Author Topic: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009  (Read 19953 times)

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #50 on: 23 September, 2009, 11:42:23 pm »
"forests of azure"

What bollocks.

Snow, Oxford Chavs, a dash past the cafe I was slavvering over, crampon hills, some Mac-using starey man forcing cakes down your throat at 3:00 in the morning.

That's your ride, that is.




 ;)
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #51 on: 24 September, 2009, 07:15:42 am »
Anyone else?.
Yes please, can I put my name down.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #52 on: 24 September, 2009, 09:31:21 am »
some Mac-using starey man forcing cakes down your throat at 3:00 in the morning.

It took a minute for the penny to drop.

 ;D

Quite excellent cakes too. The best cake stop of my year!  :thumbsup:
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #53 on: 24 September, 2009, 12:23:21 pm »
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).

Train tickets booked  :thumbsup:

I may be in some trouble with Helen because it's a "significant" birthday for her on the Monday and I shall be in Italy from the Sunday (plus away Friday night and, presumably, knackered on Saturday night).



Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #54 on: 28 September, 2009, 07:54:34 pm »
I reckon this could be a go.  I can take the Friday off and take a leisurely spin up to Oxford for the off at midnight.
I will ride home again in the morning so that should make it a good distance.
I will even get the Schmidt out and the IQ Fly - first time on the titanium steed  ;D

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #55 on: 02 October, 2009, 08:24:09 pm »
I should point out that my train leaves Paddington at 0730, so we need to maintain just over 12mph average to allow time for the tea stop and breakfast. This is harder than it sounds when you experience the full horror of

THE CHILTERNS
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #56 on: 03 October, 2009, 12:41:13 am »
If your Chilterns are getting to you, just ride out the saddle for a little while.

(oh,  and they are actually Chalfonts  ;) )
It is simpler than it looks.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #57 on: 03 October, 2009, 08:22:47 am »
We ended up at the wrong Chalfont last time.  Stupid GPS.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #58 on: 03 October, 2009, 02:48:55 pm »
My train gets into Oxford at 22.14 (from memory) so I'd be up for an earlier start if it makes it easier to meet London trains.
I'm aware I was a bit of a drag last time  ;)


rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #59 on: 03 October, 2009, 09:01:44 pm »
Route for newbies:

Gmaps Pedometer

Pretty flat for the first 20 miles, and there's usually a tailwind.  Then there are three beastly hills, although with  recovery miles in between.  After the halfway stop it's slightly lumpy, but apart from the grind up to Harefield and Welders Lane past the youth hostel, it's flat or slightly downhill all the way into London (if you count Holland Park Ave up to Notting Hill Gate as a hill, this is not the ride for you  ;)).
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #60 on: 04 October, 2009, 08:17:53 pm »
The first time I rode a bike again after a  break of 7 or 8 years (c1985) I rode up Holland Park Avenue got off the bike and my legs buckled beneath me. It'll always be a hill to me.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #61 on: 11 October, 2009, 12:27:56 pm »
Weather forecast OK at the moment - maybe a tad chilly.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #62 on: 12 October, 2009, 06:07:37 pm »
Update: now 4 deg C overnight.  Not *quite* as cold as March's run, but time to test out your winter gear.  A generally helpful northerly wind.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #63 on: 12 October, 2009, 06:09:46 pm »
Oh come on RZ - be sensible, leave off the forecasts until at least Wed evening! Otherwise I'll be repacking every flipping night...

(just saw a -ve temp on the forecast for the midlands tonight - first this autumn :-/ )
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #64 on: 12 October, 2009, 08:43:57 pm »
Oh come on RZ - be sensible, leave off the forecasts until at least Wed evening! Otherwise I'll be repacking every flipping night...


 ;D ;D ;D

Yes Roger 'Fish' Zilla

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #65 on: 12 October, 2009, 10:37:48 pm »
The first time I rode a bike again after a  break of 7 or 8 years (c1985) I rode up Holland Park Avenue got off the bike and my legs buckled beneath me. It'll always be a hill to me.

After failing to keep up with Roger on the hills when I did the ride earlier in the year, I agree that Holland Park Avenue is quite formidable especially early in the morning when you've just ridden 60 miles faster than you're used to.
I'm still up for an earlier start if that suits people's departure times from London Village. Equally, I've got the route in my GPS (which seems to work properly  ;) ) so if you need to drop me, I can find my own way to a Fullers pub Euston.

My target is actually to ride up the bastard steep hill Smalldean Lane- the only tarmac hill that I've walked up.


Jaded

  • The Codfather
  • Formerly known as Jaded
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #66 on: 12 October, 2009, 11:16:26 pm »
Holland Park Avenue was a complete pussy compared with being told there was no fat bastard breakfast available at the cafe of my dreams* and that we'd have to eat cardboard at Paddington Station.

*A cafe that does a fat bastard breakfast.
It is simpler than it looks.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #67 on: 13 October, 2009, 12:03:40 am »
I'm still up for an earlier start if that suits people's departure times from London Village.
I booked my place on the last train ages ago

Holland Park Avenue was a complete pussy compared with being told there was no fat bastard breakfast available at the cafe of my dreams* and that we'd have to eat cardboard at Paddington Station.

*A cafe that does a fat bastard breakfast.
I think we've found one this time

Andrij

  • Андрій
  • Ερασιτεχνικός μισάνθρωπος
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #68 on: 13 October, 2009, 09:03:34 am »
Anyone else on the 22:48 out of Paddinton?  Due to arrive in Oxford at 23:49.
;D  Andrij.  I pronounce you Complete and Utter GIT   :thumbsup:

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #69 on: 13 October, 2009, 09:10:10 am »
Dearest RZ:
Given my slightly precarious lower-limb mid-joint tendon situation, to cut down the miles I'm thinking of meeting y'awl at Chinoor (probably where the road from Thame comes in, unless there is need for shelter!).

If this will be a right pain-in-the- , do say, and I'll try something sensible like getting the train to Oxford.

Love Matty.
Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #70 on: 13 October, 2009, 06:27:16 pm »
Chinnor will be fine - about 0130, usually.

You do realise you're missing the easy flat bit and just doing the well-'ard bit?
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

mattc

  • n.b. have grown beard since photo taken
    • Didcot Audaxes
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #71 on: 13 October, 2009, 06:31:23 pm »
Don't worry - home-Chinoor is pretty pan-flat. Probably a vicious cold cross-wind if I'm really lucky.
I had considered meeting you at t'top of first hill (so I could walk up it unobserved).

Has never ridden RAAM
---------
No.11  Because of the great host of those who dislike the least appearance of "swank " when they travel the roads and lanes. - From Kuklos' 39 Articles

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #72 on: 13 October, 2009, 08:02:45 pm »
Anyone else on the 22:48 out of Paddinton?  Due to arrive in Oxford at 23:49.
I'll be on the 2248 although I've just remembered I haven't booked the bike on. Anyone know whether it's necessary ?

rogerzilla

  • When n+1 gets out of hand
Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #73 on: 13 October, 2009, 08:03:21 pm »
Nah...not at that time.

Where's this cafe?  Do you have a postcode?

EDIT: got it.  Will it definitely be open?  6am would be ideal.
Hard work sometimes pays off in the end, but laziness ALWAYS pays off NOW.

Re: 16th October: FNRttS (Oxford to London night ride) final edition for 2009
« Reply #74 on: 13 October, 2009, 08:29:57 pm »
Nah...not at that time.

Where's this cafe?  Do you have a postcode?

EDIT: got it.  Will it definitely be open?  6am would be ideal.
630. A bit tight for your train eh ?