FNRttC to Brighton 13th May 2011

[User10571]

I'm not a member of CTC

Ah!
Dat ting!

There's ways to sort it - as you know...

 

[martint235]

It was nice seeing Ross, Andy and big Martin on the the Brighton road, making their way home while I was pootling down to Purley

Good job lads.

I don't remember seeing you!

 

[iZaP]

Ah!
Dat ting!

There's ways to sort it - as you know...

I know what you mean

I don't remember seeing you!

It's because you never look, you just pedal!!!

Ross certainly saw me, he even said hi!

 

[Aperitif]

Today's Outlook: Sunny and warm.
It's also interesting to view how easily Adrian and the BMX look 'as one'... I have still got that screeching noise passing through the matter.

 

[Aperitif]

Nice place, nice people at Planet Sweet, and it is a massive undertaking to make it work, I'm sure.
Greg and Team, at The Madeira are used to gaggles of lary oafs well-oiled, clutches of hen parties wanting a greasy bun, tankers full of schoolkids, and a talcum powdery sprinkling of elderly groups. Couple the experience with an overriding pride and seaside nosh ups at Brighton are a hard act to follow. We are very lucky. (More so now that the key to glass borne beverages has been discovered... but only for exceptional circumstances etc )

More importantly, the lovely Antonia called me normal, and sensible... she is such an astute judge of character IMHO. Get ready to support her effort for the Martlets Rides and other stuff peeps - and make more fun!

 

[Aperitif]

Credit to rich p for this ideal snap of The Friday Night Kid, looking perfectly brattish on ascent. At times, he was clocking 23mph +/- on the flat. Remember also that the rear 'gear' is (or perhaps 'was' by now ) a teensy cog about the size of something found in a clock.

 

[StuAff]

Well, that was another great night, notwithstanding the much-mentioned problems at the midway stop (baklava was fantastic though, somewhat compensated for that IMHO!).


The evening didn't start off too well. I was on a later finish at work, so couldn't get my usual train into Waterloo. Having agreed with Simon to meet up with everyone on the common, assorted train problems then meant I didn't get into Clapham Junction till ten past midnight- at least I didn't have too long to wait there for the peloton. Lovely to see Grace again, if only briefly- hope you feel up to a full FNR in the not too distant future. And many more friends old and new of course! Though having seen User looking perfectly fit and well riding in Blackfriars Thursday evening, I was surprised he didn't make it

Route was great- the variations that don't take in Turners' Hill, the lovely fast sweep through Ardingly etc, and the Beacon just aren't the same for me, though the more hill-phobic may disagree. Apart from all the chain breakages- I can't remember so many chain problems on one ride before- mechanicals seemed to be thankfully confined to PF visitations.

And there must be special mention of the undoubted star of the evening- Andy C not only did the whole thing on that BMX, he made it look easy. With a 38" gear. Standing the whole time....I've just made a donation for the Romania fund, I hope lots more do the same. You certainly earned it!

Decided to at least attempt riding home, and as I made good progress despite the constant headwind, I kept going. Back home just before 2, rolling average 13.5 mph.

Thanks everyone. If you're going to Cardiff, see you Friday! Photos, such as they are, here.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Credit to rich p for this ideal snap of The Friday Night Kid, looking perfectly brattish on ascent. At times, he was clocking 23mph +/- on the flat. Remember also that the rear 'gear' is (or perhaps 'was' by now ) a teensy cog about the size of something found in a clock.

Brilliant pic!!

Had a go on a BMX for the first time a few weeks ago and it was bloody hard work just going round the block - HPC to Brighton is some going - sick!

 

[srw]

The Downs always look good when the sun is low and the shadows accentuate the Rubenesque curves of the......

......mounds of grass surmounted by gorse, like the chastity belt of the comely wife of a noble and violent crusader. While far across the valley the violent slash of the Boxhill quarry mars the landscape recalling the scar across the cheek of his erstwhile favourite, discovered by the lord in flagrante on his early return from the wars. (You do realise I can go on in the same vein all day if allowed?)

I am extraordinarily pleasantly surprised at how well I coped with that. I haven't pulled an all-nighter since my college ball (stop it, please!) 20 years ago, and apart from a couple of moments on the train to Victoria after Tim-from-Croydon-and formerly-Exeter got off and we stopped keeping each other awake I remained vaguely sentient all day, even through the long hiatuses of a Thai restaurant trying to serve normal people as well as a large party.

Very good to meet a number of you for the first time. I look forward to our next meeting, when perhaps I will be slightly more switched on to reality.

Apart from a ride with a party from work earlier in the year (very serious, and since I was on my slow bike they dropped me on every hill) that was literally my first ever group ride. Most of the riding made me feel very safe, and being able to do a bit of light drafting made the distance a bit shorter. A couple of areas of better discipline would be nice, but not earth-shattering. On the long downhill from Turner's Hill some relatively slower people were right out on the right of the lane rather than tucking a bit further in and making it easier for others to overtake. And on one of the lanes (not Lonesome, I think, but one with a white line) there was at one point a group of three widely spaced with its right-hand member hanging over the white line. I work on the basis that if there is a white line I want to stay to the left of it, so overtaking that lot was less comfortable than it might have been. (Yes, I know, I could have tucked in behind, but I've got the muscles of someone 2 stone heavier who is used to riding a heavy bike, not something Titanium and featherlight.)

