The Fridays Tour

[StuartG]

still photographs have to be the way to go. It's too long a trip to be distilled in to a video.

Oh I dunno. How else will we while away the time on the coach back

 

[CharlieB]

still photographs have to be the way to go. It's too long a trip to be distilled in to a video.

I totally agree, I was just too polite to tell her that most of those videos (barring the arallsopp jobbies for one exception) are pretty soporific, imho.

 

[CharlieB]

Oh I dunno. How else will we while away the time on the coach back

At this point, if I could on a work network with YouTube access blocked, I would post a link to the coach scene from Trains, Planes And Automobiles.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

well, Chris has made a bit of a convert out of me. I take a certain perverse pleasure in knowing the road, and relating the road to the geography of the land we pass through, and I think that can only be done by maps, but come the point where we are looking for the turns in and out of Steeple Ainderby, or looking for the left turn on to Barnard Terrace in Edinburgh, or the little track down to the path at Logierat, if I were to have you by my side, Greg, I'd be grateful.

iirc it is quite well signposted, or was, last month. Follow the (lucky) 7's and not the 77 alone

All gets a bit counter intuitive after crossing the bridge though. You go back on yourself and then turn right only to have to cycle up a tarmac covered cliff. One chevron really doesn't do it justice.

 

[mcshroom]

On the Western side you go down a ramp that is at least 1:3, narrow and covered in slippery moss to get onto the normal road below. It wouldn't be my first choice for a whole group.

 

[ceepeebee]

Simon - you have several mails - sorry, but they're all good news

 

[rvw]

if we ask nicely at Yeung Sing, York YHA, and Glen Bank there will be washing machines available. I'll be washing out a pair of shorts every night

Are we permitted to bring a string bag to hang in the van during the day, with any of the previous day's stuff which isn't quite dry? We'd need to label it, I assume...

 

[dellzeqq]

Are we permitted to bring a string bag to hang in the van during the day, with any of the previous day's stuff which isn't quite dry? We'd need to label it, I assume...

bring what you like. I'm not sure that you can hang stuff from the roof - but there are rails along the side

 

[totallyfixed]

Hope to see you all somewhere in Rutland, if you make good time it is likely you will run into this lot:
http://www.pacesetterevents.com/dambuster-triathlon.php going the opposite way at Manton. I know a little cut through you can take that avoids the dangerous junction with the A6003, plus you get to see the Ospreys with virtually no extra time added.

 

[CharlieB]

that's a very good description. I have just, finally, got an answer to my question to the Forth Road Bridge peeps. The eastern cycle path is open, and that gives us a lovely view of the rail bridge.

Some good shots on the news this evening as the Olympic torch crossed it (on the eastern side, as it happens), and gave a good idea of the views we're likely to get.

 

[AKA Bob]

At this point, if I could on a work network with YouTube access blocked, I would post a link to the coach scene from Trains, Planes And Automobiles.

As requested and it looks grim!

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxBSOIBOylA

 

[User10571]

No long missive or edict from me, you'll be glad to hear.
Just a few words that I've striven to keep to a minimum.

For some of you this ride will be an achievement of no small margin. For others less so, but by no means any less laudable.
Doubtless, there will be Riders Tales to follow. And I look forward to hearing / reading of those - including the censored/unrepeatable ones....
I'm sorry I'm not able to be with you in person.
Rest assured, I'll be with you all in spirit.
May the angels lend you wings, and the wind be to your backs.
Please do not forget that none of you could ask to be in better hands than you are for this ride.
Have fun.
That is all.
J

 

[StuAff]

No long missive or edict from me, you'll be glad to hear.
Just a few words that I've striven to keep to a minimum.

For some of you this ride will be an achievement of no small margin. For others less so, but by no means any less laudable.
Doubtless, there will be Riders Tales to follow. And I look forward to hearing / reading of those - including the censored/unrepeatable ones....
I'm sorry I'm not able to be with you in person.
Rest assured, I'll be with you all in spirit.
May the angels lend you wings, and the wind be to your backs.
Please do not forget that none of you could ask to be in better hands than you are for this ride.
Have fun.
That is all.
J

Well said User10571, thanks. I'm sure Miranda will maintain the important presence of fruit on handlebars in your absence!

 

[ianmac62]

still photographs have to be the way to go. It's too long a trip to be distilled in to a video.

I noted earlier in the thread that I'll be bringing a good camera along and a laptop. I'm aiming to upload some many photos everyday (maybe not too many of Day 1). Tomorrow I'll set up a Flickr account for these (as no one has, I think, got back to me on which site you'd prefer). I'll let you know what it is and you can inform others eagerly awaiting at home. Or not.

Happy with washing in the van. Bag labelled or claimed at penultimate stopping point of the day. Have to report that, in my (limited) experience, Scots B&B landladies are exceptionally kind to cyclists. Took dirty washing from me in the evening and returned it (ironed! even the socks!!) in the morning.

On the FB page, there's a mania of buying items of cycling gear. For my two-pence worth, buy insect-repellent and sudocrem. Use both liberally!

 

[Andrew Br]

bring what you like. I'm not sure that you can hang stuff from the roof - but there are rails along the side

When I did a van supported London-Paris a few years ago, we had a camping style elastic washing line that we strung across the back of the van to dry our shorts and cycling shirts. It worked very well although we had to overcome the protestations of the miserable bastard van driver. Why object ? Everything smelt of washing liquid.

We had a splitter van with the washing in the "crew" part where there was a draught from the open windows/air-con. And there were only 8 of us................

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