FNRTTC & other informal rides - Questions

[Nosaj]

I would be very interested in one of these particularly the Southend on Sea or Burnham Crouch as it is only a few miles to ride back home. But not adverse to expanding my horizons on subsequent rides should I enjoy them as I do enjoy my sleep!

I understand that I have to email Fnrttc to register and I am already a member of CTC so no probs there but:
How do I pay my £ 2 fee is it on registration or the the day (presume all will become clear when I send in my registration)
Does the registration have to be timed to coincide with a ride or can it be done anytime?
Are the start points of the ride announced via the threads here or are they in the same place or do they differ I was reading the December southend thread post and I think the start point was somewhere around embankment at midnight but I could not really tell where (there were 15 pages of posts so I may have inadvertantly missed some info)
Distances are fine but what are the average speeds (roughly). I know you have way pointers and tail end charlies but the best rides are when all in the group are more or less evenly matched and I would not to enter a ride if it was beyond my ability as I would not like to spoil other peoples rides. I did London to Southend in just under 3.5 hrs excl break time no real problems but it didn't feel like a leisurely, social and enjoyable ride esp towards the end and I am not as fit I was back then albeit I do have time to get my legs back in.

As regards other informal rides do I just keep viewing the boards here and then express my interest and then just turn up at the alloted time?

When I do turn up for a ride should I book in with the runs leader or is it more laid back than that.

Any other etiquette pointers would be most gratefully recd.

Apologies for what with hindsight will no doubt be stupidly dumb questions.

 

[ttcycle]

Informal rides- as they are; turn up and go. Some will of course be more formal but if you have any questions post on the thread of the ride in question and you'll get your answer.

FNRttC - £2 is paid on your first ride - start point is Hyde Park corner; it's a very leisurely pace - there are different abilities on the ride but this is never an issue- it's a social ride, conversational and fun.

Email Simon - dellzeqq on here at fnrttc@yahoo.co.uk - he'll give you the information- there's also a blog under FNRttC- search for it and there's a wealth of info- in fact you may get directed there as a first port of call. It's important that your bike is in good mechanical order as the ride takes place at night- there will be people on board to help with mechanicals but it's good to start with a roadworthy machine.

Hope to see you on a ride soon!

EDITED: email is co.uk not com!

 

[Nosaj]

tt cycle many thanks your very quick response. I have read the blog but probably missed the start location info. My bike is not even a year old yet and gets serviced regularly so should be ok. Glad to hear that they are leisurely rides as well and not one ten mile TT after another. Not that I'm adverse to TT's just like to be prepared in advance. Thanks

 

[ttcycle]

Register your interest in that case- email Simon for one of the next rides - some are more challenging then others but it will be conversational unless it states otherwise.

Welcome to CC!

 

[Nosaj]

Cheers will do............wondering where he placed his ctc membership card for the no.

 

[Tim Hall]

Adding to that, start point for all London rides is Hyde Park Corner at midnight. Most rides start in London, but there are a few starting elsewhere, like York or Cardiff.

Speed wise, it's a large group so consequently a leisurely pace. Look at the distance - London to Southend is a shade over 50 miles (I think), and we get there in time for breakfast, so it won't be a whizzy affair.

It is, however, just about the best thing to do on a bike.

 

[StuAff]

It is, however, just about the best thing to do on a bike.

+1.

 

[User10119]

If you're thinking about doing a FNRttC - just do it. Most fun you can have on wheels, I reckon. If you're speedy, dress warm-ish. They went slow enough for me to keep up, and I'm a massively overweight utility cyclist (wot has been sadly led astray by strange people off the interwebs) riding a sturdy C2W hybrid!

 

[rb58]

And it's just about the most welcoming and friendly bunch of bike folks you're likely to come across. (there I said it). So very different to the 'sportive' type events.

 

[hatler]

FNRttCs ?

Do it. Don't question it.

 

[srw]

Do it. Don't question it.

Yes. I've done two in the cold and one in the wind and rain. If you're lucky some strange family will force-feed you the most welcome coffee ever at the bottom of Ditchling Beacon.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Yes. I've done two in the cold and one in the wind and rain. If you're lucky some strange family will force-feed you the most welcome coffee ever at the bottom of Ditchling Beacon.

Amen to that!

 

[Nosaj]

Thanks for the feedback I've sent in my registration and will hopefully be popping my fnrttc cherry on 4th May with the Sarfend on Sea ride !

 

[TheDoctor]

It's something everyone ought to do once.
I don't cope well with staying up all night, so i probably won't do a second one.
But I'm glad I did one