Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Rides and Touring => Topic started by: rogerzilla on 09 August, 2009, 06:42:57 pm
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I really enjoyed the last one. The crescent moon and the sunrise were glorious, and I finally pedalled all the way up Smalldean Lane. So...I'd like to do it again before winter closes in (we had snow on the first one!). Anyone up for it? We might have to have a whip round for road-runner if he's in to regale us with tales of Slovakia, but he is excellent company and no-one leaves his house hungry. In fact, you could say he's the Tourist Tony of the Chiltern Hills.
The drill is: leave Oxford station at midnight (or Swindon at 10pm for hard nuts who want to make it 100 miles) and ride to London for breakfast wherever the opportunity presents itself; usually Paddington. Ideal for London residents, wezcountry people or anyone for whom a FNRttC is a logistical nightmare. Cheap, easy to get home afterwards and I can promise some lovely roads and very varied terrain.
Register your interest and I'll try and set a date. Please note: although this is a similar distance to the estimable Mr Legg's Friday Night Ride To The Coast, the hills are somewhat harder and, although it's 100% tarmac, some of the gravelly lanes are best described as "tricky".
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I've really wanted to do one of these. Hopefully the date the next one doesn't clash with anything else.
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Assuming the date doesn't clash with Other ThingsTM I'll do it again.
It was good fun last time and I want another crack at the bastard steep hill.
Fingers crossed for cheaper train tickets to Oxford this time ;)
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I would like to play.
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Assuming the date doesn't clash with Other ThingsTM I'll do it again.
It was good fun last time and I want another crack at the bastard steep hill.
Fingers crossed for cheaper train tickets to Oxford this time ;)
Excellent! The sweet spot for tickets seems to be about 2-6 weeks in advance; any more or less and the cheapest fares aren't available.
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Is September 4th any good for people? Otherwise it's the 16th October or bust, I think - November is getting a bit chancy for frost and ice.
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Is September 4th any good for people? Otherwise it's the 16th October or bust, I think - November is getting a bit chancy for frost and ice.
4th September is the next FNRttC.
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I was just about to say that !
October is better for me.
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16th October it is then, road-runner willing. It was never supposed to be run against FNRttC - the idea was that London residents could do both.
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Assuming we don't have a blizzard or a torrential downpour of biblical proportions, count me in for this.
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I'm registering interest, subject to Other Stuff.
16th October currently free.
(How long will 'night' be then? my lights run for 10hrs (ish))
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Sunset at that time is 18.05 and sunrise is 07.25 (isn't that depressing). Your lights will be fine, unless you've got a very long ride to the start.
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The drill is that we start at midnight and roll into Paddington (or wherever) between 6.30 and 7.00, so it will be dark all the way but your lights only need to last 6 hours allowing for the stop.
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I'd like to put my name down. Maybe from Swindon
I cycled up Smalldean Lane last year following a reliability ride route i got off bikely. Wasn't expecting it at all. It'll be interesting doing it with the fear of knowing what's coming - and in the dark :-\
Kevin
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If it was the Willesden reliability ride you were on, you probably did Chinnor Hill as well. A mile of 1 in 6 :'(
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I managed to miss that one thankfully - turned off up to Bledlow Ridge before getting to Chinnor.
I'd only been cycling (more than just around town) for a couple of months back then so a mile at 1-in-6 would've been a bit of a struggle I think. Cryers Hill was nice and horrible - lots of cars and rain. Saw Chitty Bang Bang parked at the bottom tho.
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You don't get many cars on Cryers Hill at 0245. One, if you're unlucky.
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I look forward to it
Will someone post if they notice the cheap fares start - I will if I do
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Cheap tickets available from FGW now - £6.75 London to Swindon, £4.05 Swindon to Oxford in case I'm feeling lazy. Amazing.
For the London mob: London to Oxford train leaves Paddington at 2248 and arrives at 2349. Cost is a poor student-friendly £3.60 and they really are available for that price.
