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• #127
'rest days'.........
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• #128
Would love to do this Jess but I can't afford anything at the mo', also I have other rides planned for when you're going. I'm up for most long rides if you have anything else on the agenda
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• #129
I'm going to grill you at the alleycat tomorrow!
Please don't, besides I taste better sautéed.
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• #130
Hi guys, nice to have more people on board. Sorry if I seemed overly serious on Wednesday, I'm just very conscious of the fact we leave in less than two months. It's not a long time to get fit and train properly and I just want everyone to be on equal footing.
Just don't shout at me if I'm lingering at the back.... hides away under a table
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• #131
I feel the need to share my story of heartbreak.
Yesterday i rode from brum to Stratford upon Avon with some friends. My mate lent me a beautiful tourer he had built and once we arrived he said I could have it for Berlin and then, once back, sell it and use the money I make to donate to Cancer Research.
The bike was then stolen an hour later.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
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• #132
Oh shit, sorry to hear that buddy. was it stolen in Stratford or BHM? How was the ride?
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• #133
Jesus, that's awful. How was it locked up?! Hope you enjoyed the ride still...
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• #134
i know, actually sucks! was perfect for this trip too!
had a double shackle lock on it, and was in my mates back garden, so someone jumped a fence, saw through, and then jumped a fence with it back it would seem. Fair play they worked hard for it haha the wankers.
On the plus side, the ride was excellent, first relatively big ride i've done since being ill recently so felt good!
A woman i work with told me today there is a bike in her shed I can have, im not holding out much hope but part of me is praying for an absolute gem or at least a do-er upper !
How are everyone's preparations going ?
I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a cycle shop about sponsorship or some discount and pretty much got told to do one which is nice :/
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• #135
i know, actually sucks! was perfect for this trip too!
had a double shackle lock on it, and was in my mates back garden, so someone jumped a fence, saw through, and then jumped a fence with it back it would seem. Fair play they worked hard for it haha the wankers.
On the plus side, the ride was excellent, first relatively big ride i've done since being ill recently so felt good!
A woman i work with told me today there is a bike in her shed I can have, im not holding out much hope but part of me is praying for an absolute gem or at least a do-er upper !
How are everyone's preparations going ?
I spoke to a friend of mine who owns a cycle shop about sponsorship or some discount and pretty much got told to do one which is nice :/
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• #136
woops sorry for double post! stupid phone
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• #137
bad news over the weekend for a friend, please return the favour.
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• #138
When's the next general meeting? I heard something about this Wednesday but wasn't sure if that'd just be polo again? I may still come along as that was fun to watch. ^.^
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• #139
Thursday at about half 8 venue not decided yet.
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• #140
Ah, if I may tag along when a venue is decided? I don't take up that much space. XD
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• #141
Just realised Thursday is Double Denim ride!!
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• #142
After the denim ride?
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• #143
Yep, I still haven't finished route but is 9pm too late?
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• #144
Not at all..sounds good.. where shall we go?
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• #145
Spotted Dog always good? Or pub in town? My house as usual is always open for meetings. Tidied my office and everything.
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• #146
Arses, just realised I'm working in Stoke-on-Trent that night. huff
I'll have to get the gist of it a few days late. XD (Typical)
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• #147
Theres a nice map on the official germany tourism website which shows terrain and is searchable for towns so you can see how hily it might be and make sure any mountainous bits are avoided!
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• #148
Birmingham to Berlin meeting
Thursday 23rd, 21:00, Spotted Dog, DigbethThis is an open meeting so all are welcome, but no heckling please
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• #149
Well I missed the meeting due to being many many miles away. Just wanna let you guys know for numbers, that me and Bailey are definitely doing this. I do have a couple of questions regarding some money - ie: Have you guys already paid for Eurostar, Camps and Hostels, and Flights back, or are you doing it all on a pay-as-we-go sort of scheme?
Hope the meeting was productive and I deeply hope you didn't have hecklers, especially for such an important event. I'll chase somebody in the coming days for some additional details I may have missed, but I'm still very much on board... even if I'm still a little shy having met only a few of you very briefly only once. XD
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• #150
Have we met Bailey yet? I for one think we need to sit down with both of you and discuss everything at the next meeting. Tuesday the 5th July was it? Having riders 100% confirmed is really important at this stage in regards to promotion and getting equipment, etc sorted. Meeting minutes will be available ASAP. Matt's been working hard on sponsorship, Andy has done some amazing fundraising, Neil's doing location research, Dyf's been sorting jerseys and I'm doing lots of press stuff and gathering of equipment so other riders will need to pull some weight. Unfortunately, I've already shot off emails with details of the already confirmed riders because we can't keep waiting...we leave in little over a month!
Everybody (apart from Jeet) has bought their return flights. We're looking into campsites at the moment but we have agreed that beforehand everybody has the same set amount they can feasibly put towards equipment, etc. We all agreed that PAYG is all well and good but if someone has substantially more or less money than other people it really won't be fair on the rest of the group. You will need to factor in how much food you will be eating everyday into your budget also. (aka shitloads!)
How's your training going? Up for Bham to Ldn next Saturday 2nd July? (Neil and Matt doing it tomorrow too!) I'm also doing the Dunwhich Dynamo the 16th/17th and will be doing a back to back sleepover ride probably 6th-7th July.
Okay, maybe an exaggeration, but a lock weighs a kilo, a couple of bottles are another kilo. These lot don't have many (if any) rest days planned, so no washing days means they'll need to carry more clothing. The average age of their bikes is probably older than any of them so they'll need to carry a few kgs of tools. Tents. Food. Cooking equipment. Cameras. 10-15kgs per person I reckon.
Fact remains that the odd 60 mile unladen ride and going home to a nice comfortable bed is not the same as doing 120 miles one day, camping, then 90 the next, camping, then another however-much and so on and so on and so forth. I'm sure they're determined to do it, but there's a big difference between managing to do something and enjoying it.