300k

I dunno if you have ever read this guy's blog. He has an amusing take on things. He's also a certified looney...he's done 200miles on a Pomp. The route doesn't help us though http://www.samuri.co.uk/?p=213#comments

Hmm they vary so much.. Perhaps I should just stick to night riding!

JimmyP I dunno if you have ever read this guy's blog. He has an amusing take on things. He's also a certified looney...he's done 200miles on a Pomp. The route doesn't help us though http://www.samuri.co.uk/?p=213#comments

Yeah, I've got him in my bloglines (online rss feed reader). If you have a look at some of the comments you might see a familiar name ;-)

TheBrick(Tommy) I would opt fo a loop or there and back. Trains back from 200 miles away can end up being very expensive.
How about london to: brighton to:petersfield to:andover to:london. 204 miles.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=from:+london+to:+brighton+to:petersfield+to:andover+to:london&sll=51.162122,-0.796509&sspn=0.670016,1.867676&ie=UTF8&ll=51.237847,-0.774536&spn=1.337819,3.735352&z=8&om=1

Is nice. I like. Wanna do it Tommy?

Yep I am up for it. I know it is a bit of away off but early september may be the earlist I can do.

Sounds interesting, not sure about the stretch along the M3 and M25 though. Are you still talking ss?

Dunwich Destroyed Me Sounds interesting, not sure about the stretch along the M3 and M25 though. Are you still talking ss?

That was just a quick knock up. I may do gears for this.

Let me know what the verdict is on the bikes. I can't really buy another bike until I sell my Paul Frank Nirve Cruiser (£200 anyone?). Plus I next purchase is prob gonna be clipless for my IRO. So single speed or fix if you think it will be okay.

Mind you do you reckon I could a get a half decent roadie for £150?

Why don't you guys just do an Audax 300k?

That's what they are there for. What's the matter? Frightened you'll get dropped up a hill by some guy in sandals and sporting a beard? Don't worry: it doesn't hurt that much after it's happened for the fifth time.

True, the only down side being having to start miles away. I don't mind riding to central London to start but having having to ride the other side of London or get a train for an hour or so to start would be a bit anoying.

Just checked the calender and nearest for the next 4 months seems to be nr Oxford and it is this w/e!

I just tried checking 6 months in advance and it asked for a password so I guess the end of the year is near hence not many on the calender. Maybe next year hit up an official event?

OK, why not do a 200k that is 50k from London? That way you can ride to the start and back....

Buffalo Bill OK, why not do a 200k that is 50k from London? That way you can ride to the start and back....

Clever ;-)

I see what you did there ;-)

I have memory map for the south of england. Happy to meet and we can mark out a route to pretty much anywhere. You can do a 3D fly through then download and print the maps. Might be sensible if we want to avoid major roads.

Buffalo Bill Why don't you guys just do an Audax 300k?
That's what they are there for. What's the matter? Frightened you'll get dropped up a hill by some guy in sandals and sporting a beard? Don't worry: it doesn't hurt that much after it's happened for the fifth time.

Because it's an Audax Bill, but not as we know it, not as we know it Bill.
Is that bearded sandal-wearer gonna be you? (I can give you sh1t now - I shaved ;))

the only thing I can drop at the mo is my keys.

Audax is cool. Porkers 400 is one of the most traumatic experiences I have ever had on a bicycle.

"Porkers" 400? I know murtle isn't around so I'll say it before he gets a chance: "sounds like a top ride for a fatty like me".
Why was this so traumatic?

I've gone as far as reading some events from the AudaxUK calendar. I even bookmarked the site and added some rides to my calendar. Did I do 'em? Nope.
It's that first step that's the hardest ya know..

"Porkers" 400? is that pounds???? 8^P

I'll crush you like a bug.

I had a brief look at the Audax site. Mid-week? I don't think so.

Porkers 400. Brutal. Steep lanes with grass down the middle.

Sounds like some of the goat paths we've covered during club runs. Not hugely steep though - the Chilterns are as big as I've seen near London.

I did an audax 300 earlier in the year. Nearly killed me. Then it was over 3x further than I had ever cycled in my life before. still - bloody good fun.

One thing to note - Audax people have a very different concept of 'hills' from us Londoners.

They might be winding distances down before the PBP?
Maybe the longer ones are not near London?
Maybe I just don't know enough places to judge the logistics of getting to the start line (very likely)?
I don't like the idea of catching a train to start a ride - it just feels wrong.

One other idea is sportives. THere's tonnes of these on now:
http://www.kilotogo.com/main.htm
http://cyclosport.hostinguk.com/article.aspx?id=388&eventid=58 (needs a login)

mdja: You've not heard of 'gradually' increasing your maximum distance rides? :)

Porkers is in Dorset. There are def 300s near London. And 200s near London.

hippy mdja: You've not heard of 'gradually' increasing your maximum distance rides? :)

Yeah... I heard of it.