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Done. Oxford it is then
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What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?
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So how hilly will this be?
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What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?
Er...what the thread title says.
Lynx - it's flat then very hilly then lumpy then flat.
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What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?
Er...what the thread title says.
Er.... yeah but, do you just ride there and come back straight away?
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Were it not for the fact that we have a 10k race booked the following morning, Liz and I would be there.
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Cheap tickets available from FGW now - £6.75 London to Swindon, £4.05 Swindon to Oxford in case I'm feeling lazy. Amazing.
For the London mob: London to Oxford train leaves Paddington at 2248 and arrives at 2349. Cost is a poor student-friendly £3.60 and they really are available for that price.
Any idea why these fares aren't available to Didcot?
It's not important! I aim to make this ride anyway (injuries permitting).
EDIT: playing with destinations shows that even if travelling to Reading, it's cheaper to buy an Oxford ticket! Think that's my answer for getting home ...
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What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?
Er...what the thread title says.
Er.... yeah but, do you just ride there and come back straight away?
The clue is in the first post - we'll end up at Paddington :)
(Londoners can do their own thing on arrival.)
Actually it's probably worth re-posting this bit:
The drill is that we start at midnight and roll into Paddington (or wherever) between 6.30 and 7.00, so it will be dark all the way but your lights only need to last 6 hours allowing for the stop.
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I have to bow out - in Paris.
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Oxford to Paris ride? ;)
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So how hilly is this?
Could aa gentleman use his 3 speed comuter cycle? ;)
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Just bought my ticket from London - £4.
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Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??
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So how hilly is this?
Could aa gentleman use his 3 speed comuter cycle? ;)
I did the first edition on a 3-speed, but not the usual wide-ratio - it's an AM medium-ratio, which only gives a 52" bottom gear. I walked up Smalldean Lane for fear of breaking the handlebars or the frame. The short answer is, however, no, not unless you're Alberto Contador-fit. You don't want to drag a heavy bike up those hills.
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Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??
S'pose so :)
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What happens at the fnrttc/fnrtts?
Er...what the thread title says.
Er.... yeah but, do you just ride there and come back straight away?
Well, I'm booked on the 0745 train home, I think. Paddington is just the easiest option for breakfast, but I noticed a cafe in Acton and no doubt a bit of local knowledge could find somewhere better than The Upper Crust.
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Embassy Cafe - Notting Hill - London - W11 4BY
(http://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/embassy-cafe-london-2)
This is a proper builders caff - only open till 2 or 3 in the afternoon - no cafe lattes here.
Its between Shepherds Bush and Holland Park. I can check when it opens if you're interested
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Worth a try - if we're going well we could be there by 0615.
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if we're going well we could be there by 0615.
Don't forget that I'll (probably) be with you......................... :-\
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Can I come along if I promise to have proper lights this time??
Bums. Realised I will be in one of California or Germany that day :(
Next year then.
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October 16th is my mother's birthday and my presence is requested there.
(I should have realised this, as it is an annual event that has been going on for some time ... :-[ )
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Since before you were born, hopefully.
Road-runner is going to be the host with the most again, which is convenient since he lives exactly halfway between Oxford and Paddington stations :thumbsup:
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Since before you were born, hopefully.
Road-runner is going to be the host with the most again, which is convenient since he lives exactly halfway between Oxford and Paddington stations :thumbsup:
Best to go straight there and thus avoid the handing the bikes down the 30ft* wall ?
*There may be elements of exaggeration in this post.
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Best to go straight there and thus avoid the handing the bikes down the 30ft* wall ?
It would have been interesting to see the ambulanceman's face when we explained how one of us had broken a leg climbing down a wet retaining wall, with two touring bikes, at 3am.
Note to those thinking of riding: the wall is not part of the route, but it saved going back up a hill after we turned too early.
