Fixed Gear London's London to Brighton ride

Here's the training thread:
http://www.londonfgss.com/discussion/140/midweek-evening-40-mile-ride/

i'm on a 16 hours shif on wednesday ( and monday and tuesday) and gotta be at work at 8 on thursday.
I've been an amateur boxer in the past, and as you can see from my work schedule i'm used to fisical stuff, i don't think i'll be able to join you for the trial, but if you're planning on doin a rehersal any other day i'll join in.
excuse my ignorance but what do you mean by 70" gear?

Gear inches is an old timey method of talking about the ratio of your gears and give an idea of distance travelled per turn of the pedals. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gear_inches. So 70 gear inches is approximately 48x18, for example (well its actually 71 something but its close enough).

Gear inches kind of stuck around with the track racing crowd and for riding fixed, its pretty much the defacto way of talking about yer gearing.

Think I'm up for this, provided I can find some similarly paced folk. Anyone made an online route map?
Cheers!

so about the gearing...if the calculationis 42x27/16 it looks like i'm running at 70" is that right?
but anywhay, i might get a pair of new wheels and fit a 15t spocket or something like that, i shall see what you guys and the chaps at BricklaneBikes say...
anyone got an idea of how many people will be taking part in the ride?

I might be going out of town, but if not, I am definitely riding

Fab :) See you there (if you're riding).

check out sundays forecast!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/5day.shtml?world=4581

Seems almost perfect. Are you afraid it might rain?

almost perfect? what about the black cloud with the raindrop coming out of it?

Sods Law. I checked a couple of days ago and it was forecasting sun, clear skies and 20 degrees. D'oh!
Still up for it though...

It's not too hot, it will spare us having to carry tons of liquid, and the rain will be little and scattered... if it comes, it will be refreshing :)

Any older types going to push along with if the youngsters decide to race?

Little worried I will end up in the Voiture Balai......

Latern Rouge here I'll keep you company at the back

I'm fairly sure that if the couriers dart off into the distance, the rest of us will be bringing up the rear guard.

Worst case scenario... bring a compass and head South ;)

How old is old anyway? I'm 33 which is hardly in my prime.

Don't forget the old hare and the tortoise story couriers dart off into the distance find them asleep under a tree near the finish surrounded by stella cans

I'm greatly encouraged!!

Is there any nominated pubs en route to re-group?

Now I've stripped my hub and will have to free-wheel... I'm tempted to bring the geared bike for the extra brake.

Would this be blasphemy?

How'd you strip you hub?

Freewheel it. You don't want to be the ONLY one with gears (not that I care one way or the other) :)

Are you coming along Alex?

See the stripped hub thread, basically I took off a Phil Wood sprocket and it pulled half of the threads off the Formula hub as they had welded together.

And you're right, single-speed would be better.

Alex How'd you strip you hub?

He was a dirty dirty man. I hear he came home drunk last night demanding things which his bike was not prepared todo. He then started forceing five pound notes inbetwwwen the chain and cog until it finaly striped but by which time velocity boy had passed out in a pool of gease and oil with bar tape wrapped round his head.

That's not too far from the truth at all.

LOL Brick. Lost ya knuckle but not your SoH.

if people do 'dart' off... they'll be waiting at the bottom of the ditchling beacon for the king of the hill contest

just so you know guys i'm also looking for someone that will be at the taillight position...my man dropped a gas canister on his foot so i'll be going solo, i guess this is the best way to meet Fixedheads.
Who's gonna keep me company?