FNRttC Southend Ride Friday 10th March 2017

[ianmac62]

If you're still in Southend on Sunday, you've probably done too much of the beer option..

Or the football.

 

[rb58]

I made the turning, obviously not the correct turning....... but soon realised that drafting LGV1's is skill I need to work on!

I once rode the A13 down to the Pitsea turn off. Not quite as bad as the A12 towards Blackwall, but it's not something I'm going to do again.

 

[AlexB]

I'm going to have to pull out. Gutted. I'm going to be at a meeting in Manchester on the same day. No chance of getting back in time unfortunately.

 

[mmmmartin]

Shame I was looking forward to a chat. I saw your name on the list but not Richie's - he has more sense I suppose.........

 

[AKA Bob]

People have email...

 

[hatler]

Agh ! Mrs hatler is away for the weekend so I can't sneak off. The next date I can make is the early June run, and who knows what might crop up between now and then. Boo hisss.

 

[robjh]

Agh ! Mrs hatler is away for the weekend so I can't sneak off. The next date I can make is the early June run, and who knows what might crop up between now and then. Boo hisss.

Well at least that will save confusion at the roll-call
I look forward to having multiple Rob H's on summer night rides.

 

[StuAff]

I'm going to have to pull out. Gutted. I'm going to be at a meeting in Manchester on the same day. No chance of getting back in time unfortunately.

Agh ! Mrs hatler is away for the weekend so I can't sneak off. The next date I can make is the early June run, and who knows what might crop up between now and then. Boo hisss.

Boo! on both counts.

If next Friday night is like this one at work, I'll be on the 2208 train from work not the 2138. Will still be at the South Bank in plenty of time. Early forecasts suggest 14+mph westerly winds. Nice for getting there, not for riding back to the smoke.

 

[robjh]

Only 7 sleeps to go...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Early forecasts suggest 14+mph westerly winds. Nice for getting there, not for riding back to the smoke.

In that case, I'm packing a spinnaker.....

 

[J1888]

Excited for this - never done a night ride before - do people have any tips on how best to prep?

I.e. should I have a sleep from 6pm until 9? Have a big meal at 9pm etc?

 

[StuAff]

Excited for this - never done a night ride before - do people have any tips on how best to prep?

I.e. should I have a sleep from 6pm until 9? Have a big meal at 9pm etc?

Sleep...results vary. Food- definitely a good idea. Not necessarily a big meal, but bear in mind halfway stop will be 3.30-4.30 ish, so if you eat your evening meal at 5 or 6 then nothing in between that's 9 or 10 hours between meals...

 

[robjh]

Excited for this - never done a night ride before - do people have any tips on how best to prep?

I.e. should I have a sleep from 6pm until 9? Have a big meal at 9pm etc?

Sleep...results vary. Food- definitely a good idea. Not necessarily a big meal, but bear in mind halfway stop will be 3.30-4.30 ish, so if you eat your evening meal at 5 or 6 then nothing in between that's 9 or 10 hours between meals...

A big meal at home is a good starting point, but for some people that can still be a long time before the start of the ride. I like to eat something else nearer the time - maybe a pasty from a stall in one of the London stations, or something kebab-style* on the way into London if I'm riding down. Many people also carry small snacks in their back pockets for peckish moments en route, but with the half-way point and breakfast you will not expire of hunger.

I like to try and get an hour's doze in the early evening if I can, but have survived many rides without it. I can't be sure it's ever made a difference.I find that the mere fact of cycling and talking keeps me awake and alert all night, and it's only when I sit down alone (train home!) next day that tiredness really catches up with me.

*there are actually plenty of good Turkish restaurants in the northern approaches to London that will do you a decent kebab in a wrap for about £6.

 

[ianrauk]

Excited for this - never done a night ride before - do people have any tips on how best to prep?

I.e. should I have a sleep from 6pm until 9? Have a big meal at 9pm etc?

I usually try get some zed from 6-9 followed by a dinner. Usually pasta based.
It's not a fast ride by any stretch of the imagination so you're not burning up massive calories with the effort. So snacks is the way to go.

 

[mmmmartin]

tips on how best to prep

Welcome, @J1888 - three things are important, in this order:

1. Read "The Basics" - check tyres for flints etc - this is esp important.
2. All sleep is good: try to get lots of deep sleep in the few nights before the ride and an hour in the evening before the ride is useful but not many manage this.
3. The halfway stop is the motorway services, which are excellent for this purpose because they have lots of loos, and you can bring the bikes indoors where they can be seen and fettled if necessary. But there might be quite a long queue for grub so maybe bring a sandwich or two.

You'll be carried along by the whole experience. It's like a week's holiday in one night. In the morning you'll feel a bit dozy and might fall asleep on the train back to London, but a few hours kip and you'll be as right as rain.