London Phoenix Easter Classic - 9 April 2012

For anyone at a loose end this Easter Monday, my club is running its annual sportive out into Essex from Fairlop Waters Country Park near Hog Hill. More details on the web site:
http://www.londonphoenix.co.uk/pages/easter-classic/12/

I'll be there. I've done this the past two years - it's on roads I ride quite regularly.

There's a greying London Phoenix rider who rides it on a Create - he looks pretty quick too. Do you know him?

I'll be there. I've done this the past two years - it's on roads I ride quite regularly.

There's a greying London Phoenix rider who rides it on a Create - he looks pretty quick too. Do you know him?

That's great Regal - look out for me on carparking duties in the morning - I am also greying, but not with a Create -that would be Richard.

I should have mentioned the event is good value at £12, including a fully signed route and feed stop.

This looks good. A great Bank Holiday double header alongside Sunday's Hell of the North ride. Or simply a perfect excuse to avoid the Hell of the DIY shop...

I'll be there. Very much looking forward to it. I've been along some of the roads and very scenic they are too.

It will be glorious if the weather stays like this.

I'll be doing this, seems like a good route although looks like it could be wet. Are you guys doing it fixed? I'll be using gears :-)

Weather looks pretty grim. Was ok the last couple of years so I guess it was due...

Gears for me.

In negotiations for this now, on phone- what are the chances of rain?

High chance of rain at some point, I reckon. Might just be showers though.

Accuweather says 'periods of rain'. :(

any idea on the extent of the climbs?
I'd rather trash my fixed bike than my geared bike in the wet, and am at a loose end tomorrow so wouldnt mind a go at this.

There's not much you'd call a climb, it's rolling countryside really - definitely do-able fixed if you're reasonably strong and are happy with the distance. I'd say the south side of Highgate (the 'easier' side, not Highgate Hill West) is harder than anything on the Easter Classic.

There's also a 35-mile route if you don't fancy the full 70.

Not much climbing at all:

[ame]http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1062388[/ame
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Ive just finished installing some of the signs, this route being my weekly blast, the climbs are all enjoyable and doable on a fixed.

Tis a great route

i did it this last year.

it is a great route.

but i bailed this morning cos of the rain and already tired with big rides fri, sat and sunday.

ha ha = lightweight !

I did it; was going to bail last minute but then had a change of heart. started around mid-field, first rider back on the long route. Set out to smash it, but I think it smashed me. Very very windy, rather wet, and so few mudguards on riders that the only part of me that's filthy is my front from the spray. thankful for a change of clothes at the end, now to wait for feeling to return to my legs so I can head home.

Some toerag turned one of the signs round and many riders ended up going the wrong way. My friend and I ended up doing 5 miles out of our way before clinging on to the wheel of someone who knew where they were going. Lovely chap, I'm very grateful for being towed back, though i felt guilty for not taking a turn at the front, battling the wind, but I was fighting cramp by then and it was all I could do to keep up. There is quite a beastly long climb near the end. It is a gentle incline, but I was pretty wiped by the top.

Anyway, great dirty, cold, wet fun. Super route, may well try and make it a weekend trainer...

It's a lot more fun with the wind blowing the opposite direction and less rain :)

Did it with Benj ^^ (although he beat me home despite his navigational malfunction). I thought I was mighty on the way out such was the tail wind but paid for it coming back in. I'm crap at this cycling lark. Couple of lovely folks out there today. Unified by gritty faces and gusty headwinds. I'm bushed now though. Was being overtaken by every man and his dog by the end.

Anyone know whether they publish the times? I'd like to know just how crap I actually was.

What were you riding 6pt? May have been passed by you unless we were getting lost at the time. FWIW I was on an 80s steel Pinarello with a (very muddy) Raleigh cap. Benj was on a sexy, steel, yellow Nago.

Did it with Benj ^^ (although he beat me home despite his navigational malfunction). I thought I was mighty on the way out such was the tail wind but paid for it coming back in. I'm crap at this cycling lark. Couple of lovely folks out there today. Unified by gritty faces and gusty headwinds. I'm bushed now though. Was being overtaken by every man and his dog by the end.

Anyone know whether they publish the times? I'd like to know just how crap I actually was.

Pay no attention to this! Mr Jones was pretty good out there today. We were back only a couple of minutes before you, dude.

Sorry I couldn't give you a lift home, I felt well guilty as the heating kicked in, and I wafted homewards. If it's any consolation I got stuck in a shitty traffic jam on the a12. Next time I'll bring a rack so we can all take advantage of the wheels...

See you next weekend and we can have another crack at Surrey. Hopefully, we won't get lost this time ( gotta get one of them thur garmin things).

Na mate - getting lost is fun. Chap nav FTW.

Wrongcog, I think that was you I bumped into when we got a bit lost (blue Ribble/red jacket). Shame that so many got lost, it was hard enough coming back into that wind without the extra miles. I really struggled at the end, felt like getting off for a rest.

Benj - lovely bike, although far too nice to be out on today!

Not sure when the results come out, according to Strava I averaged 15.8mph which I'm happy with given the conditions, Wrongcog you must have been similar?

Ah mr wrongcog, no surprise to find the owner of such a fine vintage mount on these pages - you dropped Regal and I early on when he punctured!
Nice to meet you - glad you had a good day.

James (DeRosa with seatstay rot)

Sign failure apart it was a well organised ride, and the cakes at the feedstop were astounding!