FNRttC to Brighton 13th May 2011

[hatler]

sorry - I missed this. It was deeper than that. They took exception to us. A few people looked at the sandwiches and said to themselves - I don't fancy that. And then they tried to buy a cup of coffee, but Bulent wanted to charge £4.50. Cue disenchantment.

I agree with you about the Nescafe, but the heart of the problem was that they didn't make the money they thought they would make, and Planet Sweet open for us to make money. I don't think that Mark, or Kieron make much of a profit out of us - they do it for the crack. If you remember the first time we went to the Cabin I settled the entire bill for £105 and collected the cash after - I don't think the profit on that is much recompense for getting in to work at 2.30, especially if you run a pub in the evening.

A decent sized tea pot would help, rather than individually preparing each cuppa. Two queues (one for coffee and one for tea). And ref the £4.50 for food & drink, was it clearly stated (and understood by all concerned) that by taking part in the ride you were committing to the Planet Sweet cash and that there was no alternative ? But there's nothing I can suggest to overcome the loo queue.

 

[StuAff]

sorry - I missed this. It was deeper than that. They took exception to us. A few people looked at the sandwiches and said to themselves - I don't fancy that. And then they tried to buy a cup of coffee, but Bulent wanted to charge £4.50. Cue disenchantment.

I agree with you about the Nescafe, but the heart of the problem was that they didn't make the money they thought they would make, and Planet Sweet open for us to make money. I don't think that Mark, or Kieron make much of a profit out of us - they do it for the crack. If you remember the first time we went to the Cabin I settled the entire bill for £105 and collected the cash after - I don't think the profit on that is much recompense for getting in to work at 2.30, especially if you run a pub in the evening.

Unfortunate problem. Mark and Kieron (and their crews) are clearly pleased to see us, and the feeling's mutual. Great food, lovely people, everyone's happy. Feelings of disenchantment regards Planet Sweet are almost certainly mutual. Trying to charge people who just wanted a cuppa £4.50 is off, by anyone's book. Agreed that the look of the sandwiches might well have put people off- but the Tully family in Stock didn't have this problem, same with the splendid PTA catering on the IOW Randonnee every year.

 

[hatler]

The Ascent of the Beacon never quite hits the ceremonial highspot without Hatler and Joe doing that coffee thing (not that we aren’t glad to have Rob on the ride), but there were a lot of smiles at the top.

My plan for July had been to do the whole ride and then scoot straight back home as we have to head off North that day. However, our departure on Sat afternoon is not required until lunchtime, so I have hatched a cunning plan which involves mini-h and I heading to our Ditchling hideaway on Friday evening and meeting you all at the greenhouses at the crack of dawn in the traditional manner. I might even yet persuade mini-miss hatler that in order to earn her Fridays jersey that she has to join us as well, and help push me up the Beacon on the trailer bike.

Mini has already declared that he wants to do it, so, for the moment, presume there will be coffee in July.

 

[Mark Grant]

Hatler wrote

And ref the £4.50 for food & drink, was it clearly stated (and understood by all concerned) that by taking part in the ride you were committing to the Planet Sweet cash and that there was no alternative ?

This is pretty much how I accepted the situation. The sarnies and baklava were OK, the hot coffee was welcome mainly because after waymarking the last junction and being at almost the end of the queue by the time I was served I was bloody freezing!

It seemed a lot of people were ready to get going quite a while before all had been served.

The FRNttC is becoming a victim of its own success.



Mark.

 

[hatler]

And what can I say about this ride ?

Haven't got the time or the eloquence to do it justice, but it was fab. Weather, company, awesome BMXery, fantastic organisation, great breakfast. Greg even remembered that I would have a bacon roll and a cuppa !

The sheer delight of rolling up alongside anyone and kicking off a conversation.

It's a very special thing.

 

[User10571]

I don't think that Mark, or Kieron make much of a profit out of us - they do it for the crack. I

Ummm.... I've had more off-FNRttC contact with Kieron than I have with Mark, but whilst both have made positive noises, neither has ever suggested that they're doing it for the craic.

Has the question of 'are you making a profit?' ever actually been asked?

Just wonderin', like...

 

[hatler]

Yea, but have you considered the increased numbers?

I'm counting on the Dun Run knobbling numbers a bit, and up until the run last year I have always had coffee left over when we have left the greenhouses. And how many were on that one ? 70, perhaps 80 ? Not everyone seems to want coffee at that point (or maybe they don't trust the weirdo with the mini-sidekick apparently offering coffee for free).

