2011-04-03 Sun - Cambridge ride. Fixed-wheel bicycle required

beautiful beautiful March :)
well, it's certainly nowhere near as flat as that...

i'm gonna be sorting a recee for the route on friday 25th if anyone is keen to join.
very casual, pace as suits.
nail down the loose parts of the plan, that sorta thing.

Jonny, good to hear.

Skive- in providing my diary settles to that end... I have to be flexible about work commitments: I'm committed to saying 'yes, how high?' and they're non-committal sometime til an hour before they need me there. But I'll do my damnedest to be there.

good work sir.
i was thinking maybe 1000 to head out of town.
understand about work, keep us posted.

@middleofnowhere - how could I forget the health centre? It will be disasterous for the borough if it closes…

I would also suggest the more straight forward route out of town along the A104. It's the Dunwich route and the route we used for the Cambridge College Canter last year so we know it works.

We could put in the High Beach detour (as used by Peter Carter's leaving East London ride), it's nice and there's a tea hut, but the turn off is at the Robin Hood roundabout a bit further up. Beware of following lines on google maps in Epping Forest, they are not all roads, some of them are barely paths.

The DNA path at the end looks like an excellent alternative to the crappy route in using the A10 to cross the M11.

will most likely follow the a104.
will look at the high beech detour next week when i go ride it.

1.Skully
2.Skive

1. jayloo (maybe guapo, university paper depending)
   
2. betty
   
3. jcgarcia
   
4. Damo. Maybe.
   
5. jaygee
   
6. middleofnowhere
   
7. bikegang
   
8. atticus
   
9. Fox
   
10. 
    
11. sherbertflyingsaucer
    
12. crimsonape (possibly + 2)
    
13. Blackfoot
    
14. Upstart
    
15. Shinigami
    
16. murtz
    
17. mattty
    
18. ian (conker)
    
19. fussballclub
    
20. smiff
    
21. *FRANK
    
22. KT Bee
    
23. Oliver Schick
    
24. stripe
    
25. mortari (maybe)
    
26. laner
    
27. Sumo
    
28. rhowe
    
29. TheorySwine
    
30. Kirth
    
31. Birthday boy braker
    
32. Stonehedge (Bringing the ruckus, whether I have the ruckus in my possession or not)
    
33. fluff
    
34. Fieldcoil
    
35. Bobby Dids
    
36. Samuelson
    
37. villa-ru
    
38. ms.chris
    
39. Photo Jim
    
40. pootsmanuva
    
41. FridayMarch26th
    
42. Edmundro
    
43. hillbilly
    
44. Winge
    
    

Oops am out its Mothers Day ! Really sorry to miss this one so spot 12 is free
Have a great ride everyone may the sun be shining on you x

I'd like to come but feel similarly to Stonehenge in that I've not been riding fixed for long and worry I might not be quick enough. Also, are there any other women riding?

hi kate.
don't worry about riding fixed.
the pace will be gentle and no one will get dropped or left.
there will be ladies in attendance.
go on, name on the list.

1.Skully
2.Skive

1. jayloo (maybe guapo, university paper depending)
   
2. betty
   
3. jcgarcia
   
4. Damo. Maybe.
   
5. jaygee
   
6. middleofnowhere
   
7. bikegang
   
8. atticus
   
9. Fox
   
10. Yasi
    
11. sherbertflyingsaucer
    
12. crimsonape (possibly + 2)
    
13. Blackfoot
    
14. Upstart
    
15. Shinigami
    
16. murtz
    
17. mattty
    
18. ian (conker)
    
19. fussballclub
    
20. smiff
    
21. *FRANK
    
22. KT Bee
    
23. Oliver Schick
    
24. stripe
    
25. mortari (maybe)
    
26. laner
    
27. Sumo
    
28. rhowe
    
29. TheorySwine
    
30. Kirth
    
31. Birthday boy braker
    
32. Stonehedge (Bringing the ruckus, whether I have the ruckus in my possession or not)
    
33. fluff
    
34. Fieldcoil
    
35. Bobby Dids
    
36. Samuelson
    
37. villa-ru
    
38. ms.chris
    
39. Photo Jim
    
40. pootsmanuva
    
41. FridayMarch26th
    
42. Edmundro
    
43. hillbilly
    
44. Winge
    

1.Skully
2.Skive

1. jayloo (maybe guapo, university paper depending)
   
