Summer epics

i mentioned this on another thread somewhere, but now i'm all growed up and out of the nursery i thought i'd indulge myself and start a new thread, heregoes:

summer is just round the corner, and as much as i like alleycats, critical mass and generally riding about, what i really look forward to is decent-length rides out in the countryside. i currently do loops south of birmingham, but in the summer i think it's nice to take a day and ride to somewhere, then get drunk, then take a train home.

if anyone has similar aspirations, post your thoughts here. i reckon 50-60 miles would be about right. maybe a lunch/picnic/convenience store stop. end in a place worth visiting. my initial thought was oxford... any other suggestions?

sundays would be the logical day of choice, but if people could get themselves organised (i know, not probable based on previous form...) it could even be a post-work mid-week one - maybe somewhere closer for those...

if you do one to oxford, i'll be on it like a shot.

I'd be up for oxford and somewhere like leicester, though saturday would be better. Especially as I'll probably need to rest...

saturdays are bad for me, as i work 75% of them. and they ones i have off tend to be missus or mountain biking in wales-orientated.

also, unless you ride a bike for a living, mondays make good rest days.

mmm nothing better than a good ale and sunday dinner for carb replacement

apparently carb replacement has to be completed no less than 20 minutes after the completion of exercise.

so... wetherspoons it is.

Id love to go for a long country ride, but you see as much as I like bikes. Im a bit of a fake cyclist. Not ridden anything more than 20miles and not out in the country.

What kind of routes take you out to places like Oxford? Are we talking quiet lanes or trying to cross motorway slip roads and that kinda stuff?

Also if anyone is keen on doing any 15mile+, lazy rides now while its still winter. Id be up for that too, but again Im not the right person to come up with a route.

i tend to ride quite fast when i go out locally in an attempt to get fit, but it's easy to avoid busy roads if you know the names/orientation of villages. i have no idea of a route to oxford, but it must be easy enough. right?

i'm trying to make sure i get out at the weekends even in the depths of winter as i've got an mtb enduro at the start of april so i'd be up for any weekend rides, heres a link to one i did last weekend
http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=635238
its unlikely i'll be out this weekend on my bike as i'm off to the rainbow on friday and its liverpool chelski on sunday but i'll post up a message if i do.

[URL="http://sportstracker.nokia.com/nts/workoutdetail/index.do?id=635238"][/URL]

Perfect opportunity to try out my new road bike, but the feckers got tubs!

My knee 1,000,000 times a second.

(MegaHertz)

I'd be interested but I'm in the same school as DFP, If it would be a long distance n00b friendly ride I'd be interested.

How about a ride out to somewhere like Stratford on Avon for example, with a train ride back to Brum?
there's some well nice ale houses there, and plenty of good food options.....?

stratford would be good, perhaps as the first in a progressively epic series. once everyone is man enough we can spread our wings. stratford would only take a few hours i reckon, so more time for booze. also, not too insanely priced for the train on the way back.

ow bout warwick

I'd love to come along for a ride to Stratford-Upon-Avon.
That would be lovely.

warwick is also good, journey-wise, but a bit less exciting once you're there. although if anyone has any strong feelings on the matter, i'll happily reconsider my bias.

+1 vote for stratford, I know its nice and im more familiar with the route.

Royal Shakespeare theatre often has hugely discounted tickets too, if anyone fancied a night of the theatrical arts. Everything ive seen there has been amazing.

Stratford is nicer than warwick for sure.

Mentioned elsewhere but a trip to Oxford should include Fish Hill, nr. Evesham as compulsory.

There's a guy in Solihull runs a website with lots of planned short rides in the area, could be great shorter practice rides for any noobs to distance stuff. Cyclesolihull.org.uk

P.s. Carbs after exercise not vital within 20 mins, get some choco milk down you whilst soaking in the (ice) bath to aid recovery, but no need to rush it, and only really start to worry about it if you've done 75+ - by which time you'll eat the fridge door whilst the bath is running... Anything shorter just make sure you have a good dinner that night.

'Ice bath', LOL

Anyone who submerges themself in water cooler than 50°C is clearly insane

+1 vote for stratford, I know its nice and im more familiar with the route.

Royal Shakespeare theatre often has hugely discounted tickets too, if anyone fancied a night of the theatrical arts. Everything ive seen there has been amazing.

I'm there Sham!

P.s. Carbs after exercise not vital within 20 mins, get some choco milk down you whilst soaking in the (ice) bath to aid recovery, .

While not necessary, if you dont eat something full of energy while your body is starved of energy you get catabolisim. Your body breaks you muscle down & uses it for energy. It does this BEFORE using up fat reserves as fat is for emergencies. Thats why athletes eat such phenomenal amounts of food & religiously drink protein shakes after workouts.

Although im not an experienced distance cyclist myself, the fact that I am a geek who absorbs useless facts allows me to know that a days cycling uses up something near 6000 calories, meaning you have to eat roughly 3 times more than usual.

Its my last year of this sweet deal ffs. Better get through the repetoire before June with me Toby.

http://www.rsc.org.uk/buyonline/955.aspx

**Ticket discounts
***16 - 25s - *Tickets £5. Fifty tickets will be held off sale (except for Press Nights), 40 can be booked in advance and 10 will be sold on the day from The Courtyard Theatre. This offer is for individuals aged between 16 and 25 who must make the booking themselves. Maximum of two tickets per person, per performance. All tickets, including those booked in advance, can only be collected from the Box Office, proof of age will be required. Tickets will be allocated entirely at the descretion of the Box Office. Offer available online for *Romeo and Juliet, Don John *and The Tempest.

Normal Price is like £38!

I'm into it. The performances are in the Courtyard theatre as the main RST is still being worked on.
The Dirty Duck across the road does great beer (usually) and decent food.