2011-04-02 Sat 8am - Bristol - (The 100 Club)

Yep, Brassknocker can sod off

A few of our lot are thinking of coming up on the Friday before. Will we be able to get the train from waterloo without booking? Is there room for everyone? I think we'd all struggle to fit on a train from bris/bath on the Saturday morning.

Should be no problem getting the train from Waterloo without booking - i'll likely do the same. It's on a commuter line so frequent service and it was totally empty the last time we did this so should be no issue with numbers.

FYI, I will probably buy my ticket from Bristol to London in advance to save a bit of money - maybe departing around 8pm. There is also the option to organise a groupsave on the day, but that can be a bit of a gamble with regard to price.

Thanks for that info. Sounds like a plan.

I failed yet again up brassknocker on Thursday evening. On 70". Canal here we come!

1 . braker
2 . Arducius
3 . Velocio
4 . rab
5 . smiff
6 . Wesley 7

1. ian (conker)
   
2. Christian
   
3. Ed
   
4. Steve
   
5. theteleflorist
   
6. Digger (if they don't make me work)
   
7. George Sportif
   14.Gary
   15.Jake
   
8. Baler
   
9. Goochie
   
10. dave4
    

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. rab
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. rab
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    

Looking forward to this.
I'm going to book the train from bristol to Farnborough tonight. The train will get to Farnborough for 8.30am is this going to be alright?

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. rab
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
    

I'll be joining the Bristol/Bath crew. Looking forward to this.

Another Bristolian here. Tempted, very tempted. Out with some Lahndan Meetup.com riders on 12th for a 60 miler around the Bristol area and the Mendips. If the legs hold up well then I'll check the diary for April.

Giving this a little bump as the Recce is at the weekend. Will chuck up a ride report and train logistics blurb after the deed.

Recce

Perfect weather and route is all good... may detour a lane or two depending on the size of the group though. Thanks to Arducius and Dumps for the company.

Trains

The train out to Farnborough from London will be empty so no issues here - advance booking or groupsave on the day to keep the cost down. For those heading back to London in the evening or travelling from Bristol in the morning, please read the following...

*FORMER GREAT WESTERN: Advance reservations are free, and can be made up to two hours before the train begins its journey, or before 18.00 the day before if the train starts before 10.00. Reservations are no longer obligatory except on services arriving in London between 07.00 and 10.00 or departing between 15.00 and 19.00. Up to six bicycles (still including one tandem on most services) can be accommodated in Coach 'A' of High Speed Trains*

I would advise booking trains in advance and the cost will then be between £15 and £20. I would also advise against booking anything before 19:30 though for those travelling back to London to allow for complications during the day. Those travelling from Bristol/Bath may need to reserve a place the day before as noted above to be sure of space, and depending on numbers may have to split onto 2 trains.

The train staff are normally nice about bikes, but as we found out, some can be right bitches. So if you need to be back in London by a specific time it's worth booking your bike on.

It's worth adding that there are loads of options to bail out early on this ride, especially as we approach Bath (Trowbridge, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham all have train stations). So if anyone is worried about the distance getting the better of you, fear not!

Also, I had a thought about the canal path. Lovely if it's dry but if it's wet then we'll arrive looking like we've just been in a cross race! We could "miss" a turning at Bradford-on-Avon and go into Bath via Bathford and Batheaston, following the A363 and then the old A4. I guess that's a call we can make on the day though.

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. rab
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
22. Stonehedge (bailing on Cambridge fixed the next day though! Staying the night in Bristol)
    

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. rab
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
22. Stonehedge (bailing on Cambridge fixed the next day though! Staying the night in Bristol)
    
23. rhowe (if I think I can keep pace SS - will do a trial run this weekend)
    

119mi flat...moving ave: 15mph
100mi flat...moving average 15mph
62mi (L2B, Dyke)... moving average 15mph

I'm coming but I think my moving average will be 15mph. I'll drop back and finish at own pace if need be.

^ at 15 you'll be several miles ahead of the bunch by the time we get to Cambs. It's supposed to be a relaxed "saunter" anyway.

@ conker: tosser, this is the Bristol ride!

If you get to Cambridge, you're doing it wrong

Anybody up for a London to Bristol via Cambridge splinter group?

1. Rhowe
   2.
   

ha. ha. ha.

No.

1.

Out... Mother's Day the next day innit... so riding out to see my old ma. My legs probably aren't up to both rides in one weekend... have fun.

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. 
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
22. Stonehedge (bailing on Cambridge fixed the next day though! Staying the night in Bristol)
    
23. rhowe (if I think I can keep pace SS - will do a trial run this weekend)
    

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. 
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
22. Stonehedge (bailing on Cambridge fixed the next day though! Staying the night in Bristol)
    
23. rhowe (if I think I can keep pace SS - will do a trial run this weekend)
    
24. laner
    

Is everyone from London going out from Waterloo on the 0809hrs?
Think i'm going to book for the 2033hrs back to London too if others are getting that one.

1. braker
   
2. Arducius
   
3. Velocio
   
4. 
   
5. smiff
   
6. Wesley 7
   
7. ian (conker)
   
8. Christian
   
9. Ed
   
10. Steve
    
11. theteleflorist
    
12. Digger (if they don't make me work)
    
13. George Sportif
    
14. Gary
    
15. Jake
    
16. Baler
    
17. Goochie
    
18. dave4
    
19. shoots
    
20. fussballclub
    
21. Kieran
    
22. Stonehedge (bailing on Cambridge fixed the next day though! Staying the night in Bristol)
    
23. rhowe (if I think I can keep pace SS - will do a trial run this weekend)
    
24. laner
    
25. heavisides