Will1985
Über Member
- Location
- South Norfolk
Good stuff - anybody else coming to see us?TimO said:
FNRttC FNRttC 3rd July to Brighton - the 'Genteel' ride 2009
- Thread starter dellzeqq
- Start date
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Yes many thanks to Simon for organising, another excellent ride, but not my best performance on a bike 
Remind me to get more than three hours sleep the night before next time.
Well done to Sig for getting up Ditchling without stopping
(unlike some ) and for ilovebikes for doing the obligatory three in a row. You really should be racing the thing Andy.
Remind me to get more than three hours sleep the night before next time. Well done to Sig for getting up Ditchling without stopping
(unlike some ) and for ilovebikes for doing the obligatory three in a row. You really should be racing the thing Andy.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Another thoroughly enjoyable thrust to the South Coast!
Quick pic - must get changed.
Andyilovesmugs ascending Mont Ditchtoux for the third time.
(The bike is the white tubular structure)
Bon voyage and take care all of you.
Quick pic - must get changed.
Andyilovesmugs ascending Mont Ditchtoux for the third time.
(The bike is the white tubular structure
)Bon voyage and take care all of you.
4F said:
I've just emerged from bed, so this may be a bit late; I swapped over to the long sleeved jersey in the middle of the ride, for a while we were going through mist, and it was rather chilly, but after getting to the top of the Beacon, I swapped back to a less sweaty short sleeved jersey in the morning sun.
Some people did cycle in short sleeves throughout, even through the misty bits, but I suspect it was probably not the most comfortable.
That was fun! A warm night, with clear skies, but with some mist. We started a little on the late side, with Mke E, Des and Graham doing the TEC thing and made our way out of central London without fuss.
Standing on the roundabout at the northern end of Mitcham Common, watching the riders go smiling by, I reckoned that this was what the ride was about and as we climbed up to Wallington, meeting our stray, and on towards Chipstead everything was rosy. New riders looked comfortable, experienced riders were standing at junctions pointing the way, and our little peloton had relaxed in to a rhythm when.... we had a bit of a disaster - Hermann's bike deciding to check out in a big way. A bent back wheel had pushed the tyre in to the brake block, tearing the tyre and causing a blowout.
Adrian produced a piece of toothpaste tube to prevent the new innertube bursting through what remained of the tyre, and, then set of home for a new tyre. Hermann plodded on with about 20 psi (which we thought the maximum the repair would take) in his back wheel, up the hill to Chipstead and down Reigate Hill where a small elite detatchment had decided to improvise on the route and shove off in an entirely novel direction. Tim Hall and Danilo came to the rescue, rounding up the sheepish lost sheep, allowing us to make our way up Cockshott Hill with a full crew.
Only after Ben and Andy had set off down Lonesome Lane at warp five did it occur to me that they might not clock User10571's bend - so I decided to chase them down (smart move!) and warn them. Duly warned they set off at warp five.five, with me on their back wheel wondering why my legs hurt so very much and whether the fire in my lungs would spread to my brain.
Adrian and I had discussed taking the A23 direct in to the undercroft of the airport, and this worked well enough. We formed a rolling roadblock that held off the traffic as the peloton trundled down three quarters of a mile of trunk road in to a bus stop and on to the cycle path. Then the Surprise. Up we went into the airport, with the new riders taking a little while to come to terms with being in the Gatwick arrivals hall. Coffee (Caffe Nero is sooo much better than Costa) and Graham pronounced the last rites on Hermann's back wheel, which, we decided could collapse at any time. Hermann took the train back to London, and the rest of us went out in to the dawn and took the Balcombe road in to Sussex.
The FNRttC got in to its grooviest groove. Our TEC trio were happy to continue, people did the wayfinding thing in the usual smooth way, and all of us went along at a comfortable pace, meeting up at Turners Hill, then Lindfield. The mist thickened, and we arrived in Lindfield dripping. Dave took pictures, which should be sweet.
I'd done the wayfinding at the top end of Slugwash Lane, and was following Angela-Marie down the hill when the following happened....there was a bang - a big bang.....a large black bit (which turned out to be a light) shot ten feet sideways from her bike..... she exclaimed in a very refined matter, her front wheel locked up... I shouted 'don't brake'...... she came to rest at the side of the road. What had happened was that a bike lamp fixed to the front fork, had gone in to the spokes and (quite how I don't know) the saddle wire of her brake had come out of the brake arm, and the brake arm had gone under the rim, ramming the pad in to the spokes. Go figure. The brake was re-strung, the wheel was in perfect shape, the light went in to the bag and we continued, her wheel not one bit out of line.
