FNRttC to Brighton March 9th
- Thread starter dellzeqq
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Mice
Guru
What a fab ride that was! It was great to see so many people - some familiar faces and some new - but all cheerful, smiley and friendly. The anticipation of the night ahead, the banter and general warmness of spirit was already high - and we were still at HPC!
Having failed the previous week's ride caused by a wonky derailleur cage, I was determined to do this ride even though my fitness levels and indeed fatness levels are not as they were in September last year. The fear of not being able to ride up Ditchling Beacon haunted my psych but His Leggship reassured me that there is no shame in walking up it, so I decided I would do the ride to the best of my ability, climb as many hills as I could and if the Beacon had to be done on foot, then so be it. 59 miles to Brighton would be a great thing for my LonJoG training which is much more important to me than stressing over one (albeit rather large) hill! And an absolute blast of a ride in truly fabulous company it was not to be missed.
On the midnight hour, we swept around the Hyde Park Corner corner, down towards the river, up through Clapham, down to Tooting and out to Mitcham for a quick regroup and swig of water. On we went, through Coulsdon where we found the first hill. TimH rode up it as though it was flat so I tried to kid myself it wasn't steep at all (which sort of worked!) and I reached the top! Hoorah!
Out into country lanes, up and down gentle climbs we went. Lonesome Lane was just spectacular. New tarmac, smooth and immaculate. It was fantastic, weaving inbetween hedgerows, little shoals of lights ahead and behind, turns and rises and on to The Scout Hut. At one point I went into the kitchen to replenish my water bottles and one of the cyclists (dont know who) came up to the counter and said "A cup of tea and a lift up Ditchling Beacon for my bike, please?"!!
This was the place to be. There must have been at least six people serving, all of whom had been to bed and got up in the middle of night to see (to non-cyclists) a bizarrely clad group of people pour into the Scout Hutl for home-made sandwiches, tea and cakes. They were so cheery and the whole hut turned into a massive party before you could say "Lemon Drizzle Cake Please". I hope they made a lot of money - they made the whole cycle-stop a warm and welcoming place indeed.
Out into the night we headed and on to Turners Hill. A few of us followed Martin235 until we heard schum-schum-schum as McWobble appeared alongside having been sent to come and get us as we had missed a turning. Oooops! We did an about turn and joined the others. I met Mcshroom at the bottom of the hill and we rode up it together. To the top!! Hooray. Not so Hooray for everyone - it seemed that there was a real issue with the rear derailleur on Wandas' bike and despite a TEC Supreme attempt to fix it, Wanda decided that once we had reached Lindfield, she would head to Haywards Heath and home.
The route to Lindfield is amazing. Up, down, swoosh, down, oooh up a bit and then - my chain came off! Fantastically, Hatler was just behind me and kindly stopped to rectify the problem. The new Shimano 105s that I have are fab and this problem was thankfully down to user error. My test run in the week had been successful so I just need to pay more attention when changing gear.
We said goodbye to Wanda - I hope the bike is back on the road very soon - and carried on our way to Ditchling Beacon. Having been awake since 3.30am, ridden 20 miles around South East London attending five meetings, the bottom line is - I was shattered. So I gave in and walked it. I watched in awe as so many people pedalled their way to the top, some of whom had never ridden it before. Absolutely Brilliant!
The ride into Brighton was fast and cold. The view of Brighton and the sea from the golf course was fantastic - a ferris wheel has appeared on the Front. We headed down to the Madeira Cafe who kept us fed and watered in a more than satisfactory and speedy way. By 9.01 the beers were on the table. After all, this is an FNRttC!
Thank you DZ and Mrs DZ for these fabulous rides. I may have missed a Beacon and been awake for too many hours, but I had a ball.
