2010-09-11 Sat 8am - Bristol - (The 100 Club)

I have done sod-all riding this year for a number of reasons, and I am desperate to get some miles in before the summer has drifted by. Therefore I suggest a ride to Bristol. This is one of a trio of century rides, with the others being Dunwich-By-Day on Sat 21st Aug, and Bournemouth on Sat 4th Sept.

The rides depart early in order we arrive at the destination during daylight, and so all have time to unwind with our vices of choice, before trains back into London.

All are welcome… but these distances are demanding, so experience of longer rides is essential! If you are struggling badly or compromising the daylight objective, then you may be directed to the nearest train station :) The ethos of these rides, is to have a chilled day in the saddle, with occasional pain, and eat up some miles. Nothing more, nothing less.

If you haven’t done a ride of this length before, and even if you have, please read the following blurb.

Self-sufficiency
Bring tools, spare tubes, appropriate clothes, plenty of food and water, lights, batteries, etc. Familiarise yourself with the route, swap numbers before departing, and charge your phone. Eat/drink little and often.

Check your bike
Give it a look over before the ride – tighten, inflate, oil, kiss, and make sure it’s roadworthy.

Road etiquette
Try to remain vigilant on the country lanes, especially when navigating blind corners. Let others know when you are slowing or coming past, and for the benefit of those behind you, call out or point at hazards such as potholes and cars. If you have a puncture, mechanical or drop off the back, call out to those in front to wait, and unless they hate you, they’ll pass the message forward.

Depending on the size of the ride, we may need a backstop, so weekend recce volunteers are welcome. PM me for logistics. Routes will be added in due course, and unless the forecast is torrential rain and gale-force winds, the ride will go ahead regardless of the weather.

Hope to see some of you drab, wretched people out on those lanes.

**Depart 8:00am **
**Richmond Green

**http://ridewithgps.com/routes/152343[
[
](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&sour...,0.093513&z=15)

1. braker
   

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   
5. damo (same provisos on the other two)
   

The more the merrier! Hopefully I'll know the way to the start from Paddington by this ride, but anyone heading to Richmond form Paddington wants to hook up and ride together, let me know.

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   
5. damo (same provisos on the other two)
   
6. Arducius
   

Might be worth posting this up over at http://www.trackdropouts.com
As it happens they are planning a ride from Bristol to London later in the year :)

Ugh, I'm tempted. I'm buying a my first fixie in the next week, and this'd be a great first decent ride on it. But getting to London for 8am 0.o

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   
5. damo (same provisos on the other two)
   
6. Arducius
   
7. Shinigami
   

Ugh, I'm tempted. I'm buying a my first fixie in the next week, and this'd be a great first decent ride on it. But getting to London for 8am 0.o
How far have you got to go? I'll be heading in from Oxford so you won't be the only one with an early start!

I'm away for this, would have loved to come along otherwise. Have fun!

You planning on a similar route to the Bath ride you just did? I hear it's lovely.

Yep, loosely based on it... The TNRC elders were kind enough to share the route.

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   
5. damo (same provisos on the other two)
   
6. Arducius
   
7. Shinigami
   
8. D. Generate
   
   

This sounds ace.

Recce pencilled in for Fri 27th August. Let me know if you fancy coming along.

That's my home town, I may stay over and ride back the following day. I am sure you know but train from Bristol to London ain't that cheap if you buy on the day so it may be worth pre booking if possible.

1. braker
   
2. fussball
   
3. joe smiff
   
4. wools
   
5. damo (same provisos on the other two)
   
6. Arducius
   
7. Shinigami
   
8. D. Generate
   
9. V
   

Buying a split ticket can be cheaper (it is between Reading and Bath so I'm guessing it will be here), so a single to Didcot and another single to Paddington might be cheaper than just one single all the way.

I'll be riding back to Bath after this, if anyone would like to join me (and if I can find the cycle path along the river) they would be more than welcome.

Recce pencilled in for Fri 27th August. Let me know if you fancy coming along.
Dang! Can't make the Friday. I could come along on the Saturday though?

What happened to Braker's post saying the Saturday was no good for the recce??

Do you have the route planned/plotted yet Sam? I was thinking I might take a jaunt out along part of it so I at least have some vague idea of where we're heading. That's if I get a free weekend between then and now!

May have inadvertently deleted it

Route added, although there may be some small changes after the recce

You've got us going up Brassknocker followed by Landsdown, are you trying to make people hate you? You're also taking a right off the steepest part of Widcombe Hill (we'll be going down). It might be easier to follow the hill to the bottom, and follow the one way system around to get to North Parade Rd. Depends how good everyone's brakes are I suppose!

Ok, some big changes then! Thanks for the knowledge.

If you want to avoid Brassknocker Hill we could follow the canal from the bottom of Winsley Hill (or follow the road to the bottom of Brassknocker and get on the canal at the viaduct), then it's all flat into Bath.

There is also the option of following the cycle path from Bath to Bristol. It's all flat and a good surface, and brings you out by Temple Meads station. Depends if you want to avoid the hills.

On the overnighter to Bath we took the canal path where you mention - it really is a lovely few miles.

I don't think anyone will appreciate anything even resembling a hill after 100miles :), so i'll investigate the options you mention

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