FNRttC pre-ride: London/Bristol to Cardiff, May 20th 2011

[theclaud]

BTW Frank - do you thinkthis thread title might be a bit confusing to anyone looking here to find out about the FNRttC? It makes it look like there's another one, rather than simply an insane offshoot of the Cardiff-Swansea.

 

[Aperitif]

Yeh Frank, are you sure you know the way to Swan Hosé? Cor! Talk about misleading people Frank. Next thing, you'll be asking everyone to bring a buff on your FNRttheClaud.

I'm wondering who to trust with my body now... you, or Dr Beeching's leftovers. Tsk.








(Down time - I'm bored )

 

[frank9755]

BTW Frank - do you thinkthis thread title might be a bit confusing to anyone looking here to find out about the FNRttC? It makes it look like there's another one, rather than simply an insane offshoot of the Cardiff-Swansea.

OK, I'll change it.

Bossy...

 

[theclaud]

The FMRttFNRttC?

 

[frank9755]

Yeh Frank, are you sure you know the way to Swan Hosé? Cor! Talk about misleading people Frank. Next thing, you'll be asking everyone to bring a buff on your FNRttheClaud.

I'm wondering who to trust with my body now... you, or Dr Beeching's leftovers. Tsk.








(Down time - I'm bored )

'Teef - I don't know what you've had for lunch but it must have been good stuff!

 

[mistral]

OK, I did a bit of a swift ride out on Sunday morning to check out a route to Wallingford, went via Ascot & Twyford. I'm now definitely up for this challenge.


I could potentially go through Stains and then via Marlow & Christmas Common, if anyone else is going that way?

What time will the three amigos be in Wallingford?

 

[Aperitif]

OK, I did a bit of a swift ride out on Sunday morning to check out a route to Wallingford, went via Ascot & Twyford. I'm now definitely up for this challenge.


I could potentially go through Stains and then via Marlow & Christmas Common, if anyone else is going that way?

What time will the three amigos be in Wallingford?

To be Frank - I don't know. Best ask the driver!

 

[frank9755]

OK, I did a bit of a swift ride out on Sunday morning to check out a route to Wallingford, went via Ascot & Twyford. I'm now definitely up for this challenge.


I could potentially go through Stains and then via Marlow & Christmas Common, if anyone else is going that way?

What time will the three amigos be in Wallingford?

Sounds good.
Wallingford is about 33 miles from Harefield so I am expecting us to be there around 11:00 - 11:15.
But we'll be going via Christmas Common, and could easily tweak to get to Marlow at around 10:15. I know a nice little cafe in Marlow where we could meet.

 

[Aperitif]

Is the food OK there - we don't need a case of Marlow Bottom to contend with?

 

[iZaP]

Do join us if you like! Would you get a train back, or ride back from, say, Bristol (or Malmesbury)...? If the latter I can suggest an interesting return route.

Well..my favourable option would be to get the train back from Bristol or Swindon (v. cheap tickets to london from there).

I wish I could cycle back...but without another person or a GPS, I doubt I'd make it, I would get definitely get lost.

 

[frank9755]

Well..my favourable option would be to get the train back from Bristol or Swindon (v. cheap tickets to london from there).

I wish I could cycle back...but without another person or a GPS, I doubt I'd make it, I would get definitely get lost.

OK, sounds like a good plan!
I was expecting us to be at Swindon by around 1, and then get lunch. We would definitely be at Bristol by 6 - maybe earlier - depending on how long we take for lunch / tea.
You could meet me in Ealing. I'll be leaving at about 8 to head up to Harefield - or you might be better to meet up with Mistral - who will be coming from Esher to Marlow

 

[dellzeqq]

Well..my favourable option would be to get the train back from Bristol or Swindon (v. cheap tickets to london from there).

I wish I could cycle back...but without another person or a GPS, I doubt I'd make it, I would get definitely get lost.

A4. Perfectly do-able

 

[frank9755]

A4. Perfectly do-able

That's true.

Also, you may have a riding companion for a loop from London - Davy was thinking about similar if he could make it...

 

[frank9755]

OK - revised route is here.

Sorry, the route has a couple of weird detours on it which need to be ignored. I got sick of re-drawing it as there doesn't seem to be a command in BikeHike for 'please stop taking me up every little cycle track; I want to stay on the ****ing road!' And RidewithGPS, which does have that command (although it calls it something different) does not believe that you can cycle over the Severn bridge.

Meet at:
- Harefield Pond at 9:00am or
- Cafe in the Park, Marlow at around 10:30am or
- Services before the Severn Bridge 6-7:00pm

Anyone got any particular ideas for lunch around Swindon, or shall we just play it by ear?

We can stop for tea in Malmesbury - there are a couple of decent cafes - depending on how we are doing for time.

Dinner in Cardiff - probably down by the Bay, maybe Pizza (thought: maybe we need to book somewhere cos of rugby match...) around 9:30pm

 

[gbs]

O And RidewithGPS, which does have that command (although it calls it something different) does not believe that you can cycle over the Severn bridge.

Meet at:
- Harefield Pond at 9:00am or
- Cafe in the Park, Marlow at around 10:30am or
- Services before the Severn Bridge 6-7:00pm

In ridewithgps. there is a "draw lines" option.

I will am at the Marlow rendezvous. Can any one beat Apero to the punch with Philip Marlowe pun! Let's wexchange mobile numbers via PMs