FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast Brighton July 15th 2011

[Mice]

From Miranda (mice)'s photostream:

A blurry Stephen (srw) and Rachel (and for the benefit of those who think I've just been unusually direct (aka rude), even for me - Miranda had just had to ditch her glasses because of indoor fog. Both R and I had the same problem half way up Ditchling. I passed my specs back to her and completed the ascent half-blind because of short-sightedness. She completed the ascent half-blind because of fog, and always maintains that she prefers not being able to see on hills because it means she doesn't know how far is left. Miranda - we met very briefly after the last Brighton ride.

More memories:
I wasn't going to mention Simon's wrong turn, but since someone else already has: SIMON GOT THE ROUTE WRONG. "I'm never going to live this down, am I?", he said as the W tandem prepared to make a complex turn.
Chapeau to Veronique, who seemed alarmingly at ease for someone in jeans on a town pootler - and to her escort, who seemed to be singing both times we passed them.
Thanks to the gentleman on the fixie who escorted a group down to the Madeira - and very kindly waited on the windswept downs when he realised his escortees on the tandem were rather slower up the final hill than he.
And especial thanks to the chap with the hip flask in the Madeira. A little nip sent breakfast down very nicely indeed.

With apologies srw - the over-excitement of the ride, the fact that everyone in the cafe was in soft focus along with the fact I always maintain that if I had a brain I'd be dangerous I didnt clock you. To keep it in context I can hardly remember what I did last week...! I am now in awe of you both not only for climbing the Beacon but taking your hands off the handlebars to swap glasses during the process. I can only take one hand from my handlebars if I have a foot on the ground and am stationary!

I think I need to clean my bike (dont tell ianrauk!)

M

 

[Aperitif]

Always nice to congratulate Tim on his succinct photography. This one illustrates most of the peloton arriving to a right into the correct turning - having been led a merry dance by the person responsible just minutes earlier.

Adrian's appearance at the Madeira was interesting. He reeked of hot shower, dryness, and exuded the contentment of warm person. Others sat like sodden floorcloths in a plastic bag - no hiding place from the slapping breeze, until the door could finally be shut. Susie relieved him of his coat. It was also a first because the normal hippy trippy rehydration attire was not in sight.

 

[StuAff]

Oh no you didn't.

+1. OK, in my case, because I was marking it

 

[Fab Foodie]

Now for some photos ....

 

[slowmotion]

Well, the Met Office was on top form and got it absolutely right this time. At HPC, meeting some new friendly faces, I knew this might be a bit harder than usual, but the fantastic buzz sustained me for the duration. Yes, I did think of curling up on a bench somewhere near Reigate but the thrill of the descent into town changed my mind. The scout hut was just wonderful. Many thanks to the cheerful souls who manned the trenches and waited for us me.

I never said hello to Veronique who I followed for much of the ride. A pattern emerged....I would pass her on the flat, go pumping up the first quarter of the next hill, and grind to a shuddering halt. A minute later she would pass me with a deadly reliable cadence that never skipped a beat. She got to the top before me every time, and on a heavy bike wearing wet jeans. Maximum respect et un grand chapeau. Martinbrice has a picture of her beating me to the line at the summit of Turner's Hill.

As usual, Ditchling was a mixture of pauses and walks, but the sight at the top was horrendous....Simon and that cowboy fellow drenched from head to toe in a pissing gale. The journey from there to Brighton, with a powerful headwind was a bit of a cycling "first" for me. The wind meant that hardly any brakes were required on the descent....a mad, blind, soaking dash to the Madeira and not a few mutterings of "madness, madness" through gritted , grinning teeth.

Thank you to Simon, as ever. Also the TECs who know me a bit too well by now (thanks for twiddling my rear mech. barrel, BTW), and those lonely drowned scarecrows along the way, the Waymarkers , who displayed the patience of Job. Special thanks to Adrian for inviting some people who have a morbid fear of dehydration back to his home for a bit of therapy.