Thanks to Simon and Suzie for escorting me through the traffic jams to the station - Simon's reaction when he was beeped at put the fear of God into a driver. I hope he's right and the Greens make the place more human. Sorry to abandon you just before we arrived - I didn't have a ticket and didn't know how long it would take to buy one. In the event, not very long and I ran into a few others from the ride. I also realise I never handed over my quid.

I am now trying to find a reason why Whitstable might be doable, despite having a two-day intensive management training course on the Thursday and Friday. Mrs W and I will come in tandem at some stage. We'll probably be a little faster than the recumbents up most of the hills, so won't feel too guilty about being slower than most.

 

[arallsopp]

Mrs W and I will come in tandem at some stage. We'll probably be a little faster than the recumbents up most of the hills, so won't feel too guilty about being slower than most.

It was a pleasure riding with you, but you realise this is fighting talk, sir?

 

[Mark Grant]

A good ride, my first FNRttCof the year. I managed Ditchling without walking or even stopping which is an improvement over last year!

My pics here .


Mark.

 

[TimO]

Another fine ride to Brighton, and as always largely down to Simon's fine planning and organisational skills.

I'd like to say I helped out with repairs when I was TECing, but only really had hands on, on one bicycle. Most of those who had fairy visitations could deal with it themselves, whilst the TECs often just stood around, or helped illuminate the proceedings. We did seem to suffer a bit from chain issues, but as far as I know they all got dealt with OK.

Like User10571, I did sort of abandon the rest of the TECs just before Turners Hill, so I could see how many people I could overtake there, and then did much the same on the Beacon! Even though Red has very slightly harder gears than the Kaffenback, the difference in weight made it much easier to get up the Beacon than a steel framed bike. I didn't drop below 6mph on the way up. Yay!

As ever, I probably met various people, some new, some familiar, and may remember the names of some of those.

Twas I who was bending your ear back on the train, srw, I hope we'll see you on more of these rides.

There's a few pictures of me scattered around in the links above, including several by AlexB that I utterly failed tp notice him taking!

The post ride rehydration was as enjoyable as ever, even if the sun dig bugger off eventually. Somehow I managed to leave the Madeira, behind people who I then beat to the station, but I'll assume they rehydrated more than me.

I need to check the exact dates, but I don't think I'll be doing the next two or three FNRttCs because I've got to go in for an operation, that I wont be able to cycle after, for a couple of months. Have fun, and hopefully I'll see people later in the year.

 

[srw]

The post ride rehydration was as enjoyable as ever, even if the sun dig bugger off eventually. Somehow I managed to leave the Madeira, behind people who I then beat to the station, but I'll assume they rehydrated more than me.

Hello again TimO.

I can't speak for Simon, but Suzie didn't seem more rehydrated than the rest of us. But THIS WAS A CTC RIDE, and we stopped at every red light in Brighton. Sometimes more than once - I was relying on Simon for directions so didn't do my usual London rider's trick of getting to the front of every queue by overtaking the traffic.

 

[AKA Bob]

Thanks Simon for another brilliant and enjoyable ride. Sorry to leave the fun in Brighton early but only made it to my Brompton ride with 5mins to spare. Or should I say dump the bike and start the safety chat!!! 150 Bromptons travelling through London made a big impression.

Have a great time in Wales and I will see you next month for the Whitstable ride.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

that was the best ever FNRttC that I've ridden. I am in awe of Andy C and will be flexing my debit card shortly. Reigate Hill, it wasn't just me that set off the speed camera. Slugwash Lane, flat out after waymarking the lights in Reigate desperate to get to the front for no good reason than the front is there. Hubris. I got to be the last to leave Planet Sweet, thanks guts. Turners Hill. Pah! I got stuck in my big ring and you came second. The run to Lindfield, despite the worlds worse heartburn, why is it never that easy of a lunchtime or a Sunday morning? Ditchling? Somewhat spent I grovelled my way up, keeping well clear of the inner ring and didn't vomit. Always a bonus... and yes the products of the Dark Star Brewery are worth trying (Evening Star, right by Brighton Station well worth a visit). I did right by my sponsors, actually it is the other way round, by baring my jersey for that bit.

Decided to ride home no point rehydrating with the crew as the meds I'm on, well let's just say they use them to put alcoholics off the drink, thanks guts. Was tempted to draught Stuart for a few miles along the coast before heading north but someone asked directions to the station so that made my mind up. Off I went. Ruddy wind. NCN20 aside the A23 to Albourne then zig-zag across the lanes. Scalped but an elderly racing snake just north of Henfield. Sod that, I thought after a bit and I gave chase, caught him with a leg bursting effort down by Ashurst and peeled off and span slowly for the Sham. 100+ miles on the day. My first imperial this year. and the first since Jan 2010 when my knee cracked up. Swear I saw someone from the ride heading south on North street (red top yacf buff dark hair glasses possibly ?) as I reached the last km but by then I was close to seeing pink elephants. Feel asleep in the bath and alarmed the lovely Helen. Went to bed had a sleep and got up at 20:00 for a curry and a Eurovision party. Personally I think Serbia were robbed.

Met some lovely new people, but damn my memory for names is awful. Sorry. Met the 'lady from lfgss' met the two lovely americans (EDIT: see below I'm rubbish at accents!) and explained fried bread, the man on the moulton, and on the train on the way Nigel from Storrington, Shadow in here, and we will no doubt clock up some miles together in the near future. Managed a 6km run this morning with my local joggers too.

Lovely people, lovely ride, thanks for carrying me along.