I took some pics https://picasaweb.google.com/108733...&authkey=Gv1sRgCPaB6sKXhqKbGA&feat=directlink
M
PS Very sorry to read about Marinyork's injuries. Hope you recover soon. And glad to read that Ianrauk was able to return home after a detour with a derailleur
Having failed the previous week's ride caused by a wonky derailleur cage, I was determined to do this ride even though my fitness levels and indeed fatness levels are not as they were in September last year. The fear of not being able to ride up Ditchling Beacon haunted my psych but His Leggship reassured me that there is no shame in walking up it, so I decided I would do the ride to the best of my ability, climb as many hills as I could and if the Beacon had to be done on foot, then so be it. 59 miles to Brighton would be a great thing for my LonJoG training which is much more important to me than stressing over one (albeit rather large) hill! And an absolute blast of a ride in truly fabulous company it was not to be missed.
On the midnight hour, we swept around the Hyde Park Corner corner, down towards the river, up through Clapham, down to Tooting and out to Mitcham for a quick regroup and swig of water. On we went, through Coulsdon where we found the first hill. TimH rode up it as though it was flat so I tried to kid myself it wasn't steep at all (which sort of worked!) and I reached the top! Hoorah!
Out into country lanes, up and down gentle climbs we went. Lonesome Lane was just spectacular. New tarmac, smooth and immaculate. It was fantastic, weaving inbetween hedgerows, little shoals of lights ahead and behind, turns and rises and on to The Scout Hut. At one point I went into the kitchen to replenish my water bottles and one of the cyclists (dont know who) came up to the counter and said "A cup of tea and a lift up Ditchling Beacon for my bike, please?"!!
This was the place to be. There must have been at least six people serving, all of whom had been to bed and got up in the middle of night to see (to non-cyclists) a bizarrely clad group of people pour into the Scout Hutl for home-made sandwiches, tea and cakes. They were so cheery and the whole hut turned into a massive party before you could say "Lemon Drizzle Cake Please". I hope they made a lot of money - they made the whole cycle-stop a warm and welcoming place indeed.
Out into the night we headed and on to Turners Hill. A few of us followed Martin235 until we heard schum-schum-schum as McWobble appeared alongside having been sent to come and get us as we had missed a turning. Oooops! We did an about turn and joined the others. I met Mcshroom at the bottom of the hill and we rode up it together. To the top!! Hooray. Not so Hooray for everyone - it seemed that there was a real issue with the rear derailleur on Wandas' bike and despite a TEC Supreme attempt to fix it, Wanda decided that once we had reached Lindfield, she would head to Haywards Heath and home.
The route to Lindfield is amazing. Up, down, swoosh, down, oooh up a bit and then - my chain came off! Fantastically, Hatler was just behind me and kindly stopped to rectify the problem. The new Shimano 105s that I have are fab and this problem was thankfully down to user error. My test run in the week had been successful so I just need to pay more attention when changing gear.
We said goodbye to Wanda - I hope the bike is back on the road very soon - and carried on our way to Ditchling Beacon. Having been awake since 3.30am, ridden 20 miles around South East London attending five meetings, the bottom line is - I was shattered. So I gave in and walked it. I watched in awe as so many people pedalled their way to the top, some of whom had never ridden it before. Absolutely Brilliant!
The ride into Brighton was fast and cold. The view of Brighton and the sea from the golf course was fantastic - a ferris wheel has appeared on the Front. We headed down to the Madeira Cafe who kept us fed and watered in a more than satisfactory and speedy way. By 9.01 the beers were on the table. After all, this is an FNRttC!
Thank you DZ and Mrs DZ for these fabulous rides. I may have missed a Beacon and been awake for too many hours, but I had a ball.
I took some pics https://picasaweb.google.com/108733...&authkey=Gv1sRgCPaB6sKXhqKbGA&feat=directlink
M
PS Very sorry to read about Marinyork's injuries. Hope you recover soon. And glad to read that Ianrauk was able to return home after a detour with a derailleur
Attachments
U
User10571
Guest
link not working Mice
So good they said it twice.
Who is that in the black cap and red bandana sitting next to Wanda?
I crossed paths, and nodded to him at a recent event - but am ashamed to say his name escapes me
So good they said it twice.