So, perhaps I need to invest in another large Thermos to augment the two I already have and that should see us to coping with 100 ? Maybe.

Perhaps two more, that would at least make the bike better balanced

 

[User10571]

Not everyone seems to want coffee at that point (or maybe they don't trust the weirdo with the mini-sidekick apparently offering coffee for free).

That's so not true, Robbo

 

[TimO]

Since no one else has posted a route (or if they have, I haven't noticed), this is my recording of the route from this ride. It's been a little bit manually edited, for a few places where the GPS got confused around buildings, and where I had to chase down one errant rider, and a few loops around Planet Sweet to help warm up.

For future reference, remember that this route may or may not reflect routes used on future rides, since Simon is likely to continue his continual tweaking of the route in search of the perfect route, and the perfect 3am stop.

 

[StuAff]

It seemed a lot of people were ready to get going quite a while before all had been served.

The FRNttC is becoming a victim of its own success.

That was a big problem. Hence people (self included) feeling the need to have a (literally!) warm up around Horley. Chewing the fat with 'teef and Des at one point, they both said much the same thing. When a ride of this size works well- and both Southend & Bognor did, the March Martlets run too- it works great. When it has a problem....I certainly wouldn't want to turn the clock back and go back to a limited, smaller, run, but in many respects big numbers need careful handling.


Our leader's emails had the buffet price (and the non-inclusive drinks) made quite clear. It wouldn't have hurt Planet Sweet to put a notice on the door with a price list for the night. Assuming everyone was going to go for the buffet- or trying to charge them for it- was to my mind quite wrong.

 

[srw]

Apology (2). I spoke to Alberto and Ingrid, but didn't introduce myself to Lucy and SRW,

Simon - I know exactly who you are, and as the Organiser (with a capital O) you have plenty of other stuff to think about. I provided a light to Suzie as she did registration, and passed the time of day with Greg Collins as we waited for the off. Then I nobbled Claudine as dawn broke over Horley, and almost the first thing she said was "will you stay for a pint at the end?" I had breakfast with Suzie and Claude (having breakfast with two women I've spent the night with is a novel experience) and was too settled after the first pint of Brown Beer to do anything other than stay in the same place. We will talk in the future.

 

[_aD]

Ahoy! I'm one of the newbies, Adam P, who was atop black & white Specialized mountain bike with pannier and the ding-dong bell :-)

Thank you, thank you, thank you. You wonderful, amazing people.

Long story: http://simplypeachy.livejournal.com/465494.html

Short story: "That was one of the best times I've ever had on a bike. Milling around in the night along with a big group of fellow crazy people, chatting and spinning wheels. It's such a nice feeling to be surrounded by people who love what you love. It was also the most gruelling challenge I've put myself through since the Devon Bike Hike last summer. The sheer endurance of riding for so very long really added to the crazy challenge and it didn't detract from the fun. I can look back at every turn of the wheels and know that I loved it. It was organised and manned very well and there is no way anyone can stop me doing another one. Quite soon."

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I provided a light to Suzie as she did registration, and passed the time of day with Greg Collins as we waited for the off.

you are Stephen of the friday night drop bars in London as opposed to your brompton and I claim my five pounds

 

[mistral]

Swear I saw someone from the ride heading south on North street (red top yacf buff dark hair glasses possibly ?)

That would have been me (you've got good eyes!) ... in fact it was me, getting a little lost looking for some food on my way through.

Great ride in lovely company, thanks Simon.

True, the half way stop wasn't great this time, we'll get over it. Would have been a different matter had it been a rainy night though.

 

[slowmotion]

I came along with my sister who was trying "a bit of the dark side" for the first time. We both had a great deal of fun, and she loved the ride....especially riding up Ditchling without getting out of the saddle all the way, and leaving her older brother miles behind in the dust, gasping beside his bike on numerous occasions at all stages of the ride.

I send my massive respect to Andy. Also, to Simon for offering himself up as some kind of road-kill sacrifice on the South side of Clapham Common. The trucker's shrug of exasperation was priceless when he realised that The Great Leader was not going anywhere.

With only eight days on SPDs, I had my second clipless moment outside the front door of ASDA. Many experts will be able to judge my technique.

After Horley, with the sun rising, it was simply magic. How wonderful the Sussex lanes looked as we weaved along under a beautiful blue sky. Fantastic. I was at the back for most of the time latterly. Ho hum...

Such fun to see all the usual friendly faces, and also a lot of friendly new ones . Good to see that The Comeback Kid has returned. Loved the Yellow stuff on the seafront...

Thanks to Simon, Waymarkers and TECs. Brilliant job.