threebikesmcginty
Corn Fed Hick...
- Location
- ...on the slake
It is considered Bad Form to overtake the ride leader
All bets are off once the cafe serving breakfast is in view though isn't it?
It is considered Bad Form to overtake the ride leader
Ah, the GSoDC! I must confess I was flagging somewhat by that point, shameful though that is to admit given the mileage some of our fellow riders had chalked up before even getting to the start! A Brompton is admittedly not the ideal steed for such a ride, and while I'd coped OK on the hills earlier on, and periodic regroupings helped get my breath back, the long flat slog along the GSoDC was rather a struggle! It was also quite depressing to see the state of the nearby NCN route 4... there's a thread in Campaign on the merits or otherwise of segregated routes, but I'm sure most of us that are sceptical would consider major roads like this one to be the sort of places where segregation is appropriate for attracting normal people to cycling, yet it is poorly maintained, and discontinuous and illegible around the junctions; jumping on to the pavement in the outskirts of Port Talbot and Swansea. That said, I make no complaints about the choice of route for the ride: as you say, there are no alternatives that don't involve a very long detour and traffic was still very light. One of the joys of FNRTTC is to be able to make full use of the road network when it isn't clogged with motor vehicles.
20p for a pee! But with a toilet-less 4 hours on a bus ahead one has to compromise ...
[About Bromptons]
Yep - but it was even more fun and interesting than a road bike!
First lessons learnt: Don't wear smooth cycling shoes. Could hardly keep my feet on the pedals which led to all 50 teeth of the chainring leaving a little indentation on my right ankle.
Second lesson learnt: Get a smaller chainring. the 50/13 gives a granny gear of 48 which made a mountain out of each and every molehill. The top 85 top was glorious on the flats and I managed to sail past Dell at one stage not realising he was trying to hold the front back. I was quite rightly put on wayfinding duty. Sorry Dell!
...
just couldn't resist, could you. Once again - I do not choose what I wear! I am co-ordinated by a higher power!A pleasure to to bimble about post-ride with the Dellzeqqs (looking just peachy ambling round the windswept cliffs in their his 'n' hers white jeans)
CTC folk found the distance and pace comfortable and the took the few (ahem!) hills in their stride, but were mightily impressed by the waymarking and TECing system and the 3am cakestop
just couldn't resist, could you. Once again - I do not choose what I wear! I am co-ordinated by a higher power!
I forgot to mention that several people commented on what a 'well-organised' ride it was.
PS Lovely pictures
PPS take care with 'Teef's B&B recommendation! I now think they decided to go away for the weekend, cancelled my booking, cooking up a story about an email that 'got lost in the post'
Perhaps they were just worried for their silverware....
Quite right, Stuart. That would have been a false economy!20p for a pee! But with a toilet-less 4 hours on a bus ahead one has to compromise ...
Quite right, Stuart. That would have been a false economy!
Weird. That's exactly what happened to me when I used a Brompton last week to Brighton. Why the left? Must be an inherent design flaw that Brompton need to be aware of.Yes, I gave up on cycling shoes for my Brompton some time ago, sticking with my trainer type boots. Not sure what gears I've got- it is one of the older 3 speed Sturmey Archer hubs as fitted about 10 years ago, I've not modified anything.
The main problems I experienced were muscle pains in my left shoulder and neck, though I've had occasional trouble there ever since a fall a few years ago, and a very sore arss! Sudocrem sore... which I was a bit surprised about as I've not experienced that on previous long distance rides (admittedly it has been some years since I did one) and I had (naively) thought I'd be OK as I ride that bike my commute and should be used to that saddle. Clearly I'm going to have to check whether things I thought fitted OK aren't as good as I'd assumed from much shorter trips.
Having done it, and I'm glad I did!, I think my advice to anyone else considering using a Brompton is to say yes, it will do it (and Stuart tours on his) , but perhaps only sensible to attempt FNRTTC on one if you have recently done a long distance trip on it, even if, like me, you ride 10 miles a day on one for your commute.
Weird. That's exactly what happened to me when I used a Brompton last week to Brighton. Why the left? Must be an inherent design flaw that Brompton need to be aware of.