2010-06-26 - Ladies London to Brighton Ride

Charlotte, you could try one of these:

http://www.bikeradar.com/gear/category/accessories/map-holder/product/mini-mapholder-09-34013

There are other models available, but I've used this one for years with great satisfaction. Definitely recommended if you're keen to do more longer rides.

Despite my abysmal map-reading skills I might get one of these to help me improve. Thanks for tip Oliver.

Last time I saw you gals I was putting the chain back on just after Turners Hill... gutted I didn't get to finish the ride - I certainly felt able to complete it, given a walk up Ditchling - so I stuck to the road figuring someone would wait at a turn, but never saw anyone.

Was about 5-6 miles before I reached a junction, Jess arrived at the same place ten minutes later. Having worked out where we were it was 25m along A-roads to Brighton and we weren't going to climb back up the 5 miles we'd just descended to get back on track. A check of the trains (we were 3 miles S of East Grinsted) showed that we'd have had to go via Croydon to get to Brighton - an hour and a half on the train. Seemed pointless so we went home.

Really disappointed that we got left behind :-(

I might tag along on this one...

Yes. Please. I doubt I'd have got lost if I'd had that to follow!

Despite my abysmal map-reading skills I might get one of these to help me improve. Thanks for tip Oliver.

You're welcome. Hope you find it fun! I'm a bit of a technophobe, anyway, so true to form I think that Garminisation takes a good deal of the fun out of navigating while riding. :)

Brilliant ride one and all - massive thanks to claire and stixx for organising and shepherding the crew. Sorry to rush off after Ditchling, would have loved beer, swim, cider etc. My highlights: the early hills before my legs gave up, assorted flapjacks (excellent cooking fluff and jenne) bacon sarnies at the pub, flower scented country lanes, the road down into Brighton in the sun. good riding and looking forward to a Cambridge jaunt!

Are there enough rides/events, etc that we can have a women's sub forum?

I think that's a great idea!

I would find that really helpful for us newbies too. There are so many questions I want to ask, like which bikes are each of you ladies riding?

I think it is a great idea too.

Thanks Oliver! I like the Garmin things up to a point but the one I had in the car was abysmal at finding and holding on to signal. Paper is the way forward, so will definitely check that out.

I think it is a great idea too.

+1

Le Jeune mixte, freewheel, for pootling, Joe Waugh, fixed, for most stuff, and am getting a mid-80s Somec, geared, up and running for commuting/work-related rides around the hills of South London.

Just ride whatever you can get, provided it mostly fits you, and start there.

yes

and yes - just bought a Garmin after yesterday's navigational FAIL

Sweet. I plan to look for a used one, or another brand of gps that is quick and responsive and I can mount to my handlebars, for getting around to client's homes.

Better late than never, just wanted to say thanks for the fab day all! Cheers to Clefty and stix esp, twas truly awesome. Great to meet all you guys, couldn't have asked for a nicer bunch of peeps to spend the day with. Loved the country lanes, poppy fields, being able to cruise and chat and Brighton Beach for fulfilling every British beach stereo-type I have ever known (including outrageously angry yelling man vs. Brighton Beach Patrol) but not including the totally blinged up, champagne and courvoisier-drinking group complete with professional photographer! Seriously, how to do it in style #101!

Not so stoked with my effort on the hills - am adamant that I would have made a better crack at bitchling first thing on a much cooler day. Mmm hmm. Clearly I need to work on both my hill climbing and my excuses.

Cafewanda, I helped(?) you and VeeVee with your p*issues - did you get your brakes sorted out too? Think they needed some love ; )

Fran, will sort you dosh for two asap (me and Anny) do you accept payment in Nyu Zulund dolluz? ; )

Cambridge ride, yus puh-leez!

Paper is the way forward

Hehe. :)

Oh, and relating to two riders getting lost--did you ride with a backstop or not? I think that's essential on a group ride, especially a largish one. If the backstop hasn't turned up when you pause somewhere, don't carry on. The backstop can also be in phone contact with the ride leader to slow the ride down and look after any stragglers.

I like your avatar megoid and thanks for telling who you were as I had forgotten your forum name!

Here's what the Garmin recorded
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/38351666

Cheers VeeVee - I've just been sitting here trying to match forum names to faces through what people have written, might have to get along to a souths drinks just to get everyone's names down a bit better :)

Loving the info from the Garmin. Nice to know I can push a bike up to 740ft!

What a great ride!!

i feel like doing it all over again next weekend! Well up for the Cambridge ride!

Highlights for me were:

Beautiful day
Lovely ladies to chat to
Eating a bacon sandwich at the half way mark
Spinning to win down a hill at 30+ miles per hour (according to claire's speedomita thingy)
Ice cream at the top of Bitchling
Beer and a fag on Brighton sea front

Lo lights:
The heat, sweeting and chafing
Losing some of the girls :(

Thanks girlies well up for more of these rides and a girls sub forum!

Oh and Pickle - Go GHANA! (Sorry Jenne USA are OUT)

Whoop Whoop!
Shame about England tho.

Hi Megoid, as per usual I'm lousy with names. You were fab.

I tweaked the brakes late last night (just couldn't leave it til today) and all is well. Went out for a ride during the footy and am now about to clean Babygirl (that's her name) for the week's commute.

Chocolate mini-rolls taste better the day after :-)

I'm possibly up for a Cambridge ride depending on the date and possibility of hills.

I dont think we need a sub forum for women.

Maybe we (women) should lead/organise more rides at a pace we are comfy with. Then men who want to ride at that pace can join in, I don't see the need for it to be segregated.

and it could be nice for some of us single girls.....(fran back me up here!!)

sorry i missed the ride yesterday, I am in the middle of moving house and there is no way I could have fitted this is...
I am up for a ride to cambridge tough, very familiar with the route as well!

OH and least we forget the spokie-dokie cards!!! I love the suggested spoke card...can we pleeeeeeeeease print tit? I mean IT

heeheehee

I completely agree with this. We must do it!!

Well, I feel like there are plenty of rides available that are desegregated and I really enjoy having a day out with just the ladies. So I vote we keep planning ladies only rides! Is that sexist? I don't know!

Yup ... continue with the ladies rides, but perhaps run some rides parallel with the mens ones so we have our pace, they have theirs - folk can swap between if they like - start and end points the same.

I don't think we need a ladies sub-forum ...

hold on, this is a S/S/ fixed forum right?
then the answer is all blokes can go on any rides-- dressed in full drag.