The Cobblemonster 2018

Agreed. not sure who that chap is but he's certainly handsome.

The one with me in captured the sad demise of part of the egg in my scotch egg.

Rest in Peas sweetprinz

What a fantastic day/ride!! After being a long-term lurker (since 2010 under username, Danialdo), having made less than 10 posts and having never been on any forum rides, I had the absolute pleasure of starting late and being escorted round by the legend that is Skully!! Laughed alot, and learnt some stuff, including the best way to attack cobbles ("too tense man, you're too tense!"). Then, just as I thought it couldn't get any better, we caught up with all the names I've seen on the forum but had never met, on Canonbie! Thanks for letting me tag along and sharing the good vibes. Made a middle aged man feel like part of the cool kids - though when I got home I fell asleep in the armchair watching a programme about the National Trust, so the balance was restored!).

Wonderful to have you along.

BTW, the cool kids are all middle aged now too!

Happy to take suggestions - on the caveat that the route avoids that massive rounabout in Lewisham. We've had numerous looks at this and the only way to avoid is to cut the maze Hill climb out. If you top Maze Hill and go through blackheath all options either dump you down on the Lewisham Rounabout unless you headed straight on and further south into Lee.

And then there are some that tell us they like that bit....

Seems like a sound argument. I don't know is the area as well as @Skülly who may have some auggestions. I'm sure you've looked long and hard at it.

And yeah, on a day without rain and attendant diesel slicks I'm sure it's a nice fast and fun descent. Just seems at odds to a lot of the rest of the route.

massive thanks to @Dave_Cobblemonster for getting this back on. it really is an excellent day in the saddle and in the pub and in the company of the best people.

loved the new addition of the uphill cobble section - great find that.

got a bit pissed the night before so started later than planned so missed out on rolling with some of the OG crew. but was ace to turn up at Jamm having ridden the whole thing solo and see the North London lot and all the South bunch too. much fun at Jamm including watching it on the big screen and not having to compete with football on other TVs.

great to see you all and sorry to miss @smiff and @JAH_tim (or @JAHtim)

and the raffle was awesome. nice one @mashton for picking up your discarded to ticket for it to be the winner on the 6xx no show.

x

Screw those six hundred guys.

Dave I’ll map my alternative for you to try when you start thinking about next year’s ride.

As you say, some may miss the descent, and my route still dies have some busy roads - but not the gyratory, which can be avoided.

Is there enough cobbles north of the river to justify a ride up here? I can think of a handful of mews’ around Hampstead but that’s about it. We have some hills tho.
Also, I feel I need a shit weather road/gravel bike now. Tourer is great but want to be able to scamper up hills properly again. Or just htfu and go back to fixed.

Moar pics!

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Blackheath to Lewisham way should be done via Granville Park and Station Rd. Looks like you all had a blast!

Looks like a good option. I do like the little climb past St Johns station though.

Granville Park

Dont agree I'm afraid. Previously considered but in practice Station Rd is bus city and you need to do x2 R turns, the second one onto the A20 against a brick central reservation... you still end up on the A20 which is as busy as shooters hill road only slower moving.

If you come down Granville Park you can go straight over onto Silk Mills Path - it isn't the dead end googlemap makes it look like, turns into brief shared use path, linking up to Conington Road. That then allows you to go over the incredible Elverson Road DLR station footbridge to get over to St Johns and link up with the current route. Pic below!

If that's too fiddly, then anything that gets you to Conington Rd then Elverson Road DLR is your friend I reckon. The footbridge is fun and will cut out Loampit Road.

Just a thought anyway, not for me to tell you how to run this!

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Greetings folks,

I know the interweb is for posting news and for things to be all instant, so apologies that it has taken me 10 days to post a match report but here we go....

First of all we need to pay homage to our lovely Cobbledante - Without you Dave this would not happen - big up to you...

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As you will know the start was at Brixton Cycles and not sure on feedback but I thought it was great. Especially if you have mechanicals etc.

As you will also know it rained all day, so I was determined for this minor TLC / Cobblemonster hiccup not to get me down. All the way round I was thinking this is ' character building' . It's also a reminder that it's the accessories that make an outfit, er as below...

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I did see a few familiar faces at the start ie the lovely almac who had just flown in - such is the draw for such a prestigious cycling event that it has become an international event.

Entre nous . I hate cobbles and have often gone a bit freestyle with this ride - I've done the hills twice, or laps of Regents Park and other things, but this year I said, no - I will follow those pink arrows... So in that vein and to pay homage to the wonderful cobbled streets - imagine my delight to see something under construction - I hope you enjoy the following shot.....

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When in East London it is important to remember that you are never more than 6 feet away from a hip-ster, even if they are of the replacement variety... I hear blue plastic bags are a strong look for SS18 . I stopped in this street just to look at the magnificent cherry blossom....

I got a bit lost in East London ( not the first person to have been described as such...) so having lost track of the pink arrows which again is a strong look for SS18, I headed to Tower Bridge and then to pick up the road southside...

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I had a great time then heading towards Greenwich tagging along with some great characters who were very interested in church architecture. My fave quote from this time on the route was ' Charles, these churches are so lovely that I keep missing the arrows ' . Still this ride is for everyone.... truly...

I then stopped for a breather and saw this shot across the river of the changing face of the skyline....

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Then once up Maze Hill and Blackheath I seemed to be tagging along with people in BC gear half my age... They all seemed happy for me to tag along. I said - 'if you drop me it's cool...., if you stop I will keep going... so please don't take offence' They seemed fine with this and I was either with them, behind them or in front of them all the way round. Big up to all those who got the fashion statement just right that day in Brixton Cycles kit !!!

The character building weather continued and continued and then continued, but this is the ride the weather cannot spoil. I didn't meet a single person not smiling...... I then returned back to SW9 to the White Horse finish... I was pretty er ahem rinsed in more ways than one after the South Babylon-don alps....

This ride report started with a picture of the lovely Dave and it ends here with another...

Given health and strength I'll see you again next year.

Peace and love to each and every one,

Tim

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@JAH_tim lovely posts and thank you for your kind words.

The ride this year was the hardest for me due to serious lack of fitness and time off the bike. But the forum crew I collected at the cutty shark pub were both patient and generous with their support. I doubt I would have got ‘round without them. I’ve never walked canonbie before, so that was a new experience..

What never changes is the sense of adventure, the atmosphere and forum peeps that add something special to an already great excuse ‘let’s call it celebration’ for a superb bicycle ride across our great citeh Babylon-don..

See you on the road again soon and best always
Almac

Love the headwear Tim.

I couldn’t make the ride this year but reading yours and others reports makes me feel like I was there in spirit.

Greetings folks,

I was out and about yesterday and I bumped into some old friends

Yes the one and only

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