Author Topic: Friday Night Ride to the Smoke - 11th June (Read 5758 times)

rogerzilla · « **on:** 09 May, 2010, 06:56:20 pm »

As we no longer have road-runner's hospitality (unless we go via Slovakia, which is a bit much for one night), this will involve a roadside brew-up or the 24-hour Tesco at Loudwater. The latter makes the ride a lot easier, since we just bowl along the valley and miss two of the big climbs. Breakfast at Paulo's Cafe in Acton as usual.

For the completely uninitiated, we leave Oxford railway station at midnight and ride into London, getting to the cafe at about 6.30am.

Just to sell it a bit, it's a really good route, you don't often get to cruise en masse into central London for breakfast, you see some strange things in the small hours and it will probably be warm. Also ideal practice for the Dunwich Dynamo in July if you haven't done a night ride before.
Any interest?

(edited because I got the date wrong)

Adam · « **Reply #1 on:** 09 May, 2010, 10:19:46 pm »

Does that mean no Smalldean Lane?

rogerzilla · « **Reply #2 on:** 09 May, 2010, 10:25:11 pm »

Not unless you really, really want it.

Adam · « **Reply #3 on:** 09 May, 2010, 10:32:43 pm »

I'm really disappointed. Not.

I should be OK for this.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #4 on:** 13 May, 2010, 07:34:45 pm »

No-one else? It's unlikely to be the usual brass monkey conditions, and I might even carry the stove and the kettle

Adam · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 May, 2010, 07:59:29 pm »

I've had an enquiry from someone on CC and have passed on the news of no big hills, so I'll let you know if that swings the deal.

Edit: Why not also post it over there as well?

rogerzilla · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 May, 2010, 08:05:59 pm »

There's still Chinnor Hill, although it's never actually defeated me.

A quick profile on GMap Pedometer suggests that using the valley road into High Wycombe, and then on to Beaconsfield, is downhill nearly all the way.

PaulR · « **Reply #7 on:** 13 May, 2010, 08:12:03 pm »

May I put my name down provisionally please? It could be the first decent trip out for a 20" wheeled clown bike...

rogerzilla · « **Reply #8 on:** 13 May, 2010, 08:20:57 pm »

Sadly the Tesco cafe is closed at silly o'clock in the morning, although the store itself is open for supplies. Thermos flasks or a brew up are probably the only way to get a hot drink.

kcass · « **Reply #9 on:** 13 May, 2010, 10:11:38 pm »

I'm a maybe. We could always ride straight thro - the cafe opens at 5 or 530.

But I don't mind bringing a camping gas and stuff either

woollypigs · « **Reply #10 on:** 13 May, 2010, 10:21:09 pm »

Well if you can keep awake don't forget YAP&W pootle, 0 miles ... 12th of June

Adam · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 May, 2010, 10:06:12 am »

As well as myself, there will be 1 definite additional rider from Cycle Chat, possibly 2.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 May, 2010, 12:37:38 pm »

What would you prefer?

a) Straight through to the cafe for 5.30am
b) Roadside brew up (it is unlikely to be shivering cold)
c) Tesco (no hot drinks at that time, unless Nescafe have reintroduced self-heating coffee

)

Adam · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 May, 2010, 01:16:18 pm »

I'm quite happy with a stop at Tesco - assuming it's not closed off, I'm sure there won't be any objections if we sit in the cafe section.

Andrij · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 May, 2010, 07:04:53 pm »

Put me down as a 'maybe' for this ride, please.

PaulR · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 May, 2010, 08:48:57 am »

Quote from: PaulR on 13 May, 2010, 08:12:03 pm

May I put my name down provisionally please? It could be the first decent trip out for a 20" wheeled clown bike...

I'm now definitely available for this ride. It remains to be seen whether I can get my mitts on the clown bike in time for this.

mattc · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 May, 2010, 04:02:44 pm »

Quote from: rogerzilla on 16 May, 2010, 12:37:38 pm

What would you prefer?

a) Straight through to the cafe for 5.30am
b) Roadside brew up (it is unlikely to be shivering cold)
c) Tesco (no hot drinks at that time, unless Nescafe have reintroduced self-heating coffee )

c) Tesco
(especially if they have toilets) Could be useful for riders not as well prepared as they'd like to be. And will be warm if the weather is less mild than expected.

[I'm about 80% for this at the mo.]

rogerzilla · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 May, 2010, 06:41:39 pm »

OK, OK, it's on.

/goes to book train

I could do it on fixed, with no Smalldean.

EDIT: £12.00 for Swindon to Oxford and London to Swindon. Bargain

PaulR · « **Reply #18 on:** 23 May, 2010, 04:44:19 pm »

Clown bike is no longer available, it seems. I'm afraid I shall have to do this ride on a sensible bicycle.

kcass · « **Reply #19 on:** 26 May, 2010, 11:46:35 pm »

I don't think I can do this one. And not because there's no Smalldean Lane, although it won't be the same.

It is a lovely ride into London tho. Enjoy.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #20 on:** 27 May, 2010, 09:56:11 pm »

I have p1mped this on CC too.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #21 on:** 02 June, 2010, 10:04:26 pm »

Weather update: currently forecast to be hot, which means shorts all night

At this rate we won't even want a hot drink at High Wycombe.

I will probably use the 50s clubman, since I know I can (just) climb Chinnor Hill on it, and the rest of the time it's ideal.

PaulR · « **Reply #22 on:** 03 June, 2010, 11:18:26 am »

It's all looking good! I'll probably splash out for the £4 train journey from London at some point today. With a bit of luck I will have a new (geared) steed to put to the test on this ride.

Andrij · « **Reply #23 on:** 04 June, 2010, 01:33:34 pm »

£4 ticket procured. As the station couldn't sell me a £4 ticket I had to purchase it online — and pay a booking fee of £1. If I had used a credit card and asked for the ticket to be posted I think I could have pushed the 'extras' up to 3 times the ticket price!

Anyway, my train is due to arrive at 23:48.

Martin109 · « **Reply #24 on:** 04 June, 2010, 01:43:03 pm »

I think if yiou use First Great Western, there's no charge. But I might be wrong.