Nightrider / Cycle London at night

Booked on to Crystal Palace start/finish.

What did you have in mind for the off Jaymo?

I thought I might have some scran at home, jump on the Overground / ride to Palace. Maybe have a shandy before last orders then pootle up to the start point. I'm doing this geared by the way as I'm an idiot and the ss I built recently is an absolute turkey! (and I'm a wuss).

Oh and what charity are you riding for?

Geared!!?! Surely you can sort something in 6 weeks?

Sounds good about the shandy first, I'm gonna be in Southwark at a friends house before, not sure about cycling to Crystal Palace from there?

Riding for St Michaels Hospice in Basingstoke, you?

Geared!!?! Surely you can sort something in 6 weeks?

Sounds good about the shandy first, I'm gonna be in Southwark at a friends house before, not sure about cycling to Crystal Palace from there?

Riding for St Michaels Hospice in Basingstoke, you?

Probably could sort something out but you forget ... "I'm a wuss".

I only really SS around town / on commute at most. Generally like riding my geared roadie if I'm doing a longer ride. I am - it is fair to say - an old newbie... if there is such a thing.

I'm riding for cancer research.

What time do you imagine you'll finish this Jaymo? I'm setting off at 11.15 and on weekend rides in country lanes I usually average about 16mph, but in the city I guess it will be significantly slower? I'm trying to work out whether to lob the bike in the back of my car or take the Overground from Whitechapel. The first tube on Sunday morning isn't until 7.07 am.

Was thinking around 5 hours with a break in the middle, not sure really though. We start at 11:36 and will be getting the overground from London Bridge to get there, was thinking there will be a lot of people cycling back to Waterloo in the morning so maybe a ride back there after breakfast.

Sounds alright. I've decided to leave the car out of it. I'll tube up there and legs permitting I'll trundle back after butties. It's a bit of a 'commuters' ride this... Have you seen the list of kit they want us to cart about with us. I usually only have a medium saddle bag. You taking a lock for example?

Cool, gonna take a lock with me. The amount of people there I might have to lock it up at some point, especially in the morning.

Aye. Shame to have to lug it around but probably for the best. Still plan on a pre meet or shall we sack it off as we're in separate groups? Might just have a big ol dinner and then wend my way up there...

Yeah, we're not planning on getting there until 11 so probably won't have time to meet up. Might see you on the way round or after, what you riding, still going for geared? I'll be doing it on a Fuji Feather and Dan is on his Charge Plug.

I'm trundling on a pearl white Pinarello (80s steel) with as little luggage as possible - although I will be illuminated by my Fibre Flare for the evening. I'm a baldy beardy type with a Giro lid and may or may not have a camelpack on (rather not if I can get away with it).

I rode the last 15 miles with a pal on Tuesday night just to see what my in town pace is like. I'm slower than in the country that's for sure. If it's well sign posted we might be alright, but traffic, lights and nav stops meant and average of 10 mph! It'll be a long night at that rate! The final hill isn't a problem though, you'll be glad to know.

See you as the sun rises on Sunday morning. Say hi if you spot me. I am rolling on my tod ...

Never saw you chaps. I hope you rolled well? I finished it in 5hrs24 including those very welcome comfort breaks (a bumpy evening in the saddle I think you'll agree?). I particularly liked whipping round a deserted Canary Wharf, and the gauntlet that is Soho at 3am. I guess we just stayed the same distance apart all the way round. I was one of only 3 at the finish when I arrived.

See you on the hard top some time soon.

Thats a great time! We took a little longer just under 7 due to four flat tyres, in the end I crossed the finish line with a flat on my rear and a slow puncture on the front which for the last 20K I had to stop every 20mins to inflate!

There where some great parts to the ride, the last 20K was a killer though. The Alexandra Palace hill was fun :( got a puncture on the way down too.

Definately a bumpy one and the amount of lights you have to stop at! All good fun though.

There where some great parts to the ride, the last 20K was a killer though. The Alexandra Palace hill was fun :( got a puncture on the way down too.

Definately a bumpy one and the amount of lights you have to stop at! All good fun though.

Yeah the road surface was terrible in places! but overall a really nice route i thought. The Ally Pally hill was incredible on the way down got proper quick! I finished in 6 1/2 with 4 breaks, so with no training i am fairly happy with that. was bloody freezing though and i was definitely not in appropriate clothing.

The hill from Ally Pally was so badly surfaced. I didn't get much pace up there at all what with pothole dodging. Unlucky on the punctures jaymo. What tyres were you on? Sounds like I got lucky on my trusty Rubinos. Got in with some roadies for a bit who set a good pace for me and then inexplicably dropped off half way round. I had a right laugh, but I think that all in all if I'm doing more than 60 miles in the future I'd prefer country roads. I love bombing about London every day but not for 5 hours!

Well pleased with myself though as 3 months ago I'd never ridden further than about 20 miles.

I was on Gatorksins and and Dan was on Rubinos, got two punctures each.

We've got a 51 mile ride next month here in Basingstoke you might be interested in. It's the Basingstoke big wheel and the route is mainly country lanes. Dan & I are doing it fixed along with a few mates, should be a good day.