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The Embassy Cafe, mentioned up thread, opens at 630 on Saturdays
off topic - I'm trying to insert an image and map. What do I do once I've got this [img][img] on the page
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I think I'm up for this, innit.
Got a bike, so got the means.
Got a dynamo, so got the endless light.
Train back to Aylesbury = £4.00
Can't see why not, so expect me to turn up.
Lycra Man
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Oh poop!
Turns out Lycra Woman has a prior engagement that weekend, so I am ruled out.
Can I book now for the next time?
Lycra Man
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Next one will probably be March, as the risk of ice has lessened by then. Depressing, eh? Four months of skidding and broken bones to come.
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February/March is probably the most likely time for ice these days. Last year I cycled to Whitstable in shorts and warm sunshine the weekend before Christmas.
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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).
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Anyone else?
Myself is looking at this whilst stroking my chin in a strokey-beardy kind of way. ;)
Which could mean me.
And possibly one other.
Watch this space....
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"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.
;)
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Anyone else?.
Yes please, can I put my name down.
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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:
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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).
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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
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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
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If your Chilterns are getting to you, just ride out the saddle for a little while.
(oh, and they are actually Chalfonts ;) )
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We ended up at the wrong Chalfont last time. Stupid GPS.
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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 ;)
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Route for newbies:
Gmaps Pedometer (http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3236391)
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 ;)).
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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.
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Weather forecast OK at the moment - maybe a tad chilly.
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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.
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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 :-/ )
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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Anyone else on the 22:48 out of Paddinton? Due to arrive in Oxford at 23:49.
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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.
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Chinnor will be fine - about 0130, usually.
You do realise you're missing the easy flat bit and just doing the well-'ard bit?
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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).
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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 ?
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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.
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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 ?
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Probably OK as long as they're quick with the service. I don't have to go back to Holland Park Ave to get to Paddington, so I can probably do it in 15-20 minutes.
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Bicycle Path - Rzillas cafe to station ride at Bikely.com (http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Rzillas-cafe-to-station-ride)
There's a slightly more direct route that has a short 10% up to Lansdowne Crescent which if you're interested is where Jimi Hendrix died (or from where he was taken to hospital to die)
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I've taken Friday off work, authorised by the boss today so I can fettle and sort the GPS etc and bike in the morning.
My new Exposure Joystick MaxX2 has turned up today from wiggle so my helmet light is sorted too :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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My new Exposure Joystick MaxX2 has turned up today from wiggle so my helmet light is sorted too :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
With Grub's Exposures, Roger's and my E3 plus my IQ Speed, we're not going to be short of light 8)
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The Exposures are only insurance. I will be mainly relying upon my IQ Fly via my Schmidt hub.
That too is bright though ;D
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You'll switch them all on though, won't you ? ;)
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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.
You said it was "lovely kiosk food" in your ride report ::-)
The only cafe we passed was in Acton and it was packed, plus I just wanted to get out of the drizzle.
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Beware to be impressed. It is totally fantastic. If I remember I will bring the lighting brochure that came with it. All blingy and fantastic kit. So much CFD too.
That is 'cable free design' for the uninitiated. ;D
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The wind has turned round to NNW :D
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Stick my name down on the list too, Zilla ol' chum.
See you all at Oxford. :thumbsup:
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If you faff about, we're not waiting for you !!!
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Stick my name down on the list too, Zilla ol' chum.
See you all at Oxford. :thumbsup:
As I find it hard to eat cake at 3am, I may bring some bread and bacon, road-runner being agreeable (if you're a veggie, I'll give it a miss).
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As well as cake, I have, for toasting: bread, crumpets, muffins, malt loaf. You are welcome to bring goodies too.
May I be cheeky and request some wholemeal bread please?
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Granary will be fine thanks. Just not highly processed white bread ;D
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"Wholemeal bread" is secret code for ice cream. ;)
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As well as cake, I have, for toasting: bread, crumpets, muffins, malt loaf. You are welcome to bring goodies too.
