Ride of the Falling Leaves

Good luck all! I've just done a virtual ascent of Toys Hill and am knackered for the day. You guys riding it fixed must have thighs of steel :-)

I'll be sporting a Waffa Pro Team Jersey in grey while sat astride a maroon LOOK that appears to be steel but is actually secretly carbon. My brother will be wearing a rediculous charity shop jersey from the days of a million sponsors. Leaving around 9:30. Say hello!

Your weight loss program has been a little too successful Dammit :-/

Done, time to go to the pub.

I had no idea it was this ride today ! I thought it was some random sportive.

Spotted dammit and ludwig not far from each other, I was going in opp direction as garmin fucked up the course.

Not the easiest of the rides but very nice route and a great day to ride!

Think I spotted Dammit at the top of Toys, was stuffing my face with sarnies so didn't say hello.
Definitely hard work, this, but weather and atmosphere was brilliant, good day!

What a gorgeous day!

Relieved to make it up all the climbs fixed. A good 30 odd mins slower than last year's geared time though.

Chapeau, I am unashamed to admit that I used 36/25 on a number of occasions today.

Bit of an odd one- I output basically the same power as last year (up very slightly, but close enough to be a calibration error) but my average speed was 1 mph higher - better aero?

Maybe you're fatter so you coasted down the hills quicker.

That was an awesome ride.
lovely day
met some nice geezers
made around 4.30.... fudging hard hills in places.
nearly took out a squirrel and a pheasant.
legs feel satisfyingly knackered.

Maybe you're fatter so you coasted down the hills quicker.

Being a dork I weighed myself before and after, 76.5 before, 75.6 after, having drunk two 600ml bidons.

So yes, probably still too fat.

Epic riding by bothwell, branwen, one less cardigan and your american lover.. A solid crew indeed, riding fixed/single speed. A glorious day full of win.. made more awesome, cos I've just made toad in the hole.. Followed by apple (from my garden) fritters with ice cream :)

Being a dork I weighed myself before and after, 76.5 before, 75.6 after, having drunk two 600ml bidons.

So yes, probably still too fat.

BTW, the reason I'm being crool to you is because I saw you leaving on your way out in the morning and waved to you as we passed and you completely ignored me.

Woke up with a major headcold
(probably shouldn't have swam 2000 meters outdoors in the Lido yesturday)

Decided to be sensible, self-medicate myself with alot of drugs and see how it goes.
I took (i think)
120mg of pseudoephedrine
1.2 mg dichlorobenzyl alcohol
400mg of Ibuprofen
26mg of Codeine

The codeine might have been a mistake, as it completely suppressed my appetite and I ended up only eating one flapjack the whole ride - my legs were screaming going up crystal palace.

Happy enough with my average considering I couldn't breathe.
28.65 km/h

BTW, the reason I'm being crool to you is because I saw you leaving on your way out in the morning and waved to you as we passed and you completely ignored me.

Soz.

That's ok. I'm sorry for being mean.

Can I haz codine?

You can have some flapjacks.. seems Ive loads left over.

I just suddenly remembered - there were some little kids cheering us on in some lane somewhere and we high-fived one of them. That was a good bit.

Turning onto Toys Hill rd from S Brook Lane there was a white Toyota Prius which had been stopped "in" the junction*, the driver had got out and was having a discussion with ~3 dynamo riders- anyone know what was going on?

*As in, stopped at the scene of the accident type stopped, not parked- it was in the very middle of the junction.

Not the kids that were making fart noises followed by them loudly saying PLOP? Because that totally got me, I'm still laughing about it now

I just suddenly remembered - there were some little kids cheering us on in some lane somewhere and we high-fived one of them. That was a good bit.

Great ride today, amazing weather, beautiful wee lanes and good company. Grand to ride with Rik van Looy all the way and hang out with the forum contingent for pints on the grass after. October eh? No so bad. Probably made it round in about 4 hours too, which is cool.

Epic riding by bothwell, branwen, one less cardigan and your american lover.. A solid crew indeed, riding fixed/single speed. A glorious day full of win.. made more awesome, cos I've just made toad in the hole.. Followed by apple (from my garden) fritters with ice cream :)

Awesome ride team, gorgeous route, gorgeous weather, gorgeous company (dat ass!). And good to see you all too.

Doable but tough fixed, sundridge road (?) harder than Toys Hill I thought. I haven't cycled at all for 2 months except my short central London commute of no training value. I fell asleep as soon as I got home. I'm as tired as BoJo's media persona.

Anyone know if the two riders that crashed in Puddledock lane coming down off Toys hill were okay?

I was in the middle of them.. one in front / one behind. Thought we were cornering faster than advisable. With so much carnage going around me I decided to honour the sportif code and not look back.

Plus I fairly wired from all the phedrine

Best sportive I've ever been a part of - dragged my sorry ass out of bed at around the time Dammit was finishing then lounged around on the grass in the sunshine at the squash club. Sounds like everyone had a great time (I'm only a bit jealous!), I certainly enjoyed my bit.