Oxford - who and what

Oxford's Halloween Alleycat is on October 29th, meeting at 6.30pm on Broad Street
We've brewed up a weird promo video for it:

Halloween Bike Ride Promo Video on Vimeo

Eight interactive ghoulish checkpoints will be hidden around the city for you to find, as you explore your way to the party that awaits you at the end where we'll be serving Monster Mashed baked potato and Halloween soup.

Prizes for the best costumes have been donated by Cyclodelic: http://www.cyclodelic.co.uk/

Facebook event: http://s.coop/3y2

Hey Guys / Girls,

I live in Oxford, ride singe speed and would gladly join anyone for an evening or daytime ride now and then. So please keep this thread updated with what you're up to if fancy any company.

Cheers!
Nice one, we'll have to arrange a ride sometime soon. I'm free most evenings and weekends so it'd be cool to go for a ride.

Does anyone have any experience with the local clubs? I know there's a few about, and am thinking it would be good to get out on regular group rides through the winter.

I think I just paid membership to join the University Cycling Club (actually I joined the tri club bit think I therefore automatically join the roadies too...) As yet I know nothing about it/them but I think that at least the tri club welcome non-university members and they seem like a decent bunch.

That's good to know, I'd expected the uni clubs to be students only.

Sounds great! I'd be up for a club too, although I'm not sure if my fixed/single speed cycle gear would be suitable for the tri club or even roadies one, what are your thoughts?

How about an easy evening ride tomorrow (wednesday the 27th) in preparation of the friday Alleycat? Im free anytime in the evening if anyone is interested.

Nice one, we'll have to arrange a ride sometime soon. I'm free most evenings and weekends so it'd be cool to go for a ride.

Does anyone have any experience with the local clubs? I know there's a few about, and am thinking it would be good to get out on regular group rides through the winter.

You should go have a chat with a guy called Steve Avery, he's a mechanic at Bike Zone next to the covered market, he rides everything from mixed tandem time trial events to tricycle racing, his grandfather was the owner\framebuilder of the brand Lomas Cycles down on the Cowley Rd in the 60's. He knows about most of the regular team/group rides around the Oxford area and just basically an all round nice fella.
On the other tip about riding with the university clubs, it would be nice to hear some opinions on how they are, I've had some experience with them in the past (5-6yrs ago) and found them to be a complete joke.

Sounds great! I'd be up for a club too, although I'm not sure if my fixed/single speed cycle gear would be suitable for the tri club or even roadies one, what are your thoughts?

How about an easy evening ride tomorrow (wednesday the 27th) in preparation of the friday Alleycat? Im free anytime in the evening if anyone is interested.
Tonight? No chance! Just got home from the TNRC Deluxe ride... achey, wrinkley, and missing a spoke :( Maybe next week?

You should go have a chat with a guy called Steve Avery, he's a mechanic at Bike Zone next to the covered market, he rides everything from mixed tandem time trial events to tricycle racing, his grandfather was the owner\framebuilder of the brand Lomas Cycles down on the Cowley Rd in the 60's. He knows about most of the regular team/group rides around the Oxford area and just basically an all round nice fella.
On the other tip about riding with the university clubs, it would be nice to hear some opinions on how they are, I've had some experience with them in the past (5-6yrs ago) and found them to be a complete joke.
Sounds cool, will hve to check out the shop.
In what way were they a joke, just not as experienced as "proper" clubs?

Any feedback on the tri/road club Ewan?

Tonight? No chance! Just got home from the TNRC Deluxe ride... achey, wrinkley, and missing a spoke :( Maybe next week?

"Missing a spoke" lol, seems like you had a good ride!
Sure, any evening next week if fine as long as its not raining :P

I hit a deep pothole pretty hard, but didn't realise it had snapped until after I'd slogged up the first hill with the rim rubbing on the brake block!

Let's keep an eye on the forecast and arrange something nearer the time then shall we?

Any feedback on the tri/road club Ewan?

Fraid not yet... haven't been out with either yet. Also being a triathlete [hangs head in shame] I have very little experience of road clubs anyway...

