A Hard Day in January

If anyone knows where that road was (I think near nuffield?) where we first hit the snow on the way out - in the trees, I'd be interested to know what it was.

the one that seemed flat but, demoralisingly, didn't feel it.

EE?

Absolutely. That was tougher, but not to detract from the toughness of yesterday!

Definitely a good day out, and plenty 'hard' for my liking.

I'd not ridden with many of you before (pretty much only Laner, OLC and Conker, two of which were in the so-called slow group [I'd say they were more 'wise' than 'slow', having cleverly missed the ice-hill and the brompton]) so names and faces are rapidly fading into my hazy memory.

Still, it was a pleasure to hang onto the wheel of the Hounslow club rider for much of the outward leg. A big effort against a headwind, with a good pace when we weren't gingerly picking our way through glaciers. It was also a pleasure to hang onto the wheel of blue-condor (zanda, right?) on the way back. Hole punching, etc.

This was definitely one of the faster rides I've been on. I wasn't carrying a computer or a garmin, but 16-17 mph average for this time of the year, on fixed, would make me very happy. I was running around 67 GI for the record, so those downhills on the return leg were pretty 'interesting'!

Big respect to Laner for pulling through despite having something of an off day, and I'll echo the sentiments of everyone else re.: Ian - I hope you got some good news.

Thanks again everyone, that was a pleasure.

If anyone knows where that road was (I think near nuffield?) where we first hit the snow on the way out - in the trees, I'd be interested to know what it was.

the one that seemed flat but, demoralisingly, didn't feel it.

Stoke Row Road seems to fit the description - about 2/3 of the way into the outward leg, in a forest. [based on the garmin connect route posted a few pages back]

I'll post my ride report tomorrow. Here are some pictures.

They're not as well focussed as I would have wished. I need some remedial lessons in complicated camera use. It's a pity because the subject matter looks great.

This one might be captioned: Fixed gear riders climb *en dansant *towards Stoke Row.

Incidentally at this point Andrew, the Hounslow rider, was not leading - it was Zanda who was a few yards off the front, but the camera never lies, or does it?

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Rollapaluza collected the Trophy

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Conker looks happy here.

More tomorrow, I hope.

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^ Hey that ain't a bad photo - I must have been enjoying it 'cos photo's do not lie

Cheers for the good wishes guys. Am happy to report that the A&E trip was a waste of time, the heart doctor I saw said that Amygdala's suggestion (75mg of asprin and get myself checked over) was the right thing to do, so cheers. The blood sugar/ECG/oxygen all came up fine though my BP was a bit high - something to keep an eye on.

... oh yes, re. the speed people averaged, I may invest in a cycle computer if it shows I've been doing 17 instead of 12. That way I can make myself feel really good - all I have to do is have several long rests on a ride!

What were you in A&E for, ian? Sounds a bit alarming but you seem to be as calm about it as if it was a tea stop(!)

Great pictures, too, Clubman - really looking forward to your ride report. That first photo looks horribly icy, but maybe it's just wet roads. Looks boss, anyway.

I’ll add to the many thanks to Chris for organising a great ride and route. On the way out (with the steady group) Ian said the ride should have been renamed A Spiffing Day Out in January which was too true: lots sunshine, nice lanes, little traffic – it was the Bizzaro ride from what it would have been like the Saturday previous. Amygdala, OLC and Ian were a pleasure to ride with as was the rest of the fast group who seemed to be spreading much joie de vivre. I saw a lot more of the area this year as well – last year I was sucked on to the back of everyone’s wheel doing my best to stay close and not get dropped. I very much appreciated seeing more than just undulating buttocks slowly inching away from my face.

A hard day indeed, but frustratingly for me I found it harder than it maybe should have. From a raft of excuses the only thing I can say is that I did not feel I was a 100% on Saturday so riding out was probably ill-advised and so struggled on both legs (pun unfortunately intended). Rep for OLC and Ian for a steady head on directions after we got dropped on the way back.

Many thanks again and a great ride.