Now I'm really looking forward to it.
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Road-runner's feast of exotic cakes was a wonder to behold. Perfect for renewing low energy levels due to fighting through the snow (not that we'll get any this time, of course).
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New improved GPS file, with no warranty whatsoever:
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I couldn't eat anything when we got to Roadrunner's last time- the Sainsbury's pasta salad that I ate on the train on the way down to Oxford- about 5 hours earlier !- was still so heavy in my stomach that I couldn't contemplate the lovely looking cake that was on offer.
The tea was very welcome though !
This time, I hope that I will be able to partake :thumbsup:
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"Wholemeal bread" is secret code for ice cream. ;)
I wish, but not any more. I am a good boy now. :smug:
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I can vouch for this. Your socks have your name on them.
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Yes, I am still waiting for that photo to pop up ;D
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Buggrit! >:(
There is no way I can do this ride as the lurgy has refused to 'cease and desist'. :'(
Anyone need a ticket from Paddington to Oxford for tomorrow night?
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Shame Andrij - take it easy. I still need a ticket (although joining from Ealing). Lets talk logistics offline.
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How fast are you planning on doing this ride? I've just noticed it and might be free to join you. I would be on the Brompton, but it has a fair few gears, and is used to the mileage...
Duncan
PS Oxford beer festival is on beforehand :-)
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My target is actually to ride up the bastard steep hill Smalldean Lane- the only tarmac hill that I've walked up.
I will not be riding up Smalldean Lane, and I intend walking it, as
a) it's blooming steep
b) I haven't got a triple
c) my red blood count is about 20% down, as I've just given blood.
;D
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How fast are you planning on doing this ride? I've just noticed it and might be free to join you. I would be on the Brompton, but it has a fair few gears, and is used to the mileage...
Duncan
PS Oxford beer festival is on beforehand :-)
67 miles in 6 hours' riding time, so not especially challenging. I would bring the Brompton but at the moment it's still got its racing wheels on and has stupendously high, and close-ratio, gearing.
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I will not be riding up Smalldean Lane, and I intend walking it, as
a) it's blooming steep
b) I haven't got a triple
c) my red blood count is about 20% down, as I've just given blood.
;D
I've got a triple, for all the good it did me...................................
This time I'm going very slowly at the bottom of the hill and I'll twiddle the rest of the way until I either fall over or get to the top.
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The trick is to know when it's coming...it's not the first little hill, there's a downhill after that. It comes on you suddenly as you go round a corner, and if you can get any speed up in advance then so much the better.
Or you can just lean forward over the bars trying to prevent the bike from popping a wheelie as you grovel up in 22 x 32.
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If you're coming and you want my mobile number, PM me. We need to leave Oxford at midnight sharp, but you can probably catch us if you have the route - we won't be hammering along (we save that for Ruislip inwards, when we have to mix it with the traffic and everyone wants breakfast).
EDIT: I have bacon. And brandy.
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My target is actually to ride up the bastard steep hill Smalldean Lane- the only tarmac hill that I've walked up.
I will not be riding up Smalldean Lane, and I intend walking it, as
a) it's blooming steep
b) I haven't got a triple
c) my red blood count is about 20% down, as I've just given blood.
;D
Although, I don't know the hill in question, I have gears and I don't plan on walking, unless I cannot physically progress any further. It is not a triple, but I can spin ;D
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It's a wall. A wall sprinkled with bits of loose gravel.
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My target is actually to ride up the bastard steep hill Smalldean Lane- the only tarmac hill that I've walked up.
I will not be riding up Smalldean Lane, and I intend walking it, as
a) it's blooming steep
b) I haven't got a triple
c) my red blood count is about 20% down, as I've just given blood.
