2011-05-08 - London to Brighton - Fixed Gear Ride

this will most likely be very possible.

excellent, have thrown myself into some proper training!

1 Attachment

^ haha good work.

there will be a lot of sore heads riding this after having done this the previous day.
http://www.lfgss.com/thread61518.html

i've got a 30th after the ride on saturday so will be in no fit state to ride 60 miles.
however i can and i will.
beers on the way down will help with rehydration i'm sure.

right ho then...
time for some slightly serious stuff.

Check over your bike
Make sure it is roadworthy
-Check your tyres for wear and glass/flints/sharp objects
-Pump up the tyres(correctly inflated tyres puncture less)
-Check your lights and batteries - you will end up back in london in the dark i'm sure
-Check for loose bolts
-Oil the chain
If you are not mechanically competent, get a friend that is to help you.
Make sure you do this a couple of days before, not the day of, it'll save you a stressful couple of hours if there is something you need to sort.

Prepare for self-sufficiency
-Bring a spare tube and tube changing tools
-Bring food and water, high energy snacks and fruit
-Bring spare batteries
-Bring extra layers, for if it gets colder
-Bring a rainjacket for if it gets wetter
-Bring a Fully Charged Mobile
-Bring a mapbook

Help out, sound off about hazards and if people have been dropped of the back
Usually if we are riding the first person over a nasty bump or hidden grate, sudden drop, glass, whatever will let those immediately following them now about it by shouting or pointing.

So if you hear about it from the front, pass it back.

**Conversely if you see people being dropped off the back, at the lights or because they are slow or having some mechanical difficulties, pass it forward so the people leading the ride know and can take steps to either wait up, slow down or go back and help them out. **

Get other peoples mobile numbers
You can collect these in either the numbers thread or at the beginning of the ride, worth having in case you get lost off the back(or front).

Take a few minutes to check out the route
Either from the route posted up or grab a map/cribsheet/directions so if you plan to leave early, arrive late or if you get separated you can get back on to the ride

Be sensible

As with all forum rides we will endeavour to help out any stricken rider with their punctures and mechanical problems but on a large ride this might be difficult.

If we stop at the side of the road get out of it! Lets not block the carriageway for every other soul on the roads.

Do not bring arcane or speciality equipment that needs non standard tools or esoteric knowledge in order to sort out failures and malfunctions.
Of course if you can change a 650 tub in complete darkness in under ten minutes and have all the tools and glues, be my guest.

no one will get dropped or left but if this is your first ride expect to ride 60+ miles, that will involve some preparation and eating.

this ride will be social, steady and relaxed.

oh and there will be beer.

i've taken the liberty of highlighting a couple of sections.
these are for yours and others safety.

did you decide 10.30 or 11am start ? may be there, depends on the GSIAD hangover. I really do like the run to brighton though.

Might join, keep meaning to come along to some forum rides and meet cool people! I'm visiting the GF on Saturday and (possibly) picking up a bike that weekend as well so if I make it I'll probably be geared (doubt I'll be able to convert to fixed in the couple of hours I'll have before the ride!). I'm terrified of the concept, rode my Dad's tourer two days back and couldn't work out how to make it stop -- the pedals stop turning but the wheels don't, wtf?!

1. skive
   
2. OLC
   
3. HatBeard
   
4. catfood
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. bodieanddoyle
   
7. K-Dizzle
   
8. rhowe (wedding plans permitting)
   
9. ChainBreaker (there like a bear - this one beat me last time and now its time for revenge!)
   
10. rab
    
11. nelaii (only a maybe atm tho)
    
12. CG (geared, DWI)
    
13. OldSkoolRacer
    
14. KRZ
    
15. scottscott
    
16. 'swine
    
17. braker
    
18. Stonehedge
    
19. CTank
    
20. ttm
    
21. joeyjojo
    
22. AcidHaus1
    23.Yasi (if i can get the day off)
    
23. Eamesy
    
24. Scoot
    
25. Sumo (on gears because fuck you)
    
26. BenJam (like sumo, only without the 5th floor after me)
    
27. The Devils Falcon (on condition that there are beer stops en route)
    
28. Spinto
    
29. Kips
    
30. billybob
    
31. welp (may or may not make it, will be on geared if yes. Happy for someone to sort out the bike with Locktite if that's the case...)
    

i reckon 11 o clock will be perfect.
that should get the most sore heads out of bed on time.

i will update the op with the departure time.

did you decide 10.30 or 11am start ? may be there, depends on the GSIAD hangover. I really do like the run to brighton though.

1. skive
   
2. OLC
   
3. HatBeard
   
4. catfood
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. bodieanddoyle
   
7. K-Dizzle
   
8. rhowe (wedding plans permitting)
   
9. ChainBreaker (there like a bear - this one beat me last time and now its time for revenge!)
   
10. rab
    
11. nelaii (only a maybe atm tho)
    
12. CG (geared, DWI)
    
13. OldSkoolRacer
    
14. KRZ
    
15. scottscott
    
16. 'swine
    
17. braker
    
18. Stonehedge
    
19. CTank
    
20. ttm
    
21. joeyjojo
    
22. AcidHaus1
    23.Yasi (if i can get the day off)
    
23. Eamesy
    
24. Scoot
    
25. Sumo (on gears because fuck you)
    
26. BenJam (like sumo, only without the 5th floor after me)
    
27. The Devils Falcon (on condition that there are beer stops en route)
    
28. Spinto
    
29. Kips
    
30. billybob
    
31. welp (may or may not make it, will be on geared if yes. Happy for someone to sort out the bike with Locktite if that's the case...)
    
