Making a ride more of a challenge

[Lonestar]

I accidentally did a 200 km audax ride once with my back brake rubbing. That certainly made it feel pretty tough, so my suggestion is to nobble your brakes!

Or ... do the entire ride in one gear, preferably one that feels significantly too high.

How about fixie? I saw some lad on the London - Southend ride years ago riding a fixie.Always wanted to do it myself.

Would look great on the charity thingy though of the challenge of riding a fixie all that way...Generally though I spend my time again and again explaining to workmates what a fixie is.

Either that or if you are feeling particularity hardy hire a Boris bike or Brompton.

 

[fossyant]

How about fixie? I saw some lad on the London - Southend ride years ago riding a fixie.Always wanted to do it myself.

Would look great on the charity thingy though of the challenge of riding a fixie all that way...Generally though I spend my time again and again explaining to workmates what a fixie is.

Either that or if you are feeling particularity hardy hire a Boris bike or Brompton.

It's easy to ride a fixie that far, maybe not if you've ridden one before, but if you can ride one, it's not much different from any other bike.

 

[mjr]

What route is the ride taking? I suspect either the one major climb route near Princes Risborough or the busy road route through the gap west of Reading but I've not yet ridden London-Oxford.

 

[nickyboy]

You do what those two guys who did Lands End-John o Groats did (and wrote a book about it)

Start with nothing except underpants. Then you have to rely on the generosity of others to get the wherewithal to complete the ride

 

[MichaelW2]

Smokey and the bandit, now that would be class.

A Benny Hill style chase would be more entertaining....with music.

 

[rugby bloke]

At what stage did they acquire bikes?

They managed to get a girls bike and a scooter quite early on ... After a couple of upgrades they finally acquired proper bikes from a police station lost property pound somewhere in the West Country.
Its an excellent book, well worth a read.

 

[Globalti]

Stop for a half at every pub you pass?

 

[nickyboy]

At what stage did they acquire bikes?

I read the book....I think they were given a child's bike and a scooter within a couple of miles of leaving Lands End. I seem to remember they did manage to upgrade a little after a couple of days to BSOs

One hopes the OP wouldn't have to scooter all the way to Oxford in just his undies

 

[Racing roadkill]

 

[Lonestar]

It's easy to ride a fixie that far, maybe not if you've ridden one before, but if you can ride one, it's not much different from any other bike.

Dunno haven't tried it that far but I'd think of riding back anyway (from Sarfend) as I generally did which would make a fixie ton.Couldn't be bothered after all that bolloxing about on the train...Had that in 1993 on the way back from Brighton and it was a nightmare.

I've got quite high gearing 50x17 so I think I'd struggle a bit.

 

[Racing roadkill]

Is that your new improved helmet?

That gives me an idea.

 

[graham bowers]

Do it on a 3 speed, Dawes Kingpin (the original one), Raleigh twenty or the ilk. Readily available for under £50.

 

[mjr]

Do it on a 3 speed, Dawes Kingpin (the original one), Raleigh twenty or the ilk. Readily available for under £50.

It would be pretty easy on a 3 speed, if it's a lightweight one and the toggle chain's correct. Something heavier with Boris Bike low gearing would be more of a challenge but in the already-suggested spinning-like-a-dervish category suggested by @Shortandcrisp for most of the ride.

 

[Lonestar]

The only thing with an idea like this is you are going to get all the Tour De France wannabies overtaking you and making you look like an amateur.

 

[mjr]

And what would be wrong with that?

Nothing - keep the fuzzy docks where you can see 'em and try to avoid them.