2011-08-20 - M25 Orbital Ride

The blackberries and almond tarts were definitely the culinary highlights.

How appropriate that we should find such excellent baked goods in the town that gave us the modern method of making bread. Perhaps ironic given it's not really a good method (see link).

^^^That is poetry indeed, and mirrors my own feelings about the reccies and rides. Well said Cosmonaut dropout.

Looks like a great ride, I'm in for the next one.

Nigel and Dan (pp) nice to meet you both and I do hope your journeys home were straightforward. You did well to miss the rain. Dan I hope that pain issue won't prevent other rides soon.

From Wisley to Iver, I felt we had the misfortune of travelling a route directly under the path of the downpour. Thanks to Bruce and Dan (yalover) for your company which kept me from getting still more miserable at that time.

And Bruce, there are exactly 20 crossings of the M25 had we done the route exactly as planned. The impromptu Merstham stop and later Bricket Wood misreading (entirely my fault) took that to 24.

Considereing the road, rail and water crossings we made, methinks the title 'Bridges Ride' should cede to our baby.

We started with 9 riders, ended with 4.

We started with 8. 7 of us turned up at the station but we bought 8 tickets (two groups of four) in case Ed showed up at the last minute. He didn't, so when we met Nigel at the other end, that made us 8. We lost one quite early on in the ride, to a bad back caused by imperfect set-up on a rarely-ridden bike. Nigel was with us through the epic off road sections of the first forty miles but began to suffer in the hill-climbing in the next section and opted to carry on solo so that we could pick up the pace. Even though we managed to increase the pace with each hour, when it became clear that we wouldn't finish till after 10pm, Dave and I had to plan an earlier exit; we turned off the route at Potters Bar (the 120 mile mark).

Now, Olly, I would like to take issue with this:

I should also add that certain sections of the route are offroad. Most of them are fine on a fixed/road bike, but you probably wouldn't want to take your bestest carbon road bike on them.

That note was, how I can I put it, just a little understated. The off road sections were epic! We encountered gravel paths, dirt tracks, scree, open fields with free-roaming livestock - and just when I thought we couldn't top all that, we cut through a golf course and into the undergrowth on the other side, down tiny overgrown tracks surrounded by nettles and brambles, which actually got denser over time till, at the 40 mile mark, we emerged blinking on to a road (thought we were never going to see roads again), looking and feeling like Japanese soldiers who'd been lost in the jungle and had only just found out that the war was over.

That route deserves to become legendary! Awesome job by John and Olly, which made me determined to do some justice to it, having signed up for this only a few days ago on an impulse. Next time, will be there for the full 160 miles.

Maths has never been my strong point...

^ This is all true. Nice description of them Bruce.

Well done! I'm jealous that I fluffed the early starting time but I would have been too tired.

The off road sections were epic! We encountered gravel paths, dirt tracks, scree, open fields with free-roaming livestock - and just when I thought we couldn't top all that, we cut through a golf course and into the undergrowth on the other side, down tiny overgrown tracks surrounded by nettles and brambles, which actually got denser over time till, at the 40 mile mark, we emerged blinking on to a road (thought we were never going to see roads again), looking and feeling like Japanese soldiers who'd been lost in the jungle and had only just found out that the war was over.

This made me laugh. Blimey, who'd have thought? I'd plotted a route that was almost entirely on-road. Is this stuff even findable without a prior recce?

Dan (I should clarify that I mean Stonehedge), I'll be up for joining you in September.

Tentative display of interest from me also.

I'm up for some kind of longish ride in October, once the wedding gives me my weekends back again. M25, Cambridge and back, Brighton and back, I don't really mind.

That note was, how I can I put it, just a little understated...

I did mean to add some more info about the offroad bits, but never got round to it. I don't regret not doing it though, because I think they are a nice surprise. Granted, it probably wasn't wise to have them on a distance ride we were hoping to cover in a day. In any case, the route was largely a selfish endeavour so I included the bits that I enjoy, and I do like a bit of casual off-road.

