Ladies Ldn to Brighton Ride - Saturday 1st October

Wish I was up to this.

Hm. This clashes with the women's race at Hillingdon I was idly contemplating attempting this year.

Ah well, Brighton sounds more fun.

Shoosh, come along! You might surprise yourself. And you can always bail at a station en route if you really need to.

I'm in! Sorry for delay, I've just been out of town and off the forum for the past couple weeks, but was waiting on the final date.

I did a big group ride to Brighton last October when my bike was setup to tour with a rack and fatter tires...it was challenging and fast, I thought I was going to die. Plus I was crap at hills at the time (not that I'm that much better now!) Looking forward to a ride to Brighton that's just a bit more relaxed!

LFGSS Ladies Attack of Fifty Fixed Women: The III (will think of a snappier title in due course)

1. Poots
   
2. cafe "i've just got a few snacks in my pannier" wanda
   
3. there and back to the bendix
   
4. "I'm not doing it again" scoot
   
5. sumo
   
6. striped socks
   
7. crank hopper
   
8. yellowtyre
   
9. missmouse - mebs
   
10. ms.chris (I may still walk up Ditchling)
    

Wish I was up to this.
wish you were too :( x

Can we make the boys do it in fancy dress?

(Those of them who don't already that is.)

wish you were too :( x

Ahhh sweetie - you coming to Ladies drinks on Friday - I should be there.

And TricityBendix... thanks for the encouragement but next year ;) Will need to do a few more laps in the park before I'm let loose on the road again.

Ahhh sweetie - you coming to Ladies drinks on Friday - I should be there.

yup I am :)

Had somehow missed this, but ace! Nice one!

I'm in! Sorry for delay, I've just been out of town and off the forum for the past couple weeks, but was waiting on the final date.

I've talked my friend Clare into it, so I'm in! Looking forward to it, been wanting to do London Brighton for a while, but put off by the numbers on the official ride... can't wait to see what all this Ditchling palava is about...

LFGSS Ladies Attack of Fifty Fixed Women: The III (will think of a snappier title in due course)

1. Poots
   
2. cafe "i've just got a few snacks in my pannier" wanda
   
3. there and back to the bendix
   
4. "I'm not doing it again" scoot
   
5. sumo
   
6. striped socks
   
7. crank hopper
   
8. yellowtyre
   
9. missmouse - mebs
   
10. ms.chris (I may still walk up Ditchling)
    
11. Malaysian + 1
    
    
    

What sort of gear peoples going to run?

once you get to ditchling, turn left, go up a big fucking hill, then it is a straight run in to brighton.

exactly how steep is this hill?

LFGSS Ladies Attack of Fifty Fixed Women: The III (will think of a snappier title in due course)

1. Poots
   
2. cafe "i've just got a few snacks in my pannier" wanda
   
3. there and back to the bendix
   
4. "I'm not doing it again" scoot
   
5. sumo
   
6. striped socks
   
7. crank hopper
   
8. yellowtyre
   
9. missmouse - mebs
   
10. ms.chris (I may still walk up Ditchling)
    
11. Malaysian + 1
    
12. edscoble + 1 (provisionally).
    
    

11 girls, 3 boys, I reckon the girls/boys ratios so far is enough to still make it a girl's ride.

exactly how steep is this hill?

Okay, imaging a cousin you really...

I was in Brighton last week and asked a couple of people to point out "The Ditchling" expecting to be shown some sort of Everest-esque monster... nahhh it's only like a mile long, easyyyy!*

*I am from Yorkshire though where we have the odd hill...

LFGSS Ladies Attack of Fifty Fixed Women: The III (will think of a snappier title in due course)

1. Poots
   
2. cafe "i've just got a few snacks in my pannier" wanda
   
3. there and back to the bendix
   
4. "I'm not doing it again" scoot
   
5. sumo
   
6. striped socks
   
7. crank hopper
   
8. yellowtyre
   
9. missmouse - mebs
   
10. ms.chris (I may still walk up Ditchling)
    
11. Malaysian + 1
    
12. edscoble + 1 (provisionally).
    
    

11 girls, 3 boys, I reckon the girls/boys ratios so far is enough to still make it a girl's ride.

• Prancer if I go
  

I've seen the hills in Yorkshire..you'll be fine.

This is the route we did last year, first hill has no traffic on so you can take your time, middle hill is Turners - short and sharp and theres a pub at the top, and then there is mount doom Ditchling, you'll know when you see it.

I got up all of them with my alfine 8, although i had to stop a few times on Bitchling - but thats due to fitness more than anything else. Theres one annoying steep bit on Ditchling that the fixed riders might lose momentum on, but apart from that its ok, plus there is usually an ice cream van at the top, it feels harder because its at the end.

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What sort of gear peoples going to run?

I'm either going to stick to 42x16 (70.9) or gear down to 42x18 (63). Can't decide if I want the uphills to be easier or for my legs not to be spinning too much on the descents.

Why not 17?

70.9 is above average, I run 68.

if you're worried about spinning out, you can always run two brakes with the fixed wheel side.

I was in Brighton last week and asked a couple of people to point out "The Ditchling" expecting to be shown some sort of Everest-esque monster... nahhh it's only like a mile long, easyyyy!*

*I am from Yorkshire though where we have the odd hill...

awesome!

*I am from Yorkshire though where we have the odd hill...

Ditchling look like the incline in Clerkenwell compare to Yorkshire, and I rode the hill on a bicycle totally unsuitable for climbing (Moulton).

I'll be running my standard 52x19 & maybe bring a 20 in my bag *justincaseI'mwrongaboutMt.Doom *any lighter and the downhills will be a misery...

never realised 52x19 is ony 72gi.... I has binspinning!

That's cause I'm above average, baby!

Well it's actually because my single speed freewheel was 16 so when I went fixed I just got a 16 cog and was fine with it. I probably should experiment with some different ratios though.

Since you're used to 70.9gi, I reckon you'll be fine with Ditchling and a 17t cog (the jump between 16 to 18 is very very large).

Scoot just ride your 42x16, and bring a 17t in your bag/hipsterpouch, if you feel you need to change it, will only take 5 minutes...

nice one Clefty

I found my recent jaunt over the 'rolling' West Country landscape ok (despite the punishing post-lunch 5 mile climb with 25mph head winds on fixed) so I'm not concerned at all. My main concern is my current health so I will just have to assess nearer the time.

I'll be on 47x17, I think.

mine's 44x17 (68GI), Alex your ratios is the same as Malaysian (72GI).