Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: Adam on 09 April, 2010, 01:31:34 pm

Title: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: Adam on 09 April, 2010, 01:31:34 pm
Seeing as we've now had 2 consecutive days of sunshine, now's the time to start thinking about some longer rides.

Several times over the last few years, the idea of doing a ride mirroring the M25 has arisen, most notably by Woollypigs, who managed to drag the concept out over 2 years! (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=9537.0).  ;)

However, I'm intending to do this in 1 day, starting from Dartford, by the bridge (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&channel=s&hl=en&q=dartford&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Dartford,+Kent,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.45168,0.245969&spn=0.007368,0.016544&z=16) at 8.30 am, with the intention of getting all the way round (hopefully without any traffic jams) in around 12-13 hours total.  It gets dark just before 10 pm by then, so lights may be needed at the very end, and/or the final journey home.   From the start point, it's only ½ mile from Dartford railway station where the trains go to London Bridge, Charing Cross  & Victoria.  It's also about 4 miles from Ebbsfleet International for the HS1 to St Pancras.

It'll be just under 150 miles, so it'll be a fairly sporty ride, rather than a FNRttC pace,  so I'm only expecting true hard core lunatics to want to come along.  I guess I should also add that I haven't done a recce of the complete route, and in a shameless piece of pilfering, it'll probably follow very closely the route that Woolly had worked out, shown here (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=399018), although there are a couple of tweaks, so in due course I will post a new route.

So, anyone else interested?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Wascally Weasel on 09 April, 2010, 01:41:43 pm
I might be - hoping to be back on the road long before then and will be looking for long rides to build back fitness.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Andrij on 09 April, 2010, 01:42:15 pm
Did someone call for lunatics?  ;D

Been wanting to do this ride for ages.  I'll confirm availability as soon as I can.
 
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Pippa on 09 April, 2010, 01:46:05 pm
Oh yes me please :D
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 09 April, 2010, 02:45:49 pm
Interested  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 09 April, 2010, 02:54:10 pm
An' anuvver  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Life of Brian on 09 April, 2010, 07:18:20 pm
Have not done any long riding for such a long time. Put me on the list, I will just have to get on a train for once to get to the start in time.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Tim Hall on 09 April, 2010, 07:45:38 pm
Yes please.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: rogerzilla on 09 April, 2010, 08:03:36 pm
What about starting near the M4/M25 interchange instead?  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Andrij on 09 April, 2010, 08:13:37 pm
What about starting near the M4/M25 interchange instead?  :)

Why start near the middle of the M25 when one can start at one of the ends?  ;)
 
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: kcass on 09 April, 2010, 09:30:23 pm
I'm in. Probably.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: toontra on 09 April, 2010, 10:21:55 pm
I would have liked to do this but will be away.  If this one goes well hopefully there will be a rerun at some stage.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 09 April, 2010, 10:26:06 pm
If we survive, then yes.  Another option, for another time, would be to do it as a night ride.  8)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: teethgrinder on 09 April, 2010, 10:35:08 pm
If we survive, then yes.  Another option, for another time, would be to do it as a night ride.  8)

Well, I see you're doing the daytime version very close to the summer solstice for maximum daylight.
How about 5th December ish for maximum darkness? :)



I did this about 18 years ago. Probably still got the map with the route pencilled on it somewhere, but it'll be out of date now and the route I took was over 200 miles. I wouldn't want to do it again. Grotty roads and tricky navigation is almost all I remember of it but there were a few OK bits. There are much nicer 150 mile rides to do IMO.
But I suppose you could argue that you shouldn't knock it till you've tried it. At least you'll have sat-nav. Maybe you'll come up with a better route than I did.
Not for me though, thanks. :hand:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 09 April, 2010, 10:50:11 pm
*gulp* Teethgrinder gives it a  :hand:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 09 April, 2010, 10:56:29 pm
*gulp* Teethgrinder gives it a  :hand:


Pull yourself together man!

(Eep!)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: teethgrinder on 09 April, 2010, 10:57:56 pm
*gulp* Teethgrinder gives it a  :hand:


It's only because if I was going to cycle 150 miles for fun, I don't think it's the best choice. I'd rather go to the seaside through Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk along quiet country lanes with pretty things to look at than urban sprawl with lots of traffic dodging.

