Saturday Chiltern Rides

I'm going to do some Saturday morning rides starting from Amersham station (Metropolitan Line - shouldn't be a problem with bikes) First ride 18th October, meet 10 am, leave 10.15. (Main entrance - North side of station.)

I intend to do 30 miles minimum with a cafe stop. I hope to increase the distance later. I will provide a route for the first ride, maybe for all later rides, but suggestions are welcome. I hope to be out every other Saturday up to Christmas, if others are interested.

The first route will avoid killer climbs like Bison Hill and The Crong - we might try those later. I intend to keep a steady pace and wait for any stragglers (of course I might be a straggler myself)

My aims in this are:

1. To do some enjoyable fixed riding in attractive but mildly challenging countryside.
   
2. To maintain my own fitness in the hope that I can manage to survive my own club's early season training runs.
   
3. To meet some LFGSS members.
   
   

I will use a 67" gear and I think it would require talent to go much more than 5" above or below this.

Two brakes, while not absolutely essential with fixed, certainly make things less stressful. However, any bike riding can be dangerous - you come at your own risk.

Because I suggested this I'll be there on the 18th rain or shine. I'd be pleased to hear if others intend to come.

wayfarer, will have to call it nearer the time but have ridden from amersham a few times before, sometimes heading straight up to banbury. i would like to get to know the hills round there a bit better so may well be up for this.

I live around Chesham so I'd be up for a nice paced jaunt. Unfortunately I'm at university at the moment but there giving me a week of early november so hope to see you soon! Know some good 30-60 mile routes around the Berkhamsted/Ashridge/ Great Misindon way if your interested.
Cheers, Will

Might be down with this...
My ole neck a tha woods.
Will keep one eye on it.
Certainly is some of the nicest countryside just outta town.

My club rides out from denham every sat and sun. Bison would be a bit of a bitch fixed. I might be up for this being my side of londumb.

Was just looking at some different routes today, and stumbled across the Grand Fondo sportive leaving from Great Missenden. Apparently it goes straight passed my house (news to me) up Bison hill and the Crong.

I was wondering if anyones done it before? anyone into sportives? Would be a good challenge, especially after riding the area, if anyones diaries go that far ahead.

You mean the Chiltern 100?

Search the forum for "sportives". The guy that started that thread is a fucking legend..

Ah yes, a very nice thread indeed. Answers my question really. I'm going for the grand if you care to join, might get my mum on an extra cake stop though, looks tiring!

I did the Medio this year: http://thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=1101

I'd entered the full one but had numerous reasons for doing the short one. It's a tough set of hills :)

A very long time ago, in the eighties, I rode a reliability trial, which is what 'sportives' were known as then, called 'The Harp Hilly 100' (that was kilometres by the way).

This was held in February and starting near Amersham went over Bison, Ivinghoe Beacon, and Aston Hill. I rode the event three times and for the first attempt I was foolish enough to use a 64" single free - I did get round eventually, but not within the qualifying time, which I did manage once subsequently, on gears. So my answer to Spencerwells question 'has anyone done it before?' is - yes and no.

But I notice Wayfarer says he does** not **plan to do the hardest climbs to start with.

I hope to be at Amersham station on Saturday.

I've done the Harp Hilly as well: http://thehippy.net/nucleus/index.php?itemid=967

Well I turned up at Amersham station ,Wayfarer was there.So we waited but no one else turned up. Could be something to do with a section of the Met line being out of action due to engineering work. Anyway it was a good ride.Lets have abetter turn out on 1st November.

You need to be throwing out some reminders.
Even I can't keep up with this shitty forum now and half the fcuking posts are mine! :S

A partly successful ride. We did 30 miles through lanes on a perfect Autumn morning, including Ivinghoe Beacon, and I think we proved it was a good place to be out on a bike.

I don't know whether the lack of other riders was affected by the failure of the Metropolitan Line, but I'll try again on Saturday week. Next time I'll check with TfL and post their answer as a reminder.

Unfortunately I'm still up north studying but I'll certainly come along on my week off, I've got 2 weekends, sometime mid november. Hope they're still happening, I'm looking forward to it.

Thanks for the responses guys, definitely going to aim for the chiltern next year, cheers

Info for those planning to travel to Amersham by train. There is engineering work on the Met line,no trains between Baker street and Harrow-on-hill.Amersham trains depart Harrow 09.17 Amersham 09.45 and Harrow 09.47 Amersham 10.15. Chiltern railways normal service. Marylebone 09.27 Amersham 10.02.

Thanks to Motorman for train research. I intend to be at Amersham station, 10am - leave 10.15 tomorrow morning.

Too late this week. Have fun..

We had another good ride last Saturday, doing about 40 miles with a cafe stop at Wilstone (just beyond Tring).

I'm certainly not going to promise that this sort of riding is going to win any races next season, but I remain convinced there's pleasure to be had out there, and those hills are not going to harm anyone's base fitness. However we could do with more support from forum members, and from the railways.

I hope to make the next outing on the 15th November slightly more ambitious and I will post a reminder nearer the day.

Note to Hippy - thanks for at least thinking about coming out - hope to see you next time.

I'll be there on the 15th, bar illness or natural disaster. If there's not too many of us I can offer a bit of grub or a drink at mine, I live near Tring so it's on the way. If not I know of a few nice pubs!! Can't wait to get out, Uni's getting me down
Cheers guys, here's to a fun day out!

I've been bed-ridden since early hours of Thursday dude.. damaged goods.. I need to try harder.. :S

Just a quick reminder that I'll be at Amersham as usual this Saturday, 10 for 10.15 depart.

I'll be there! cheers.

Finally loads of notice and I think I'll be out. Sheesh!
Keep it up guys.

me too