North Drinks. Every Week, Wednesday 6pm - The Maynard N8

I HATE the french. Bastard french air traffic controlers are on strike so there are no flights to france untill Saturday. So, I am still at home (after a trip to Luton and back). Getting the train first thing in the morning so will have to pay an extra £100 for a day and a half less holiday. Wankers. Oh well, I will get to the tour in the end.

Should have gone to spec savers!

Hmm, so the automatic check in told us to 'seek assistance'. This seemed ominous. Apparently the flight was oversold, which sounded worse. Needed have worried, end result is upgrade to business class, for which I obviously feel guilty as fuck. Currently preparing for the ordeal with complimentary wine in the BA club lounge.

For your trip to LA? Score! BA business class is magnificent for a trip to the west coast.

Any of the norths photog crew recommend a good place for camera repair/service? The 1D MkII I've got on long term loan has developed a nasty rattle and I'd like to get it fixed unnoticed by the lender. Also, do any of you get good rates being pros? Beerage in it if so.

Fixation in vauxhall.

Dunwich later. Heading down to London Fields for just before 9.00, probably heading off around 9.30.

Lets ride to the seaside.

sod riding to the seaside its a nice evening for beer. Again!

Enjoy the seaside / beer (delete as appropriate) folks. Sorry to be missing it...

Pics from Thursday..

http://infamies.wordpress.com/2010/07/25/swains/

What's everybody's tour de france plans

no plan yet

What's everybody's tour de france plans

Was thinking of going for a ride but too tired. So looks like watch the tv.

maybe LMNH later?

maybe LMNH later?

Beer and cheese plate.

hummmmm beer for sure

call 0898 50 50 50

Who's been checking the calling cards in the toilet of my stockroom?

Well any news on the dynamo riders?

My son has just told me that Contador shouldn't have won the TdF - Andy Shrek should.

Well any news on the dynamo riders?

Reminds me of Ursula Andress.....

I am le sex!
Unfortunately I can't le sit down at the moment. Pain.
Simon how was the wedding?

I am le sex!
Unfortunately I can't le sit down at the moment. Pain.
Simon how was the wedding?

We didnt make the wedding in the end. Turned out Helen had some sort of bug. She had to stop the car to be sick on the way to Dunwich, and it didnt get much better when we got home (might explain why she wasn't that chatty on the beach).

We thought the combination of me being a sleep deprived zombie, and Helen running to ladies every 5 mins would not be that welcome at a wedding reception! So we sent our appologies, dropped Darcy off at my mums house, and both went home to sleep.

That looks rather refreshing Leo! Did you make it in under 6 hours Simon?

I did the London to Cambridge charity ride with work colleagues yesterday. As a group we did the 60 miles in just under 9 hours. One of the guys computer said he was riding for 4 and a half hours which gives the other 4 odd hours for drinking on the way. I can confirm that riding slowly fixed hurts far more than pushing it over distance & despite my breakaway tactics to stretch my legs every now and then, my lower half is rather achey today. Didn't get to bomb the river cam either as we had a bbq to get to. Oh well, it was for a good cause.

Now, where's my iced rubber ring?

That looks rather refreshing Leo! Did you make it in under 6 hours Simon?

Managed 6 hours ride time, total time was 6.40. We mullered the first leg up to the food stop (just over 50 miles) in 2.5 hours, but that took its toll on me for the second leg. Ended up average speed on the bike of just under 19mph, which I am reasonably pleased with.

I recomend everyone buy a carbon Cervelo. Just so much more comfortable over long distances than my Copi. Time to start saving......

Well done! Do you want some stickers to disguise it and claim it as your own? mind you, the stickers would double the weight. After dragging my steel thing up some of the rolling hills yesterday, I have to admit I was quite jealous of the carbon roadies. Still skinned a few of them on the way up though.

The Leo + Bad Matt train had adventures along the way (including never looking at directions once and only getting lost twice....) we did it in just under 10 hours we think.

Got back at 4pm and instantly fell asleep (post shower). Doing it geared (specified charging down hills in the pitch darkness) was great fun, dunno if I would have done it sub 10 hours on my FG. Feel okay today, just tired which is normal I guess.

Think I might have the bug for longer rides...

Impressive time Simon, well done