;D
Although, I don't know the hill in question, I have gears and I don't plan on walking, unless I cannot physically progress any further. It is not a triple, but I can spin ;D
When I did it attempted it, I had a triple, but it was too steep to spin. You have been warned.......... ;)
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The write-up of the 2009 Willesden CC Reliability Trial blithely states: "Smalldean Lane caused the usual problems for the 100k hard-riders." :-\
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Roger,
Do you just copy all that text and then save it in a text file as a .gpx ??
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Roger,
Do you just copy all that text and then save it in a text file as a .gpx ??
Cancel cancel. I was having a bald moment. All sorted.
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Result !
Forecast is for clear skies with a wind from the north, just like we had last time.
How do you do it Roger ?
Virgins and goats ? ;)
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Result !
Forecast is for clear skies with a wind from the north, just like we had last time.
How do you do it Roger ?
Virgins and goats ? ;)
Virgins, in Swindon? :o
Or did you mean virgin goats? ;)
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Virgins, in Swindon? :o
Or did you mean virgin goats? ;)
Probably not much chance of them either. I'm not going to make this I'm afraid - too much work to do this weekend to have saturday off sleeping :-(
Duncan
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Rogerzilla - Buff reminder - just in case you'd forgotten
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Looks cold - I am revising my layers upwards.
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Have fun you lot! :thumbsup:
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Oh great. I have aches and an elevated heart rate, worse after I had a lie down for a bit. Consequently I have been banned from going out.
If anyone has Chocolatebike's mobile number can they please PM me, since I've lost it from the last ride? I think he can access YACF on the move so I've also PMed him. He has a tried and tested GPS route and will be de facto ride leader. If I can't get hold of him I will have to drive out to the start so he has the extra details he needs.
Arse.
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Bummer
Is there anything I can do. You can email me any info to pass on. Not too much tho as I don't have a printer !
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*waiting for news*
Managed to get through to GruB in the end, who was by then with chocolatebike, so they have road-runner's details for the stop.
I feel worse about missing this than about the Exmouth Exodus, which was more of an "I'm glad I stayed in bed" thing. It was a great night for riding to London.
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*waiting for news*
Hey rogerzilla! We missed you! I've been home a while since I peeled off at Greenford, and just emerged from a kip.
Twas a great ride. Loved it. Must thank the guys for leading and for the great company. We had a wonderful moment when we stopped, looking at the clear sky full of stars. Heard a dog barking, but that was drowned out by tawny/little owls? Maybe both? We often hear this on rides, but this was so clear and close by.
Adam and I were excited at seeing our first live badger, crossing the road, also.
Smalldean Lane - now I know what you are talking about! I'll still be back for more though.
Hope you are feeling better.
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Grub is lost in London. ;D
He is in Buck now, so a bit nearer home!
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*waiting for news*
Hey rogerzilla! We missed you! I've been home a while since I peeled off at Greenford, and just emerged from a kip.
Twas a great ride. Loved it. Must thank the guys for leading and for the great company. We had a wonderful moment when we stopped, looking at the clear sky full of stars. Heard a dog barking, but that was drowned out by tawny/little owls? Maybe both? We often hear this on rides, but this was so clear and close by.
Adam and I were excited at seeing our first live badger, crossing the road, also.
Smalldean Lane - now I know what you are talking about! I'll still be back for more though.
Hope you are feeling better.
It's just a cold, but it's an aching-legs and woozy cold. Glad you had a good ride - I'll set another one up for March when the danger of ice has passed (did you notice the permanent "Ice" warning sign on the hill after Harefield?).
Also, did you successfully intercept Matt C? I'll expect full ride reports.
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Amazing! Still, the GPS "tea stop" waypoint was probably good to within two or three houses.
EDIT: actually, there's a missing waypoint (the turn off Cryers Hill) and the GPS labels are out of sync after the turn onto Cryers Hill (there must be a tool that does this stuff properly). In that case I really am amazed that Matt found you, although just following the compass to the next waypoint would probably have worked.
