The Fridays Tour

[Sketchley]

Just got up in sw london, would like to say after a good night sleeps, but it wasn't. Couldn't really sleep at all, adrenaline I guess. At least I will not be the only tired person at Wellingborough..... Now where did I leave my bike......

 

[clarion]

Unexpectedly good breakfast at Tesco in Wellingborough. Been a grand ride so far. It seems a shame to surrender our complete ownership of the roads, and allow the motors to share.

 

[Mark Grant]

It was a nice night for a ride so I set off for HPC to see them off. I accompanied the LonJogers up the A5 as far as the North Circular where I marked the slip road and said my goodbyes, returning home via the North Circ. I took a few pics at the start, which will have to wait for later.

 

[mmmmartin]

leaving home in a minute for train to london, then to bingham, to meet and join them. What larks!

 

[Mark Grant]

At HPC

More HERE

 

[clarion]

It was a nice night for a ride so I set off for HPC to see them off. I accompanied the LonJogers up the A5 as far as the North Circular where I marked the slip road and said my goodbyes, returning home via the North Circ. I took a few pics at the start, which will have to wait for later.

Mark, it was great to have you with us, and a shame when you had to go.

We've stopped for tea in Rockingham. I think we're making very good progress, despite a few mechanicals.

 

[totallyfixed]

Mark, it was great to have you with us, and a shame when you had to go.

We've stopped for tea in Rockingham. I think we're making very good progress, despite a few mechanicals.

TF is sat a few miles away from Rockingham in Lydington waiting for you -just phoned home to get me to look on the forum to see where you were!
from dr_pink signed in as TF!

 

[ceepeebee]

I am in oak ham waiting for the group to get here after a spoke went on me, turning my back wheel into a Pringle. We all thought it was a list cause when we realized the cassette was kaput too...

But the mechanic at Rutland cycles has fixed it for me! But recommends replacing it ASAP. That would have scuppered things if I was jogging! The fact that the mechanic looked and sounded like a lost member of the stone roses was an added bonus.

 

[TimO]

Good to see you're all off successfully. It's just as well I decided not to do this, since I've got an ill cat. Zev's got some sort of eye problem (A Retrobulbar Abscess if you want the technicalities), so I need to keep an eye on her, and loose skin and blood giving her pills and eye drops!

 

[clarion]

Sorry to hear about Zev, Tim. Glad you're there.

We got to lunch. It's been an interesting and eventful few miles. It's had it's ups and it's downs. Mainly ups.

It's for others to relate the events, but all repairs seem to have been effected.

 

[totallyfixed]

Good to meet you all and sorry I couldn't stay longer but my better half [dr_pink on here] has decided she is going to race. At least I got to escort you through most of Rutland, it is lumpy but not everywhere, honest. I missed saying goodbye to 3 of you on the front but anyway good luck to you all and will follow your progress.
Anyone who wants to come back to Rutland on my next ride will be most welcome, oh and hope you got sorted Simon and you didn't freeze waiting around, I still think gears won't catch on

 

[clivedb]

There's clearly some more news to come - someone's gears - Simon's? - causing problems? Perhaps I'm misinterpreting. I can sympathise as I seem to have a chronic problem with my front derailleur - and no-one so far seems to be able to diagnose it. At the moment the primary symptom is a tendency for the chain to drop off when shifting up. Which is why I cycled last night mostly on the large chain ring. Luckily there wasn't much in the way of hills - it seemed like we hit a fairly steady pace, apart from the inevitable mechanicals. All seemed to be going well when we turned off in Newport Pagnell and headed for bed in Stony Stratford. Two firsts for me on a night ride - 3 am stop in Macdonalds (better than anticipated!) and back home in bed around 7 am.

Good luck to the JoGgers.

 

[ceepeebee]

Back wheel went again, 2 miles from hotel. Walked it in (taxi would have taken just as long, plus I couldn't shout wildly at the sky in a taxi). Ended up on 98 miles including the walk... Still, something to talk about at work on Monday. Other than the mechanicals, I really enjoyed that ride, thanks everyone.

 

[TimO]

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!

 

[clarion]

On my way to Nottingham to catch a train home, I cut across, and came to appreciate, the wind which had been gently, if occasionally gustily, wafting us Northward.

Despite the rain setting in after lunch, we had been very lucky with the weather after a volatile week. I don't know how dellzeqq manages it, but he did very well.

I offer my sincere thanks to dellzeqq, the support crew, and all those many who have contributed to making this ride robust enough to withstand the trials thrown at it by fickle fate.

I really enjoyed my time with the LonJoGgers, and, having experienced, in my longest ride for quarter of a century, the joy of covering a significant distance, and getting to somewhere, I am envious of their continued silly bike adventure, which I am sure will provide many treasured memories.

May your wheels be turned by the angels as you speed to the far end of this island.

Thank you.