevent the bars from going as low as is necessary. If this is the case remove the bars from the frame - the brake rods are attached - and hacksaw off the bottom couple of inches of both rods.

An example of what can be done on this type of machine is my Mum's ride from Wilderhope Youth Hostel to her home in Teddington, S.W. London in the 1930's.

She was not a club cyclist - her sport was Hockey - and she saw a bike just as a means of cheap transport. Her bike was a 'Dragonfly' roadster - this is not a make you will ever have heard of, and if it ever had any reputation it would have been for cheapness rather than quality. It had a 66" single freewheel, and its only concession to speed was that her dad had lowered the bars in the manner described above.

Wilderhope is near Shrewsbury, and her intention had been to stop for the night in Oxford - about 100 miles, which was fairly ambitious considering she was carrying luggage. Apparently they had a good tailwind which got them to Oxford fairly easily, but when they arrived the Hostel was full. My Mum was generally careful with money, and so rather than stay in a B&B and bearing in mind they didn't feel too bad, it was decided to ride home: about 150 miles in the day.

The Dragonfly is still rideable and is in my sister's possession, but it is like that wonderfully long lasting old axe which had had three new heads and seven new handles. Although my Mum was offered a number of other, better machines she always insisted on sticking to her old bike and continued using it until she gave up riding in her early eighties.

I never discovered who her companion was.

If you look at my Century Competition thread you will find some information on doing longish rides on this type of machine - a 'Dutch Bike' is essentially a light roadster.

I'd say that if you just picked up any old roadster (or Dutch Bike) at random and tried to do a long ride on it, you would suffer badly and vow never again to ride* any* bike further than the nearest corner shop.

It's necessary to apply a certain amount of knowledge to riding these bikes - just as it is for any type of machine, but I'd say that normally no one bothers much with roadsters.

Try the following before attempting a long trip:

1. Make sure the bike is in a reasonable state - bearings adjusted and lubricated, chain and sprockets not clapped out, brakes working and tyres pumped up hard (if possible to the maximum permitted pressure stated on the sidewall).

2. Get the best position you can (without radically altering the bike). Most people ride with the saddle too low: your leg should be almost straight when the pedal is at the bottom of its stroke.

Less obvious is that the handlebars can be lowered. Try putting them down as far as is possible, and then try riding holding them near the middle - that is, without the 'rise' of upturned roadster bars. If the lowest position proves too uncomfortable, raise the bars little by little until you get a position you can tolerate.

The importance of this is that a lower position will lessen the wind resistance, and improve weight distribution. Some one further up this thread mentions saddle soreness after riding one of these bikes - a lower position transfers weight from the saddle to the bars which will help this problem.

 If your bike has rod brakes it is usually necessary to shorten the rods below the handlebars, but this can be done in a few minutes using a junior hacksaw.

1. Consider changing to modern clipless pedals, or use toeclips and straps. Also consider using a narrower 'gel' saddle. Neither of these are essential, but both will help.

2. Get some miles in beforehand. If you're fit enough you can go far and fast on almost any bike, if you're unfit you'll struggle on the most extravagant carbon fibre masterpiece.