2009-05-03 Sun - IoW Randonnee

in 1985 some bearded men known as wayfarers rode around the Isle of Wight on flaming wooden bicycles to form a defensive barrier putting of attacks from the hostile but partly pissed French. Needless the occasional spotting of say 3 drunk bearded men on bikes of fire was enough to deter them and the Isle of Wight stayed in mighty ENGLISH hands..... [wipes patriotical tear from eye...]

That was before a lot of you hipsters were born, a time when Men were Men and beards were beards, a place to keep small animals for emergency, it was believed at the time wearing ironic facial hair resulted in being burned at the stake. yep, some by laws they should have stuck with..

Anyway to honour this historical prevarication and get some sea air in these dog lungs a number of us are heading down for a day beside the seaside.

it would be good to get you out in the great outdoors!
*
Directions*

Meet at Victoria 5:30am Sunday 3rd May

Train arrives @ Pompey Harbour - 8:25am
9am ferry gets us in for 9:50am to start the ride

(soton trains would leave us arriving at IoW @ 11am)

Ride is 100k (full trip anti-clockwise) with no Entry fee, but you can pre-register. it's hilly but not stupid so you can do it fixed.
I don't believe there are any real hills so Brakeless is also do-able

For More Info:

http://www.cycleisland.co.uk/

If you are interested let me know - i'll get a block of tickets for the group save!

yo. count me in.

I will be using geared bike, as I don't trust myself long distance brakeless..
unless the geek is here.

Im in.

1. Flaming Slag
   
2. Burnt eyebrows
   
3. Pinkfireybike
   

In as well - most likely also geared - but we'll see....

1. Shlag
   
2. Unibrow
   
3. PinkFuckingTwat
   
4. Aroooogah-ha-ha-ha
   
   

PS - flaming beards, wooden bikes - quality Slag

Fiddy has agreed to cover himself in brandy and set himself on fire and do the last hill brakeless unclipped*

• we are still negotiating the details on this
  

Uphill or downhill?

1. Shlag
   
2. Unibrow
   
3. PinkFuckingTwat
   
4. Aroooogah-ha-ha-ha
   
5. saxet
   
   

this sounds like a blast. could there be a problem with too many bikes on trains?

all events should be like this one...

"No entry fee, no need to pre-register. Start at any of the checkpoints on the day.
(pre-registration is available at selected checkpoints)"

turn up. ride. sign up when you want. and it's free.

I shall pack some rum.

1. Shlag
   
2. Unibrow
   
3. PinkFuckingTwat
   
4. Aroooogah-ha-ha-ha
   
5. saxet
   
6. Ved
   

Ved - is that Limhal from Kagagoogoo?

Its the world famous Pat Sharp.

I'm still laughing hard at Pip's OP.

Sorry. Mullet fail. OP is awesome but Slag still has not answered my question.

Downhill to give him chance to put out the flames ;)

The legendary Sharp. such a talent.. such a talent.

May well be up for this...
I take it you'd stay the Sunday night somewhere* and then catch the Ferry back the nxt day ??

*field / beach / small guesthouse barn etc...

*field / beach / small guesthouse barn etc...

with your reputation...

HTFU and ride back.

with your reputation...

Well OBVIOUSLY i'll be alright Ved... just wondering what the serfs will be up to.

not a bad idea shoots. they have a hostel so we could get smashed on the beach and get back for lunch time.
i'd be up for that if we had the numbers.

About time I posted this pic again of my brother climbing through the fog on the road out of Shanklin.

Was about 4 years ago, going the week before this year's event. Can't make the Randonee as I'm on a sportive the following day. Have fun.

Sam - what's the profile of the ride like? Looking at the terrain maps it looks really flat.

Sam - any quick descents?

i woke up about 3 this morning and decided to get dressed as a pirate for this.. so i am

Regards
Pip

It's not hilly but I would not say it's flat either. Hiller than riding to Brighton but it does not have the one killer big climb like Ditchling.

Sam - what's the profile of the ride like? Looking at the terrain maps it looks really flat.

It's not hilly but I would not say it's flat either. Hiller than riding to Brighton but it does not have the one killer big climb like Ditchling.

It is pretty hilly--short, sharp hills and one slightly longer climb. Nothing to test a good climber but a surprising amount of action. I did it back in 2005 in beautiful weather. Lovely day out.

done this the last five years - the last four on the trusty Copacetic rolling 48x18. my 15 stone bro went round it last year SS on 46x18.

like others have said. no killer climbs at all. just undulates for most of the day. some great roads, some pretty cool views, good feel to the event and there is something sweet about getting your little brevet card stamped at each of the check points.

expect to see tandems and mtbs. expect to see the odd charidee rider doing it on something peculiar. expect super-sweet cakes at the school stop in bembridge.

we haven't booked logistics yet but i will be rolling down with half a dozen of Team Etchingham. the Brighton crew (mx-l, etc) are rocking up too.

of course we might all end up staying on different parts of the island and not all see each other but would be good to see some of you lot down there.

I think I remember one short hill in Cowes where it goes round a corner and for about 20' it seems dam near vertical, but the entire hill is not very long so you just need momentum.