I remember that my ride took me 17 hours. I only snacked and never stopped for a proper meal. I spent a lot of time looking at my map, stopping to think which was the right way and navigating busy junctions.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 09 April, 2010, 10:58:27 pm
*gulp* Teethgrinder gives it a  :hand:


Pull yourself together man!

(Eep!)

But it's been 18 years and he still remembers the bad bits  ;)

fun

There has been no suggestion of any "fun" on this ride  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Pippa on 09 April, 2010, 11:23:46 pm
There has been no suggestion of any "fun" on this ride  :)

There will be fun on this ride.

When we finish.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 10 April, 2010, 05:40:57 am
There has been no suggestion of any "fun" on this ride  :)

There will be fun on this ride.

When we finish.

Yup - the night life in Dartford awaits us.   ::-) :P
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Manotea on 10 April, 2010, 08:47:56 am
Sounds like a ride to do once, though as a West Londoner I would feel obliged to start at silly Oclock in the morning from the M4/M25 and stopping at Dartford for breakfast.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 10 April, 2010, 09:55:04 am
I'm tempted - I was intending doing this last year but found more interesting rides to do didn't get around to it.

I'm also from the west, which suggest either starting in the early hours and meeting at Dartford (are you going clockwise or anticlockwise?), or, alternatively, the Western contingent starts at the same time as the Eastern, and we race around London in a pursuit style  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 10 April, 2010, 10:53:25 am
Whilst I'd agree there's definitely more interesting and quiet rides to do - I think it's like Everest though - it just has to be done.

I'd picked Dartford as the starting point, partly because technically that's just about the start of the M25, and also because it's fairly easy to get to, with a wide variety of train links.  And purely from a selfish point of view, I can get to it in just over a hour from my house (using the empty HS1 which I like a lot), whilst the M4 junction would take longer.

The southern section is the hilliest, so I reckon it would be best to get them out of the way first, which is why we'll be going clockwise.  The steepest ascent is 12%, but it seems there's a 19% descent!!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 10 April, 2010, 01:06:29 pm
There has been no suggestion of any "fun" on this ride  :)

There will be fun on this ride.

When we finish.

I trust you'll be doing this on fixed?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: teethgrinder on 10 April, 2010, 08:07:13 pm
Whilst I'd agree there's definitely more interesting and quiet rides to do - I think it's like Everest though - it just has to be done.

Fair enough. I agree with that sentiment.

That's partly why I did it. But I'll still be thinking  :facepalm: about your ride. :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: rogerzilla on 11 April, 2010, 03:51:23 pm
So, realistically, what time would the M4 lot have to start, possibly from Iver railway station?

Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 11 April, 2010, 05:10:38 pm
Going clockwise (so we could meet up with the others and continue the circuit) I reckon it is about 120km - that's without plotting a real route, just pulling the route around in Mapsource to roughly follow the M25 to the wrong (north) side of the Dartford crossing. I'm not sure how much time would be lost getting across.

6 hours should be comfortably do-able at an audaxy-pace.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: rogerzilla on 11 April, 2010, 05:45:30 pm
Or we could go anti-clockwise, start at the same time and see them twice.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Manotea on 11 April, 2010, 09:10:18 pm
Or we could go anti-clockwise, start at the same time and see them twice.

Thats a good idea. Allows for a morning start. Elsewise we're looking at a middle of the night start. Last train from london arrives at Iver at 00:30 on Friday night. Either way is fine by me.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 14 April, 2010, 09:08:08 pm
Here's the route (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=118937) I've worked out.  Sadly, it's optimised for going clockwise, as the steepest ascent is around 12% but the steepest descent is 19%, so a bit harder if you're going the wrong way round.  ::-)

It's 149 miles and does involve the occasional cycle path or subway under a road (mainly to get around Waltham Cross), plus a footbridge over the M4.

Other than that, it's on roads, so no rough stuff.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Pippa on 20 April, 2010, 08:51:30 am
Oh bum.

It looks like I might have to go to Berlin on the weekend of this ride.

