Friday night Oxford-London, 17th August 2012

[Dibdib]

What the hell, I've

a) been thinking of upping my game a bit, and

b) wanting to meet some more of you lot

for ages. Count me in, if you'll have me. What do I need to do (apart from be there at midnight, of course)?

[rogerzilla]

Have a bike that will manage 100km (which is exactly what it is, although I never intended it that way).  It is too cold at night to mess about fixing flats*, gears that won't shift** and loose mudguards, so it would be appreciated if everyone would bring reliable kit, even if that means doing what I did on the Dun Run and riding a frankenfixie with Marathon Plus tyres.

There are some HARD hills that would trouble a TdF peloton, although the majority of the route mileage is actually flat.

Bale-out options involve waiting for the first train of the morning, which is about 0550 from Beaconsfield and probably considerably later from little places like Seer Green or Saunderton.  Better options than on the Dun Run, but you might die of hypothermia before the station opens.


* four last time, including a complete tyre disintegration
** OK, that was me once

[Dibdib]

Have a bike that will manage 100km (which is exactly what it is, although I never intended it that way).  It is too cold at night to mess about fixing flats*, gears that won't shift** and loose mudguards, so it would be appreciated if everyone would bring reliable kit, even if that means doing what I did on the Dun Run and riding a frankenfixie with Marathon Plus tyres.

There are some HARD hills that would trouble a TdF peloton, although the majority of the route mileage is actually flat.

Bale-out options involve waiting for the first train of the morning, which is about 0550 from Beaconsfield and probably considerably later from little places like Seer Green or Saunderton.  Better options than on the Dun Run, but you might die of hypothermia before the station opens.


* four last time, including a complete tyre disintegration
** OK, that was me once

Understood. The bike's always been solid for me, and I might have to catch up a bit after some of the really steep stuff but I've seen the route a few posts up and a total of 500m climbing should be ok.

[Jurek]

Have a bike that will manage 100km (which is exactly what it is, although I never intended it that way).  It is too cold at night to mess about fixing flats*, gears that won't shift** and loose mudguards, so it would be appreciated if everyone would bring reliable kit, even if that means doing what I did on the Dun Run and riding a frankenfixie with Marathon Plus tyres.

There are some HARD hills that would trouble a TdF peloton, although the majority of the route mileage is actually flat.

Bale-out options involve waiting for the first train of the morning, which is about 0550 from Beaconsfield and probably considerably later from little places like Seer Green or Saunderton.  Better options than on the Dun Run, but you might die of hypothermia before the station opens.


* four last time, including a complete tyre disintegration
** OK, that was me once

Sage words.
If it's warm n' sunny there's a chance I might see you in Paulo's for brekky 

[Sergeant Pluck]

Just confirming that I'm intending to be on the ride.

[Fab Foodie]

OK, late arrival to the party due to being slightly earlier back from vacation.

So, me and Freewheeler Vicky intend to be there, I need to confirm details with Vicky in the morning, but AFAIK she'll be along with reliable bike and legs.
I've not ridden much over the last few weeks, so am likely to be a bit tardy over the uphill bits ... as usual but am happy to lead the charge into Londinium 

Weather looks especially peachy!

Right, time to put the lantern on charge and hopefully see you all just before midnight 

[EMnut]

50/50 I can make it along. All depends on cute 2 year old bundle of love we are babysitting. If she falls fast asleep and Mrs B OK to help her dream sweet dreams I'll hack it into Oxford and join the fun. Will be a last minute call though.
Take it as a no, if I'm not there before midnight, I'll try and let Fab Foodie/Freewheelers know one way of another.

[Fab Foodie]

50/50 I can make it along. All depends on cute 2 year old bundle of love we are babysitting. If she falls fast asleep and Mrs B OK to help her dream sweet dreams I'll hack it into Oxford and join the fun. Will be a last minute call though.
Take it as a no, if I'm not there before midnight, I'll try and let Fab Foodie/Freewheelers know one way of another.

Fingers crossed 

[rogerzilla]

50/50 I can make it along. All depends on cute 2 year old bundle of love we are babysitting. If she falls fast asleep and Mrs B OK to help her dream sweet dreams I'll hack it into Oxford and join the fun. Will be a last minute call though.
Take it as a no, if I'm not there before midnight, I'll try and let Fab Foodie/Freewheelers know one way of another.

If you're slightly late you can probably catch us up.  Horspath/Wheatley/worminghall/Thame.
We stay on the main road through Horspath; there is a slightly shorter way to Wheatley but it doesn't avoid the hill.

[rogerzilla]

Forecast is for a minimum of 18 deg C.  This is going to be like 2010, when we had breakfast outside.

[Jaded]

50/50 I can make it along. All depends on cute 2 year old bundle of love we are babysitting. If she falls fast asleep and Mrs B OK to help her dream sweet dreams I'll hack it into Oxford and join the fun. Will be a last minute call though.
Take it as a no, if I'm not there before midnight, I'll try and let Fab Foodie/Freewheelers know one way of another.

If you're slightly late you can probably catch us up.  Horspath/Wheatley/worminghall/Thame.
We stay on the main road through Horspath; there is a slightly shorter way to Wheatley but it doesn't avoid the hill.

Bear in mind that roger sets off like a bear with a firework clenched between his buttocks.

[Andrij]

Having returned from furrin parts late last night I've made a decision to be sensible - I shall not be riding from Oxford to London tonight.  OTOH, I will ride out to meet you for breakfast.  What's the ETA at the café?

[rogerzilla]

I'd like to be there by 0630.  It doesn't always happen.

[Andrij]

So 05:00 departure from home - no problem.  Don't worry, if I get there early I'll start without you.

[Jurek]

I'd like to be there by 0630.  It doesn't always happen.

I'll be there with my stopwatch 

[Kim]

Forecast is for a minimum of 18 deg C.  This is going to be like 2010, when we had breakfast outside.

I'm looking forward to that.  Especially as it's currently pissing down.

[marcusjb]

Forecast is for a minimum of 18 deg C.  This is going to be like 2010, when we had breakfast outside.

I'm looking forward to that.  Especially as it's currently pissing down.

Scorchio here in West London about 2 miles from our final destination

[Kim]

Yeah, looks like the rain's going to keep north of Oxford.   

[Fab Foodie]

Roll call suggests we have:

Roger
Foodie and Vicky with a last minute possibility of EMnut
Kim
Sgt. Pluck

[Dibdib]

Roll call suggests we have:

Roger
Foodie and Vicky with a last minute possibility of EMnut
Kim
Sgt. Pluck

And me!

[Fab Foodie]

Roll call suggests we have:

Roger
Foodie and Vicky with a last minute possibility of EMnut
Kim
Sgt. Pluck

And me!

Had just gone back a few pages to check! 
And marcusjb

Looks like a cosy 8 ish!  Excellent.  See you at the station 

[rogerzilla]

We'll need even numbers for the paceline against that 6mph wind.

[marcusjb]

6mph!?!?!

I'm out.

[Sergeant Pluck]

Wind seems to be turning more westerly, which is good.

[rogerzilla]

This ride actually goes ENE for quite a while.  We therefore catch a tailwind to Worminghall even when the wind is SW, which it usually is.