Five of us sat steaming in our seats on the train back to London, chattering away. Somewhere south of Wandsworth, I looked up to see a couple of passengers staring at us in a mixture of awe and horror. Yes, utter nutters....but what a way to spend a Friday night. Thanks.

 

[mcshroom]

Either that or they were trying to work out where our white-coated minders had gone

 

[Fab Foodie]

Either that or they were trying to work out where our white-coated minders had gone

Keeping their distance to avoid the all pervading smell of dampness?

 

[Aperitif]

Adrian and Claudine relax, safe in the knowledge that their buffs are 'locked down', while furtive Frank 'cases' in vain... (Photo from Fab's collection)

 

[CharlieB]

Oh dear, my home network's stopped working in protest at the weather, so a late few words from me.

What can I say that's not already been said?

What is it that makes these enjoyable and fun even in the weather conditions we enjoyed endured early on Saturday morning?

That long descent, that has already been described so graphically, from the Beacon was some experience. My radio station colleague, Ed, riding his first FNRttC, summed it up when he got to Brighton and said we should go for a swim to dry off a bit.
Certainly the wettest FNRttC I've done.

Returning to the train station was interesting with Gareth, Ed, Steven srw and other half (apologies, your name has escaped me for now), when at least 500 (predominantly female) EFL students had fully occupied the train we'd intended to catch. When I say fully, I mean, including every aisle and doorway on that train. Fortunately Ed had an app on his Blackberry that advised the departing platform before the platform indicators at the station so we were able to pre-empt the remaining students in getting to the next train. I wonder if Mickey and Layla got theirs, as they were headed to the station shortly before us.

The half-time catering was impressive, and gratitude to all who organised that, the man in the sky was even considerate enough to stop the rain while we were indoors, to resume when we left 45 minutes later.
And of course thank you to Simon and backup team.

 

[theclaud]

Ed had an app on his Blackberry that advised the departing platform before the platform indicators at the station

Cool! Well, not so much cool as incredibly nerdy, but it does it for me. Except for the Blackberry thing, obviously. Does anyone know if an Android version exists?

 

[martint235]

Cool! Well, not so much cool as incredibly nerdy, but it does it for me. Except for the Blackberry thing, obviously. Does anyone know if an Android version exists?

Yes, just look for Rail Planner in the market. It's not free though iirc.

 

[StuartG]

Cool! Well, not so much cool as incredibly nerdy, but it does it for me. Except for the Blackberry thing, obviously. Does anyone know if an Android version exists?

No need for an app. if you go to the mobile version of nationalrail.co.uk and find your train it gives you all the platforms for the entire route. Invaluable, as it was for me Saturday, when I had a fast change with bike at East Croydon. Knowing where you are going before you get there is invaluable.

The mobile version also has a 'train progress' page so you can plot progress. It tells you if the train is going to be late before the platform indicators do ...

 

[Shadow]

Another 'interesting' FNRttC. Thanks especially, as usual, to the wayfinders, remarkable.

Apologies for evacuating the breakfast team at the Madeira, I was cold and wet, surprise, surprise. So I dashed back home and was warm and dry and in bed by 10.30.

Two queries: who got home and cleaned their bike, apart from Ianrauk, obviously? and is there a garment for the torso that would have kept me dry-ish? because I would like one!

 

[User10571]

who got home and cleaned their bike, apart from Ianrauk, obviously?

Guilty as charged.


Do the Dynamo on a dirty bike?

I don't think so.

 

[ianrauk]

Another 'interesting' FNRttC. Thanks especially, as usual, to the wayfinders, remarkable.

Apologies for evacuating the breakfast team at the Madeira, I was cold and wet, surprise, surprise. So I dashed back home and was warm and dry and in bed by 10.30.

Two queries: who got home and cleaned their bike, apart from Ianrauk, obviously? and is there a garment for the torso that would have kept me dry-ish? because I would like one!

I did actually leave cleaning it until yesterday morning. Though did give it a bit of a rag down when I got home.