I hit a deep pothole pretty hard, but didn't realise it had snapped until after I'd slogged up the first hill with the rim rubbing on the brake block!

Let's keep an eye on the forecast and arrange something nearer the time then shall we?

Sounds like a deal, lets keep each other posted next week.

In what way were they a joke, just not as experienced as "proper" clubs?

they were always more concerned with standing around outside Trinity college looking cool than actually doing any riding, and when they did ride it was always short and somewhat null of any emotion but as I said it was 5-6 yrs ago so all those kids have moved on.
I remember Didcot has a pretty good club too called the Didcot Phoenix Cycling club (http://www.didcotphoenix.co.uk ) and there's always The Oxford City Road Club (I think Steve rides with them among others) ( http://www.ocrc.co.uk/ ). If Steve's too busy working downstairs have a chat with a guy called Neil he's pretty knowledgeable with events going around Oxford aswell and also can dish out some great discounts on stuff in stock. If your riding north or east of Oxford you might bump into an older guy around 45-50 with a bandana called Ashley, he's always alone and puts in at least 200 miles a week, he's a quiet fellow but loves to talk bikes.
If your after a younger more hip, alleycat/fixed kinda feel, chat with a guy called Dan at OCW on the Cowley Road. And for mountain bike trails advice, Jason at Beeline on the Cowley Road is a cool guy to know in the city.

I did the alleycat last night (I was the one limboing, failing the dance thing, smashing my own conkers etc). Anybody else? Also, what're you up to tomorrow Arducius? Up for a fairly short ride?

Well I had to bail from the L-W-L ride today so am going to be riding to Bath later instead, and back again tomorrow. What about one evening this week?

I did the alleycat last night (I was the one limboing, failing the dance thing, smashing my own conkers etc). Anybody else? Also, what're you up to tomorrow Arducius? Up for a fairly short ride?

Hey there, I was the taler guy wrapped in plastic film and burglar's mask. This was also my first Alleycat ever. Would be glad to join you guys for a short ride, tomorrow afternoon is good for me, sometime this week too.

Arducius, did you participate in yesterdays Alleycat and if so who were you?

Thursday looks good for me, we could look at 1-2 hours, maybe out toward Witney, or else Didcot?

Arducius, did you participate in yesterdays Alleycat and if so who were you?
I didn't make the alleycat (actually completely forgot all about it!), how did it go?

Thursday looks good for me, we could look at 1-2 hours, maybe out toward Witney, or else Didcot?
So, Thursday meet at 1730 at Carfax Tower? It'll be dark by then due to the clocks changing, but I can't really make it any earlier due to working in Reading.
Witney is your neck of the woods, any route suggestions?

Pics of last Friday's Oxford Halloween Alleycat costumes are up: http://s.coop/4tn

Enjoy!!

Next Oxford Alleycat will be The Apprentice Alleycat on Saturday November 27th 2010, starting at 4pm on Broad Street

http://www.alleycataction.tv

Can anyone come along to the alleycat on 27th?

Can anyone come along to the alleycat on 27th?

I'm planning on coming.

I didn't make the alleycat (actually completely forgot all about it!), how did it go?
So, Thursday meet at 1730 at Carfax Tower? It'll be dark by then due to the clocks changing, but I can't really make it any earlier due to working in Reading.
Witney is your neck of the woods, any route suggestions?

It went very well, check the photos posted above!

Unfortunately I can't make it on thursday evening - I'll be busy to 7pm, but you guys go ahead! My friend might be able to come along.

So is anyone up for meeting this evening for a ride? I don't have a route planned, but with everyone's local knowledge we'll come up with something!

So is anyone up for meeting this evening for a ride? I don't have a route planned, but with everyone's local knowledge we'll come up with something!

If ~7.45 'ish pm suits you I'm down. Let me know. Could meet up round Cornmarket or Broad steets (dont really know any other places).

Late reply, sorry. Can't make 7:45, what about one evening next week?

I'd suggest the weekend but I'm hoping to get out with one of the clubs if I'm around.

No worries, just came back home myself.
Sure, for me any evening (except Thursdays) is fine. Got that, well in case you change your mind with the club thing let us know, I might be spending weekend in Ox too.