2. betty
   
3. jcgarcia
   
4. Damo. Maybe.
   
5. jaygee
   
6. middleofnowhere
   
7. bikegang
   
8. atticus
   
9. Fox
   
10. Yasi
    
11. sherbertflyingsaucer
    
12. crimsonape (possibly + 2)
    
13. Blackfoot
    
14. Upstart
    
15. Shinigami
    
16. murtz
    
17. mattty
    
18. ian (conker)
    
19. fussballclub
    
20. smiff
    
21. *FRANK
    
22. KT Bee
    
23. Oliver Schick
    
24. stripe
    
25. mortari (maybe)
    
26. laner
    
27. Sumo
    
28. rhowe
    
29. TheorySwine
    
30. Kirth
    
31. Birthday boy braker
    
32. Stonehedge (Bringing the ruckus, whether I have the ruckus in my possession or not)
    
33. fluff
    
34. Fieldcoil
    
35. Bobby Dids
    
36. Samuelson
    
37. villa-ru
    
38. ms.chris
    
39. Photo Jim
    
40. pootsmanuva
    
41. FridayMarch26th
    
42. Edmundro
    
43. hillbilly
    
44. Winge
    
45. Alpine Kate
    48.Coppithat
    

^ good work.

i was thinking maybe 1000 to head out of town.

I don't think we're going to get 1000 together, quite frankly. I think you've pulled that number out of thin air. :)

I'd like to come but feel similarly to Stonehenge in that I've not been riding fixed for long and worry I might not be quick enough. Also, are there any other women riding?

I'm a girl and not the fastest - this is also my first forum ride and I'm very much encouraged by all the reassurances of no one getting left behind. Come! Us girls/new kids can stick together if you want!

I don't think we're going to get 1000 together, quite frankly. I think you've pulled that number out of thin air. :)

thanks oliver, 1000 might be a bit much much but i'm bringing a loaf of bread and a couple of fish so feeding won't be a problem.

lets try 10AM.

Alpine Kate: It'll be fine. Even if us fixed noobs get left behind I'll have my Garmin with me and the route programmed in so we'd get there in the end. I also tend to carry a small workshop on my back for longer group rides so even if we were dropped we'd still be able to cope with mechanicals within reason.

I know I'm not technically on the list (and I'll be on gears (shhh)) but I'm 90% there, partner's birthday and mothers' day notwithstanding... I'm slooow, I have full maps and I live in Cambridge so will see us there somehow...

Hi Kate, I'm another girl on the list. I haven't done this many miles in a day before so I am sure to be taking a gentle pace.
I'm not slow though, I'm just leisurely.

For all those worried about speed, remember that the biggest delays aren't caused by a lower average, but by long stops, e.g. for defects. The actual distances that fast riders might put between them and a slower group aren't that big. I'll happily help with keeping the group together. There will undoubtedly be occasional splits, but we'll regroup, and the aim is to stay as much in one group as possible.

Also: Others will help you along, so unless you're ill or injured, be confident that spells of worry about making it will be momentary. It's a fairly flat ride, it's not that long, we have all day, the days are getting longer, and we'll have a few pints in Cambridge. It'll be enjoyable and sociable!

+1 Oliver.

And I for one cannot wait.

It has been a while since I've been out to do a first on a bike. It feels like a mini adventure! Fingers crossed for good weather but I'll be out come rain or shine.

I'd love to do this ride but I really don't think I can because it's being Mothers Day.

I did have one other thought, what's the train situation going to be like coming home? I guess people won't leave in one go other wise there's going to be 50 people with bikes at the station.

ride back.

Cambridge to KingsX if you get a fast train they're non stop so so long as you're not blocking the way through the train you can take up all the door space. They're used to having a lot of people with bikes on, it's Cambridge after all. Depending on length of train, might even get everyone on the same one.

Furthermore, it's not a sodding race, this is meant to be a leisurely roll. Seriously we will be NOT riding at a pace that allows anyone to be left, or feeling like they're not rested when we regroup. This last point is extremely important. Please.

Can I just mention to any who are not particularly used to riding 50 mIles, that bringing some food with you is highly recommended, speaking as a fairly unfit and 'leisurely' rider myself. Included in your food pack should be something salty, and something sweet (or both). This can help prevent dehydration and cramp.
#nutrition bore

Included in your food pack should be something salty, and something sweet (or both). This can help prevent dehydration and cramp.
#nutrition bore

Must resist urge to make childish joke...

Seriously though, this is sensible advice. I will be enhancing my mighty fitness with snickers bars and beer.