Oxford - who and what

I'm planning on coming.

This would be my first alley as well, do you think I could do it even though i dont know oxford that well I mean i know my way round and stuff but i'm not too sure on street name's?

This would be my first alley as well, do you think I could do it even though i dont know oxford that well I mean i know my way round and stuff but i'm not too sure on street name's?

Absolutely yes. Just come a long, everybody gets a map at the start ( though you might want to bring a pencil to mark stuff). In the wort case just follow someone who knows what they're doing ;)

Club update: I went out with Oxonian CC this morning, did about 55 miles with 5 others. Very friendly bunch, they have abut 150 members with plenty of people involved in TT-ing and racing, club runs on Saturday and Sunday. Their website is here: http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/oxoniancc/
Had a good ride mostly on roads I've not cycled before, nice cool morning with sunny intervals made for great riding weather. Will probably join them with the aim of doing some racing next year.
Here's the route (not entirely sure this right, but it's close enough and the right distance):http://ridewithgps.com/routes/217135

Now that it's getting dark early and its bloody freezing it's been suggested we should restart bike polo. Maybe this Thursday evening (around 8/8.30 in Botley) if we've got the numbers and it's not raining.

Arducius, this is the link to the Oxonian/City of Oxford/Mid Oxon TT series. The link is for 2010, but you should get involved for next season - I really enjoyed the ones I did!

Cheers Ewan, I was chatting to some of the guys about doing some TTs next season. Doubt I'll perform too well but could be good fun nonetheless.

sas, polo sounds good but it's unlikely I'll make it down frequently so I won't commit. Where in Botley do you play?

Anyone else thinking about giving it a go, get involved. It's good fun!

Curry's car park Botley Road:
http://tinyurl.com/botleypolo

Anyone else thinking about giving it a go, get involved. It's good fun!

Arducius, do you you think it is possible to join the the a road club (ex Oxonian CC) without a road bike - I have a single speed. Might be a dumb question, but I've never participated in clubs before don't know a thing about rules.

On another note, anybody up for a ride tomorrow (Wednesday) afternoon / evening???

Jonas, I'm sure you'd be welcome on the Oxonian Sunday club runs on a SS. I turned up without any prior contact and everyone was very welcoming. The guy leading the ride was on an old steel fixed conversion so there's no need for gears.

I'm at work with my fixed, if I get the train back I can meet in Oxford around half 5 for a ride. Did you have a route in mind?

Great, in that case I'll be joining for sure.

Yes 17:30 is fine. Should we meet up at the train station then? I have no particular route in mind, to be honest I don't know any proper ones. If you have one that you know that be great, otherwise I'll try to look something up on the forum?

What about this route (taken from cyclingroutesoxford.blogspot.com)? Half 5 at the train station sounds good, I'll wait at the top of the wheelchair ramp (to the right of the main entrance).

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/219023

Maybe something like this: http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Botley+Rd%2FA420&daddr=Standlake+Rd+to:Eaton+Rd+to:Cumnor+Hill&geocode=Fd6uFQMdyJvs_w%3BFVo9FQMdBmXq_w%3BFV5CFQMd_W_r_w%3BFaijFQMdRCDs_w&hl=en&mra=dme&mrcr=2&mrsp=3&sz=14&dirflg=h&doflg=ptk&sll=51.752008,-1.289864&sspn=0.034431,0.090895&ie=UTF8&ll=51.71666,-1.389856&spn=0.034458,0.090895&z=14 but I haven't done this one before and would not be able to lead us. Dont know if you have a gps or smth.

What about this route (taken from cyclingroutesoxford.blogspot.com)? Half 5 at the train station sounds good, I'll wait at the top of the wheelchair ramp (to the right of the main entrance).

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/219023

This looks great, I'm up and I might also bring another guy with me. Ok see you there at 17:30. I'll send you my cell no. on private message just in case...

PM recieved thanks. I'll jot down some directions (don't have GPS either) so we don't end up lost. Don't forget your lights!

So much for my directions! We missed a turning but managed to correct ourselves when we realised we didn't want to cross the motorway.

It was bitterly cold out on the countryside and very dark so we had quite a slow ride. Somehow jonas' mudguard destroyed itself about two thirds of the way around, but we didn't let that get us down. Was ace riding along in the pitch dark with no traffic around.

Nice to meet you jonas, hopefully see you on Sunday.

It was a proper pitch black night ride with a hint of adventure. Arducius's head light saved the day!

