The Fridays Tour

[srw]

Anything else?

Oh yes. Fix lights to the bike. That might help, mightn't it?

 

[StuAff]

I have a 11 speed chain ready to go on the Viner when it's needed, so I'll bring that (there is a quick link on the chain). The LBS will be giving the bike a once-over this week- nothing should need doing anyway, brake pads & chain wear both fine.

 

[mcshroom]

After last night I'm scaling up my waterproof effort.

 

[mmmmartin]

I have just dug out my stuff for the Tour and it's in a pile on the bed. Quite a big pile, actually. And I am camping, so there's a tent and sleeping mat and groundsheet protector and small stove and spare clothes and mug and coffee making stuff and clean socks and undies and spare fleece and lots of Other Things I Cannot Do Without. Er, this van, is it Quite A Large Van?

 

[mcshroom]

Please share the results of your research with the rest of us!

Well the good side was that my goretex shoes did keep the rain out for about 2 1/2 hours but eventually the normal socks I was wearing saturated and that just wicked water into the shoes. As the shoes themselves seemed to work, I'm going to go back to my old walking setup of ankle gators with waterproof trousers over the top. This should mean that the water is kept out of the hole in the top of the shoe and give me dry feet.

In weather like that I think the top half would end up damp wearing just about anything, but I think I may go for a waterproof coat rather than the pertex jacket I wore last night. I may be tempted to take my boil in the bag decathlon thing as that's the most waterproof.

Gloves wise I was reasonably happy with wet light full finger gloves, but I'll either take a second pair or some nitrile gloves for if it's really bad.

I also found out that a cycling cap with peak down does a good job of keeping the rain off of glasses/eyes

 

[theclaud]

Was toying with the idea of bringing something with a triple in case The Hell of the North gets the better of me, but spending yesterday afternoon fettling and sprucing up the nippier item has made the decision for me, slightly macho chainset notwithstanding.

Indulge me, triplers, by resisting the urge to comment on the wisdom of this decision as you spin past my sobbing husk on the A68.

Reluctantly ditched the Xero Lite wheels in favour of the Planet Xs. The Xeros are stiffer and sexier (oo-er) but I've done some damage to the freehub as a knock-on effect of a drinking incident, and the rim on the front, although not due to explode any time soon, was a little more worn than I'd like at the outset of a tour.

I've had to lose the f**king Mickle sticker, as there isn't really any way to clean my unlacquered frame without something slightly abrasive. I am sad about this. I've cowboyed the polish job for now, as I didn't really have time or inclination to strip the frame down completely, so it now looks like a slightly rustic titanium-wanabee, but I kinda like it.

Go on then, show us your fettled steeds...

 

[theclaud]

of ankle gators

They sound dangerous. Will you be keeping them locked up at night, and have you informed any room-mates?

 

[mcshroom]

I really shouldn't post when I'm about to fall asleep

 

[redfalo]

After last night I'm scaling up my waterproof effort.

I was taught the same lesson.

 

[rb58]

Indulge me, triplers, by resisting the urge to comment on the wisdom of this decision as you spin past my sobbing husk on the A68.

I was reliably informed there aren't any hills on LonJog. So, what is this A68 you talk of.....?

My fettling is complete. And I'm heading down to the west country this afternoon ready for the start of my Prologue tomorrow morning. As always, the weather forecast is teasing. Looks lke it might be drier than they were suggesting earlier in the week, but the helpful tail wind has no morphed into an unhelpful headwind all the way back to HPC.

See you all on Friday night!

 

[Sketchley]

I got up ditchling in March in one, at 18 stone, on 34x25, I've been told the a68 is easy in comparison, so no one 'needs' triple..... unless I'm being lied to about the a68....

 

[StuAff]

Had no problems with 34x25 on the travesty last year, at least on the roads we'll be doing on this one.

 

[StuAff]

Was toying with the idea of bringing something with a triple in case The Hell of the North gets the better of me, but spending yesterday afternoon fettling and sprucing up the nippier item has made the decision for me, slightly macho chainset notwithstanding.

View attachment 10033

Indulge me, triplers, by resisting the urge to comment on the wisdom of this decision as you spin past my sobbing husk on the A68.

Reluctantly ditched the Xero Lite wheels in favour of the Planet Xs. The Xeros are stiffer and sexier (oo-er) but I've done some damage to the freehub as a knock-on effect of a drinking incident, and the rim on the front, although not due to explode any time soon, was a little more worn than I'd like at the outset of a tour.

I've had to lose the f**king Mickle sticker, as there isn't really any way to clean my unlacquered frame without something slightly abrasive. I am sad about this. I've cowboyed the polish job for now, as I didn't really have time or inclination to strip the frame down completely, so it now looks like a slightly rustic titanium-wanabee, but I kinda like it.

Go on then, show us your fettled steeds...

You'll have to by some more f**king stickers then, right?

 

[dellzeqq]

I got up ditchling in March in one, at 18 stone, on 34x25, I've been told the a68 is easy in comparison, so no one 'needs' triple..... unless I'm being lied to update the a68....

what does you in on the A68 is not the gradient of the hills - it's the number of the hills, and the way the road switchbacks even when there isn't a hill-as-such. Having said that - I'm going to be doing it on a 39/21, so what do I know?

 

[theclaud]

I got up ditchling in March in one, at 18 stone, on 34x25, I've been told the a68 is easy in comparison,

That's the thing. You can forget comparing hills on paper. Except in extreme circumstances, the character of a hill is not reducible to its steepness or length, or even the relationship between the two. I like Ditchling. I don't like the long approach to it. Romans and Audax organisers share a disregard for what one might call topographical psycho-ergonomics. By which I mean that, for one sinister reason or another, they do not concern themselves with the pleasure of traversing the landscape in one way rather than another. Getting up hills, to them, is simply a means to end. It's the sheer philistinism that will kill you, not the gradient.