2014-04-26 London to Bath (Not a TNRC Affair)

Cake: Matt is on his way to the station. Shouldn't be long. I recommend you both start riding out from Farnborough and we'll meet you en route. Otherwise we can meet you at the station about midday...

Just pulling into reading. Sun's out:)

If you can't tell btw, I didn't bring reading material for the train ride in...

matt is here, so we're getting the 10:09 train out.

Exchange numbers and give him a bell I've sent Howard the number I have for MoN but I'm not sure whether he's changed it.

He doesn't change his number. He does keep changing the code to unlock his phone, pm me for the current one.

Will do, whats it called?

Picked one up from ladbrooke grove. No worries if you've doubled up.

Pulling into paddington now. Quick pootle to Trafalagar and off we trot!

Ok to join this at the last minute? I'll try to spot you all at kingston bridge in about 45 minutes.

just outside pambers end. Putting some air into our tyres.

we are at the bath brew house, nice chap helped us lift our bikes into the beer garden.

An eventful day, 2 set out from Farnborough while 7 left from Trafalagar. London decided to subject us to all manner of traffic hazards and my poor route setting subjected us to some ad hoc navigation to the station. Late arrival.

Amazingly we managed to loose Omash in Richmond park (huge apologies about that Omash!) but picked up sansovino on the way out of Kingston... Impressive stalking skills!

As hard as we tried we couldn't quite catch middleofnowhere and drcake who has set out with too big a lead after my poor route setting...

We did however enjoy some splendid weather with on the single shower, puncture alley did it's usual assault on tyres. Storng riding from all but some extended breaks let us don't i think.

Some apologies:

1) for my poor route setting to the station
2) for not catching MoN and DrCake who rode all day 2-up
3) for arriving so late that we didn't get the chance to enjoy a BBQ or indeed supper at the pub.

and some thanks

huge thanks to Hovis for lending Steve his spare wheel
huge thanks to MoN who, despite the guiness ride, pulled out all the stops to ensure DrCake had a riding partner.

As usual overnight will be arranged midsummer and I think today has put paid to my 'chase the leaders idea' better to ride out to the station and meet others there for a pootle.

till then peeps!

B

Well done you all, celebrate and eat oh and drink of course.
Don't worry Benjam ToW is fully signed :-)

That was mental. You beasts. Srm thinks I did 140 miles, so longest evar and fastest 100 too. Benjam - what do they put in your tea?

Hey dude
Glad to hear you guys got to bath safely. Hopefully not to wet!
I had enjoyable cycle to farmborough. The route was quite nice out. I am looking forward to do the rest in the summer for an all day ride.
I gained a set of overshoes. They are hi vis Green and made by mavic.
I believe they belong to the gentlemen with the canyon road bicycle.

huge thanks to MoN who, despite the guiness ride, pulled out all the stops to ensure DrCake had a riding partner.

legend. I didn't even wake up till 11:30.

Benjam - what do they put in your tea?
Drink coffee, without milk ;)

I gained a set of overshoes. They are hi vis Green and made by mavic.
I believe they belong to the gentlemen with the canyon road bicycle.

They would be mine but, quite comically, my nano flex gloves and overshoes have arrived today... Gah!

Omash, if you can find a home for them feel free to keep. Otherwise I'll PayPal you some postage back to me.

Got in later from this ride than I did from the Guinness ride yesterday. Mostly thanks to FGW's bike carriage policy.

Excellent day that very nearly didn't happen, so glad I made the effort.

Sorry not to make it all the way to bath with y'all, but that was a great day's riding. I made it back as far aswokingham then conceded defeat in fading light and hopped on a train. I think that's the fastest sustained effort I've done single speed.

Mostly thanks to FGW's bike carriage policy.

Train manager's discretion! What happened, did they not sell you the tickets or was it just that the cab was full? Let me know as I'll pick it up with the CEO of FGW (again) and make sure you're reimbursed if there's been a f-up again.

Excellent day that very nearly didn't happen, so glad I made the effort.

Glad you enjoyed it mate, traditional rolling pace next time so we can catch up properly :)

Sorry not to make it all the way to bath with y'all, but that was a great day's riding. I made it back as far aswokingham then conceded defeat in fading light and hopped on a train. I think that's the fastest sustained effort I've done single speed.

Some of the strongest SS riding I've witnessed! Hope your front guard is repairable :/

Train manager's discretion! What happened, did they not sell you the tickets or was it just that the cab was full? Let me know as I'll pick it up with the CEO of FGW (again) and make sure you're reimbursed if there's been a f-up again.

Cab was full, they could only take two bikes - which meant MoN, Hovis and myself had to wait for the 22:43. Also the ticket office closure meant no groupsave, but I guess that's hardly surprising given the time. Not a big deal in the end, the train was nice and quiet and got in 20mins early!

Some of the strongest SS riding I've witnessed!

Indeed, chapeau...

Ben, what can I say, you are a monster. Thanks very much for chivvying this thread along, relentlessly leading from the front and generally ensuring this ride happened smoothly.

Sorry we couldn't catch MoN and Cake (did you and Howard reunite in time for the train?) before the pub, but the 18.3mph ave for the 115 mile segment from Richmond to Bath suggests we gave it a decent go considering the crosswinds. A 3.5 hour head start was always gonna be a tough ask!

Got home @ 1am ish, ate ALL THE FOOD until 4am. Woke back up @ 8am and started eating again... I might take a break for Liège-Bastogne-Liège...

If the ticket office is shut and you want a GS you should not buy a ticket, then try and buy on the train. If that fails buy at Paddington.

You may need to buy a permit to travel which would then be reimbursed against your ticket from the machine. If the machine can't sell one, that's the train companies look out. When I've done this I've never bought a permit though.

You shouldn't suffer for FGW being too tight to keep their ticket office open.

Dc and I did indeed make it back on the train together. Shame I had to Drag her from the pub though, wish I could have stayed for a pint. Apologies for shooting off without saying good bye too :(

Would someone mind posting their garmin trace - in raw GPX format - here? or via dropbox etc? mine seemed to stop recording just after Horton.

Excellent day of riding and hats off to Benjam for some serious train leading. Gutted we couldnt stay longer. When they wouldnt let us on the first train my heart sank, and I was in a serious state of hunger. Why I didn't just pop out to subway while we waited I can't explain.

Met an awesome pensioner on my second train and we chatted about cycling for half an hour and then I has home. Ended up getting in at 01.30 and then much like Rod Much, ate ALL THE FOOD.