Unfortunately having bought the SD card version of Garmin's crappy mappy, it doesn't display any detail in MapSource so the only way to check whether the waypoints are correctly labelled is to use the GPS itself, and it's so slow in scroll mode that this is impactical.
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I'm sure that I posted a reply earlier but I can't find it. It was much more interesting than this one ;)
It was indeed a great ride and the weather was perfect.
Thankfully Adam knew the route better better than I did................. :-[
My lack of cycling and football in the past month took its toll and I found the hills hard going (again).
An 06.00 start on Friday morning in Helsinki (so 04.00 UK time) didn't help matters.......
Smalldean Lane remains undefeated by me though most of the others managed to get to the top without walking.
The road conditions were much better than last time- there were no floods and much less gravel strewn around.
There was quite a lot of Ti bling in evidence as well as a very high tech array of lighting 8) though Steve, with his small city LED light was fastest down most of the hill :o Scary.
Thanks again to Roadrunner for his hospitality. This time I was able to partake in the feast and I can heartily recommend the flap-jacks :thumbsup:
It was good to meet a lot more forummers and I enjoyed your company.
Thanks :thumbsup:
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Steve, with his small city LED light was fastest down most of the hill :o Scary.
The drop into Hughenden Valley is a bit special, isn't it? I did wonder about the Bromptoneer going down there, since those little rims overheat rather quickly.
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No, he had discs !
He's got a new Kona Dew Drop and he was fastest down all the hills including the one under the railway bridge that was flooded when we did it.
I hung back here, expecting to get wet again ;)
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I am not good at flowery ride reports so I will just add some of my best memories and you can fill in the gaps.
It was bloody cold. I left Oare slowly as I did not want to overheat. I was wearing my Endura Baa Baa merino base layer with my YACF winter top on. I wore that alll the way to Oxford. Roger's route was sublime. So flat, lovely.
Met Chocaletbike at the station and then had to blag the cleaner to open the disabled loo for me "we are not supposed to you know" ::-)
Everyone else rocked up and we left. I was first to stop, just down the road to put my Gore gillet on over my YACF top.
Just before the Mini plant I noticed my GPS had gone nuts. It was really bugging me so I forced us all to stop again while I changed batteries and all was good.
Got up Smalldean Lane. Got warm doing it so that was ace.
Lovely rest at Roadrunners - thanks mate.
Kept getting sucked into a lovely rhythm but I was not trying to do so, just trying to get my fit heart rate above resting so the blood would pump around my body to warm me up ;D
Gave in eventually, stopped again and put the final layer on - my Goretex.
Learnt all about Bruce Dickenson from our very own Teethgrinder :thumbsup:
At London we found an ace cafe with a really friendly owner and I devoured a special - including black pudding. Tops :thumbsup:
Left with Kcass to see if he could upload a track for me to go home via rather than reverse the route I had come in on.
Went to Notting Hill and Portebello Road as a result.
But all his hard work was wasted as I could not get it to work once I left his house. I fumbled around Notting Hill for a bit, loop after loop waiting for inspiration and then I realised I could ask my GPS to take me home.
It did so, via Uxbridge, and the A4 to Slough, Maiden Head and Reading then Newbury. I did not mind really as at least I knew where I was.
Jaded was keeping me company via text and keeping me sane.
My favourite of his replies was "Well at least you are not in Kent" !!! ;D ;D ;D
At Hungerford I stopped for a double Movenpick, Strawberry and Swiss Chocolate. Well earned.
Summary - cold cold cold,
great ride with new friends
had fun with GPS
got some good miles in.
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So...how many miles?
Now we know there's a caff - no more crusty rolls from Paddington :thumbsup:
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Cafe opens at 0530 too.
195 miles all up. That does not include the ones I lost when the GPS was not recording either ;D
I have just been checking and I know where Kcass's route should have sent me now. I can make this into a London to Pewsey route easily - and once I have tracked it I will test it and see just how flat it is. The A4 is generally in a really bad condition. The other benefit of Kcass' route is it gets away from the traffic light system more quickly than the one I followed.
