Thursday Night - Hour of Power

Well I'll admit tonight was a shambles.
Lost my water bottle somewhere between work and RP - wasn't keen on exertion without hydration so I doubled back to recover it (it had been flattened. woe. it was one of those nice camelbak podium jobbies and everything). Ended up at RP 15 minutes late. Caught Friday well in the groove, few laps in perfect harmony and then we ended up with a bit of a split between us.
Some guy in Rollapaluza kit was going the other way round the inner circle, turned out to be Brent (a reasonably nippy chap) who recognised me from Swaintoux, so he changed directions and I did a few laps with him, with Friday nowhere to be seen.
THEN Brent heads to the outer circle, and I follow, and it turns out there's a ton of Rollapaluza going round (Max, Sem?, a few faces I recognised), so I do that for three laps. Bump into Friday again who is flying. Give up chasing him, sit down with the paluza pack for a bit. Then everyone buggers off to the pub.
20 miles at 22.7mph, 3 pints and ,with my skinny frame, a very wobbly ride home.Would recommend, hopefully more of the same next week.

right. i'm in.

20 miles at 22.7mph

Not bad workout for Central London on a school night. Sounds good.

3 pints

So that's where everyone disappeared to. Damn, I just kept going it circles.

Well I'll admit tonight was a shambles.

The split was a daft one on my part. I'd reached the half-hour, and figured (dunno why) that I'd stop for a lap and catch Mr Pt as he circled back around. In retrospect I'm gutted that I didn't just carry on through. It would have been much more appropriate than was slowing down, only to observe my worryingly high temperature, before setting off again all of two minutes later. So back up to pace, failed to catch Mr Pt as he whizzed past one last time, and that was that.

Sorry for not holding my own during the first hour. Next week I'll try to make a better fist of keeping up the pace. Mind you, I did finish on 22.1mph (ignoring the fucking stupid stop in the middle), with which I'm dead chuffed.

The final twenty minutes or so, followed by a couple of laps of Regent's Park's outer circle, saw an odd burst of energy that rather took me by surprise. I'd been growing increasingly fatigued throughout the hour (that's cycling, innit), only to suddenly find a bit more in the closet for the last leg of the journey. I've know idea where it came from, but it made for an exciting final few minutes... I was prolly being pushed along by a breeze.

I'll second Mr Pt's recommendation, thrashing round Regent's Park for an hour provides a good opportunity for some speedy miles, and leaves the evening spare for other things. Mebe we'll see a few more out next week?

Well I'll admit tonight was a shambles.

on my part! It was all fine really, and the split is no big deal. At the end of the day I'm just going round for me, and in my head i'm all by myself, but it's more fun with the odd familiar face to chase down or tow along. relieves the monotony.

am 150% up for this, it's just a matter of when i start working in soho again.

i'm there next week.

List list list! make it look popular!

1. damo
   
2. FridayMarch26th
   3.
   4.
   5.
   6.pt
   

1. damo
   
2. FridayMarch26th
   
3. blind unpopular dan
   4.
   5.
   6.pt
   

i'm all up for lists. but can some other fucker be the format pedant?

^^^^^Sure sure, no sweat as you say; though it's always a bonus to have something solid to push against. Well, usually. Sometimes it's incredibly painful.

Regents Park Hour of Power
The Route, Anticlockwise.

Thursdays,1830hrs at the gate opposite York Bridge for an hour of speedy pedalling/pedestrian avoidance.
20mph+ average, but if you can't hold on, worry not! Lap times are between 1:30 and 1:45 so you won't have long to wait until the train comes around again, just hop on the back and keep on pedalling.
Possible slow lap after 10 miles for a bit of a chat and a gulp of water, but not for long. Stop at 1930hrs or 20miles, whichever comes sooner (it'll be the 20 miles)
Option to wind down on the outer circle after with the Rollapaluzas (I think) or bugger off to the Edinboro Castle for some carbo loading/calorie recovery.

The List:

1. damo
   
2. FridayMarch26th
   
3. blind unpopular dan
   4.
   5.
   6.pt
   

6pt, I saw you again last night doing this; we gave each other a suspicious nod. I'm on the blue Steve Goff triple triangle.

I'd love to come along but I don't finish work until 19:00 so can't really make it for half 6.

Might just tag on for the last few minutes. I tend to stay out until about 9ish though if anyone fancies staying on longer.

Bastards closed the men's toilets early last night, ran out of drinking water :(
Thirsty rides home in this heat are not fun.

You guys ... what a mad idea.
Anyway, are you doing this on a geared or a fixed bike folks? I doubt I could be that fast consistently on me fixed really, pannier and all.

I do it on my commuting bike, but you've seen the commuting bike.

(It was fun while it lasted, but I felt guilty using the trispok/deep rear so much, so i'm back to normal wheels this week)

Well up for this - won't add myself to list yet as not 100% sure I can make this thurs

6pt.

i've heard tales about you. i am suitably scared.

I don't really drown kittens for fun or eat puppies for breakfast.

No, but you probably crush them with powerful pedalstrokes.
Did you at least fix the bottom bracket when you changed the wheels?

And hey, damo, as the man that climbs Leith hill on fixed you don't have to fear many, but 6pt is an impressive cycling machine.

it's Friday you should be scared of anyway. he's something else entirely. although he's not quite so brusque. false sense of security innit.

(pascalo: yeah doesn't sound like a woodchipper any more. still got the odd creak coming out of it though)

What gearing are you guys using for this by the way?

I'm on 84 inches, freewheel, for everything. Friday has gears, and umm, can't speak for anyone else.

if not busy with work i will have a go thursday, 69gi just a bit of cardio..

i'm on 65.
fixed.

spot the guy getting dropped? or moving to the outer circle with the rollas...