Depending on flight times and conference timetable, this might result in my absence from this ride  :'(

Hopefully I'll be able to take an early flight on Sunday rather than one on Saturday though....
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Wowbagger on 20 April, 2010, 02:12:23 pm
There has been no suggestion of any "fun" on this ride  :)

There will be fun on this ride.

When we finish.
:o :o :o :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: vorsprung on 20 April, 2010, 02:25:01 pm
To some people this is a joke


   Details Announced for New North Circular Sportive
 (http://www.cyclosport.org/article.aspx?id=1361)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: hellymedic on 20 April, 2010, 02:32:03 pm
To some people this is a joke


   Details Announced for New North Circular Sportive
 (http://www.cyclosport.org/article.aspx?id=1361)

To others, it appears to be in bad taste  :sick: :sick: :sick:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 20 April, 2010, 07:48:58 pm
Oh bum.

It looks like I might have to go to Berlin on the weekend of this ride.

Depending on flight times and conference timetable, this might result in my absence from this ride  :'(

Hopefully I'll be able to take an early flight on Sunday rather than one on Saturday though....


Oh no.   :(

However, it's perfectly possible there won't be any flights.  :P
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: rogerzilla on 20 April, 2010, 07:52:53 pm
To some people this is a joke


   Details Announced for New North Circular Sportive
 (http://www.cyclosport.org/article.aspx?id=1361)

Quote
the brutal rise up towards the Hanger Lane Gyratory

 ;D
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Manotea on 23 April, 2010, 11:45:53 am
Checking the calendar I see the ride coincides with The Rural South which is on my todo list, and so it occurs to me that I might wander round on May Bank Holiday weekend, day tbc, starting from the vicinity of Iver (M4/M25).

Edit:L Real life means no time for this now. Probably just as well.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 28 April, 2010, 07:30:15 pm
I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday (or I might just go to the seaside instead)!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 28 April, 2010, 08:32:30 pm
Registering a provisional interest
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 28 April, 2010, 09:08:22 pm
I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday (or I might just go to the seaside instead)!

Adam, I think a badge, epaulette or hat of some sort is in order for your stalwart efforts.
Personally, I'd opt for the day at the seaside - as I did yesterday.
Recommended.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 28 April, 2010, 09:11:23 pm
I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday

You are becoming Mr Leggbandage
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 28 April, 2010, 09:13:00 pm
I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday

You are becoming Mr Leggbandage

Its just a matter of patella bandaging.
No?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 28 April, 2010, 10:00:11 pm
I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday (or I might just go to the seaside instead)!

Adam, I think a badge, epaulette or hat of some sort is in order for your stalwart efforts.
Personally, I'd opt for the day at the seaside - as I did yesterday.
Recommended.

 ;D

I'll have to see if I can fit a bucket & spade into my jersey pockets.


I've done almost all of the northern section now, so if the weather perks up, I may go round the southern section from Dartford on Monday

You are becoming Mr Leggbandage

I'm not worthy. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FucbvoFFy0)  :P
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 29 April, 2010, 10:11:02 pm
Here's the route (http://bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=118937) I've worked out.  

I can't see it, I get an error message "You do not have permission to perform this operation"
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 30 April, 2010, 02:09:48 pm
Whoops, sorry - try again.

The course pins showing on the north-eastern section are due to a number of adjustments I've made.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 30 April, 2010, 05:54:43 pm
Got it now, thanks.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: woollypigs on 30 April, 2010, 06:27:35 pm
I have managed to get weekend off \o/

Now the question is do I do this ride on one go with you lot or split it up in two as my original idea was ?

EDIT : thanks for the extra work there Adam, now I know that bits of the route are ridable.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: rogerzilla on 09 May, 2010, 07:54:40 pm
Is this still on?  I only ask because, if it isn't, I'd rather run a FNRttS on the Friday.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 09 May, 2010, 09:07:20 pm
Yes, still intending to do this.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 10 May, 2010, 10:20:37 pm
Here's another  :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 10 May, 2010, 10:41:22 pm
I am intending to give it a go, but as it is 50% over any daily mileage I have done in living memory, I will be prepared to do an Oates should the need arise.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 10 May, 2010, 10:44:27 pm
I am intending to give it a go, but as it is 50% over any daily mileage I have done in living memory, I will be prepared to do an Oates should the need arise.

