The Fridays Tour

[GrumpyGregry]

I know that some of you have been tempted from the paths of righteousness and are thinking of coming on the trip with mudguards. Indeed, some poor lost souls have made mention of racks.

I don't take this personally. But one thing to take in to consideration is this - both the six seater van and the Luton will have plenty of space for luggage - the rear of the six-seater is much bigger than I thought it would be. If you wanted to bring mudguards and racks along, but save them for a rainy day, you could put them in the van.

One will, one could, but one won't.

 

[ianmac62]

What a ridiculous thing to say. Quite absurd. Why, some of us are under 60 years old.

And some of us aren't!

But I thought I was a very young 63-year-old today when I helped someone who'd fallen off in the rain at a roundabout and he turned out to be 82.

 

[dellzeqq]

yaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!! MaccyDs at Hockliffe has agreed to open the doors for us at 3.30 in the morning.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Are they recruiting?

 

[ianmac62]

With these Tescos and McDonald's you are spoiling us.

To get you really excited about Tesco Wellingboro' here are two photos as I was passing last night. (It's on my route to Northamptonshire Contemporary Jazz, which meets once a month in W'boro.) It may look to you like the usual Tesco but this is a Tesco in "a lifeless Midlands town" (Simon Jenkins). The jazz (the Geoff Pearson Quartet) attracted more people than the Tesco caff.

To be fair, Jenkins rates St Mary's, Wellingborough - the masterpiece of Ninian Comper - as in the top 100 churches in England; and, as you won't see it early on the Saturday morning, here's a photo of part of the ceiling too. Early 20th century, I kid you not.

 

[dellzeqq]

wow! Thanks, Ian! (I mean the church, although the Tesco is very conveniently placed

 

[Fab Foodie]

Ahhhh, cyclists dining 'al Tesco' ....

 

[Flying Dodo]

For anyone wanting to build up some base miles for endurance, I'll be running some more rides into London, like I've done for the last 2 years, which will give you a flavour of the countryside to be encountered in the first section.

The first one will probably be from around Northampton, at around 75 miles, mainly on minor roads, with a pub stop for lunch and not too fast a pace.

 

[Mice]

For anyone wanting to build up some base miles for endurance, I'll be running some more rides into London, like I've done for the last 2 years, which will give you a flavour of the countryside to be encountered in the first section.

The first one will probably be from around Northampton, at around 75 miles, mainly on minor roads, with a pub stop for lunch and not too fast a pace.

Fantastic! Yes please - that's just what I need to do.

M

 

[srw]

I should put my hat in the ring too. We'll need to do some weekend day rides to get the base mileage in - probably circular rides around the Chilterns, starting from a town with a railway station and close to the M40. The terrain could be anything from mostly flattish with one steep and long climb right the way up to unrelentingly hilly, according to taste.

We could do with some company on solo bikes, so that we can get the measure of tandem riding in a mostly solo group and also encourage us on our way. Any expressions of interest, please PM.

 

[ianmac62]

The first one will probably be from around Northampton, at around 75 miles, mainly on minor roads, with a pub stop for lunch and not too fast a pace.

Live in Northampton and so I'd like to join you. Train back at the end.

... with the camper I could drive up the day before and loaf about first, then train back to the van and mosey on home when I feel like it.

I'd join you on the train back from Euston to Northampton.

... probably circular rides around the Chilterns, starting from a town with a railway station and close to the M40

If a station like Tring or Berkhamstead, I'd come by train from Northampton. If Aylesbury way, then I'd drive to the start or pedal from Tring station, depending on your overall mileage for the day.

 

[velovoice]

Flying Dodo and srw - great ideas and offers - yes please! I have a few 100-200km audaxes on the calendar as well but the more options there are the better.

 

[Flying Dodo]

This sounds interesting - but what are the travel plans? I'm guessing these might set off too early for me to get to the start on the same morning (Sundays?), but with the camper I could drive up the day before and loaf about first, then train back to the van and mosey on home when I feel like it.

I believe in keeping it simple! For the first one, which will sometime towards the end of March, there are a number of trains from Euston leaving around 9 am, as I'd be looking at a 10.15 - 10.30 departure time from Northampton (or it might be Long Buckby instead). These will be on a Saturday. Fares are only £6 - £7.50. So unless you're a real night owl, it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I'm just finalising the route for the first one at the moment, so I'll start a topic later on about it. I'll also be doing another one from Leicester in April which will be around 100 miles (fares from St Pancras are £15). Last year's details shown here.

 

[StuAff]

There are trains from Lewes that'll get you into the smoke on time, if you're OK getting up early enough

 

[srw]

If a station like Tring or Berkhamstead, I'd come by train from Northampton. If Aylesbury way, then I'd drive to the start or pedal from Tring station, depending on your overall mileage for the day.

I was thinking more of Rickmansworth or Amersham! And I'll warn people who want a hard ride - these are likely to be reasonably leisurely, and mutual encouragement (not least to get out of bed in the first place) may be needed.