2011-11-20 - the damn it's freezing out there fixed bicycle ride to cambridge

really looking forward to this one, just keep praying for a dry day.

Furneux Pelham really is in the middle of knowhere - great stuff, I can almost smell the hops from here - oh, someone here just guffed

would be good to take part, my first ride with you guys and a great way to get a few miles on the new bike

everybody is welcome.

it is a great route, pretty flat and we won't be gunning it.

Oh, alright I'm in. if only because I casually drop "I went to Cambridge" into conversations / intellectual arguments (and hope nobody makes any enquiries as to what that actually means)

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    

Really looking forward to my 1st Cambridge run - good to see some of the ladies in the list too!

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    

ok, I'll come if coaster brake is allowed!
or maybe will just swap to my beater wheel.
anyway,

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels
    

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels
    31.lolabelle
    

Loving some of the recent additions to this list!

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels
    31.lolabelle
    
31. Ludd
    
    

need to stretch these legs - all they've done is commute this year, it seems

Since we're all welcome, I'll come along...

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels
    
31. lolabelle
    
32. Ludd
    
33. ms.chris
    

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels - dependant, may still be abroad, turns out...
    
31. lolabelle
    
32. Ludd
    
33. ms.chris
    

i will be sticking a tiny detour in so we swing past the tea hut at high beech.

only deviates from the route a shade before epping and means we can all have a hot brew.

a week to go and i am excite.

Me too. Im flipping my flip flop tomorrow to try out a bit of fixie in preparation. I should be a able to show off my badass trackstanding skillz by next weekend!

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels - dependant, may still be abroad, turns out...
    
31. lolabelle
    
32. Ludd
    
33. ms.chris
    
34. Amygdala
    
    

In. Rode to Oxford last weekend, time to ride to a proper university methinks.

1. steve
   
2. itsbruce
   
3. poots
   
4. ian
   
5. dbr
   
6. Stonehedge
   
7. Xander
   
8. laner (riding back- weather dependant)
   
9. FridayMarch26th
   
10. KT Bee
    
11. OLC
    
12. Big Dave
    
13. Ice braker
    
14. svnlto
    
15. bluefleet
    
16. HoKe
    
17. FixedCheese
    
18. fotochap
    
19. Sweaty
    
20. Jogger
    
21. Woah Cats
    
22. dimi3
    
23. avellana
    
24. HÏnáta (Weather dependant..) only got geared too...
    
25. Cafewanda (SS if not broken from xc at Parly Hill the day before otherwise geared, smelling of Deep Heat)
    
26. nonethewiser
    
27. Nigel182
    
28. bothwell
    
29. T4
    
30. 1000archangels - dependant, may still be abroad, turns out...
    
31. lolabelle
    
32. Ludd
    
33. ms.chris
    
34. Amygdala
    
35. Yoshka
    

I'm really looking forward to this, it's gonna be good!

The last time I rode to Cambridge it was with a friend and a load of randoms, 13 in total - including a few who hadn't ridden a bike for 10 years.

Guess how long it took us?

Closest guess wins a Snickers.

looks like less than 50% are fixed. meh.

^^9 hours

^^9 hours

Fother mucker. The first guess and boom, it's right. Well, a Snickers bar will be handed to you in person, Sir, next Sunday.

One of the longest rides of my life (mentally). We didn't even make it to Cambridge, but had to head home from Royston...

Fother mucker. The first guess and boom, it's right. Well, a Snickers bar will be handed to you in person, Sir, next Sunday.

One of the longest rides of my life (mentally). We didn't even make it to Cambridge, but had to head home from Royston...

sounds like a standard forum ride.

Ahh shucks. Can you give it to the next most deserving person on the day? Just found out im having to go visit my cousins in deepest darkest Essex on the sunday. Thought this was happening saturday.
Cock

^ In that case I think you should set another Cambridge ride related poser.

time for ride notes.
i will stick these in the op just to make reference a little simpler.

Check over your bike
Make sure it is roadworthy
-Check your tyres for wear and glass/flints/sharp objects
-Pump up the tyres(correctly inflated tyres puncture less)
-Check your lights and batteries - you will end up back in london in the dark i'm sure
-Check for loose bolts
-Oil the chain
If you are not mechanically competent, get a friend that is to help you.
Make sure you do this a couple of days before, not the day of, it'll save you a stressful couple of hours if there is something you need to sort.

Prepare for self-sufficiency
-Bring a spare tube and tube changing tools
-Bring food and water, high energy snacks and fruit
-Bring spare batteries
-Bring extra layers, for if it gets colder
-Bring a rainjacket for if it gets wetter
-Bring a Fully Charged Mobile

Help out, sound off about hazards and if people have been dropped of the back
Usually if we are riding the first person over a nasty bump or hidden grate, sudden drop, glass, whatever will let those immediately following them now about it by shouting or pointing.

So if you hear about it from the front, pass it back.

Conversely if you see people being dropped off the back, at the lights or because they are slow or having some mechanical difficulties, pass it forward so the people leading the ride know and can take steps to either wait up, slow down or go back and help them out.

Get other peoples mobile numbers

Take a few minutes to check out the route
Either from the route posted up or grab a map/cribsheet/directions so if you plan to leave early, arrive late or if you get separated you can get back on to the ride

Be sensible

As with all forum rides we will endeavour to help out any stricken rider with their punctures and mechanical problems but on a large ride this might be difficult.

If we stop at the side of the road get out of it! Lets not block the carriageway for every other soul on the roads.

Do not bring arcane or speciality equipment that needs non standard tools or esoteric knowledge in order to sort out failures and malfunctions.

No one will get dropped or left but if this is your first ride expect to ride 60+ miles, that will involve some preparation and eating.

This ride will be social, steady and relaxed.

There will be beer.

What time do hope to hit Cambridge?