The ride lends itself well to doing 'an Oates', should the need arise.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 11 May, 2010, 07:03:47 pm
For at least 50% of the ride, we're normally no more than 2 miles away from a station, and for the entire southern section the furthest one is about 4 miles.  The only sparse section is around the M11 corridor when you could be about 8-9 miles away from a station.

Just tell me if you need to go for a walk.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 11 May, 2010, 08:06:49 pm

 The only sparse section is around the M11 corridor when you could be about 8-9 miles away from a station.


I would hope that one wouldn't be thinking of bailing out at that stage.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: woollypigs on 19 May, 2010, 02:53:36 pm
Just spotted this Pollards Hill Cyclists (http://www.pollardshillcyclists.org.uk/rides.html)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 19 May, 2010, 09:20:38 pm
Well that's not much fun - splitting a 160 mile into 6 bits!!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 31 May, 2010, 10:02:09 pm
Following an extensive weekend of route checking, I've made some minor tweaks, and the revised route is here (http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=137512).  148.62 miles with overall about 1 mile of climbing.  So at 1:148 that's a very shallow ride overall.  :P

Although there are some bits of unavoidable A roads, a good portion of the route is on very quiet roads, with some cracking ascents and descents, through some lovely countryside.  At times we do end up out of earshot of the M25, when all you'll hear is birdsong, the buzz of insects and the swish of your tyres.  At other times, we'll be right next to the M25, when you'll be able to play spot the traffic jam.  There are some short stretches of cycle path but they're good quality, and we even get to cycle on a bit of pavement!

If by next Saturday it looks like there'll be a lot of rain, there's no point in doing this ride, but assuming it's dry, start time will be 08.30 at Cotton Lane (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&ie=UTF8&ll=51.451453,0.24524&spn=0.004821,0.013765&z=17), just south of the Dartford Hilton next to the crossing.  As mentioned originally, I don't intend making prolonged stops, but I have earmarked a few nice pubs if required, as well as places for uploading/offloading supplies, but it would be sensible if you carry a reasonable amount of food/snacks to keep you going for a few hours.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 01 June, 2010, 10:52:02 am
May still be up for this, depending upon a few things happening this week and the weather.
My plan is to leave home (close to Basingstoke) in the early hours, ride the Northern section, and meet you after the crossing.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 01 June, 2010, 07:10:54 pm
Sounds good.  :thumbsup:

On that section, the only bits which might not be clear, are at Egham, where the route goes onto the pavement on the roundabout next to the A30 northbound, and then follows the footpath away from the road after going over the River Thames - it's actually an approved cycle route, although rather overgrown, as I had to remove some overhanging branches.  Also, after Datchet, on the B470, you have to go on the footpath bridge over the M4.  Finally, in Leavesden, there's another cycle path here (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&hl=en&q=leavesden&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Leavesden,+Watford,+Hertfordshire,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.698058,-0.408189&spn=0.009589,0.02753&z=16&layer=c&cbll=51.697928,-0.409342&panoid=3iTrE4Y1fQf4BB2tWpo9NA&cbp=12,22.39,,0,5).

My mobile no. is 0784 5986900 if you need it, or if anyone else has a problem.

The weather is now looking perfect for Saturday - high pressure, sunshine, 25°, light south-easterly breeze.  Better slap on the sun tan lotion.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 02 June, 2010, 09:49:28 am
Is this still on?  I only ask because, if it isn't, I'd rather run a FNRttS on the Friday.

Are you still intending riding from the West? I thought you'd pulled out, but see that was actually Manotea. If you are still up for an anti-clockwise bump-into-them-twice ride I can have a lie in and then meet you at Iver train station.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Ham on 02 June, 2010, 01:57:50 pm
Just seen this thread - I was only thinking about doing it a couple of days ago, I do an east-west side to side most days,  but I may not get a pass for Saturday. If I can, though, I'll be there
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 02 June, 2010, 09:39:00 pm
The more the merrier.  :thumbsup:

(Nice blog - I can sympathise re your pedals - I've done similar).
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Andrij on 03 June, 2010, 03:04:19 pm
I'll be catching the 07:43 from Woolwich Arsenal (starts at Charing X?), arriving at Stone Cross 08:15.  From there only a few minutes to the start.
 