This year’s Hard Day demonstrated the vitality and enthusiasm of some Forum riders. My clubmates who came out to help and who have all been in this game a long time were impressed. “These are the sort of new members we’d like to have.” was one comment. Although the event was given publicity outside the Forum, with the exception of a solitary Hounslow man, all the riders were from lfgss.

A total entry of eleven was a bit disappointing, but it was clear that the postponement caused by bad weather was at least partly responsible: there would have been at least another four Hounslow riders on the original date, and it’s likely that there were some who had booked the 19th but had other commitments on the 26th. It’s an inevitable problem for any promotion in January.

There were no takers for the Marlow ride, even though there had been some interest beforehand. I only realised late on Friday evening that I would have to cover the possibility of riders turning up to go to on this shorter ride after the Berinsfield groups had left. This meant I could not ride myself as I’d intended to do, but it did enable me to be a roving marshal and photographer. Because I didn’t manage to get my own bike out of the car I can’t write a proper ride report as I have done in the past, but I can give you my impressions from the roadside.

The first group (designated ‘fast’) looked as though it was working efficiently with three stronger riders doing a lot of work on the front and the others using the shelter they gave in a sensible way. This was certainly a valuable tactic since the wind was unfavourable for much of the day, turning more easterly in the afternoon and failing to give the assistance which might have been expected.

The second group seemed to squander some of its energy by not keeping in a compact formation but, to its credit, it managed to arrive at the turn point very soon after the ‘fast’ group which had set off a good five minutes before them. I think they achieved this by wisely descending the big hill before Wallingford on the main road, while the others went down one of the lanes still covered with packed snow: exciting, but less efficient.

On the way back I lost touch with the riders after Twyford and although the groups took what I consider to be the slightly harder (Drift Road and Windsor Park) and more hazardous (Egham roundabout) route, everyone got back safely.

I spoke to my clubmate Andrew to ask him how he had found it. Interestingly although he has ridden on the track he had never ridden with a group of fixed wheel riders on the road (by Hounslow standards he is a relative newcomer). He was impressed with the standard of riding, and particularly with the climbing ability of the single gear machines (or perhaps by the riders – it’s not always easy to tell). His parting comment was: I’m now seriously thinking of building a winter fixed bike – I could do with a 54 cm (21”) steel frame. So we seem to have a convert.

Nettlebed summit again.

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Zanda shows how it's done.

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The day was literally hard to begin with as, distracted by OLC’s hi-vis jersey, I inadvertently walked into a pillar at Waterloo station. After disembarking at Staines, our first challenge was to find our way to the sailing club. Apparently the off-road mode of tommmmmmmm’s Garmin bestows Jesus-like qualities to fixed gear bikes as it demanded that we directly traverse the river. After briefly contemplating OLC’s idea of registering for the ride by shouting across the river, we decided to use chap nav and found a bridge.

After being greeted by clubman and company, we divided into fast and slow (steady) groups. Garmin vs Luddite would have also been an accurate delineation of the riders. I was in the latter group with OLC, Ian and YAL, who led us triumphantly most of the way to the cafe, one hand on the handlebars, the other clutching the printed directions. The weather was clement, the route, beautiful – resplendent with snow-laden trees, magnificent red kites and brown filth that sprayed all over our faces.

On the return route, the impulse to be a dickhead and spin down the hills overwhelmed me and I defected from my previous comrades and resumed the rest of the ride with the fast group. Apologies for that. Big thanks must go to Andrew for directing us back to the sailing club without any hiccups

Thank you Clubman for organising a hard but thoroughly enjoyable ride, a great start to 2013. Look forward to doing this again next year. Glad to hear you’re OK Ian.

What were you in A&E for, ian? Sounds a bit alarming but you seem to be as calm about it as if it was a tea stop(!)

I had a 'funny turn' about half way back - giddy, couldn't catch my breath and cold extremeties, but that all subsided after 5-10mins.

@Amygdala
"On the return route, the impulse to be a dickhead and spin down the hills overwhelmed me" - yeah I've seen you descending before. The words sewing-machine and legs spring to mind!

