Ladies Ldn to Brighton Ride - Saturday 1st October

Meeting point: Clapham Common Southside, across the road from Clapham South tube, corner of Balham Hill and Hazelbourne Road – there’s a Costa and Sainsbury’s v near by for last minute stocking up if need.
Me and Lolabelle are going to be rolling from the North, so let us know if you want to meet up on the way.
Usual group ride rules apply – give your bike a good check over the night below – oil your chain, stick some air in your tyres, check your tyres over etc etc and come prepared for mechanicals. Hopefully between us we’ll have enough kit to cover us but bring a spare tube to be on the safe side.
The weather looks glorious, good enough to crack the sun tan lotion out if you need too. We’ll have a stop at Reigate Hill (roughly 20 miles out) where there are proper toilets and a little snack outlet, and then lunch at the pub at the top of Turners Hill. http://www.thecrownturnershill.co.uk/
We should never be too far from civilisation but bring stuff to snack on...little and often is the key. Make sure you have plenty to drink too cos its going to be warm and important to keep hydrated anyway.
This was going to be a ladies ride, but since it’s now a mixed ride I just want to be very clear that the girls will set the pace – it’s going to be very much a social ride (14-15mph sorta pace) where we wait for everyone/try and stick together. I appreciate the pace of going up and down hills may be different given the mixed abilities and bikes but those that are faster, please just be a bit civilised, eh? Usual group riding behaviour would be nice too – warn people if there are cars ahead or back, point out potholes and assorted hazards.
If we can leave on time, have say a 20 minute break at Reigate and an hour for lunch, I reckon we can make it to Brighton for 2-3pm for well earnt beers on the beach. I'm going to be staying in Brighton but trains back to Victoria and London Bridge are many, and group save is available on both routes...I think Southern might even do a super group save if there's something like 10 of you...
I reckon that just about covers it, no?

To Brighton biz’natchs!

Route and turn guide in first post here: http://www.lfgss.com/thread43124.html

In. Somehow I've never gone up Ditchling that way despite having ridden to Brighton about 15 times. I don't think I'd make it up there fixed. I'll probably start crying at the bottom.

Me!

Sounds a great idea.

Though I will have gears ...

Awesome sauce! NB I have the navigational abilities of a beach donkey that isn't on the beach, so I'm hoping someone will volunteer for that.

Will suggest some dates though!

I can navigate until we get near Ditchling. My track record isn't so good at that point.

I can bring cycling cake ...

I can navigate until we get near Ditchling. My track record isn't so good at that point.
once you get to ditchling, turn left, go up a big fucking hill, then it is a straight run in to brighton.

Yeah I think it's that left turn I keep missing. I've done it the other (easy) way. I will consider it a personal achievement if I can navigate us to it, even if I can't get up it.

if i wear a skirt, can i come??

Cake and directions done?

Sweet. Best pull my finger out and put up some dates.

if i wear a skirt, can i come??

Friends and fans of ladies welcome surely as long as people remember this is a Ladies Ride and we'll be sticking together, reasonably paced and all that blah.

I'm guessing that's the usual answer/response?

no, the usual response is: fuck off boy, you smell.

up to you, it's your ride :)

There've been women's rides with boyz aloud and boyz not aloud, I don't think there's a rule. Or if there is I've been breaking it.

fuck off smiff, you smell.

I'm doing this with some friends on 21st August. Crash that?

Ha. Love the tag.

I'm doing this with some friends in a fortnight. Crash that?

Bank holiday weekend or 20th/21st?

No can do 21st...will be cycling around Holland. With a stinky boy! I'm a sell out to the sisterhood!

Sorry I wanted to get in with the Smiff bashing before I checked the date.
We're going Sunday 21st August. Too soon?

Sorry I wanted to get in with the Smiff bashing before I checked the date.

Good to see you've got your priorities right.

i don't want to come anyway

#girlsarestupid

#girlsarestupid

Didn't know you were that way inclined Smiff. You should definitely come then.

Smiff bashing over.

This will be awesome!

Brilliant idea! Very up for this - but fear limited availability may do for me. If it is the bank holiday can it not be the same day as Taggy Cat ... currently planned for the Sunday I think - but L&W will know better. The Monday would be good for me - but may finish us off!

I have been down to Brighton a few times so think I could navigate - more or less. Never done Ditchling sans gears, though ...

Bank Holiday Monday was one of the days I had in mind actually!

Will look at some dates and see if I can set up some sort of easy online poll tomorrow.

Yay! <---- that was very girly, eh!

Some dates! My availability is a bit crap too...weddings and festivals are clogging up my weekends it would seem. The swines ; )

Options are:

Monday 29th August
Sat 24th September
Sunday 25th September
Sat 1st October

Have set a survey monkey here to collect and collate votes. VOTE! if you want..obvs.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DNFKVX2