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Met Chocaletbike at the station and then had to blag the cleaner to open the disabled loo for me "we are not supposed to you know" ::-)
Can I point out that Grub wanted the toilet for his own, exclusive use ?
Just wanted to say that.
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It must have been the excitement of meeting you ;D
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It must have been the excitement of meeting you ;D
:hand:
Mind bleach or pictures of kittens needed.
Quickly :o
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What a lovely ride that was - my first night ride. Even the drunks were friendly.
Thanks to everyone that took part for the company, and especially to Roadrunner for being up at 3am with plentiful supplies of tea, coffee, toast (wholemeal), muffins and crumpet. What a star.
Sorry to hear the gps didn't work on the way home Grub and well done on doing 3x the riding I did :P
Rogerzilla - thanks for organising it all. Shame you couldn't make it. Hopefully we'll meet next time.
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Well done all, and well done Grub - I was reckoning from your texts that you'd do 300km.
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You know I like challenging myself. Sleep deprivation and riding a bike is a challenge. The only problem is damage to the bike. I notice that when I got really weary that I didn't actually care what I hit ::-)
I was not low on blood sugar - that was fine all the way through. What I was low on was caring any more. ;D
I just wanted to curl up somewhere remotely wind free and away from the ground and sleep.
Having had the joy of riding with Paul D, Chris N and the venerable John Spooner I have learnt the joys of bus stops benches and secluded benches. I was riding along and when the weariness really started to scare me I knew I had to stop. Luckily I was on very familiar territory being only 5 miles or so from home so I knew where a top notch 'Spooner Star Standard" bus stop was located. Half an hour was all I needed to enable me to get back onto the bike and make it home.
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Some belated thoughts from me, as I ended up being rather busy yesterday, doing other stuff.
I've done the Thame to Oxford section few times now, and in fact Rogerzilla's route mirrors what I'd previously worked out, so it must be good!
It wasn't too cold really, so I only had a thin jersey + armwarmers under my jacket and fingerless mitts. Setting off through Oxford, it was surprising seeing how many people were on bikes - and most of them seemed to have some sort of lights (even if a few of them were the green blinky sort, including one chap using that as a rear light).
Once we got out of Oxford, you could really appreciate the stars which were twinkling away. In some ways it was a shame we were a fast group, as there wasn't really any opportunity to stop and gaze upwards. In Horspath, there was the first indication of dissent amongst the gps users, as one track was indicating us to go up Gidley Way. That way's great for going to Oxford as it's a steep downhill, but it's a bit of a hike uphill. The way we went, although longer, is less steep. As Grub mentioned above, he then had to sort out his gps, but all seemed well in Wheatley.
Going through Thame, unlike previous occasions , there didn't seem to be any rowdy troublemakers, which was nice. Not so nice was the fact my batteries suddenly died. With hindsight, I'd realised I hadn't done a deep discharge and charge, only a top up charge, which clearly hadn't been enough, so it was my own fault. I switched them back to the set I'd been using for the ride up to Oxford, but it meant I couldn't use the eye searing setting.
On the road to Chinnor, I commented that it seemed longer at night. Of course the reason is that it's slightly uphill, and during the day, I've normally gone the other way. We didn't see Matt hanging around anywhere in Chinnor (and we didn't have his number), so we pressed on. I ended up walking up Chinnor Lane and Smalldean Lane as expected. ::-)
We were making good time when we rolled up at road-runner's house, where his never ending supply of tea, coffee, toast, crumpets and other things was very much appreciated. I was quite amazed at Matt finding us, and I had images of him peering through any lit up house, checking to see if it was the right one!
I put on my full length gloves once we set off, but couldn't resist chuckling if Grub was in front of me and was indicating or pointing out hazards, as he had lobster type gloves on. ;D
In Chalfont St Peter, my chain managed to get itself well & truly mangled round the rear dérailleur, after initially coming off the front, so we had a short stop to sort that out, although thankfully no damage done.
