Sorry about short notice--I've only just seen this.

Some London cyclists did this ride last year, and I was pretty much sold on doing it this year based on the ride reports:

**http://tinyurl.com/5mz6dt
****http://tinyurl.com/6dfnjh

**There are also lots of pictures on the Lewisham site. Check out those cars!

Basically, it's a chance to ride down to Brighton with classic cars around, and they are distinctly worth seeing. I quote:

'None of the cars were made after 1905'.

As mentioned in the reports above, riding close to these things is apparently not for those haven't HTFU'd. You also need to be quite careful when stopping, as some of them don't have very good brakes ...

There seems to be a lot of good humour around on the day, from all car drivers and especially the classic car drivers.

The only problem is that so far the weather's looking a bit shit--mainly cloudy, not a lot of rain, though.

Any forumengers up for this one? Seems perfect for FGSS riding. (I'll confess right here that I'll be doing this geared.) We don't have to join the main ride, but there are useful tips below about timing, as the classic cars start very early and you risk missing them if you're not out of bed very early.

Here are the travel arrangements made by Lewisham Cyclists (from the Southwark Cyclists mailing list):

Er hi folk/s

A genuine update here - only just been finalised.

Bill has very kindly agreed to run a feeder ride to East Croydon from Bermondsey Square - may be handy if Tower Bridge is a handier river crossing for you than the Greenwich foot tunnel.

Meet Bill at 6.58 (yes really - a sunrise start to coincide with the first cars leaving Hyde Park) at Bermondsey Square.

Corner of Tower Bridge Road and Long Lane.

Bill will be riding through The Elephant to pick up the cars at The Oval before delivering everyone to East Croydon by 8:15 where we will split the ride as described below.

Bill's number is 07973 668642.

Paul's number below.

IMPORTANT - This is a PROMPT DEPARTURE - NO WAITING.

Paul

PS: Should have added to last mail - you may find it handy to bring a digital camera - pics will also be useful for the Lewisham web site - take your pics safely though. You'll need your wits about you on the day.

----- Original Message -----
From: "PaulT" pault@dial.pipex.com
To: "Lewisham Cyclists" lewishamcyclists@yahoogroups.com; Sent: Wednesday, October 29, 2008 2:05 PM
Subject: With the old cars to Brighton - this Sunday - Nov 2

NOTE FOOD ARRANGEMENTS - IMPORTANT

The second outing for this ride after last year's successful if rather mad inaugural run, described by one of the group as one of the best rides of the year. This year with TWO RIDES - one slower, the other will find its own pace - maybe somewhat fast like last year's.

So we're off again to follow the London to Brighton Veteran car run, familiar to some from that old favourite wet Sunday afternoon film Genevieve. None of the cars were made after 1905.

Last year I made no apologies for the rather early start so in a spirit of sheer perversity befitting this mad escapade this year's start will be half an hour earlier. A sort of logic to the madness - we aim to be in the thick of the field for longer and have to do a bit less chasing.

If you want an idea of what the ride is likely to be like, hold on tight and check out the report and pics from last years ride - go to:

www.lewishamcyclists.net

click on "Gallery" for November 2007 and click on "Mixing it With the Cars"

Two main stops are planned. Like last year we will stop in Crawley where the cars park up for a while. I recommend that you bring your own food but if you don't, dash into the Asda there as soon as we arrive. We won't be stopping en route for a sit-down meal as it will slow us up, but like last year we may well have a bite and a beer once we hit Brighton.

This year, by popular request, we will also be pausing in Ansty to watch the field go past and there's a handy pub here if you fancy a swift one.

Total distance a mere 55 miles - it's a very direct route to Brighton. No climbing over Ditchling and you'll hardly notice the North Downs.

"You'll be intoxicated by the exuberance of your own velocity" says a character from the film. For the less exuberant, opportunities to drop out at various points and return by train. The rest of us will train it back from Brighton.

NEW ADDITIONAL SLOWER RIDE - in order to widen the appeal of this ride from last year's somewhat manically paced ride (it just sort of happened that way) William and Jo will be leading a slower paced group following the same route and we will all aim to meet up in Brighton.

Timings remain the same but we'll split into initial groups OUTSIDE East Croydon railway station at 08:15.

