Saturday Chiltern Rides

Hippy just checked your on line now. Log off, switch off the computer .Go to bed we don't want you. over sleeping and missing the ride.

haha.. no.. i mean I've got shit to do tomorrow morning that stops me riding.

Great Ride today!

Hope you weren't set upon by that big kite Phil, and you made it back ok?

Really well organized route ( thanks to Chris), fine company, topped off by some fine hilly (not too hilly) countryside. Only lacking a few more people. I'd recommend it to all.

Cheers, Will

As above, another great Wayfarer ride. Sorry I had to bail out part way round. Made it home with the help of London Midland . Note to other forum members large kite referred to is a Red Kite a large bird of prey. It is worth a ride out to the Chilterns just to watch the Kites. Sorry watching to much Bill Oddy

I have not posted a report on my last outing, because my companions have already done a good job with their comments.

For next Saturday's ride I have already been out for a recce, and I have a promise of attendance from a former international roadman who tells me he will bring a celebrity bike. I don't think he has ridden fixed on the road for a few decades, so this could be an interesting morning.

This will be the fourth Wayfarer tour of the Chilterns, so more fgss members this time. Travel news, engineering work on the Met line. See my post (16) for train times.

You guys might be interested:
http://willesdencc.blogspot.com/2008/11/chiltern-reliability-rides-2009.html

Gutted I can't make it this week, they really are good rides and I'm intrigued as to who the mystery guest is?

Anyone planning on doing Hippy's Harp Hilly? I think I'll try and make it down. Looks like a good challenge.

Cheers

My roadman discovered that although fixed wheel bikes are simple, they are not infallible - he stripped the thread on one side of his hub so that his machine freewheeled in both directions! This left him with plan B which was a 20 tooth single freewheel. He did the decent thing and very honourably pedalled down all the descents - coming down from Northchurch common to Berkhamstead his legs temporarily disappeared in a blur.

We did about 35 miles, the village of Studham near Whipsnade was our furthest point. Although this doesn't sound much, it was more effort than you might think since we were going across the 'grain' of the hills and it was all up and down.

Saturday week will be the last of these rides for the time being as I hope to be going on my club's Sunday training rides in January and since these can be hard I like to rest on Saturdays.

One last flutter this Saturday - even though the weather forecast is rain.

There seems to be a view that fixed is only suitable for riding in areas where there are no hills.

Come and disprove this.

If I was ever much of *grimpeur *then those days are long behind me. I will pick a route which will get us to the higher ground without any balls breaking steep climbs.

I will not post a route beforehand, since where we go will depend on the strength and inclination of whoever turns up, but I have a number of possibilities in mind. From Amersham I intend to head northwest towards the Dunstable Downs and/or Ivinghoe Beacon.

Let’s remember that any cycling on the road is potentially dangerous, and although I’ll try to pick safe roads you come along at your own risk. There will be some steepish descents, so effective brakes are essential.

I realise this is rather short notice, but the Autumn is pressing on, and I wanted to get this in.

Please post if you want to come.

Meet 10 am Amersham Station (Metropolitan Line).
Leave 10.15.

Regrettably I can't make this Saturday clubman, as this is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking to do more of. I'll keep an eye on the thread though, and hope to join in the future.

who has expressed such a ridiculous view?? :-) see tnrc for a firm debunking.

would love to come along for this but can't do saturday...

Will take the 09.27-10.02h London Marylebone to Amersham.

Hi Clubman, hows it going?

I've just moved back to london and am pretty keen to get involved with some of the forum rides again, these rides were gret fun a few years ago

My parents live in Berkhamsted and its a lovely place to cycle.

Unfortunately can't make this weekends ride but if your doing any others I'd love to come along, and meet up again!

Cheers

Well, it seems it was a reasonable idea, but I picked the wrong day/didn't give enough notice.

Let's try again in two weeks time, Saturday 29th October, same place/time.

I'll post again to confirm nearer the day.

A bump for my own little project.

Chiltern Ride - Next Saturday 29th October, Amersham station 10am

Although I didn't say this specifically in my recent post above, I hope this is going to be a fixed gear ride.

1. Clubman
   
2. Dancing James
   

busted frame on my only servicable fixed gear bike... so i am almost certainly out.

1. Clubman
   
2. Dancing James
   
3. mikec ( My back will probably not hold up this far on fixed and I have a new road bike I need to bed in )
   

How far and how hilly are we talking?

A bump for my own little project.

Chiltern Ride - Next Saturday 29th October, Amersham station 10am

Although I didn't say this specifically in my recent post above, I hope this is going to be a fixed gear ride.

Chris, would there be any way of bringing this forward to say 9am? I am just thinking with darkening evenings, and Saturday Stevie Wonder traffic, it may assist with safety aspects?

No pressure, and certainly do not want to inconvenience others, but if it was earlier, I would certainly be on for joining you good people.

I will not post a route beforehand, since where we go will depend on the strength and inclination of whoever turns up, but I have a number of possibilities in mind. From Amersham I intend to head northwest towards the Dunstable Downs and/or Ivinghoe beacon

Fox,

   I haven't measured the distances, but I'd guess at 30 - 40 miles depending where we go. As to how hilly, you can trust me not to tackle anything steep this Saturday. As I said above (see quote) I can adapt the route according to the strength of the riders.

I think i have the day off work this saturday and may join you! As i haven't rode out that way and need to expand my routes collection.

Chris, would there be any way of bringing this forward to say 9am? I am just thinking with darkening evenings, and Saturday Stevie Wonder traffic, it may assist with safety aspects?

No pressure, and certainly do not want to inconvenience others, but if it was earlier, I would certainly be on for joining you good people.

This is intended as a morning only ride and I think there is very little danger of not being home before nightfall. Also, my feeling is that getting to Amersham for 9am would be an unusually early start for an lfgss ride.

However, this Saturday coming is the last day summertime, so in the next few weeks, after the clocks have gone back, maybe an earlier start would be desireable.

I hope to be able to do more of these runs before Christmas - if there's any demand for them. If there is a consensus that an earlier start is needed, then that's what we'll do.