Rapha North Ride 29th May

^^
Oh Christ. They won't appreciate me then showboating with my no brakes and generally cycling like a complete selfish maniac.
These are probably the people I take delight at handing it to every monrning!

Yeah, but it will be full of bitter middle-aged men in skin-tight lycra on really expensive road bikes who hate everyone else on the road, including other cyclists.

Hey guys, look me up as I've not managed to get out on LFGSS ride yet but am on this one because, through Central London CTC, am assisting with navigating herding people who will, inevitably, be getting lost. Probably much easier to look for a big black bloke in a pink Plowman Craven hat!!

Am on a geared, orange, Eddy Merckx for tonight as have been warned off fixed due to Swain's Lane and a nasty downhill after Highgate tube station.

Is it right to be a bit worried about comments re middle aged roadies as I'm officially late middle aged!!!!

Calm down, it's just a skit... ;))

Mike once you finished your dipsplay of headonistic showmanship you should step off and show them the lycra, give it a Scooby do style ending at the pub :)

Mike once you finished your dipsplay of headonistic showmanship you should step off and show them the lycra, give it a Scooby do style ending at the pub :)

I shall be taking it very easy due to poor weather and fear of reprimand! But yes. Underneath I am fully lycra-clad

i thought it's called off due to rain. something about getting said expensive road bikes and/or wigs wet?!??!

i thought it's called off due to rain. something about getting said expensive road bikes and/or wigs wet?!??!

Lol. You are joking though aren't you? Aren't you!!

True, but Swains Lane's the steepest within earshot of Bow Bells. It's only the hardest if you go for it from the bus stop down the bottom though. I still think Muswell Hill is the toughest psychologically, which is why I try to get up it in as close to 90 seconds as possible :p

You and dogs are just girls. Every fule kno that Dartmouth Park from Tufnell Park and continuing up North Hill is a real man's climb, much tougher than Mosswell Hummock. Pah! I piss on your sandal-wearing excuse of a slope.

i've lived in the area since i've been i london. remember coming down dartmouth park toward tufnell park, first day i rode fixed. haha!!

Poo poo to you, dingo! I was riding over Highgate Hill when before you could even find London on the map.

sorry, i forgot you knew jesus personally! :(

Yeah, but he never had my phone number.

well, they didn't have phones back then. ;)

Haha! Touche!

You and dogs are just girls. Every fule kno that Dartmouth Park from Tufnell Park and continuing up North Hill is a real man's climb, much tougher than Mosswell Hummock. Pah! I piss on your sandal-wearing excuse of a slope.

What the fuck are you talking about?

Dartmouth Park Hill is a pissy little warm up, with downhill sections, and joins Highgate High Street after it's stopped being a hill (on the way to North Hill, which is also downhill).

You're all messed up in the brainbox (but still know the area better than Dogsballs, obviously).

i thought it's called off due to rain. something about getting said expensive road bikes and/or wigs wet?!??!

Well there weren't that many expensive roads bikes but plenty of ordinary looking road bikes to be seen and I didn't wear my wig!! About 30 or so turned up despite unpromising weather.

Thanks to MikeC and Greasy Slag, among others who were there on fixed and displayed a fine turn of speed up the hills. Apologies to those who I have forgotten to namecheck but I am hopeless with names.

Pub at end was pretty good with fine quality eye candy behind the bar.

Maybe more will turn out for next ride? South, I think.

Well there weren't that many expensive roads bikes but plenty of ordinary looking road bikes to be seen and I didn't wear my wig!! About 30 or so turned up despite unpromising weather.

Thanks to MikeC and Greasy Slag, among others who were there on fixed and displayed a fine turn of speed up the hills. Apologies to those who I have forgotten to namecheck but I am hopeless with names.

Pub at end was pretty good with fine quality eye candy behind the bar.

Maybe more will turn out for next ride? South, I think.

Yes a very enjoyable ride. Always nice to finish in a pub with a few choice ladies and a few moments from home.

Hello again to everyone I met

Cheers to all on the ride,

Really enjoyed yesterday evening, in spite of the weather, great to meet some of you - NorthLondonLight, MikeC, Greasy Slag - and everyone else fixed/geared/recumbented up. A great mix of people, and the route had plenty of character, loved the last lumpy section after Ally Pally, and yes, good choice of pub. I could have stayed all night had it not been for a trek back to New Cross and an early start...

Thanks to the CTC for planning and marshalling, and Therese at Rapha for organising, looking forward to the South/East/West, shame it won't be as hilly.

Chopsicle/Graeme - black Langster/red forks - lurking no more.

I'm not happy about this introductory post, Chopsicle.

Whatever happened to starting a thread entitled "Me, me, me, I'm too important to search, and demand individualized advice about buying/building up my first fixie, and expect in-depth, serious replies, because I'm really the first person to truly discover fixies, and deserve only the best equipment, and do you want to buy my Marekback hybrid for £750?"

You need to get some manners.

ha ha, because lurking is the new fixing. Takes time and skill to really hone things down to the purest elements of voyeurism, where every click gets no feedback or response. etc etc.

Now I'm here, can anyone help me learn to skid this weekend?!...

What the fuck are you talking about?

Dartmouth Park Hill is a pissy little warm up, with downhill sections, and joins Highgate High Street after it's stopped being a hill (on the way to North Hill, which is also downhill).

You're all messed up in the brainbox (but still know the area better than Dogsballs, obviously).

What are you? Some sort of f***ing librarian?

Yeah, joins Highgate Hill, not North Hill.

There's only one way to sort this out:

you and dogsballs go and ride Muswell Hill and Dartmouth Park against the clock. (I'll be holding the clock and a pint). Then we will find out which one is harder (not out of you two - you're clearly both soft as something very soft indeed - like hippo's belly)

If you cut out the lengthy flat/downhill section of Dartmouth Park Hill, stuck the two uphill bits together, and then let me and dogs ride it back-to-back with Muswell Hill, that would be more scientific.

Length and hardness are two entirely different concepts (insert sexual banter here).

If length is what gets you off, there's the option (traffic lights permitting) of taking Wolseley Rd up from Park Rd, continuing up Shepherds Hill, then up Jacksons Lane, then Southwood Lane. That's longer and harder than your Dartmouth Park bollocks.

I must agree that Dartmouth Park Hill is a walk in the Park and is easily doable even after several beers. Swains Lane and Muswell Hill are definitely trickier. Although Swains Lane aint really all that either if you have a reasonable gear

Here's a real hill...

You should start at the Forum Kentish Town, race up swains lane, drop across to bottom of Alley Pally (near the Victoria stakes) head up Muswell Hill, left through the broadway, left at Highgate station and drop down archway road, once round the round about and straight back up Highgate High Street. Swap out West hill for Swains lane..

Mike would love to join in ;)
i'll keep Bill company with a pint and keep a second clock.. back up...

Chopsicle, NLL good to meet you last night - be good to see you on the oxford ride.
Chopsicle - try head to the west or east drinks you'll get plenty of skidding tips there