After passing the M25, that was just about the end of the countryside, and then we were generally following the signs for the West End. I could remember the way, so could shout out corrections for those following their gps devices. ::-) :P
For the final part, we weren't rushing, as we knew the scheduled café wasn't scheduled to open until 6.30 am. However, before then, when passing through Acton I spotted an open café, and shouted out for the others to stop, and we all piled into Café Paolo's (http://www.allinlondon.co.uk/directory/1150/108536.php), which seemed to have every variant of a cooked breakfast that you could wish for.
Once fully refuelled, I set off with Matt towards Paddington Station. One obstacle we had to avoid was loads of horse poop and near Lancaster Gate we went past at least 15 riders who were each leading a spare horse, so that explained the volume of stuff on the road. After leaving Matt, I decided to stick to my original idea of riding home, and just followed the signs for the A5, basically all the way home, so ended up doing 142 miles in total.
So good fun all round despite Rogerzilla not being there, and nice to meet (or see again) some other yacfers. And thanks again to road-runner for his hospitality.
Oh, and Grub you utter ******* for mentioning the number plate game (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=18946.0). No matter how hard I looked on the way home, I couldn't find a "1" to start me off. Lots of 2 - 5 plates though. Grrr. :P
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Ha ha ha. You in the city will breeze it I reckon once you get off the mark.
You will pass my 24 easily.
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I just wanted to curl up somewhere remotely wind free and away from the ground and sleep.
Having had the joy of riding with Paul D, Chris N and the venerable John Spooner I have learnt the joys of bus stops benches and secluded benches. I was riding along and when the weariness really started to scare me I knew I had to stop. Luckily I was on very familiar territory being only 5 miles or so from home so I knew where a top notch 'Spooner Star Standard" bus stop was located. Half an hour was all I needed to enable me to get back onto the bike and make it home.
I was tired for most of the ride. I cycled home from the cafe up Edgware road and the old A5 through St Albans and Redbourn, where I went into the lanes.
I just dawdled home and spent about two hours in a coffee shop in Radlett dozing and drinking coffee. Coffee shops are very good for a doze. Nice comfy chairs and nice and warm. Plus you have a stonking great coffee to give you some caffeine too, so a double booster to help you stay awake. I try not to waituntill I get too dozy. Cycling when sleepy is bad news and much less fun.
Then I also visited the cafe at Ashridge in the North Chilterns and had another doze and some tea, before dawdling home. I didn't get home untill about 1600,but it was a nice easy ride from London and I had no need to rush. IfI wasn't so tired, I'd have just cycled a bit faster and further. Just a fun day (and night) out on the bike.
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Yebbut how many cakes/crumpets/slices of toast did you manage, TG?
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Yebbut how many cakes/crumpets/slices of toast did you manage, TG?
As a rule, I stop counting after 5.
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As a rule, I stop counting after 5
It's probably best for your self-esteem ;)
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I put up a few more words and a couple of pictures on my blog Clicky (http://cyclinglifeafterlel.blogspot.com/2009/10/fnrtts-october-2009-oxford_18.html)
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I put up a few more words and a couple of pictures on my blog Clicky (http://cyclinglifeafterlel.blogspot.com/2009/10/fnrtts-october-2009-oxford_18.html)
I see blue tyre flies ;D ;D
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Dear all FNRTTC riders,
I will not be meeting you all this Friday.
I had to work yesterday and I am rather tired. I have a really busy week ahead and I will not be rested enough to do a big ride overnight without sleep. So rather than kill myself trying I have decided that this time is not right.
I have this event firmly in my calendar mind so one day I will be there - I'm sure of it.
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You must be tired, as you should have posted it over there (http://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=24483.30)! ;)
Another time.
Pick & mix from next year's list (http://www.cyclechat.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=41352).
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Doh !!
I fixed that for me ;D