Birmingham to London 2nd July

I was just looking at streetview... it's a horrific looking climb!

Just suggestion, but we could divert around Chinnor, via Princes Risborough?

Diversion

Ok, serious tips on food stuffs to bring along... Flapjacks, bananas... anything else?

We walked most of the hill at 78 miles, and that was a struggle. We took jelly babies in the back pocket also

I always like to have some proper food with me like a few sandiwches on brown bread or a box of pasta. Too much sweet stuff makes me queasy on a long ride. Alternatively just aim to stop at a pub halfway and have lunch.

Oh and I find a whole battenberg cake in the backpack works wonders!

Chinnor is pretty steep at points. Avoid if you can!

EDIT: Or ride it if you want to get stronger.

Oh moistness. I won't be there... the bike is, well, struggling. Jeet and I (98% Jeet) worked on it for over two hours this evening and it still needs a new cassette, derailleur and rear axis. So, while that gets bent into shape, I'll be thinking of you all, hoping you all go well! ^.^

We walked up that spike to Bledlow (sp?) Ridge, bu then the descent after was lovely, perhaps 10 minutes of downhill. It was good motivation for the final push into London (which we needed!)

I'm game! (if I make it that far)...

Ok, serious tips on food stuffs to bring along... Flapjacks, bananas... anything else?
NUTs

Bah, feeling rubbish all day, will be missing this ride. :(

What times this motley peleton leaving at?

We are leaving 9 Vicarage Road, Kings Heath at 8am sharp. All welcome.

So how did it go? I've seen neither a blog nor a vimeo nor a social network update which leads me to believe it didn't actually happen. Are you still riding? If so, chapeau!

Andy and I are indeed in London. We made it! The last few hours were a struggle I'm not gonna lie and we hit the A40 which was horrible but we are made of stern stuff, esp Simon who rode it fixed! Lots to talk about at the meeting!!

Congrats - what time did you make it into london?

Really enjoyed the jaunt out to warwick, will definately be getting into some longer rides in the future. Fixed is not as tough as i thought it would be!

Birmingham to London in fixed gear? I am deeply impressed! And I'm not an easy man to impress! (Oh LOOK that cat has some tin foil! Amazing!)

Isn't it roughly all uphill from Milton Keynes onwards? No wonder it was a struggle... but congratulations on making it unscathed! I am slightly overawed, well done!

I put this in "Tell us about your weekend ride":

Birmingham to London on saturday with Mothergirl, 4ndy and for part of the way with CasaSteve, Daylightbombings and tomd.

First century for me, jess and andy, and when you factor in a bit of getting lost and stuff we had to do at the london end, must've been 140 miles. Me fixed, Jess on a heavy bike she'd never ridden before and Andy going a lot further than he ever has done before i think.

most of the ride was good fun, beautiful roads, good sense of achievement. got frustrated in the middle, it took an incredibly long time to get from warwick to bicester. and we entered london on the A40 from wycombe but stayed on it when we got to outskirts of london and it gets nasty. it was fucking grim but we were too zombied by then to think of getting off! til andy had a puncture and jess had a flash of inspiration!

thanks to all the riders, and to the crowd at LMNH for the hugs, and Ciq for the beer xx

jess i have your watch. collect from SE17. joke, will post, PM coming when i've actually done some work today!

Absolutely loved every minute of it (almost)!
also want to thank you guys for the great company
and especially thanks to simon for putting me up unexpectedly
cheers!

Next Birmingham to London date Saturday 23rd July? Any modifications needed to the route? The hill and A40 doesnt sound fun.

i'm hoping you didn't take the a40 all the way in (flyover and all) that would scare the bejesus out of me

Alot of the way (don't ask).

I'm working on the route at the minute! We will** NOT** be going that way.

Anyway I'm up for this - definately in for further than warwick this time!