It was much colder out in the countryside than in the city (not surprisingly). I got quite bad frost bite on my toes. Oh well lesson learned, gonna come better prepared next time...

It was good meeting you too Arducius and yes - see you this Sunday.

I dont know about you, but I really enjoy night rides. Next time it might be good to go out a little later on. It wont be much colder and will have a lot less traffic if we go after rush hour. What do you reckon?

It's definately worth investing in a good front light for rides like last night!

Have you managed to get replacement parts for your mudguard yet?

How dark was it? I often run at night with no light but obstacles tend to pop up a bit quicker on the bike!!

Any bike light recommendations? My city lights don't cut it.

It was a clear night but only a crescent moon so pretty much no light out in the lanes. I've got a Hope Vision 1, which is pretty good but costs around £70. Check out the lights thread, there are plenty of suggestions in there but most light-the-way lights start at about £70. There are some torches that quite a few people have (from dealextreme) that are supposed to be quite good for £20-£30, combine with a lock block to mount on handlebars.

I love riding at night on dark lanes so I can justify an expensive light, also good for using around town as there is no way anyone can miss it.

I dont know about you, but I really enjoy night rides. Next time it might be good to go out a little later on. It wont be much colder and will have a lot less traffic if we go after rush hour. What do you reckon?

It's definately worth investing in a good front light for rides like last night!

Have you managed to get replacement parts for your mudguard yet?

Agree, I really like night rides too, I think they are very relaxing in a way if you know what I mean.

So after googling around for light etc I came to a conclusion that there are only 3 or 4 sensible options for a serious but budget headlight.

1. Hope Vision 1 ~ £70
   
2. Exposure Spark ~ £70
   
3. Cateye HL-EL600 LED ~ £70
   
4. Cateye HL-EL530 LED ~ £50
   
   

I wonder whether it is worth getting the 4'th option and regretting afterwards for not adding extra £20 to get something more proper. To be honest I'm considering either 1 or 2.

And yes after getting one of these lights $$$ one will be morally obliged to go night riding...

I wouldn't go for a Cat Eye personally. Everyone complains about the mounts being really crap and breaking easily.

The Hope doesnt have the best mounting system as the clamp has two little bits of rubber you have to slot in so you only get two contact points and it can slip if it's not done up tight. But a simple shim made from an old inner tube (or something similar) will fix it.

The Exposure lights are generally well regarded, I haven't used one but I did see them at the cycle show last year and their smaller lights had a good mounting system. The bracket stays on the bike and the lights just clip out/in (that was before they released the Spark so it might be a little different).

The el-530 was amazing value when it came out ~3 years ago ... for £30. I haven't used mine for ages (got some decent lights) so you're welcome to borrow it. If you like it and you really want something budget you can have it for £10 inc rechargeables, though if I was buying some lights now I think I'd go for the Hope. Audaxers seem to like it and they know a bit about night riding.

That's a very generous offer, despite my reservation about Cat Eye brackets, for a tenner you can't go wrong.

Anyone fancy a ride tomorrow? Forecast for tomorrow is clear with not too much wind. I don't mind what we do but I'd like some legs left for Sunday's club run so nothing too epic. Maybe ride out somewhere, stop for a drink/food at a pub, ride back towards Oxford.

The el-530 was amazing value when it came out ~3 years ago ... for £30. I haven't used mine for ages (got some decent lights) so you're welcome to borrow it. If you like it and you really want something budget you can have it for £10 inc rechargeables, though if I was buying some lights now I think I'd go for the Hope. Audaxers seem to like it and they know a bit about night riding.

Very kind offer, I'll take it if the light is in working order (you said that you've not used it for ages so we might need to check if it still works) :)

I'll write you a PS to arrange a meet up.

To continue the light topic, I went to Beeline Cycles on Cowley road today and a guy there told me that personally he would go for the Cateye HL-EL600 LED because first it is rechargeable (charger included) and second its light is smartly designed to spread over the road in front and covers a wider area. I guess as opposed to Hope and Exposure where the light is more focussed... That said, personally I think it is very hard to beat the solid feel and looks of Hope and Exposure...

Anyone fancy a ride tomorrow? Forecast for tomorrow is clear with not too much wind. I don't mind what we do but I'd like some legs left for Sunday's club run so nothing too epic. Maybe ride out somewhere, stop for a drink/food at a pub, ride back towards Oxford.

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