On to Wivelsfield and the Greenhouses, and up the Beacon. Some whippersnappers did it three times, but, just as strikingly, all kinds of riders on all kinds of bikes took it in to their heads that they weren't going to walk, no sirree, and that this hill was there for the taking. And taken it was, with what I'm sure was a good deal of effort belied by the smiles and the smooth pedalling at the top. Pippa looked in no trouble at all, Claudine fairly raced up, and Des and Mike, both on fixies, soared to the top.
Angela-Marie's chain had gone. While Adrian and Graham sorted the new power link the majority of the ride made their way to the Madeira, there to drink Earl Grey tea by a sea sparkling under sunlight. There was a modicum of bathing, and a lot of breakfast eating, and, in small groups, our happy band went off to the station, or, in the case of the Mouseketeers, the road to all points north and west. Adrian and I took the 10.19 to East Croydon and I rolled down to the Stockwell Skate Park Jam, which was absolutely the after eight mint to the feast that is the FNRttC.
Tomorrow's another day. Newhaven.
Standing on the roundabout at the northern end of Mitcham Common, watching the riders go smiling by, I reckoned that this was what the ride was about and as we climbed up to Wallington, meeting our stray, and on towards Chipstead everything was rosy. New riders looked comfortable, experienced riders were standing at junctions pointing the way, and our little peloton had relaxed in to a rhythm when.... we had a bit of a disaster - Hermann's bike deciding to check out in a big way. A bent back wheel had pushed the tyre in to the brake block, tearing the tyre and causing a blowout.
Adrian produced a piece of toothpaste tube to prevent the new innertube bursting through what remained of the tyre, and, then set of home for a new tyre. Hermann plodded on with about 20 psi (which we thought the maximum the repair would take) in his back wheel, up the hill to Chipstead and down Reigate Hill where a small elite detatchment had decided to improvise on the route and shove off in an entirely novel direction. Tim Hall and Danilo came to the rescue, rounding up the sheepish lost sheep, allowing us to make our way up Cockshott Hill with a full crew.
Only after Ben and Andy had set off down Lonesome Lane at warp five did it occur to me that they might not clock User10571's bend - so I decided to chase them down (smart move!) and warn them. Duly warned they set off at warp five.five, with me on their back wheel wondering why my legs hurt so very much and whether the fire in my lungs would spread to my brain.
Adrian and I had discussed taking the A23 direct in to the undercroft of the airport, and this worked well enough. We formed a rolling roadblock that held off the traffic as the peloton trundled down three quarters of a mile of trunk road in to a bus stop and on to the cycle path. Then the Surprise. Up we went into the airport, with the new riders taking a little while to come to terms with being in the Gatwick arrivals hall. Coffee (Caffe Nero is sooo much better than Costa) and Graham pronounced the last rites on Hermann's back wheel, which, we decided could collapse at any time. Hermann took the train back to London, and the rest of us went out in to the dawn and took the Balcombe road in to Sussex.
The FNRttC got in to its grooviest groove. Our TEC trio were happy to continue, people did the wayfinding thing in the usual smooth way, and all of us went along at a comfortable pace, meeting up at Turners Hill, then Lindfield. The mist thickened, and we arrived in Lindfield dripping. Dave took pictures, which should be sweet.
I'd done the wayfinding at the top end of Slugwash Lane, and was following Angela-Marie down the hill when the following happened....there was a bang - a big bang.....a large black bit (which turned out to be a light) shot ten feet sideways from her bike..... she exclaimed in a very refined matter, her front wheel locked up... I shouted 'don't brake'...... she came to rest at the side of the road. What had happened was that a bike lamp fixed to the front fork, had gone in to the spokes and (quite how I don't know) the saddle wire of her brake had come out of the brake arm, and the brake arm had gone under the rim, ramming the pad in to the spokes. Go figure. The brake was re-strung, the wheel was in perfect shape, the light went in to the bag and we continued, her wheel not one bit out of line.
On to Wivelsfield and the Greenhouses, and up the Beacon. Some whippersnappers did it three times, but, just as strikingly, all kinds of riders on all kinds of bikes took it in to their heads that they weren't going to walk, no sirree, and that this hill was there for the taking. And taken it was, with what I'm sure was a good deal of effort belied by the smiles and the smooth pedalling at the top. Pippa looked in no trouble at all, Claudine fairly raced up, and Des and Mike, both on fixies, soared to the top.
