Chiltern Hundreds CC Ride 7 June 2009

[bleakanddivine]

I think that just leaves Chonker unaccounted for.

Thanks everyone for trying. Just goes to show, a week in cycling is a long time, weatherwise, in 'flaming June'.

I'll see if the ride can be slotted in a vacant month in the schedule later in the year. Also, when the weather turns again I can look to do an ad hoc run through it pretty much anytime, even a weekday.

B&D

 

[Peter]

oh dear, is anyone riding. i'm here all by my lonesome at Datchet

 

[redjedi]

Sorry Peter, all the London lot have bottled it, and it looks as if everyone else has too.

 

[Peter]

well at least i get a 42 miler today. i left home 6;30 and no rain so far. roads are though.

 

[Chonker]

Just got woken up by the driven rain against my window. Thats that then

 

[Auntie Helen]

Sorry Peter that we left you on your lonesome in Datchet!

I was looking forward to a 50 miler but will have to make do with a couple of pootles around home. Some ominous black clouds are now apparent through the window, although prior to this it's seemed fairly dry at home.

 

[Chonker]

'tis properly hammering it down here (I'm 15miles east of watford) so I'm kinda glad it's called off. Shame though as I've been saving my legs for this ride so havn't done the mileage I otherwise would have this week

 

[Aperitif]

It's lucky that Lee managed to get in about 230 mile warm up ride yesterday, in preparation for today's bomb around - I did 259.something something kms

 

[Aperitif]

...just guesstimating...

 

[Auntie Helen]

BTW folks, I'm doing a London to Brighton (well, Coulsdon to Brighton) on Tuesday with a chap from YACF. Any hints and tips for me triking up Ditchling Beacon?

 

[Auntie Helen]

How long should I allow at my climbing speed? Three days? Four?

 

[Auntie Helen]

I don't have a handbrake... I shall have to keep going else I will roll backwards the way I came.

Is there a lovely descent on the other side?

 

[arallsopp]

I climbed it as part of the Stonehenge run a couple of weeks back. Strongly recommend adding a waypoint at the top. Then just sit in a low gear, winch your way up and watch the metres to next waypoint count down.

According to my tracklog, the highest point is at:
N 50º 54.027'
W 00º 06.296'

If you're feeling a little more analogue, the coordinates above are always just round the next corner, or the one after that.

 

[ianrauk]

Hi all just got back home.
When I left this morning the weather wast just a little damp. I chose to ride my GT with the race blades rather then the Roubiax, turns out a wise choice. It was an absolute pleasure riding in SE London at 6am on a sunday morning, no traffic, it was delightful. Aboout 5 miles in it started to rain.. and rain it did, the heavens opened with all they could muster, the heaviest rain, thunder & lightning, I was at Dulwich about 12 miles in and needed shelter, saw a bus shelter, so turned in for that and must have hit a drain or oil and my bike slipped from under me. Whacked my knee and fell on my wrist. Called SD to let him know I was bailing just as a huge lightning bolt and thunder clap hit somewhere which we both heard simultaneously. So sat under the bus shelter for 5 minutes texting Helen and Katie. The rain was still very heavy. Planned on cycling to work in greenwich to dry out. Passed West Dulwich station, had a 50 minute wait for a train to home, but was under shelter so decided to wait. The heavy rain continued for another 40 minutes. Am now home, dried out, & a nice cup of tea.. and would you believe it the sun is bloody shining. Bit of a sore wrist and a cut knee which means I should get a nice 'naughty boy' scab I can pick later. So sorry chaps, tried to get there, was so looking forward to this.
Formula 1 and Cricket instead for me today..

 

[Aperitif]

Unlucky Ian - I was just going to post a 'realtime' pic of blazing sunshine and dark skies, but your words paint a much better picture...