16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009

[mattc]

Cheap tickets available from FGW now - £6.75 London to Swindon, £4.05 Swindon to Oxford in case I'm feeling lazy.  Amazing.

For the London mob: London to Oxford train leaves Paddington at 2248 and arrives at 2349.  Cost is a poor student-friendly £3.60 and they really are available for that price.

Any idea why these fares aren't available to Didcot?

It's not important! I aim to make this ride anyway (injuries permitting).

EDIT: playing with destinations shows that even if travelling to Reading, it's cheaper to buy an Oxford ticket! Think that's my answer for getting home ...

[mattc]

What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?

Er...what the thread title says.

Er.... yeah but, do you just ride there and come back straight away?

The clue is in the first post - we'll end up at Paddington

(Londoners can do their own thing on arrival.)

Actually it's probably worth re-posting this bit:

The drill is that we start at midnight and roll into Paddington (or wherever) between 6.30 and 7.00, so it will be dark all the way but your lights only need to last 6 hours allowing for the stop.

[Tiger]

I have to bow out - in Paris.

[clarion]

Oxford to Paris ride?

[Gattopardo]

So how hilly is this?

Could aa gentleman use his 3 speed comuter cycle?

[Andrij]

Just bought my ticket from London - £4.

[DrBru]

Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??

[rogerzilla]

So how hilly is this?

Could aa gentleman use his 3 speed comuter cycle?

I did the first edition on a 3-speed, but not the usual wide-ratio - it's an AM medium-ratio, which only gives a 52" bottom gear.  I walked up Smalldean Lane for fear of breaking the handlebars or the frame.  The short answer is, however, no, not unless you're Alberto Contador-fit.  You don't want to drag a heavy bike up those hills.

[rogerzilla]

Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??

S'pose so 

[rogerzilla]

What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?

Er...what the thread title says.

Er.... yeah but, do you just ride there and come back straight away?

Well, I'm booked on the 0745 train home, I think.  Paddington is just the easiest option for breakfast, but I noticed a cafe in Acton and no doubt a bit of local knowledge could find somewhere better than The Upper Crust.

[kcass]

      Embassy Cafe - Notting Hill - London - W11 4BY


This is a proper builders caff - only open till 2 or 3 in the afternoon - no cafe lattes here.

Its between Shepherds Bush and Holland Park. I can check when it opens if you're interested

[rogerzilla]

Worth a try - if we're going well we could be there by 0615.

[Andrew Br]

if we're going well we could be there by 0615.

Don't forget that I'll (probably) be with you.........................

[DrBru]

Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??

Bums. Realised I will be in one of California or Germany that day
Next year then.

[L CC]

October 16th is my mother's birthday and my presence is requested there.

(I should have realised this, as it is an annual event that has been going on for some time ...  )

[rogerzilla]

Since before you were born, hopefully.

Road-runner is going to be the host with the most again, which is convenient since he lives exactly halfway between Oxford and Paddington stations 

[Andrew Br]

Since before you were born, hopefully.

Road-runner is going to be the host with the most again, which is convenient since he lives exactly halfway between Oxford and Paddington stations 

Best to go straight there and thus avoid the handing the bikes down the 30ft* wall ?


*There may be elements of exaggeration in this post.

[rogerzilla]

Best to go straight there and thus avoid the handing the bikes down the 30ft* wall ?

It would have been interesting to see the ambulanceman's face when we explained how one of us had broken a leg climbing down a wet retaining wall, with two touring bikes, at 3am.

Note to those thinking of riding: the wall is not part of the route, but it saved going back up a hill after we turned too early.

[kcass]

The Embassy Cafe, mentioned up thread, opens at 630 on Saturdays

off topic - I'm trying to insert an image and map. What do I do once I've got this [img][img] on the page

[Lycra Man]

I think I'm up for this, innit.

Got a bike, so got the means.
Got a dynamo, so got the endless light.
Train back to Aylesbury = £4.00
Can't see why not, so expect me to turn up.

Lycra Man

[Lycra Man]

Oh poop!

Turns out Lycra Woman has a prior engagement that weekend, so I am ruled out.

Can I book now for the next time?

Lycra Man

[rogerzilla]

Next one will probably be March, as the risk of ice has lessened by then.  Depressing, eh?  Four months of skidding and broken bones to come.

[Adam]

February/March is probably the most likely time for ice these days.  Last year I cycled to Whitstable in shorts and warm sunshine the weekend before Christmas.

[rogerzilla]

So far I think we have:

Me
Andrij
chocolatebike
mattc
Adam
kcass

and the man with the pinny on, road-runner, who may ride some of it.

Anyone else?  Forget the night.  Ride with us in forests of azure.  Out here on the perimeter there are no stars.  Out here we is stoned immaculate.

(with apologies to Jim Morrison).

[Jurek]

Anyone else?  

Myself is looking at this whilst stroking my chin in a strokey-beardy kind of way.

Which could mean me.

And possibly one other.

Watch this space....