The Fridays Tour

[clarion]

Btw, TF, how did your partner get on in what must have been a very blowy TT?

 

[Christophe]

Home after 120 miles (my longest ride ever, and by far) in great company and ridden in very decent conditions (tailwind all the way, 90% dry - rather unexpectedly as well). Surprisingly I never really got tired, probably thanks to all the planned (and unplanned) rest periods and stops. Loved McDo b'fast at 4am and coming out of the joint with daylight. Loved Rutland's rolling hills and meeting Steeve (TF). Would love to go back next year. Maybe for a few more days who knows.
Riding to Bingham was (nearly) plain sailing and the rain cape worked wonders in the sometimes pounding rain I was unlucky enough to encounter. At least no serious mechanical or p****** to report from me.
Good luck boys and gals for the rest of the adventure! It was very nice again riding with you all.
Very big MERCI to Simon for all his hard work in getting this off the ground and again executed spectacularly! Thanks and well done Sir!

 

[clarion]

This is the rather comprehensive derailleur explosion

Right past the seatstay!

Fortunately, it was confirmed that dellzeqq's lovely frame was not damaged. New mech (well, a make-do one) and gear hanger.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

This is the rather comprehensive derailleur explosion

Right past the seatstay!

Fortunately, it was confirmed that dellzeqq's lovely frame was not damaged. New mech (well, a make-do one) and gear hanger.

Oufti as the French might say! That's a pretty comprehensive explosion. Trying to follow where the chain line is going is making me dizzy.

 

[Christophe]

I was right behind Simon's wheel when his derailleur exploded with little bits of metal flying off his rear wheel. Very impressive - and equally scary! Thank god we were going rather slowly up a gentle slope rather than bombing down a fast descent.

 

[Tim Hall]

Brilliant ride, organised within an inch of its life. I have been up <mumble> hours, and am v v tired, so this may be a bit disjointed. Great chatting with all those splendid people. Learnt new words from Suzie. Tried to wind Mice up. Oops. Got 75km/h on one of totally fixed's additions. Enjoyed a nap on the grass outside Mcdonald's. Enjoyed a nap in Tesco in the Comfy Chairs. Enjoyed a nap at the table while waiting, waiting, waiting for my lunch to arrive. Finally at Bingham, where everyone scattered so no time for fond farewells. Found the station and waited 45 minutes for our train, which was compact and bijou. Wrestled the Pino aboard and apologised to the guard for blocking his way. He responded by saying he'd hurdle it, and went back for a run up. Arrive Grantham. Find station staff, to find where to load bike when the train arrives. Go to appointed place. Train arrives. ask driver to open luggage van door. Whistles blow. He gets on his phone. Mrs. Hall gets on train. Whistles blow. Door remains firmly shut. Driver reappears and says he can't open the door and he's got to go, they're running late. Air turns blue. He shuts himself in, while I consider throwing the tandem in front of his train. Train goes with Mrs Hall, without me and tandem. Go to office and get a bit shouty. Long story short I get put on the next train, an hour later in first class. Meet Mrs. Hall at Kings Cross. Walk to St Pancras to get train home. Coincidence strikes as Marilyn appears.

Finally home at 2145. Divert via takeaway to order ethno-grub.

Eat. Sleep soon. Pics tomorrow.

 

[totallyfixed]

Btw, TF, how did your partner get on in what must have been a very blowy TT?

Thanks for asking, we were out in Lincolnshire in what turned out to be close to gale force winds, plus it rained for all the race and just for good measure because that clearly wasn't enough, a road closure elsewhere diverted all traffic on to the course which included a very large number of articulated trucks so very scary to boot. Only three ladies in the race and thirty something men, dr_pink came 17th in 2.13.20 which I thought was brilliant as she is so light and got hammered by the wind.

 

[User10571]

Brilliant ride, organised within an inch of its life. I have been up <mumble> hours, and am v v tired, so this may be a bit disjointed. Great chatting with all those splendid people. Learnt new words from Suzie. Tried to wind Mice up. Oops. Got 75km/h on one of totally fixed's additions. Enjoyed a nap on the grass outside Mcdonald's. Enjoyed a nap in Tesco in the Comfy Chairs. Enjoyed a nap at the table while waiting, waiting, waiting for my lunch to arrive. Finally at Bingham, where everyone scattered so no time for fond farewells. Found the station and waited 45 minutes for our train, which was compact and bijou. Wrestled the Pino aboard and apologised to the guard for blocking his way. He responded by saying he'd hurdle it, and went back for a run up. Arrive Grantham. Find station staff, to find where to load bike when the train arrives. Go to appointed place. Train arrives. ask driver to open luggage van door. Whistles blow. He gets on his phone. Mrs. Hall gets on train. Whistles blow. Door remains firmly shut. Driver reappears and says he can't open the door and he's got to go, they're running late. Air turns blue. He shuts himself in, while I consider throwing the tandem in front of his train. Train goes with Mrs Hall, without me and tandem. Go to office and get a bit shouty. Long story short I get put on the next train, an hour later in first class. Meet Mrs. Hall at Kings Cross. Walk to St Pancras to get train home. Coincidence strikes as Marilyn appears.

Finally home at 2145. Divert via takeaway to order ethno-grub.

Eat. Sleep soon. Pics tomorrow.

We are very much enjoying the almost stream of consciousness stylee here.

As for Dellzeqq's origami mech..... WOW!

 

[thom]

As for Dellzeqq's origami mech..... WOW!

It's not even a folding bicycle...

 

[ceepeebee]

ceepeebee, I take it that you weren't actually expecting to go any further than the hotel anyway? If so, that was remarkably good timing by your bike. A couple of miles walk with a knackered wheel would be annoying, but not half as much as ten or twenty miles!

I was hoping it'd at least get me to grantham via gunthorpe this morning, bloody glad I didn't try that now as i'd have been up shoot street if it had gone somewhere in the lanes.

Thanks again to everyone that helped with the wheel, it's very greatly appreciated. The sense of camaraderie on these things is a wondrous way to be in this day and age.

 

[clivedb]

I'm not sure how many have picked up that John's (Redflight) blog has got a live GPS connection so that you can see where he is (and we hope, the rest of the ride). I had a look yesterday and it doesn't seem to be live in that it is simultaneous, but it is handy. They're currently north-east of Mansfield - not sure if that is on schedule or not. His blog is here:
http://redflightuk.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[ceepeebee]

I'm not sure how many have picked up that John's (Redflight) blog has got a live GPS connection so that you can see where he is (and we hope, the rest of the ride). I had a look yesterday and it doesn't seem to be live in that it is simultaneous, but it is handy. They're currently north-east of Mansfield - not sure if that is on schedule or not. His blog is here:
http://redflightuk.blogspot.co.uk/

that tracker really is something, very cool.

They're about 20/25 miles off York right now.

 

[Sittingduck]

I have to get me one of those! Excellent tracker...

Shocking pic of Simon's rear mech. Glad it got sorted.

 

[Tim Hall]

A few snaps from day 1 are here

 

[TimO]

According to the tracker, they've stopped in Selby, or the battery has given out.