2012-09-22 - American Love-In Ride to Cambridge

So I thought an Indian Summer ride to Cambridge would be lovely. Harvard Square, the Charles River, the MIT Campus and hot college co-eds going wild, they all looks gorgeous in the autumn light. But since that shit is in America we’ll have to settle for the newer, English version which isn’t so bad and also Good Will Hunting isn’t going to fucking show up.

A tried and tested route for a civilised day out. Ideal for your fixed/single-speed – but of course please come if you fancy it and only have gears. The route is dead easy, flat and basically perfect for spinning with one gear. Meet at the Brick Lane Polo Courts for a 9 a.m. depart. Once in Cambridge we’ll head to the Maypole which has good bike space, good food and better beer. 4 person Groupsave back is about a tenner each so make some friends and save yourself some money.

[ame]http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1627827[/ame
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*Many thanks to Cornelius Blackfoot, Skive, etc al and others who have previously promoted this route

Self-sufficiency
Bring tools, spare tubes, appropriate clothes, plenty of food and water, lights, batteries, etc. Familiarise yourself with the route, swap numbers before departing, and charge your phone. Eat/drink little and often.

Check your bike
Give it a look over before the ride – tighten, inflate, oil, check tyres for glass/used needles.

Road etiquette
Try to remain vigilant on the country lanes, especially when navigating blind corners. Let others know when you are slowing or coming past, and for the benefit of those behind you, call out or point at hazards such as potholes and cars. If you have a puncture, mechanical or drop off the back, call out to those in front to wait, and unless they hate you, they’ll pass the message forward. Don't go off the front as it splits the group.

Any of you Cambridge LFGSSers fancy meeting us there please do, PM me and I’ll let you know arrival shit. We should look forward to it as well, they’re a classy lot:

List

1. YAL
   

In.

1. YAL
   
2. Jamesprw
   

Damn, I quite like the look of this, and I'm free that weekend. But my singlespeed is only 52gi (29er MTB) and I'll be destroyed trying to keep pace with a load of 70gi riders over such a distance.

Nah come along. Doesn't really matter so much what bike people bring - the mention of bike choice was just to promote the 'FGSS' but really the rule is 'the more peeps the better.' So bring your gears. And anyway I don't have any intention of hammering it, the route is damn nice enough to enjoy it as an easy roll.

Thanks for the title fix btw

1. YAL
   
2. Jamesprw
   
3. ian (conker)
   

Looks like a long old trek for ss! ;-)

YAL What time would you set off for this? I fancy it but I'd have to come down on the train from Norwich in the morning.

@YAL, sorry I cannot attend, as will be rolling back from Paris that day.

Have a great ride, as I am sure you will.

Shit, already have plans to go to Brighton that day otherwise I'd be all over this!

1. YAL
   
2. Jamesprw
   
3. ian (conker)
   
4. Sweaty
   
   

In like Flynn mate. A ride organised by YAL? Makes a change to be lead by him instead of having to lead.....

YAL What time would you set off for this? I fancy it but I'd have to come down on the train from Norwich in the morning.

it says "Meet at the Brick Lane Polo Courts for a 9 a.m. depart" in the opening posting. I think you'd need to get the 06:30 from Norwich which doesn't arrive till 08.33 at Liverpool St, (or the 05:52 - 08.36 with one change), then it's only about a mile to Brick La. Polo

1. YAL
   
2. Jamesprw
   
3. ian (conker)
   
4. Sweaty
   
5. apolloxl
   

it says "Meet at the Brick Lane Polo Courts for a 9 a.m. depart" in the opening posting. I think you'd need to get the 06:30 from Norwich which doesn't arrive till 08.33 at Liverpool St, (or the 05:52 - 08.36 with one change), then it's only about a mile to Brick La. Polo

Cheers, I missed that completely. Will see what train costs are like.

Any thoughts how I can hip the Cambridge lot to meeting us there / coming down and riding home?

just open an invite on the Cambs. page?

there's a relatively active thread on the cambridge forum about evening rides, stick it in there?

http://www.lfgss.com/thread83019.html

1. YAL
   
2. Jamesprw
   
3. ian (conker)
   
4. Sweaty
   
5. apolloxl
   
6. braker
   

this is very tempting, what kind of GIs do you guys run for this route? im living in cambridge and just went up to 85gi as its so god damn flat.

I've done it a few times recently on 74gi. There's maybe a few little grindy uphill bits now and again but if you look at the map there's nothing on there that I'd qualify as a Hill. I mean the first 15 are flat, the last 15 are actually slightly down hill. Come on down defo.

also may be interested to get involved now im living in the area depending if i ever get my bike together,

This sound so good! Too bad I won't be able to finish my bike in time... Have fun all who're going.

Looks like a long old trek for ss! ;-)

It's less than 70 miles and there are no hills worth talking about. I really don't understand why so many ride threads attract daft posts like this.

Dan unfortunately there's no way I can come along but I enjoyed the OP and envy you all. Have a blast and if you're lucky there may even be some co-ed hotties if Michaelmas has started by then!

Suggest American provisions for the ride, PBJ sandwiches etc

about a week early for freshers

Sorry you can't make it OLC, I did see you spinning down London Road towards Elephant a week or so ago, hope that means you're healing up well.

Good idea - I'll make some PBJs with the crusts cut off, maybe round up some cheese in a can and anything else we eat we'll retitle it with Freedom in the front, Freedom Gel, Freedom Bar, Freedom Chamois Cream etc