Hard Day in January '25

Hello friendly fixie people, HDIJ is up for 2025!

I'm feeling good and am excited the ride next year. A few lovely forumers Jay and Leo are running Moderate Days in prep for January. The first one was ace and I'm sure the next two will be as well.

After the kinda brutal lumps of last year's ride, we're aiming for flatter and flowing fixed group work. Again it'll be extending past the 90 miles for an imperial century but as always to commemorating the ride @clubman did in 1959. I think we all appreciated seeing you on the road and in the pub afterwards Chris!

Totally new roads for HDIJ, we'll be starting in Roydon for a loop that nicks a few TNRC lanes. I'm not a big Essex Lad but Roydon is well served by fast London trains and means that we'll be in the Good Lanes in very short order. If there are riders travelling down maybe they could get a slice of generosity from London's friendliest forum and be offered a place to crash the night before.

This is intended as a fixed gear / single-speed ride and as it's probably not even "rolling" you'll be fine on the gearing of your choice (as it's not track gearing). It's a mid-winter ride so is not supposed to be a smashfest, but I was hoping for some tight group riding, chasing that elusive, much maligned but actually totally real and completely amazing 'flow'. Mudguards are welcome but not required, however rumours suggest the roads are a bit mucky so the guardless may find themselves at the back. You'll definitely need lights.

A few of the details below aren't totally confirmed (or have dropped as the fellow kids say) but sticking a date in the calender means it's something to look forward to.

Start time and location
Leaving from outside Roydon about 8:30. I will see if I can get a local cafe to open up early for us but if not then it might be an unconventional start at Liverpool St station and we all leave as soon as the 7:58 from LVP Str. arrives in Roydon.

Lunch

Cowshed Cafe as run by forumer @rpm - I'll drop you a line closer to the time with a heads up :)

Finish

Pub tbd

Route
Not finalised but this is the idea!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48866200

On a mobile so can't update the links but the other threads are floating around! Will sort in a few days.

1st ed
2nd ed
3rd ed
4th ed
5th ed and most meritorious rider
6th ed and pictures from the most meritorious rider
7th ed and most meritorious rider
8th ed and most meritorious rider
9th ed and most meritorious rider
10th ed and most meritorious rider
11th ed and most meritorious rider
12ed and most meritorious rider

Looks exciting never explored this area at all.
Struggling to get to the pre rides as im normally working Saturday but I have already started training for 2025 after last years poor performance.
Im going to cut back on some of the weight this time as well and go for a more streamlined set up.
Looking forward to it.

Some really nice lanes up there, esp around cowshed

Have watched the HDiJ threads for the last few years but date / location never quite worked to join. This would be on my side of London and on a clear weekend - in, if you’re happy with a new face joining?

Reckon I might be up for this again this year as it is easy enough for me to get to Liverpool Street of a morning. Not sure how daily commuting fixed will set me up for a 90 mile ride but might be able to get a few longer rides in before January...

Happy to see that you're slowly working your way up to Norfolk!

Next year we're starting in Cromer and finishing at yours

New faces very welcome!!!

May I interest you in some 'moderate' tune up rides?

https://www.lfgss.com/events/10154/

This is on radar.

Sounds like a good reason for me to build a new bike and stop being fat :-)

I've been wanting to do this for years, am aiming to break my duck this time.

Thanks for the heads up. We will start fundraising for your appearance fee!

lol - I'm a very cheap date.

We can’t all use the same excuse!

Good to see Lilley Bottom in a HDIJ, because #lilley #bottom

Looks great but unfortunately we will be closed (6th to 23rd Jan) for our annual “holiday” (catching up with all the shit we never manage to do the rest of the time).
:(

Looks like a good’un boys!

Give me a shout on your next northern adventure.