Ian! Sounds positively Victorian. At least now you know not to go doing difficult rides wearing your whalebone corset. Glad you're ok though!

I'm really just a flat track bully. I'll be looking for a tow next time, as soon as it hits >10%. Possibly with an actual tow bar.

A brief review of gearing at the clubhouse revealed that (by lfgss standards), most riders were on reasonably big GI, with pretty much everyone >70", I think. Quite fitting for the gradients and weather conditions, but not quite TT setups either.

Sorry to have been slow with this summing up - I hope you can still remember the ride.

Gearing

I’m quite surprised that most of you were on such big gears (I call anything over 70” big in this context). My generation thought that 68” (48 x19 with 27” wheels) was *the *gear. Nowadays my usual gear is 66”, which I’ve used for all the previous ‘Hard Days’ and my club mates Jeff and Paul were on about the same, as was Illy when he rode.

It’s interesting to note that in the distant past gears around 75” seem to have been fairly normal. The machine my Grandfather (1885-1974, active grass track rider 1905-09) gave me was originally geared 46 x16 with 26” wheels (74.5”) – he geared it down to 66” for me (being a kid). This bike had been his ride to work hack in the 1930’s.

Until recently I thought he was eccentric to use such a big gear, but only last year I learnt that the majority of the riders in the 1911 Century Competition (his generation) were geared around 75”. That is except for the sole lady contestant who did 18,000 miles in the year on 63”.

My conclusion is - you can manage on almost any gear, but if you are going to ride in a group it’s best for everyone to use about the same, otherwise there will be problems – both up and down.

Zanda

I think Zanda underestimates his talents as a climber. I know it’s conventional wisdom that heavily built riders can’t climb, but this is not always true. My one time training run leader and mentor, Martyn Roach, has a similar build to Zanda’s, but he could always destroy the rest of us when it came to climbing. Martyn was a successful roadman, but really his strongest suite was time trialling, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if this were true in Zanda’s case.

Ron Richardson

My clubmate Ron deserves a mention here. He was the small , old guy who was at the club room in the morning. Ron started doing tough rides, like you did that day, over seventy years ago with the Calleva Road Club and although he didn’t think it appropriate to go to Berinsfield he did go for a ride after you had left.
There must have been something special about 1925, because in that year were born Louison Bobet, Raphael Geminiani and Ron. So far, it’s only Louison who is no longer with us*.

Finally

I was slightly disappointed that no one took up my offer of a route sheet in miles and furlongs. However I do have another day out in mind, perhaps in the Summer, which will involve furlongs – I will post about this soon.

*I'm very sad to have to report that Ron left us in September 2016. He was 91 and had still been doing a little riding until quite near the end.

Unfortunately I don't think I'll be able to lead this ride for 2014.

There are two reasons:

1. My fitness is not as good as in the past. I may be able to ride, but I can't be confident. I'm not going to come out if I'm going to be a liability to the rest of the group.

2. I've undertaken the promotion of the Hounslow Road Race. This will be on 16th March. Although it's a little while after the HD in J, it will involve a lot of work, and something has to go since my time is limited.

It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

**2014 Edition

**It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

1. Dumps
   

**2014 Edition

**It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

1. Dumps
   
2. Cupcakes
   
   
   
   

I'd love it if this goes ahead again in 2014.

I would possibly be able to lead this, although I have no idea how my time will fill out between now and Jan. Definitely want to do it though (on mobile so no list update for now)

2014 Edition

It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

1. Dumps
   
2. Cupcakes
   
3. AirTime
   

This ride showed me how little riding i'd done last winter, and was the closest i've been to bonking. in!

2014 Edition

It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

1. Dumps
   
2. Cupcakes
   
3. AirTime
   
4. laner
   

2014 Edition

It is possible I may be able to find some one else to lead and organise, so the ride could still happen. I have already been asked if it will happen, so clearly some people want to go. If there's enough support it would be more likely to happen, so if you'd like to ride please put your name on the thread and I'll see what can be done.

1. Dumps
   
2. Cupcakes
   
3. AirTime
   
4. laner
   
5. Branwen