This made me laugh. Blimey, who'd have thought? I'd plotted a route that was almost entirely on-road. Is this stuff even findable without a prior recce?

Most of your route relied on googlemaps/bikemap, which isn't always reliable. It was still helpful though, and as I said above, I enjoyed discovering the nooks and crannies of the route, regardless of their condition.

There are alternative routes. As I told a couple of people, whilst doing some research I discovered that the folks at yacf did this last year.

Anyhow, I'm done boring people. Here are some links which might interest some...
www.rainhamsheds.co.uk (needs sound)
http://www.wetroads.co.uk/gis.htm

Glad to hear you all made it
Yep the Hills did me right in and did not want to slow you anymore than I already had....
I made it to Cobham then got a train from Effingham Junction...(Sort of Poetic really)

Was a pleasure meeting you all and you were a Top Bunch to Ride with....
just sorry i couldn't make it to the end... i've a few pics and will post them when i get a chance.

Again well done all....
Will aim to improve my hill climbing abilities before a re-run.

Always nice to ride and chat with a fellow FNRttCer, Nigel. See you on one of the upcoming rides.

CIMG0015 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0019 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0018 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

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CIMG0013 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0019 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0014 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0023 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63561349@N06/6068336363/

CIMG0025 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0026 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0030 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0028 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0035 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

And here's the quick video, previously hidden in the middle of the photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/63561349@N06/6068336363/

Hey fellas here are some of the photos. Already busy with work so no time for a run down (maybe I'll come back and edit in some commentary). Hopefully the link to the crappy vid will at least take you to the flickr page.

Man what a fucking ride. If Stonehenge is really going to do it again in a few weeks I may go again to make up for skipping the last 40 or so. I did stay up until 230 boozing in the pub though, so I'm feeling good about things really...

Provisionally 10th September. I'm going to discuss with Oli and then post a thread.

great work
great distance

I could have sworn danamericanphotographer had posted some pictures up earlier. Maybe he deleted that post? Or it got spambusted?

sunrise/sunset times for last saturday compared to 10th Sept

20 Aug 2011 05:53 20:14 14h 20m 20s
10 Sep 2011 06:27 19:27 13h 00m 43s

1 hour 20mins less daylight.

I'm interested though :)

Yeah where did my photos go? Ok, I'll stick them back up.

le sigh

Velocio might be able to retrieve them if the forum has eaten them. It's funny because I thought that happened straight away though, I don't see why they'd be up for it a bit then disappear (I saw them too).

^^ That's a damn good point.

sunrise/sunset times for last saturday compared to 10th Sept

20 Aug 2011 05:53 20:14 14h 20m 20s
10 Sep 2011 06:27 19:27 13h 00m 43s

1 hour 20mins less daylight.

I'm interested though :)

No harm in starting in the dark.

Also, we'll just have to suck 1h20m less thats all :-)

CIMG0015 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0019 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0017 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0014 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0018 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0026 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0023 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0024 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0028 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

CIMG0030 by danieljsoul, on Flickr

And here is the quick video:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/63561349@N06/6068336363/in/photostream

I've done my best to upload them (again) in chronological order. Frustratingly the bloody high-end clip art uploaded earlier is almost a better representation of the ride.

My favourite moment is the look on dropouts face in the rainy one.

Started Dartford 6.30am, finished Ockendon station about 10.45pm.

Wow. Epic indeed. Chapeau fellas...all very impressive!

And it's not like we needed that first hour of light as we spent that time on the train anyhow. We weren't on our bikes until 630. The loss of light in the evening will mean that the group will need to get their skates on though.

We didn't actually get moving till 6:40 or 6:45.

Thanks for taking pics dan. It's always good to have a couple. I particularly like the morning shot (it's a bit sad that I know exactly where you took it), and the group one which seems to have fully captured a sodden yet stolid determination...

...Frustratingly the bloody high-end clip art uploaded earlier is almost a better representation of the ride.

I'm not sure about that, but thanks. :D