Ride of the Falling Leaves

A gentle and relaxed Rotfl this year. We started at a leisurely 9.50, So we were almost last out I think, and rode around in a relaxed 5 hours 25. An hour and 20 mins slower than last year, but quite nice to take it easy on the hills, stop for a pint (lime and soda) half way round, and not ferlruined at the end.

Fantastic weather although JD and Pigfarmer seemed to think it was a bit too warm.

Looking forward to the Exmoor Beast in 4 weeks time.

I was fucking rubbish yesterday. ill all week/chest infection left me with fuck all in the tank. Suffer fest. Never mind. Next year, hopefully it will rain or something

well done everyone.. despite taking the shorter route today due to ear and crutching gear issues.. still clocked up 95km round trip from home which I am happy with (just can't afford to lose anymore time off at work due to illness)..

started off with bernie and two others from crystal palace tri with a lap of the velodrome was a nice touch.. saw ludwig and a bunch of cs gruppetto riders.. mr+mrs hillbilly (with clotheshorse!!) and a few brixton cycle crowd at the prince regent and two riders from rollapaluza, one impersonating a frog on the final climb with cramp in both legs..

thank you dulwich paragon for organising a great event.. nice to experience a few new roads.. so often head out to chiddingstone on the same route, but from Westerham back to CP cafe saint germain saw all of this in reverse.

Good to ride with you Al. Sorry I had to bail on the invite to the Prince Regent, but something told me it would be a case of "one's too many, and two is not enough" on the pint stakes.

If anyone is up for a ride next Saturday, the second Kite Ride is on offer, heading off from West Drayton at a civilised 10 am.

Ha that was me. I couldnt straighten my legs at all. Thought I was gonna fall over and roll down the hill! It was Tom6pt's fault for letting me hang on to his wheel for the first half or so.
must have been agony Tom.. you and 6pt soon past me though. best remedy for cramp in hot conditions apparently.. coca-cola with a pinch of salt.. also who ever made the breadpudding at the feed station.. i want to marry you xx

wasn't me, was another rolla tom :)
(everyone in rolla kit yesterday was called tom, to keep things simple)

Good to ride with you Al. Sorry I had to bail on the invite to the Prince Regent, but something told me it would be a case of "one's too many, and two is not enough" on the pint stakes.

If anyone is up for a ride next Saturday, the second Kite Ride is on offer, heading off from West Drayton at a civilised 10 am.
no worries bernie.. can't do next saturday, but guinness ride soon methinks.. great you shouting out the ireland vs italy rugby score updates on the road, and that kid story at a autograph signing with a t-shirt stating 'superman wears paul o'connell pajamas'.. classic

.. we need to talk about six nations at some point.. plan a visit to dublin for 2012 get a ride in there there too - al

wasn't me, was another rolla tom :)
(everyone in rolla kit yesterday was called tom, to keep things simple)
wearing black on such a hot sunny day.. chapeau to all the Rolla's yesterday

no worries bernie.. can't do next saturday, but guinness ride soon methinks.. great you shouting out the ireland vs italy rugby score updates on the road, and that kid story at a autograph signing with a t-shirt stating 'superman wears paul o'connell pajamas'.. classic

.. we need to talk about six nations at some point.. plan a visit to dublin for 2012 get a ride in there there too - al

Ohhh, a Six Nations Ride next spring.

Guinness, Leeks, Claret, kilts, pasta and bawdy jokes. That just about covers everything.

I finished the Long course 3:57 minutes
Did a few extra laps of the Velodrome at the start which was a fun but probably didn't help my splits.

Apparently that gives me a Gold medal time!
Anyone else think thats rather generous?

Admittedly when the weather is its normal October self 4 hours can be hard to get under.
Another great run Sportive put on by the Paragons.

Slow off the mark with this, entries open a while. Just got myself an 8:50 slot.

I'd forgotten about this

I'm after some people to hammer it with*...

*use up and spit out

^ha!

Fuuuuuuuuuuck I'm at a wedding that day :(
First year I've missed it since, oh, at least 2009.

I'm after some people to hammer it with*...

*use up and spit out

I'd be happy to take the second stint- you break the wind for 55km, then we'll swap?

I could easily break wind for the whole distance

I'm after some people to hammer it with*...

*use up and spit out

I'm planning on doing this*

*the using and spitting thing - not the ride**

**am really doing the ride, and up for pushing quite hard...

I'm planning on doing this*

*the using and spitting thing - not the ride**

**am really doing the ride, and up for pushing quite hard...

Just re-read this and realised how wrong it sounds...

Entered into this, longer routes what 100km with 4000ft?

Morning spin.

Entered into this, longer routes what 100km with 4000ft?

Morning spin.

Agreed, it's quite gentle and quite short. I've looked at the route and the climbs are mostly low gradient. Should be easy to average 20+mph in a small group.

Is the route always the same? Got a gpx of one.
Will pre ride it.

Not 'easy' but doable. 20mph would have comfortably put you in the top 10 finishers last year, which had ideal conditions. The route has been the same every year I've ridden it.

I'm always too much of an optimist! You're right 6pt doable is a more accurate word. I rode the route (or something very close to it) a little while ago and averaged just under 19mph on my own, I'm guessing that being in a group would give an up-lift to that if everyone is working hard.

This is the route then?
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1644084

Just signed up for this.

Me too.