Who is that in the black cap and red bandana sitting next to Wanda?
I crossed paths, and nodded to him at a recent event - but am ashamed to say his name escapes me
clarion
Guru
- Location
- Exiled from Hyperborea
Linky no worky 
Three times! No subsequent post warning.
Three times! No subsequent post warning.
Fear ye not. It wasn't that bad, the chain simply got wedged between the big and middle rings, but on a dark unlit lane that 'wrapped up' feeling can be pretty dispiriting.
Mice
Guru
D'oh (I might be a little sleepy......!)
How about this one then: https://picasaweb.google.com/108733...&authkey=Gv1sRgCPaB6sKXhqKbGA&feat=directlink
Is it possible to put this in the orig post No 294 above? On the other hand you might be a bit sleepy having done the FNRttC and SMRbtH and Evans)!
M
D'oh (I might be a little sleepy......!)
How about this one then: https://picasaweb.google.com/108733...&authkey=Gv1sRgCPaB6sKXhqKbGA&feat=directlink
Is it possible to put this in the orig post No 294 above? On the other hand you might be a bit sleepy having done the FNRttC and SMRbtH and Evans)!
M
Done..
rb58
Enigma
- Location
- Bexley, Kent
Magic. Just magic. Cheeriness abounded and the classic Brighton route was as charming as ever - testing and rewarding in equal measure. I enjoyed riding at the front on the long stretch to Coulsden, and loved waymarking the traffic lights at the turn onto the Portnalls stretch as the cyclists lights twinkled their way over the brow of the hill towards me. The scout hut was tremendous - although they really ought to review their pricing policy as £3.50 for a sandwich, piece of cake and a couple of cups of tea was far too cheap.
The Beacon delivered and the breakfast didn't disappoint, and all of a sudden the ride back had started. On the last two occasions I have ridden back from Brighton with Arallsop and Ianrauk we have destroyed two rear mechs, mech hangers and ended up shortening the chain to try and get home. I can't help thinking next time it'll be my turn....it's the Devil's Dyke curse, so I think I'll find a different way in future :-)
Thanks to Simon as always for making this the event it is and for nurturing the FNRttC spirit.
And finally - SittingDuck you're an inspiration. Well done mate.
The Beacon delivered and the breakfast didn't disappoint, and all of a sudden the ride back had started. On the last two occasions I have ridden back from Brighton with Arallsop and Ianrauk we have destroyed two rear mechs, mech hangers and ended up shortening the chain to try and get home. I can't help thinking next time it'll be my turn....it's the Devil's Dyke curse, so I think I'll find a different way in future :-)
Thanks to Simon as always for making this the event it is and for nurturing the FNRttC spirit.
And finally - SittingDuck you're an inspiration. Well done mate.
velovoice
Veteran
- Location
- Between the City and the Sea
Who is that in the black cap and red bandana sitting next to Wanda?
I crossed paths, and nodded to him at a recent event - but am ashamed to say his name escapes me
I don't know his surname but that looks like Ian S (husband ofJocelyn C-S, who kept me company on my first-ever FNRttC attempt and hails from my part of the world
).
Mice
Guru
clarion
Guru
- Location
- Exiled from Hyperborea
Some lovely photos. The one of DZ leaning on his bike is sublime.
Butterfly
Veteran
- Location
- Near Kidderminster
I spoke to her a bit, it was fab to meet her, although I didn't realise until later who she was. She did really well, just flagging a bit towards the end
It was a lovely ride, with fab people. Thanks everybody
.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
Awake again, having ridden home and slept very soundly indeed. By heck that was great. More to follow tomorrow.....
U
User10571
Guest
Sounds like it was a classic ride. If not better.
Sad, in many ways, that I missed it.
The lycra's laid out in alphabetical order of country of manufacture.
The bath has been drawn.
Now. Where's my bike?
Sad, in many ways, that I missed it.
The lycra's laid out in alphabetical order of country of manufacture.
The bath has been drawn.
Now. Where's my bike?