Angela-Marie's chain had gone. While Adrian and Graham sorted the new power link the majority of the ride made their way to the Madeira, there to drink Earl Grey tea by a sea sparkling under sunlight. There was a modicum of bathing, and a lot of breakfast eating, and, in small groups, our happy band went off to the station, or, in the case of the Mouseketeers, the road to all points north and west. Adrian and I took the 10.19 to East Croydon and I rolled down to the Stockwell Skate Park Jam, which was absolutely the after eight mint to the feast that is the FNRttC.
Tomorrow's another day. Newhaven.
To me this ride was summed up when Angela-Marie asked what other night rides take place, when I replied that other than the annual Dun and Exodus this is the only, to my knowledge, season of night rides in the whole of the UK it brought it home to me what a truly unique and magical experience the FNRttC is!!!
There are many reasons for this and last night was an example of all of them.
Far too many highlights to list but a couple that jump to mind:-
The guy who had to retire at Gatwick with the broken wheel, earlier in the ride he had commented on how mad, possibly dangerous riding a fixed must be, later at the bottom of Reigate at the later than planned re-group I pointed out, in a jovial manner of course, it was not as dangerous as descending Reigate on a bike with approx 6psi in the rear tyre, with a wheel that travelled as far sideways as it did forwards, thus meaning the rear brake was completely out of use, at this point he saw my point, laughed and carried on his way happy as ever!!!
Going back to Angela-Marie this is a girl going far, her first night ride and a fantastic effort, despite a slow to warm up after pitting at Gatwick, Turners Hill was crested in style, the near disatarous descent on Slugwash had not flustered her and she was in fine fettle to take on the Beacon. Both Des and myself, after chaperoning her to the bottom were gutted for her after her unfortunate chain breakage but make no mistake she'll be back!!
The usual thanks you to all who made last nights ride what it was, and the team who ensure another swift dispatch of 60 riders to the coast go's without too much problem.
Looking forward to the next one already.
There are many reasons for this and last night was an example of all of them.
Far too many highlights to list but a couple that jump to mind:-
The guy who had to retire at Gatwick with the broken wheel, earlier in the ride he had commented on how mad, possibly dangerous riding a fixed must be, later at the bottom of Reigate at the later than planned re-group I pointed out, in a jovial manner of course, it was not as dangerous as descending Reigate on a bike with approx 6psi in the rear tyre, with a wheel that travelled as far sideways as it did forwards, thus meaning the rear brake was completely out of use, at this point he saw my point, laughed and carried on his way happy as ever!!!
Going back to Angela-Marie this is a girl going far, her first night ride and a fantastic effort, despite a slow to warm up after pitting at Gatwick, Turners Hill was crested in style, the near disatarous descent on Slugwash had not flustered her and she was in fine fettle to take on the Beacon. Both Des and myself, after chaperoning her to the bottom were gutted for her after her unfortunate chain breakage but make no mistake she'll be back!!
The usual thanks you to all who made last nights ride what it was, and the team who ensure another swift dispatch of 60 riders to the coast go's without too much problem.
Looking forward to the next one already.
Mark Falconer
Active Member
- Location
- west ham
nice ride
thanks for the early birthday present D
looking forward to the next one and again thanks to the night rider and his trusty cohorts for an excellent introduction.
thanks for the early birthday present D
looking forward to the next one and again thanks to the night rider and his trusty cohorts for an excellent introduction.Mark Falconer said:thanks for the early birthday present D
your welcome
that's nightrider from mad max (simon) not the talking car
come on now Mark get yourself a proper username
MacB
Lover of things that come in 3's
- Location
- Farnborough, Hampshire
Superb, stupendous, fantastic and simply the best so far, thought I'd already enjoyed great night rides but this one was just sublime. Warmer conditions helped and also I 'got' the ride better. I cycled at every pace I'm capable of, at every position in the peleton and chatted(properly) to as many folks as I could. This resulted in the ride passing by so fast that I found myself wondering where it had gone.
Thanks - all the usual, I continue to be in awe of an event that provides so much to every level of rider. If I was Simon I'd be bursting with pride at what has been achieved - and justifiably so.
