FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast to Southend-on-Sea 30th April 2010

[MacB]

Would I embarrass myself if I admitted I quite like set B?

Not embarrass exactly, but certainly confirm some suspicions

 

[Auntie Helen]

You'd be more in trouble if you liked G and H.

 

[TimO]

I just looked at the weather forecast, and it's now looking damper than it was.

Bugger.

 

[ttcycle]

Hope it's not too wet- have a great ride everyone! Unlikely I'll be able to get to HPC tonight but have fun!

 

[dellzeqq]

under a millimetre is not a big deal - November had about 20mm drop on us. Susie and I rode to Whitstable last week (!!!!!) and the millimetre of rain barely dampened her spirits.

(later edit) BBC weather moving map thingy showing dry. And some clear skies on the latter part of the ride.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Well I have affixed mudguards and packed waterproof jacket and trousers so it should be dry for you all now.

 

[Rebel Ian]

Had a great time on the Martlets ride to Brighton last month but couldn't do this one. Have a fun and safe ride everyone.

 

[BigSteev]

Was just about to leave the house and it's hissing down. Now rethinking which bike to ride and what to wear. Rain sucks.

 

[redfalo]

err, what's going on outside?

 

[TimO]

When I poked my head out onto the balcony quarter of an hour ago it was only spitting very slightly, hopefully it'll stay something like that.

I've only got thin liner gloves and mitts, non-waterproof shoes, and no overshoes. Ah well, at least it's relatively mild weather.

Anyway, all lights charged and on the bike, pannier packed, time to get off to HPC.

 

[Andrij]

I'm home!

I was just too tired, so turned around at a roundabout marked "Dartford Crossing 7" and cycled back.

The ride is experiencing far too much rain, which has probably contributed to the number of visitations (3 up to the time I departed).

Hope it dries up for the rest of the ride. Those cycling back should have a nice headwind to keep things interesting.

 

[Aperitif]

Well! I was surrounded by Whisky Mist, Nobu, The Colony Club and Trader Vics - not to mention the Hilton Park Lane as backup.

The word I used most frequently earlier this trip was beginning with B
Yes - capital ones, and multitudinous.
I was really 'up' for this ride after an awkward week at the coalface of life.
An easily spotted shard of glass saw me wrestling with a well-seated new tyre, new wheel and new tube in Kilburn - with helpful passers-by.
And then the steering was getting sluggish down Park Lane - not a flat front wheel - just not fully pumped
And then I tried again, and because it was raining the camber of Hertford Street offered me a ready made plunge bath to discover the hole...and then another again in the other tube. Luckily there were some lads digging the road up for an electricity fault and there was plenty of arc lighting - I was getting to the stage of "Taxi"!
So much sodding about for so little - the tiniest sliver of metal wire - the first one probably wasn't the glass.
Oh well. The End.
Meanwhile, I had lots of people say how nice the bike was etc...Premiership footballers, celebs, wannabies, a couple of chats with minicab drivers waiting for trade - amazed that you lot were wheeling away to Southend.
Actually, I was going to take the tyre off for fun as the entertainment value was quality - my last chat with a couple of big American guys. BIG - with pony tails (one with a Tom Sellick style moustache containing more hair than I had on my head - ever). Everyone was nicely dressed and nice smelling - I felt quite at home... Rolled away from The Hilton at 01:05, cold, wet and bursting for a pee which was duly completed at Marble Arch (so many peeps wandering about down Park Lane!)
Anyway, another few mentions of that b word and I got indoors at 02.30
parked my bike and

b word.
I'm happy - would have felt awful keeping everyone waiting 'en route'.
b word, nevertheless.

 

[longers]

B***** or B*******? Bit of a shame eh?

 

[rich p]

B** luck, Ape, my friend Ba****d, bl*****g, bu****y, bo*****y, bl***y bikes sometimes.
Aren't you due some good luck soon?

 

[Auntie Helen]

I'm home, had a shower and a cuppa and a chocolate biscuit, and am about to go to bed.

I avoided punctures, although there were dozens for others (including five - count 'em, five! - for one chappie). Beatleandrew is probably paying a visit to A&E after an off and Ianrauk will be in search of a replacement spoke. A rainy and chilly evening but fun nevertheless.