FNRttC FNRttC to Brighton 8th May 2009

[Sittingduck]

This afternoon's p*nct*red tube is just patched, chain is cleaned... new matching bottle cages are fitted, drinks are mixed lights are mounted and tikka style chicken with rice is consumed

Chilling in front of the box now... it's getting close

 

[Tynan]

you can mix water?

 

[stoatsngroats]

I have to say, I'm really disappointed not to be with you this evening, but I've had a crap week at work, and I'm knackered, so it woud have been tough fro me....I'm awake at 4am Mon-Fri, and all I want to do is go to bed.....

So, have a good, safe, and very enjoyable ride.....I'll perhaps be on the next one...

 

[Sittingduck]

you can mix water?

No the water's still in the pipes... that'll fill my bladder pack - the juice bottles are mixed I like a bit of variety!

 

[Tynan]

blimey, I suspect you might be over estimating the pace, distance and heat

 

[Sittingduck]

Yeah probably but prefer to have more than I need to drink than run out and anyway some folks probably dehydrate more than others.

 

[Tynan]

mixed my water

margerined a sorren loaf and packed a banana

batteries in lights, umm pannier packed frugally

stand by door waiting for wife with foot tapping

 

[arallsopp]

Have a great one everybody. Wish I were with you. Send my regards ttC.

 

[hatler]

Wahey ! Great ride, massive turn out, great people, lots of chatting. Some good pootling was had.

Best of all I was back home in SW London by 8.50, having left the team to their own devices atop the Beacon at 7.20.

 

[Sittingduck]

Wahey ! Great ride, massive turn out, great people, lots of chatting. Some good pootling was had.

Best of all I was back home in SW London by 8.50, having left the team to their own devices atop the Beacon at 7.20.

NO swearing please That THING almost kiled me!

An Excellent ride and big thanks to Simon for organising such a ride! Horaah

 

[redjedi]

You got home before me SD, even though you got the later train.

Good job on the Bacon er...I mean Beacon.

Great ride Simon, and very well organised, well apart from the few who missed a left turn. Did Stevevw join up with us

I have a few photos on my phone, but I'm not sure they will come out very well, but we'll see.....later.

And I may write a bit more when I can pry my eyes open.

Nighty night all

(except for the few who are following Aperitif back through Farnborough, you probably won't get home until Monday )

p.s. Well I was going to get some sleep, but my neighbour has decided that today would be a good day to lay some paving, using the biggest power tools he can lay his hands on

 

[dellzeqq]

Sorry.

quite. And just to be sure, my descent was at a speed required for the efficient administration of the ride.

 

[rchomba]

That was a great ride . Very well organised and very impressed with the numnbers that turned up. Great company and TT's soup and tea was very welcome. Thank you. Bring on the next one

 

[Tynan]

Tynan home and very weary, a nice man gave me a free ticket home, as far as Clapham Junction anyway, which I now know to be a fair ride to Liverpool Street

As ever I suspect, a well managed etc etc ride, it was a bit cold early on, a lot of people were a bit caught out, massive respect to Tourist Tony who laid on a hall with soup, tea, nice bread and rock cakes for £2 a head

I had three teas, two soups and a rock cake and my god they hit the spot, we sallied forth restored into the morning light, brill, and things were much more enjoyable

Lots of girls, some very competent some less so but all suprisingly, to me, brave and cheerful

Beacon was bloody horrid, I;'d had enough halfway up and only the sight of six odd girls ahead of me still going and another on a Brompton behind me twiddling away for Engand kept me going, If the photograspgher at the top gets me, it'll be sheer agony

I gave it a real go down the other side, top cog and full legs, hit 34mph and whipped past load of people, I picked up at least one rider, the corner of my eye saw what looked like a dashing lady in orange and black kit but I thought no way can a girl be keeping up, as I came up to the lead group of five riiders and the ever present bent, I had to fractionally check, although my flat out+ was only just keeping me up to them, at this point the girl in black and orange eased up seemingly effortllessly to my left elbow and said, as coolly as if she were sat on a patio drinking pimms, 'Lets get them'

As'we' tried to pass them at the next tricky junction I managed to drop the chain, she whipped pass me with a ' ha ha! well done!'

Will arrived late to the cafe, he'd done the Beacon two extra times for fun ...

Simon went back down it at least once to shepherd brave stragglers up, there were some bloody strong riders out there, bombing backwards and forwards on sundry missions

And my apologies to anyone held up while Simon tried to vector some silly arse that missed the HPC departure with a blank in his mind for sarf London

right, shower, get dressed and off to the pub for pre match drinks

thanks again to Simon and cohorts and Tourist Tony for annother unique trip

 

[StuAff]

Stuck this in the thread on the other place too, so if you read that one you've read this, pretty much.
Wow! That was brilliant. I had a great time Sunday (sunburn and chain drops notwithstanding). Two brilliant gigs midweek (Therapy? and Killing Joke, btw). But that topped the lot. Nice shot of me panting like a dog atop the Beacon (sorry SD!) on flickr
Heartiest thanks and congratulations to everyone involved. To pick out but a few things: Tony's soup was lovely, and the scones (yours as well?) a delightful surprise. SD and Radius provided excellent guidance/training to HPC. A big shout out to all those who offered help and encouragement on the all too frequent chain drops (quite a few, far from just the TECs), and those who said hello and nice words about my odd little clown bike. I particularly liked Marna's comment about the clicks and whirrs at the station...MacBludgeon's company atop the Beacon (and a black mark to the person who said it was the last hill...it damn well wasn't!). Apertif's encouragement at the top was praise indeed considering those mighty calf muscles. Charlotte and co's enthusiatic cheering at the Beacon summit eased the pain a little. All those who signalled the Hope Vision 1 was the answer to my lighting needs- thanks. By heck, that's a cracking light, as its makers would say. And to all my fellow first timers, the lun-sorry, enthusiasts- from Hull, the brave souls who went fixed/SS, and my fellow folderiste on the Brompton, chapeau! Last but not least, for Simon, TECs and old hands- for getting this amazing event going and keeping it running so well, despite the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, disintegrating derailleurs, and dropping and broken chains.
Looking forward to seeing some/all of you again. Bognor is pencilled in. It's only three months, Simon, can I register yet? I've got to be up for that one- 8th August is my birthday (any suggestion I'd like some cake is entirely accurate) and it's only 22 miles up the road from me. Inagural Saturday Morning Ride To Pompey will be open to anyone who'd like to join me! That will probably be it from me for this year (I work a late shift and do enjoy using leave time for other things too...). But I shall definitely be back.