So either make your own way there (your responsibility to check
trains/possible engineering works) or join me at Cutty Sark Gardens or Forest Hill. The ride from Cutty Sark Gardens to East Croydon will be fairly fast (but we won't leave anyone - I'll get you all to East Croydon) in order to stick to the timetable and this may help you to decide which group you would like to join.

Any questions on slower or faster ride, contact me - Paul - on 07957 209322

Official site of the event:

http://www.lbvcr.com

Meet 7:15 Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich PROMPT DEPARTURE

7:45: Forest Hill Station forecourt

8:15: In front of East Croydon railway station

We'll be riding fast between these pick-ups. Be there on time. We won't leave before these times but won't hang around either. If you get there before the time and can't see us, just wait - we'll be on our way.

More info from Paul: 07957 209322. NO TEXTS PLEASE

A Lewisham Cyclists/LCC ride

bump

Looks good but I am busy.

thanks for posting oliver ,had a great day.its so different from the London to brighton cycle ride,the drivers of the old cars actually like cyclists lol.definitely going to do it again next year

Did you see Toad of Toad Hall?

Cheers, Alan, glad you enjoyed it! Wheee, what a ride. I had a brilliant day, lost the group almost immediately and just time-trialled it down, got to Crawley at 9:35 and to Brighton at 11 to blazing sunshine on the seafront. Good weather, much better than forecast, and the warm welcome in Brighton was superb. Regrets linger that I didn't pretend I hadn't heard the steward on the finishing straight who called me back--it would have been great to ride across the finish line on a bike! That would have created a bit of a stir, but I did feel like a participant ...

Like you say, a great atmosphere, friendly and happy people in all the cars (even the red-faced guy shovelling coal into the furnace on one of the steam engines ...). There must have been thousands of people out watching the event.

I loved looking at all the cars and am still poring over the programme. I played leapfrog races with number 14 (Léon Bollée) and number 26 (Brown quadricycle) primarily.

The cars were just great, basically carriages with engines on. Slack transmission chains, axle and camshaft in full view, leather belts for transmission, etc. If this was an event that allowed post-1905 cars, it wouldn't hold nearly the same appeal. Now, I don't like cars, but I do like those old ones with which it's a challenge to get to the destination. (Quite a few people apparently have unrecoverable mechanicals every year.)

It was just a blast to be able to race the cars and drop them, no matter how old (but there were some extremely fast classic cars on the road not as part of the event that were definitely later than 1905, one light cream sports car that was just scary, for instance--you could see how the Motor Menace began just by having that one thunder past you). I overtook number 26 up a hill at one point--they were leaning forward on the hill, otherwise the vehicle might have toppled over backwards ...

Lots of breakdowns and cars in clouds of steam stalled by the side of the road! People jumping off with duffel bags from which they took very large tools ...

Quite a few other cyclists on the road, as well.

I can recommend this one to everybody, it's a great day to be out. Very considerate driving from all motorists, a lovely route, mostly OK roads, just some hard ruts across the carriageway after Ansty.

Got my souvenir cap on Brighton seafront totally buzzing, as well as my free complimentary copy of the Daily Mail with (wait for it) a free Cliff Richard CD! What could possibly be more perfect? The programme came with a plastic Union Jack flag perfect for attaching to a bike. After meeting friends in Brighton (and bumping into some London acquaintances down for a week-end), I spent the time on the train enjoying quality, unbiased, benevolent reporting courtesy of the sponsoring newspaper. Bliss ...

73 miles done in total, can't compute averages as I forgot to look at my computer.

Definitely doing it next year.

Did you see Toad of Toad Hall?

Ha! Probably ... but we dropped him and left him eating dust.

"Basically, it's a chance to ride down to Brighton with classic cars around, and they are distinctly worth seeing. I quote:

'None of the cars were made after 1905'."

they are not classic cars but veteran:
"Applies to cars constructed up to 31st December 1904. Only these cars may take part in the annual London to Brighton run. This celebrates the Emancipation Run which took place in 1896 upon the repeal of the so called Red Flag Act. This meant that cars could be driven freely without a man walking in front with a red flag"

vintage cars are from 1919 after the great war.
classic cars are post 1945.

looks like a fun ride.

edit: just read the 1905 mention in above post

they are not classic cars but veteran:
vintage cars are from 1919 after the great war.
classic cars are post 1945.

Cheers, I didn't know any of these distinctions!

Another write-up:

**http://tinyurl.com/65gvur
**
Photos:

http://tinyurl.com/5qs5vk