2007-05-27 - Let's ride to Southend and then out into the sea

I'll be pulling another page out of my road atlas and bringing that with me, so as long as someone knows how to get out of London it should be fine :)

Yep, I've got directions all printed up which should see us right, but it proved too tricky condensing the entire map onto a side of A4 so I've got one of those separately. I'll definitely be there, and will definitely ride seeing as 9am is too early to dive for the nearest pub!

Now here's some interesting options involving Sod's Law:
a) Go and clean the bike up = definite rain and muckiness tomorrow.
b) Leave it grimy and mudguarded = glorious sunshine.

Hmm...

OK, I don't think we're going to avoid the rain at all. It looks inevitable:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/rain.shtml#no_url

I hope you all have waterproofs, mudguards, etc.

I'll bring a spare waterproof jacket along in case anyone needs it.

Not sure what I'll do for gloves, it looks like it will be torrential later in the day.

I just did a few laps of Richmond Park on a new saddle and have somehow fscked my back over. It don't bend no more! Hoping a large pile of food and ales will fix it. fingers x'd
I don't care about the rain so much but if it's really pissing down I may be forced to wear lycra. You've been warned! I'm not riding 100k in soggy fscking jeans!

velocity boy
But I'm doing it regardless as this is now important Etape training for me.

Ditto! I just hope I can get bike (and now spine) sorted out.

velocity boy OK, I don't think we're going to avoid the rain at all. It looks inevitable:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ukweather/rain.shtml#no_url
I hope you all have waterproofs, mudguards, etc.
I'll bring a spare waterproof jacket along in case anyone needs it.
Not sure what I'll do for gloves, it looks like it will be torrential later in the day.

Mudguards? I've got race blades that I've never used on the Ribble and a rat-tail I can put on the fix. Jackets? What? Hmm.. Damn.

Race-blades are what I have.

Regards back, if it's lower back, stretch lots. Arch backwards, and lean so that your hand runs down the outside of your leg. Don't power-stretch... hold each stretch for 30 seconds at least.

Weather ain't so bad out west.. maybe we can ride around the Chilterns instead? :)

velocity boy Race-blades are what I have.
Regards back, if it's lower back, stretch lots. Arch backwards, and lean so that your hand runs down the outside of your leg. Don't power-stretch... hold each stretch for 30 seconds at least.

Yep. I used to get lower back pain. This is different. I can barely touch my toes. It feels more like I've injured it rather than just being 'sore'. I'll do some more stretches in a tick.

Are you taking your road bike? I'm thinking of Dunwich and Etape and really should be getting the kays in on the Ribble but don't wanna 'wuss out' when I have the Raleigh here. :)

Girlfriend is on the case..

"bit lower"
"to the left"
"ooh that's the spot"

hippy
Are you taking your road bike? I'm thinking of Dunwich and Etape and really should be getting the kays in on the Ribble but don't wanna 'wuss out' when I have the Raleigh here. :)

I am. My excuse was that my fixed is currently single-speed and I don't trust 73 miles (or whatever) to only one brake when it's really wet. As I'm free-wheeling anyway, I want the other brake and the race blades that fit and might keep me a tad drier (who am I kidding?).

It's pissing down.. :(

In Stockwell too...

theres a hurricane in new cross

I have no idea where Seven Dials is, so if I get lost trying to find it can someone ring me if I'm late please? My mobile is on my website, cheers.

Completely unprepared for this, need to go and get stuff done (pack lunch and tweak bike) rather than watch Terminator 3 which is attracting all my attention.

bbc says that the heavy rain will come by 1600...so maybe we wont get the rain...

some mans down...

Mario
Roberto
Keith (not sure)
Stef
aidan
rkn
Toby
slamm
lycralovinaussiecnut
velocity boy
brett
photoben
31trum (if mum lets me)
Martin Rower7 (plus 2 mates if they're up for it)
mdja
dicki

Sh1t.. I've got to swap over these tyres. Blah blah.. beer is better then puncture repair.

photoben I have no idea where Seven Dials is, so if I get lost trying to find it can someone ring me if I'm late please? My mobile is on my website, cheers.
Completely unprepared for this, need to go and get stuff done (pack lunch and tweak bike) rather than watch Terminator 3 which is attracting all my attention.

Seven Dials map:
http://www.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=monmouth+st+london&sll=51.509223,-0.098534&sspn=0.040332,0.113983&ie=UTF8&ll=51.513777,-0.126557&spn=0.005041,0.014248&z=17&om=1

I'm gunna wake up and look at the sky in the morning, if I dont like the look of it I wont be there.

I haven't decided, but hmm think might be better to go another day...

im with roberto, don`t mind about showers or rain but the thing for me is when we get there...what will we do , i mean...with the bad weather wont be nice to stay in the pier...

yeah i with yous, as i said i wouldnt wanna carry a whole change of clothes ion my bag and cycle all the way there to just go to the train station and back to the big smoke, a sunny day was the whole point to go to the sea, remember?

grey sky for grey sky we can stay in london ...
lets see tomorrow morning how it will be...

Hell I was gonna get myself ready for this but instead I been drinking since 4pm. I'll see if I can get my blades on in the morning, otherwise I'll hang at the back and avoid soaking anyone! Unprepared? I am the dictionary definition of that word...