32. Kirth ( gears if my knee is bad, fixed otherwise )
    

1. skive
   
2. OLC
   
3. HatBeard
   
4. catfood
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. bodieanddoyle
   
7. K-Dizzle
   
8. rhowe (wedding plans permitting)
   
9. ChainBreaker (there like a bear - this one beat me last time and now its time for revenge!)
   
10. rab
    
11. nelaii (only a maybe atm tho)
    
12. CG (geared, DWI)
    
13. OldSkoolRacer
    
14. KRZ
    
15. scottscott
    
16. 'swine
    
17. braker
    
18. Stonehedge
    
19. CTank
    
20. ttm
    
21. joeyjojo
    
22. AcidHaus1
    23.Yasi (if i can get the day off)
    
23. Eamesy
    
24. Scoot
    
25. Sumo (on gears because fuck you)
    
26. BenJam (like sumo, only without the 5th floor after me)
    
27. The Devils Falcon (on condition that there are beer stops en route)
    
28. Spinto
    
29. Kips
    
30. billybob
    
31. welp (may or may not make it, will be on geared if yes. Happy for someone to sort out the bike with Locktite if that's the case...)
    
32. Kirth ( gears if my knee is bad, fixed otherwise )
    
33. CowHen
    
34. PoleOnABike
    

Really looking forward to this. My first forum ride too.

1. skive
   
2. OLC
   
3. HatBeard
   
4. catfood
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. bodieanddoyle
   
7. K-Dizzle
   
8. rhowe (wedding plans permitting)
   
9. ChainBreaker (there like a bear - this one beat me last time and now its time for revenge!)
   
10. rab
    
11. nelaii (only a maybe atm tho)
    
12. CG (geared, DWI)
    
13. OldSkoolRacer
    
14. KRZ
    
15. scottscott
    
16. 'swine
    
17. braker
    
18. Stonehedge
    
19. CTank
    
20. ttm
    
21. joeyjojo
    
22. AcidHaus1
    23.Yasi (if i can get the day off)
    
23. Eamesy
    
24. Scoot
    
25. Sumo (on gears because fuck you)
    
26. BenJam (like sumo, only without the 5th floor after me)
    
27. The Devils Falcon (on condition that there are beer stops en route)
    
28. Spinto
    
29. Kips
    
30. billybob
    
31. welp (may or may not make it, will be on geared if yes. Happy for someone to sort out the bike with Locktite if that's the case...)
    
32. Kirth ( gears if my knee is bad, fixed otherwise )
    
33. CowHen
    
34. PoleOnABike
    
35. The bmx kid
    

i'm up for it and might bring a friend.
i'm not such a list-person, so i'll just show up...

I'm out- small matter of my son's first Birthday party on Sunday.

1. skive
   
2. OLC
   
3. HatBeard
   
4. catfood
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. bodieanddoyle
   
7. K-Dizzle
   
8. rhowe (wedding plans permitting)
   
9. ChainBreaker (there like a bear - this one beat me last time and now its time for revenge!)
   
10. rab
    
11. nelaii (only a maybe atm tho)
    
12. CG (geared, DWI)
    
13. OldSkoolRacer
    
14. KRZ
    
15. scottscott
    
16. 'swine
    
17. braker
    
18. Stonehedge
    
19. -
    
20. ttm
    
21. joeyjojo
    
22. AcidHaus1
    23.Yasi (if i can get the day off)
    
23. Eamesy
    
24. Scoot
    
25. Sumo (on gears because fuck you)
    
26. BenJam (like sumo, only without the 5th floor after me)
    
27. The Devils Falcon (on condition that there are beer stops en route)
    
28. Spinto
    
29. Kips
    
30. billybob
    
31. welp (may or may not make it, will be on geared if yes. Happy for someone to sort out the bike with Locktite if that's the case...)
    
32. Kirth ( gears if my knee is bad, fixed otherwise )
    
33. CowHen
    
34. PoleOnABike
    
35. The bmx kid
    

^ one not to forget.

I'm really looking forward to this. This will be my first fixed ride over 50mi I think.

Can't wait to have a go at Ditchling on 48x18. I expect that I'll need to take breaks but I'm not going to walk it under any circumstances.

I'm really looking forward to this. This will be my first fixed ride over 50mi I think.

Can't wait to have a go at Ditchling on 48x18. I expect that I'll need to take breaks but I'm not going to walk it under any circumstances.

you'll be fine with that gearing mate.
pace will be pretty gentle so there'll be no worries about the distance.

If I come, I will be walking up ditchling probably. I went a few weeks ago and failed miserably.

I suck at hills so I'll probably be bailing out at some point too.

just keep pedalling!

slowly.

and painfully.

and shouting at the hill.

I hope it's not as windy on the day as it has been these last couple of days.

^^I'm gearing down by a couple (2.7) gear inches so hopefully that'll help a little bit.

^word up, I can't escape the headwind at the moment. riding upto lmnh on sat with xander we rode past barbican one way into a head wind, turned around to come back about 30 minutes later and hit the headwind again going in the exact opposite direction. utter madness.

my commute feels like I'm going up swains hill, hate it. Even with gears.

Just ordered a nice new cog for this to shift my ratio down a bit - just hope it arrives in time now.

what you going for Eamesy?

you'll be fine with that gearing mate.
pace will be pretty gentle so there'll be no worries about the distance.

I'm not worried about distance at all really. I'm really looking forward to giving it a bash. I'll be really interested to see how ~60mi fixed compares to the geared century rides that I do. I'm guessing that I'll be quite tired in the legs. I'm off to try to break my PB to Cambridge geared on Saturday...hoping that I won't be tired before I set off on Sunday.

Another thing is that I've just fitted longer cranks...will be interesting to see whether my leg muscles will be able to adapt within a week.

Bring. It. On. I love hills.

Bring. It. On. I love hills.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

^haha :)