Bespoked Bristol 2018

I've just had it confirmed that I am collecting my bike, so will be heading over on Sunday.

OK I'm now leaning towards riding most of it on the Thursday, maybe camp in a hedge or something near Brizzle, and roll in Friday am.

Also:
Can anyone give me a clue about what sort of cycle parking is at Bristol Bespoked... monitored but cafe lock advisable? Unmonitored, bring two good locks? Valet parking?

Don't think I'm going to make it down but my boss will be there, go tell him how wonderful I am. https://www.instagram.com/beardydave/

I'll be there on the Saturday.
If anyone wants LFGSS stickers or other stickers I can bring some.
http://www.cabincycles.co.uk

If anyone wants complementary passes for Friday DM me.

Anyone got a good London to Bristol route GPS track? Contemplating riding overnight on Saturday.I know it's possible via canal path but this sounds less of a good night time option.

I've just used MyMaps to map around main roads and avoiding various places I think I want to avoid. Total 204KM (starting at Hampton, last place on the Shepperton line you can use Oyster). However I can't call this 'a good route' as I just made it up tweaking the default. If you want it you can have the KML (never heard of this format before but seems to be behaving just like a GPX on the phone app I have called Galileo Pro).

I'm intending on using the paper directions printed and the route will be on Galileo for emergencies if I get lost. TL:DR I like words on paper like an Audax, not devices.

Bring a proper lock. Loads of people but also shady cunts lurking

@cgg I have heard rumours you are the man for good Bristol routes.
I am planning on cycling home from Bristol Sunday

Thanks - I already found a couple I can steal off rwgps - e.g. https://ridewithgps.com/routes/24495034

or
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/574835

but was hoping someone would have one they'd done that they did consider to be a good route.

Funnily enough despite having done my share of audaxes and some paper route sheet following I am the exact opposite in liking a clear GPS route I can follow rather than having to stress about reading things on paper by torchlight...

It's also totally possible I'll end up not doing it/driving the next day. I'm sort of assuming the weather will be good like it it's meant to be for the rest of the week - I really like night riding in good weather. If it's not I'll probably save the suffering for actual audaxes.

I have a feeling it was blindly following one of @cgg 's route that saw me heading up a 25%+ cattle track in the late stages of Bryan Chapman Audax...
Though really that should just be a lesson in not blindly following other people's tracks without looking at them first. I'm really lazy when it comes to editing my own tracks.

Cool. I actually only audax for fun never points, 200ks about my limit so I'm treating this as one of them, starting sparrow's fart on Thursday.

Mine's missing all that Bracknell/ Reading / Newbury and picking out lanes south of that corridor. Hope I haven't made more hills for myself.

Just re-editing the stoopid google written directions now to make it Audaxy. Niiiice.

I've rode this a couple of times.

That sounds like an ideal scenario to me tbh

It would normally be for me as well, but not 570km into an audax with no sleep and the time limit worryingly close.
(For balance, I've just realised I also stole @cgg's BCM Mike Hall gravel detour GPS route and it was one of the best rides I've done in this country).

Anyway, am derailing this from Bespoked a bit...

I pretty sure this is exactly what Bespoked is all about.
I for one am expecting sharing stories and drinking beers all Saturday.
Did I mention we are bringing a keg? #freebeer

Oh shit maybe I should stay two nights... #beerfriendsismyfriendsforever

Oh fuck I keep forgetting I have to lug a lock along... bleaurgh.

fuck it, credit card touring, buy a lock when you get there!

lfgss logic

Go for the top one, if you look to the right at the correct moment you'll see the room I lost my virginity in, although riding through Theale would be better than the bypass.

@Hulsroy @ad441

I've been using this route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/172373

which bears strong resemblance to ad441's second proposal. It's been used on several occasions for the TNRC London > Bath ride so no crazy gravel and fixed friendly too :) It is very nice at night and I see no reason why it wouldn't be during the day.

If I was to do it again I'd probably cut the river path before Bath and route across the hill, next to the University of Bath. Though it's probably because we didn't manage getting on it at night and lost quite a bit of time trying to. Should be fine in the day?

The ride to Farnborough is left as an exercise for the reader.

Thanks. I will ride it in reverse on Sunday to Finny P.

Thanks for posting that. Mine's a bit north of that route in parts, but much of it is the same.

fuck it, credit card touring, buy a lock when you get there!

lfgss logic

Made of money^.