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 03 June, 2010, 08:23:35 pm
Sadly, due to domestic / family circumstances I'm going to have to bow out of this one.
Meh!
I hope those of you who do it, enjoy it - it looks like a well nice, and thoroughly planned ride!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 03 June, 2010, 08:32:53 pm
Still up for this, as there doesn't seem to be a western contingent I'll go with my original plan of leaving at oh-my-god-o-clock, and riding the northern section to meet up at Dartford.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: scottlington on 03 June, 2010, 09:17:15 pm
The route proposed goes within 500m of my house... shame I signed up for the Rural South already otherwise I would have been up for this. Oh well - looks like you;ve got a fabulous day for it! Have a good ride all.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Martini on 04 June, 2010, 12:33:30 pm
Hello, I'm a newbie here, among all you experienced cyclists so be gentle with me...I'm only little.
Also, I only cycle in kilometres so would it be alright to join your ride for 140 miles or so..?
I collect my new bike from Halfords tonight.

Have a lovely day everyone,

 ;)

Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 04 June, 2010, 01:17:18 pm
Welcome to YACF!

I'm sure you'll be made very welcome.

So what bike are you buying?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Martini on 04 June, 2010, 01:52:26 pm
Hello Matt and thank you for your welcome.

Actually, I'm teasing a bit as I wanted to confirm my attendance with Adam - I post 'over there' (CC) mostly (but read this forum).
I'm not buying a bike but have a regulation Planet X sportive - full Ultegra etc,(which is a bit of a tussle for me as I have been a Campagnolo'gist' until now) a Look, a Veneto, commute on a Ridgeback Solo and also a steel Colnago. Like me, the other bikes are in various states of repair - the P-X is so comfortable, I'm sure it will gobble up the M25!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 04 June, 2010, 02:14:59 pm
Inexperienced??

Any time any place??

 ;D

Your picture doesn't do you justice.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 05 June, 2010, 02:32:13 am
About to leave home - see you all later!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 05 June, 2010, 03:00:55 pm
Had to abandon at Leatherhead. I was going to start slowing it down and we were already taking longer that was ideal. I was feeling dehydrated despite drinking loads.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Andrij on 05 June, 2010, 03:51:41 pm
Sorry to hear that. :(   Now I don't feel so bad for bailing as well.

Yes, it was hot, but I just couldn't climb today and just wouldn't have been able to keep up.

The short bit I cycled was lovely.  I hope we can try this again another day.
 
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 05 June, 2010, 04:29:32 pm
I'm home too - got in about half an hour ago.
The ride was far better than I expected (much more scenic in the non-audax sense of the word). It's definitely to be recommended. It was also really good putting faces to some of the names on here - and, as is to be expected, a great bunch of people to ride with.

I was a bit rushed at the start (some domestic stuff meant it was actually closer to 3 when I left, rather than the 2:30 I thought I was about to walk out of the door). A bit of Garmin shenanigins slowed me down around St Albans, so it was gone 8:30 when I got to the crossing, and 9:06 when I finally made it to the other side. I'd suggested to Adam and the others that they start and I'd catch up. Somehow I managed to shoot past them when they stopped for a convenience store break, so I then ended up waiting for them  :) I did spend the time usefully though, helping a nice young lady who was having trouble getting her tyre back on after replacing the tube. Unfortunately she wasn't going our way  :(

But, other than a very noisy (horn honking) and vocal motorist who was upset that we'd stopped as 2 rows of 2 at some lights we were turning right at, where he was turning left (so wasn't hindered at all by us), it was a lovely, if a bit warm, day out.

I think I got it easier than the others, managing to run off the first 100 miles in the cool of the night, rather than starting out as the day was heating up.

