Thursday Night - Hour of Power

Thanks, good to see you too man. You look in good shape (not that I was checking you out or anything). Need to follow your lead.

The reality is you'll end up in a clusterfuck.

What an utter clusterfuck it was tonight.

Hate to say I told you so.

holy shit that was a lot of people. looked like rapha ran two groups. Only saw one borderline on here fixie skidder tho

That was fun. Thanks guys.

Tibbs - Good to see you, albeit super briefly. I was so looking forward to seeing that bike all built up but didn't clock it in time!

Well that was fun. Got on the back of the rolla train for all of about 20 seconds, before slinking off and finding Xander and Tibbs, I think. Spent most of the hour with a couple of different groups.

6pt - thanks for the words of encouragement towards the end!

Who was on the bmc in rolla kit?

That was quality, cheers lads

^^andrey/hyperbole

Bloody hell, that was a lesson in humility. Lasted one lap at HoP speed, then joined onto another seemingly never ending line of randomers, was wrecked within the hour. More miles needed.

Good to see a few faces though, albeit briefly.

You get used to it, then you keep up with it, then you're on the front turning the screw...

I've never seen so many riders in the park. Traffic lights were a main source of carnage, with the Rapha megatrain, the randoms, the fast randoms and everyone bunching up. 60 odd riders sitting there at some stages I would reckon, which is insane.

But that said, when you're clear of them it was clear and smooth to a surprising degree. A bit too windy for my liking, and I was fucked enough as second man, useless on the front, but excellent to see so many faces, familiar and new, out and about.

Not really sure of the validity in continuing it, at least on Thursdays when everyone else is out, but will give it another hit before making any calls I think. Annoying to fall 200m short of 8 laps, but the bike was going nowhere. Ta to all who helped.

...truly the stuff dreams are made of.

6pt you are full of poop

Not at all, have been completely honest with all of you.

...truly the stuff dreams are made of.

London, cycling city!

Well that hurt, "held on" for about half a lap then dropped back a bit and did my own thing. Sat with the Rapha train for half a lap which they were not happy about - apparently panniers are not chiq this year.

Last two laps were epic, I was fucked by this point and caught up to some guy on another tourer also with single bag and ended up having what i can only describe as a "tour-off" with us both pushing to see who could keep ahead. No idea who he was!

Anyhoo, managed 19.2 average noodling along and did my 8 laps. Happy days, good to see you all!

ah where you the pannier man in rapha clothes? I saw you lot hanging about after the york bridge lights?

Yeah i think you do mean me but i wasn't wearing any filthy Rapha! Bright orange jersey, dark blue bike and orltieb pannier...

^I have no idea why i'm not working in the fashion industry.

ah where you the pannier man in rapha clothes? I saw you lot hanging about after the york bridge lights?

saw you going clockwise a couple of times

That was great. Loved the pace, JAMIE you're a fucking machine. What gear are you running?

6pt did you get home alright?

Missed you guys I think! I did one lap on the new bike before returning to say I would buy it...

How much are BMX's these days?

Sat with the Rapha train for half a lap which they were not happy about - apparently panniers are not chiq this year

Ha, not the panniers, it was that top you had on.

That was great. Loved the pace, JAMIE you're a fucking machine. What gear are you running?

Cheers Dimi, 48x17 at the moment but will try and bring gears next time if I know I can make it

I didn't even ride a cm of a lap with you guys. Got stuck right at the beginning, and I lost all hope to catch you guys after about 2 laps. Rode with OSR for a bit and then with what a presume was a rapha crew.

sadface

Ha, not the panniers, it was that top you had on

It was all that "special" I had for the cat weighing my pannier down.

I think my problem is not knowing how to ride in a bunch. When the group concertinas I slow right down, way too much because I don't want to cash into the back of a wheel. I then fail to accelerate fast enough create a gap and lose out on the slip stream. 5 seconds later I'm struggling to keep up, 10 seconds later I'm forever alone.

Did enjoy it, was really insightful.

Dancing James, why are you waving and smiling? You're meant to be suffering. Does HQ know about this balatant disregard of policy?