Brighton with the old cars - Sunday November 4 - honk honk wizz bang wheeze!

[Trickedem]

I thought of you this morning at about 6am when I heard it pouring down outside. Well done to anyone who did this.

 

[Mista Preston]

Anyone heard from Ian?

They will be on route back by now I would think

 

[ianrauk]

I was woken at least twice during the night with the sound of pounding rain on the conservatory roof. It was still teeming down at 6.30 when I got up. Bacon sarnies demolished, there was still no let up in the rain.

This was the same situation as 4 years ago. That year I didn't even get out of the house.

Oh well, let's go for it anyway, even to see if anyone was at Bromley that needed escorting to Croydon.
There wasn't.
In that 5 miles I got absolutely drenched. One of my normally reliable Sealskinz socks has a leak so already I had squelchy cold toes.
So off to Hayes to pick up the Velomobile.
Family Arallsopp's house was nice and inviting, warm and dry. With a very convenient couch next to the nice warm radiator.
The lovely Mrs Allsopp was ready with hot cup of tea in hand and a dry pair of socks.
We were constantly looking out the window wishing the rain to stop or at least ease up a little. It didn't.
Spoke to Bermondsey Bill, he said there were 13 at Croydon. (There was approx 50 last year).
More tea, more rain watching. Plans were being made to head straight to Crawley to meet the cars.
More rain......and more rain.
OK this will not be fun, what with the heavy winds forecast also.
So there was nothing for it.
I went back home.

5 hours after I left it's still raining and the wind is picking up.

It's a shame... More rain, swirly strong winds and standing water...no thanks.

Chapeau to those who at least did try to get out.. and and even bigger chapeau to those that will complete the ride.

Fingers crossed for better weather next year.

 

[mark st1]

We must shop at the same sock shop !!! my feet were in agony by the time we rolled in to Paddington the weather really was poor. Was brilliant to cycle through Hyde Park ive never crossed the gates in to there so i can chalk that off lol. Cycling back through it after seeing some of the cars wasnt so nice my fingers were so numb i couldnt even change gear . Sat back in the warm though im pleased we tried and i finally got up to The Big Smoke on me bike cant wait to do it again in the dry though me thinks !

 

[Tim Hall]

In brighton in the sun eating fish and chips.

 

[wanda2010]

Grey here. Finally stopped raining.

 

[theclaud]

In brighton in the sun eating fish and chips.

Excellent. DZ might have missed this ride, but at least he can now say "pysgod a sglodion, os gwelwch yn dda."

 

[AnythingButVanilla]

I didn't make it out either. Heard the rain battering off the roof sometime around 5am and turned the alarm off there and then, didn't even let it go off at 5.30. It's a shame the weather was so crap this morning but given the year we've had it would have been daft to expect anything different.

 

[Recycle]

Made my way to McDonalds from East Croydon a little before 8 this morning. The light rain predicted by BBC the night before had recruited reinforcements from somewhere and it was dark and very wet. I travelled against the flow of traffic made up of a solitary cyclist and two carriages sans horses along North End street to McDonalds & found it deserted, so I turned around and joined the "flow" which was made up more of water than machine.

I overtook two cyclists on Brighton road (if it was anyone from here I was the sodden bent rider) and decided to bail at the roundabout exiting Coulsdon. My plan was to make my way back home along Ditches lane - a favourite route - except that I would have drowned in the lake that up till last night used to be called Marpit lane. That route closed I made my way back to Purley. At the Purley roundabout a penny farthing cyclist and I crossed paths. He to off to Brighton whilst I slunk off home with my tail between my legs. Hats off to him whoever he is.

Well done to those who braved it out to Brighton.

 

[ianrauk]

At the Purley roundabout a penny farthing cyclist and I crossed paths. He to off to Brighton whilst I slunk off home with my tail between my legs. Hats off to him whoever he is.

He does the ride every year.

 

[Recycle]

He does the ride every year.

He was rigged out in full tweed. Brave man.

 

[User10571]

Excellent. DZ might have missed this ride, but at least he can now say "pysgod a sglodion, os gwelwch yn dda."

You've not bestowed upon him the freedom of your hip flask, have you?

 

[User10571]

In brighton in the sun eating fish and chips.

Respec'

 

[Gordon P]

My son Ben & I reached Westminster Bridge at 7.25 & were delighted to find Wanda2010 waiting there but as she has posted above she had a flat at Brixton & bailed. Not a bad decision as it goes as it certainly was Whitstable wet. Occasionally I realised it had stopped for a moment but there were some fierce showers between Purley - a welcome pit stop in a church: a hot drink & a bacon sandwich beats communion any Sunday! - & Crawley where the sun broke through. When precipitation paused there were floods & by the South Downs the blustery gusts needed leaning in to.... I came to in the Madeira & realised the sea was raging.
Took the train home.... Missed everybody.

 

[clarion]

In brighton in the sun eating fish and chips.

I was 45 minutes behind you. We had an extended stop in Crawley in a cafe which by rights should have been a damn sight warmer than it were. Then we set off, in teeth-chattering cold. Butterfly headed to Three Bridges station, and I turned to face a stiff headwind. I had several bailing points marked, and, probably because of that, I kept plugging on.

I drafted a car.for a long while. It had the same combination of good descending, purpose on the flat, and dogged, if not totally effective climbing as I do, so we happened along together.

Then the wind blew off one guy's cap. There was no way they were going to stop for it, so I did (once i'd negotiated some traction with a very wet and oily road). Looked like quite an expensive titfer, so I shoved it in my back pocket, and tried to make up lost time. Slowly through the next village, where there were lots of cars parked, and I searched for a car I only recognised the back end of. Fortunately, on the next hill, they'd pulled over, so cap and owner were reunited to great delight.

The sun did its very best this afternoon, and I did dry out a bit, though I still have soggy socks. Can't say it actually got warm, as such, but Crawley was definitely the coldest spot.

Pyecombe Hill was tricky, as I kept an eye out for the car behind me, in case it was gaining, in which case I'd dismount and take to the verge. But I got up there ok, passing two other cyclists on the way, both of whom had to get off and push.

The run into Brighton was ok, though, as ever (except for FNRttC) the drivers of the modern cars were complete idiots.

Only three fords en route, and one of them was on the Pyecombe path diversion. First one was deep enough to put a pedal underwater, though.

A grand day out, if a little more testing than the ideal. I'm on a train back to croydon, and will round up the ride a shade to make 100km.

Don't want to speak too soon, but the rear wheel, which has been wobbly since about Coulsdon, has held up pretty well. I think it's just the one spoke (again). Ah well, it's ok.