Edit: forgot to say - many thanks to Adam for arranging the route!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Martini on 06 June, 2010, 12:42:50 am
Yes thanks Adam - it was a good experience. Quite hot actually, but an enjoyable ride until Adam's penchant for lumpy bits and surprise follies began to take their toll.
I stink (nothing new there) I'm filthy (ditto) and I suppose I will go and have a shower. Left Brian heading for the pub as his train wasn't arriving for 25 mins...Adam and I sat on the packed HS1 train to St Pancras, where I decided to ride it back here rather than train it. Got to within 2kms before the rain.
Stair rods - still it cleaned all the road blast from the bike.
Nice to meet you too Matt - (strong boy!)
Stats roughly: 242kms in 10 hrs 15 mins.  2420 metres of climbing. (11, 562 calories burned - or exchanged for a variety of putrid sugary drinks from service stations en route  ;D)
I have some photos which might illustrate bits of the ride - but it wasn't a stop and snap ride.
Thank you all who made it out this morning - except the foaming moton in Egham. "Learn your highway code, it's supposed to be single file!" :sick:
(http://i50.tinypic.com/2moa4vq.jpg)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 06 June, 2010, 08:55:42 am

(http://i50.tinypic.com/2moa4vq.jpg)

Great pic  :thumbsup:

That wasn't at the start of the ride, was it? ;)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 06 June, 2010, 09:02:19 am
Well, it definitely was an experience!

A group of 5 of us, nicely coordinated on 3 Planet X Ti and 2 blue Ribbles, set off from Dartford Crossing just before 9 am, full of hope and enthusiasm, but gradually the heat & the hills took their toll, so we first lost Andrij and then Adrian.  With this route, there's just no getting away from the fact that if you want to stick fairly close to the M25, it will be undulating.  Also, at times, you end up going up a hill and then descending the other side, simply because there's no other safe road available.  I had made good use of bike hike though to try and ensure whichever road used was the easiest, if there were alternatives.  

Matt had the right idea of starting this early in the morning, and doing the Northern section first, but he's clearly a very strong rider, as he zoomed past where we'd stopped, quicker than I'd expected.  Initially our moving average was around 13.5 mph, but thanks to Brian's power-house pulling ability, we got back towards 15 mph average towards the end, so despite the stops, I was very pleased to have got back to the bridge just before 9.30 pm.  I think I'd recced about 60% of the route over the last month or so, and some other bits I vaguely knew the roads, but having to stop and double check the map certainly does slow you up.  Apart from Martin & Brian missing a turn, we only went off route once and added about an extra ½ mile overall.

At times I felt a bit exhausted and so had to resort to artificial stimulants, although I ignored one lot of energy drinks which were sugar free and only 60 calories - what's the point of that?  My stomach felt a bit iffy on the train back, but as I had chicken in black bean sauce waiting for me at home, I soon felt better.

Well done to everyone for your company and for your participation.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 06 June, 2010, 09:06:58 am
Well done chaps.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Jurek on 06 June, 2010, 09:09:55 am
^+1
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: woollypigs on 06 June, 2010, 11:19:40 am
I'm glad that you lot have done the reccy ride for me and tested it out. Now I just need to find a free weekend and do it over two days
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 06 June, 2010, 12:10:32 pm
Well done all  :) 242 km in 10:15 - way beyond my current endurance level I suspect so just as well I dropped out. Impressive.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Life of Brian on 07 June, 2010, 12:16:41 pm
Now as I have recovered it was a most enjoyable ride. Thanks Adam for finding a good route around the M25 and thanks to Martin for the picture and being good company on the ride. I found the last bit of the ride the hardest as usually the long rides finish at home so I know where I am. I am glad the last bit was a nice downhill section made it a lot easier.
I dont want another fissy sweet drink ever (or at least until my next long ride) I have not signed up for this months FNRttc yet.
Finishing a ride by train is never good as you have plenty of time to let those muscles get stiff. It was too far and late to ride home. Got in just after midnight just as it started to rain. The trian did keep me dry.


Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Sergeant Pluck on 07 June, 2010, 01:12:34 pm
242kms in 10 hrs 15 mins

Is that the overall time including stops?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 07 June, 2010, 01:30:50 pm
I'm not sure what they others managed, my ride was 307km in 13h15 (including stops), 11h49 moving.
About 100km of that (the southern leg) was ridden with the group, my extra distance was riding to/from the M25.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Martini on 07 June, 2010, 03:01:25 pm
Hello Sgt Pluck, that was rolling time - roughly. Brian and Adam pulled the pace up  - we luxuriated for too long at garages, 'The Coolings' (poshest garden centre we could lay our hands on..) and, if you're on a mission, then it is important to be disciplined about the stop / start bits... (Which is why I have trouble with cafés that serve an early morning 'sharpener' after a Saturday Night Ride!  ;D )
There are a few more pics here - but it wasn't that sort of ride - well, not after the first tea break anyway!

http://tinypic.com/a/244dj/4 (http://tinypic.com/a/244dj/4)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 07 June, 2010, 07:26:06 pm
We left Dartford at 08.40 and arrived back at 21.25, so 2½ hours of non cycling, which as Martin said, was too long for this sort of ride.

