Author Topic: Friday night Oxford-London, 17th August 2012 (Read 9094 times)

rogerzilla · « **on:** 02 July, 2012, 04:27:51 pm »

If the Dunwich Dynamo didn't give you a touch of the never-agains, here's the Friday Night Ride to the Smoke, "the warm one". These are run at new moons to avoid the FNRttC and also because we usually look at the sky out in the wilds and go "My God! It's full of stars!"

Leave Oxford railway station (warm concourse, toilets, amusing middle-class drunks) and ride to Paolo's Cafe* in Acton for breakfast. A couple of big hills and miles of flat stuff. Water meadows, mists, badger attacks, the spiritual experience of crossing 8 lanes of M25 at dawn and did I mention amusing drunks? Food stop at 24-hr Tesco after about 40 miles (comfy chairs in the cafe area, although you have to eat what you can buy off the shelves), buy one of these if you want a hot drink, it's ribbed for your pleasure.

Train tickets from London cost about the same as a Ginster's and a bottle of Frijj. Who's in?

*Paul isn't Italian but he's very friendly. New menu with options such as "The Scaffolder's Breakfast", which would slay anyone of a weak constitution.

Andrij · « **Reply #1 on:** 02 July, 2012, 04:33:21 pm »

Hmm... the night after I return from 3 weeks of cycling abroad...

I'm a 'maybe'; and I'll even buy a ticket this week. Worst case scenario, I'll try to join you for breakfast - sounds like "The Scaffolder's Breakfast" is my kind of challenge.

mattc · « **Reply #2 on:** 02 July, 2012, 04:43:25 pm »

Statistics say that something will get in the way of this ... but I hope to make it.

marcusjb · « **Reply #3 on:** 02 July, 2012, 04:47:18 pm »

I've yet to make one due to real life always having something in the way - but, so far, this is looking good for me - Brompton World Championships on the Sunday, so a Scaffolder's Breakfast sounds perfect.

I will be there.

PaulR · « **Reply #4 on:** 02 July, 2012, 05:01:51 pm »

Pretty much every ride I set my sights on these days ends up being impossible due to other commitments. But I will persevere and express my genuine intention to come on this ride. We'll be too late for the Perseids but will be heading back to the season of true astronomical night, with the sun actually properly below the northern horizon for a bit.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #5 on:** 02 July, 2012, 06:33:37 pm »

Is the ISS due over?

Feline · « **Reply #6 on:** 02 July, 2012, 06:42:51 pm »

According to my calendar this one is possible. I will need 2 working knees though, which I don't know whether I will have after a trip to the Sem Fed by tandem. Will trains be affected by the olympics?

rogerzilla · « **Reply #7 on:** 02 July, 2012, 06:51:01 pm »

Pretty unlikely at those times.

EDIT: just booked my tickets (get them while they're cheap) and all the usual times and prices are available.

Jaded · « **Reply #8 on:** 02 July, 2012, 06:51:53 pm »

Scotlandshire. Maybe later in the year.

Fab Foodie · « **Reply #9 on:** 02 July, 2012, 07:16:34 pm »

Will be returning from hols so unlikely

smurphboy · « **Reply #10 on:** 02 July, 2012, 11:00:22 pm »

I reckon I'm up for this.

What time do we meet at Oxford / arrive in that there London so I can buy tickets and therefore commit myself irreconcilably to this perilous course of action.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #11 on:** 02 July, 2012, 11:04:37 pm »

I think that’s a week after Wowbagger’s proposed alternative Dun Run.

I’ve pencilled this in. It was a pleasure to end a night ride close to home! Hopefully this time I’ll not lose you all just metres (I presume) from the cafe!

rogerzilla · « **Reply #12 on:** 03 July, 2012, 06:39:50 am »

Leave at midnight, arrive sometime after 6am. It's not a Dunwich Dynamo ride to exhaustion, or shouldn't be.

Jaded · « **Reply #13 on:** 03 July, 2012, 08:23:36 am »

You can make it a 200 if you start from my place.

PaulR · « **Reply #14 on:** 03 July, 2012, 10:19:51 am »

The ISS will have done a low pass at about 11pm but is not currently predicted to put in an appearance during the ride. Its orbit will, however, probably have been tweaked between now and the ride, so let's not give up hope.

smurphboy · « **Reply #15 on:** 03 July, 2012, 11:41:10 am »

I'm in. Tickets booked. I'm assuming there are none of the usual FGW related problems with getting a bike on a train this late at night?

Dinamo · « **Reply #16 on:** 03 July, 2012, 12:15:17 pm »

Quote from: smurphboy on 03 July, 2012, 11:41:10 am

I'm in. Tickets booked. I'm assuming there are none of the usual FGW related problems with getting a bike on a train this late at night?

I incurred no problems last October travelling from Bristol to Oxford via Didcot, although had bike booked for journey back from London.

Can't make this one, riding Blenheim Palace TT early on the Saturday morning !

Hope you all have a great ride & enjoy Paolo's Breakfast

rogerzilla · « **Reply #17 on:** 03 July, 2012, 06:47:10 pm »

Quote from: smurphboy on 03 July, 2012, 11:41:10 am

I'm in. Tickets booked. I'm assuming there are none of the usual FGW related problems with getting a bike on a train this late at night?

Frankly, they're glad to make any money on those late trains and they don't even check tickets (the barriers are all left open), let alone moan about bikes.

Jurek · « **Reply #18 on:** 03 July, 2012, 10:21:56 pm »

Sacrificial tix bought.

I plan to be on the 22:48 arriving at 23:56.

Lookin' fwd to a night of quick n' dirty in a bus shelter somewhere.

Anywhere.

Hope I can make it.

rogerzilla · « **Reply #19 on:** 09 July, 2012, 06:54:06 pm »

Bumping this because tickets tend to get more expensive when there's less than a month to go. I am on the 8am back, which I think is the 'Nam train and therefore often fuill of bikes. I shall therefore be Bromptonning.

CAMRAMan · « **Reply #20 on:** 09 July, 2012, 09:05:19 pm »

Are there any anal mudguard rules? What terrain is it by and large?

Any idea how easy it is to get to Marylebone from the finish?

Kim · « **Reply #21 on:** 09 July, 2012, 09:33:13 pm »

Tickets booked. It should be a nice warm dry run for a change.

AWL: No anal mudguard or luggage rules on this one, but your bike has to be impeccably clean

Terrain is mostly flat, apart from the hills. (Chinnor Hill is long, draggy and badger-infested, Smalldean Lane is short and ludicrously steep.)

There's usually a Paddington contingent, which will get you most of the way to Marylebone. And I'll be heading to Euston, which goes past it. Nothing too tricky navigation-wise, though I suggest arming yourself with some kind of map.

Jaded · « **Reply #22 on:** 09 July, 2012, 09:44:38 pm »

Quote from: A Warwickshire Lad on 09 July, 2012, 09:05:19 pm

Are there any anal mudguard rules? What terrain is it by and large?

Any idea how easy it is to get to Marylebone from the finish?

I think this depends on how dirty your anus becomes on a ride like this.

As Kim says, Paddington is a cinch, Marylebone a few blocks further.

Sergeant Pluck · « **Reply #23 on:** 09 July, 2012, 10:14:02 pm »

Quote from: Jurek on 03 July, 2012, 10:21:56 pm

I plan to be on the 22:48 arriving at 23:56.

Likewise.

Cudzoziemiec · « **Reply #24 on:** 09 July, 2012, 11:08:19 pm »

I already have a flask, the same type in fact...

Linked Events

Author Topic: Friday night Oxford-London, 17th August 2012 (Read 9094 times)