Highlights - for me it's always the people, chatted to all my buddies and introduced myself to some new folks. Did a little bit of unofficial teching and riding at the back, met TheClaud(delightful) and even joined the front for a while, only for them to take a wrong turn, which muggins followed suit with. Had some long chats with Lisa who last did the ride a couple of years ago, yet remembered the route better than I did. The camaraderie when we meet at HPC, those first tentative pedal strokes as we all get rolling and the spectacle we create in London. Arallsop coming to see us off, ILB actually speaking to me!!!!, Stuarts tales of technical woes and joys. Adrian, top guy and prepared to go that extra bit at the drop of a hat to help a fellow cyclist. How many folks would cycle home to get a stranger a new tyre and then carry said tyre to Gatwick for them? TimO, you'll never lack for a conversation with this gentelman around. Meeting Topcats brother Mark and his determination to come back coz he 'needs' to beat the Beacon. I suppose seeing TC again as well!!! I reckon we'll all look great when we have matching Assos shorts and Mouseketeer tops. GrumpyGreg being not so grumpy but I can see the potential. Mike, Des and Graham, teching at the back, great guys. Sig and Pippa, want to see what a really happy, but tired and sweaty, lady looks like? see these two after they cracked the Beacon for the first time. My Man RichP waiting at the bottom of the Beacon when we arrived, I tried to be rude to him but couldn't mask my delight that he'd made it. Hooking up with Mick at Wallington, only met him properly on the recent Solstice ride but felt like I was greeting an old friend. We seem similarly paced on hills so I led up the start of the Beacon and he kindly took over as the going got tougher. Definitely makes a hill easier when you can pace up with a friend. Chris was on form, he wasn't happy with his cycling, none of us even noticed, just good to have him along. The Doctor, another face to a name, and another perfect gent. I could go on, suppose I'd better mention that monster Teef, in his usual guise of all round nice guy. Jeez, without that bloke my cycling just wouldn't have become the pleasure it is. Meeting Clive and Marilyn, with whom Mick and I shared the return ride. Starting off with none of us knowing each other and finishing firm friends.
The Return - we made Lurgashall for lunch, it was 36 miles from the Madeira cafe. It was great fun until Mick had back to back inflation issues about 8 miles from lunch. Glass caused the first and a faulty valve the second. We arrived at Lurgashall with a sense of relief and a realisation that there is no way to get there without some pretty stiff climbs. I'd worked out that the overall return would take me to about 110 miles, I was nearly at that and still nearly 40 miles from home. So decided I'd join the others in getting the train home from Haslemere. It was the right choice, I really didn't have a final, solo, 30+ miles in my legs, or at least not with any enjoyment level. We left Lurgashall and took the lower fork for Haslemere this time. There's no way in to that town that doesn't involve some serious hills. Mick was of the opinion that the upper route couldn't possibly have been worse. It was a close thing but that one eye popping climb(Blackdown?) would probably have convinced him otherwise. We kept up a fair pace, raising my rolling average from 10.5mph to nearly 12.5mph pre/post Brighton. For any future rides I think Clive is the man for directions/planning. Marilyn kept politely telling us that we could cycle off ahead on hills and she'd just plod on and we could regroup every so often. I'm afraid she was mistaken in thinking that we were going slowly to accompany her, the hills were just taking it out of all of us. Clive asked how you qualified for the Mouseketeers, I think the idea that you cycle an extra 40 miles, after an all night 60 mile ride, just to have a spot of lunch in a nice place, pretty much captures the membership criteria Add in the some wrong turns, dubious map reading and wildly optimistic distance guesses and I think we were there. If we do want to go ahead with the custom merino jerseys, I think we'll have no problem getting the 12+ needed for the first quantity level discount. Though we may have to put special 'founder' markings on the tops for Teef, Arallsop and ILB
There will be pics appearing but I really need to get a new camera and do my share in that respect.
Finally my wife Jane has expresse an interest in a tandem, so my new ambition is for the pair of us to do a night ride on it together. My further ambition is for all 5 MacB's to do a night ride together.......one day........maybe
Thanks - all the usual, I continue to be in awe of an event that provides so much to every level of rider. If I was Simon I'd be bursting with pride at what has been achieved - and justifiably so.