I'll be more disciplined next time.  :demon:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Pippa on 07 June, 2010, 07:55:34 pm
Next time?  :D

Based on the pace you lot kept, if I came along I would have to keep cycling non-stop with no breaks in order to finish not too far behind y'all  :-[
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: teethgrinder on 07 June, 2010, 07:58:02 pm

I'll be more disciplined next time.  :demon:

Why?
What's the rush?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 07 June, 2010, 08:19:23 pm
I can't speak for Adam on this, but riding at a good pace meant that the day worked out really well for me.

I was up before everyone else in the house - so it doesn't matter to the family if I left before 3am or before 8am as they wouldn't see me either way. They went to the beach for the day. I was back mid afternoon, fed, bathed, relaxed and feeling human again a couple of hours later with some tidying up of the house done.

When they walked in I had food ready and a nice family evening followed - a top result, a decent day out on the bike and some quality family time  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 07 June, 2010, 08:21:07 pm
 ;D

My train ticket back home was only valid for Saturday.  ;)

Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: MattH on 07 June, 2010, 08:58:23 pm
But you did have a bike with you...
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 12 August, 2010, 06:58:30 pm
{Thread resurrection}

Today I was wandering around London Zoo with my son, when my phone rang.  A young lady had got my number from this topic, after googling "Round M25 cycle rides" and was planning on copying this epic route for a charity ride in a couple of weeks.   :o

After giving her all my words of wisdom, such as "don't do it", I still hadn't put her off, although she may split it over a weekend, but I told her to register and let us know how she got on.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 29 August, 2010, 08:33:49 pm
Just had a conversation with Mel who's just completed the ride after splitting it into 2 days.  They suffered rain & strong winds, punctures and a flat battery in the GPS, so they'd got a bit lost.  I had to call her to tell her how to escape West Thurrock and get the crossing people to take them over the bridge.

Hopefully it won't have put them off cycling!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: woollypigs on 29 August, 2010, 08:44:27 pm
Top news, now I just have to do it don't I.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 29 August, 2010, 10:38:52 pm
Top news, now I just have to do it don't I.

You are not the only one
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 14 November, 2010, 03:01:30 pm
Funnily enough, in the last 2 weeks, I now had 3 different people ask me about this ride.

June 21st 2011 is the summer solstice, so either Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th would be the best days, and they don't clash with a FNRttC or Roger's Oxford to London rides.

So bookmark that weekend for maximum AAA* points.







* Adam's Amazing Adventures  © Aperitif
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adrian on 14 November, 2010, 03:04:13 pm
Funnily enough, in the last 2 weeks, I now had 3 different people ask me about this ride.

June 21st 2011 is the summer solstice, so either Saturday 25th or Sunday 26th would be the best days, and they don't clash with a FNRttC or Roger's Oxford to London rides.

So bookmark that weekend for maximum AAA* points.







* Adam's Amazing Adventures  © Aperitif

Sunday 26th is the day after my son's 18th. That really could be a good day to be out.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: Adam on 24 November, 2010, 02:53:25 pm
Sunday 26th is the day after my son's 18th. That really could be a good day to be out.


Mmm - on a Sunday, trains are a bit sparse to start with, although currently from London Bridge, there's a train at 07.38 getting into Dartford Rail at 08.19, meaning we could then look at an 08.30 departure from Dartford Bridge.  Once they publish the summer schedules, there may be earlier trains.  I'll put it in the calendar (once 2011 becomes available).
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June
Post by: StuAff on 24 November, 2010, 10:53:32 pm
Hmmm...fancy this. Intending to do an eight-day LeJOG at the end of May/beginning of June, should be good prep for this  ;D
Saturday would definitely be far easier for me than Sunday, earliest train I can get up to Dartford on a Sunday doesn't get in until just before 10, Saturday I can get there for 8 (with a 5am start....groan!).
Having read the reports of how some suffered in the heat of the day this time round (I would have done), how about running this with a Friday night start? Still options for refuelling & bailing out, plenty of trains home afterwards.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: Adam on 25 November, 2010, 05:45:19 am
At the time, I did also discuss doing this as a night ride.  Perhaps a better option might be to start Saturday night, so that then we arrive back late Sunday morning.  That would have the easiest traffic overall, although to be honest, it wasn't really an issue.

However, the major downside is that running it at night would mean for the first half until you reached Heathrow/the M4, the only place to get a train would mean a detour down to Horley, as for everywhere else on the southern half of the route on either a Saturday or Sunday morning, the trains don't start running until 6 - 6.30 am.  So there's no other bail out points.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: woollypigs on 25 November, 2010, 09:48:39 am
I'm still thinking about this, but the two days with a bit of camping in the middle is the plan. If I do it next year it is only 3-4 years after I had the idea :)
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: TimO on 25 November, 2010, 11:16:01 am
...If I do it next year it is only 3-4 years after I had the idea :)

You can't rush these things!

I still think I prefer your two day approach to doing it.  It's possible with the new red shiny bike I may be blindingly fast, but if the guys who did this back in June, were stopping for energy drinks, I know I'd be having problems!
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: StuAff on 25 November, 2010, 01:06:51 pm
At the time, I did also discuss doing this as a night ride.  Perhaps a better option might be to start Saturday night, so that then we arrive back late Sunday morning.  That would have the easiest traffic overall, although to be honest, it wasn't really an issue.

However, the major downside is that running it at night would mean for the first half until you reached Heathrow/the M4, the only place to get a train would mean a detour down to Horley, as for everywhere else on the southern half of the route on either a Saturday or Sunday morning, the trains don't start running until 6 - 6.30 am.  So there's no other bail out points.
True...no ideal time to run it, all the options have drawbacks.  An evening start might be a good compromise- say 7 or 8 pm. Time to make the last trains of the night on the southern half, not so long to wait for them on the northern part, cooler temperatures should make for easier going anyway.
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: StuAff on 15 October, 2011, 07:22:07 pm
Another resurrection: Paul Harding, the organiser of the attempted LeJOG in aid of the Royal British Legion I did this year, has had a familiar-sounding idea. Notwithstanding the multiple issues I had with that, as some of you well know, I thought 'hmmm, interesting'... Next year is the 30th anniversary of the Falklands War, and there will be commemorative events on the weekend of 16-17 June (ceasefire anniversary is 14th). The distance that the British forces marched over the course of the campaign is about the same as a lap of the M25. Paul's idea is to set off from Horse Guards Parade at 8am on the 16th, head out to the M25 (his route looks, unsurprisingly, very similar to Adam's), and go clockwise over the course of two days, about 100 on the first day & 70 on the second (with overnight accomodation), returning to HGP for whatever parade/ceremony is being held.  I have already pointed out both this thread and the possibility to do it in one day....
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: martint235 on 15 October, 2011, 07:26:31 pm
I'm not really sure yet what my charity ride will be for 2012 but it will be around the solstice for obvious reasons.

However, that said I am quite keen to do the M25 ride in a day as I've heard quite a bit about it. I may as well start bargaining for weekend passes for 2012 now!!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: Adam on 15 October, 2011, 09:13:20 pm
Events had conspired against me, to manage to organise it for this year.

Looking at the calendar, the summer solstice is 20/21st June.  So how about Saturday 23rd June?
Title: Re: Round & round the M25 - 5th June 2010
Post by: StuAff on 15 October, 2011, 10:03:42 pm
Events had conspired against me, to manage to organise it for this year.

Looking at the calendar, the summer solstice is 20/21st June.  So how about Saturday 23rd June?

Yay! :)

Paul commented on Facebook that  "I know its do-able in a day, but it would be a long day". As with his LeJOG, I'm not quite sure he gets the idea.....100 & then 70 miles over two days isn't exactly challenging to many in these online parts, and plenty of us (including myself) have done it in one without problems.