Highlights - for me it's always the people, chatted to all my buddies and introduced myself to some new folks. Did a little bit of unofficial teching and riding at the back, met TheClaud(delightful) and even joined the front for a while, only for them to take a wrong turn, which muggins followed suit with. Had some long chats with Lisa who last did the ride a couple of years ago, yet remembered the route better than I did. The camaraderie when we meet at HPC, those first tentative pedal strokes as we all get rolling and the spectacle we create in London. Arallsop coming to see us off, ILB actually speaking to me!!!!, Stuarts tales of technical woes and joys. Adrian, top guy and prepared to go that extra bit at the drop of a hat to help a fellow cyclist. How many folks would cycle home to get a stranger a new tyre and then carry said tyre to Gatwick for them? TimO, you'll never lack for a conversation with this gentelman around. Meeting Topcats brother Mark and his determination to come back coz he 'needs' to beat the Beacon. I suppose seeing TC again as well!!! I reckon we'll all look great when we have matching Assos shorts and Mouseketeer tops. GrumpyGreg being not so grumpy but I can see the potential. Mike, Des and Graham, teching at the back, great guys. Sig and Pippa, want to see what a really happy, but tired and sweaty, lady looks like? see these two after they cracked the Beacon for the first time. My Man RichP waiting at the bottom of the Beacon when we arrived, I tried to be rude to him but couldn't mask my delight that he'd made it. Hooking up with Mick at Wallington, only met him properly on the recent Solstice ride but felt like I was greeting an old friend. We seem similarly paced on hills so I led up the start of the Beacon and he kindly took over as the going got tougher. Definitely makes a hill easier when you can pace up with a friend. Chris was on form, he wasn't happy with his cycling, none of us even noticed, just good to have him along. The Doctor, another face to a name, and another perfect gent. I could go on, suppose I'd better mention that monster Teef, in his usual guise of all round nice guy. Jeez, without that bloke my cycling just wouldn't have become the pleasure it is. Meeting Clive and Marilyn, with whom Mick and I shared the return ride. Starting off with none of us knowing each other and finishing firm friends.
The Return - we made Lurgashall for lunch, it was 36 miles from the Madeira cafe. It was great fun until Mick had back to back inflation issues about 8 miles from lunch. Glass caused the first and a faulty valve the second. We arrived at Lurgashall with a sense of relief and a realisation that there is no way to get there without some pretty stiff climbs. I'd worked out that the overall return would take me to about 110 miles, I was nearly at that and still nearly 40 miles from home. So decided I'd join the others in getting the train home from Haslemere. It was the right choice, I really didn't have a final, solo, 30+ miles in my legs, or at least not with any enjoyment level. We left Lurgashall and took the lower fork for Haslemere this time. There's no way in to that town that doesn't involve some serious hills. Mick was of the opinion that the upper route couldn't possibly have been worse. It was a close thing but that one eye popping climb(Blackdown?) would probably have convinced him otherwise. We kept up a fair pace, raising my rolling average from 10.5mph to nearly 12.5mph pre/post Brighton. For any future rides I think Clive is the man for directions/planning. Marilyn kept politely telling us that we could cycle off ahead on hills and she'd just plod on and we could regroup every so often. I'm afraid she was mistaken in thinking that we were going slowly to accompany her, the hills were just taking it out of all of us. Clive asked how you qualified for the Mouseketeers, I think the idea that you cycle an extra 40 miles, after an all night 60 mile ride, just to have a spot of lunch in a nice place, pretty much captures the membership criteria
Add in the some wrong turns, dubious map reading and wildly optimistic distance guesses and I think we were there. If we do want to go ahead with the custom merino jerseys, I think we'll have no problem getting the 12+ needed for the first quantity level discount. Though we may have to put special 'founder' markings on the tops for Teef, Arallsop and ILBThere will be pics appearing but I really need to get a new camera and do my share in that respect.
Finally my wife Jane has expresse an interest in a tandem, so my new ambition is for the pair of us to do a night ride on it together. My further ambition is for all 5 MacB's to do a night ride together.......one day........maybe
great pics, TC1. I saw you taking one on the road down to Ardingly and thought 'that will be a smasher'. And it is.
MacB - we used to have business cards with the words 'conversational pace' written on them. Chats are in the mission statement.
And welcome aboard TC2.topcat1 said:
MacB - we used to have business cards with the words 'conversational pace' written on them. Chats are in the mission statement.
"Chris was on form, he wasn't happy with his cycling, none of us even noticed, just good to have him along...."
Was very close to throwing up at several points along the ride (don't chase down fit young women is the answer), whereas normally would have had no problem. Consequently Ditchling was always going to beat me. I will be back.
Was very close to throwing up at several points along the ride (don't chase down fit young women is the answer), whereas normally would have had no problem. Consequently Ditchling was always going to beat me. I will be back.
