2011-10-01 - London to St Margarets

There won't be any bonking behind my back on this ride, Soldier! We're going to take a disciplined approach to those hills. Bonking and discipline make for bad bedfellows.

...then again...

Snigger!

Whilst I've been throwing off these snigger- inducing gems, I've been garminating the route. Just so you know we'll have one back-up.

Now in a dither about whether to use the Maxxis re-Fuse which punctured on only it's seventh day of use, but which i've 'mended' with Super-Glue. Or do I admit that winter's just round the corner and install the drag-anchor that is the Halo Berlin Courier?

80-odd hilly miles, Or do I spen my Saturday sipping latte in Stokey?

I'm not going to mince my words here John, and I really do mean this. If you spend your Saturday drinking latte in Stokey I'll never sing you a sea shanty during a ride EVER AGAIN. You have been warned.

Having said that, I've moved on to xmas songs as Laner will testify.

Rudolph the red nosed rain deer has a very shiny nose and if you ever saw him you would say it even glooooows....

talking of stokey and shanty reminded me of these guys:

http://www.cityshantyband.com/

Hmm. I've suddenly become free this saturday. Geared bike won't be getting a groupset until next spring so fixed is my only option - not sure if I back myself with all those hill though.

I reckon you'd be fine on a sensible ratio.

I did the dynamo on 49 x 19 (about 67GI) but that was flat...

Simon (OneLessCardigan) is riding fixed and in fact did most of the route fixed in August with the Birmingham to Berlin team. Maybe have a PM chat with him...

A gear ratio is for life, not just for christmas...

Whatever you usually ride will most likely be the most comfortable (unless you're 6pt)

this route is totally doable fixed.

last year i rode it on 66 odd with a 8kg saddlebag so man up and start pedalling.

he says not going on the ride let alone leading it.

If you miss your wife's birthday you'll never be allowed out again Steve. By missing this ride you're cementing your cycling status for the future.

If you miss your wife's birthday you'll never be allowed out again Steve. By missing this ride you're cementing your cycling status for the future.

i really like this, thanks.

I did the dynamo on 49 x 19 (about 67GI) but that was flat...

I just perused the thread from the original St Margarets ride and it seems Ma3K did it 77 GI brakeless! Another poster commented that 72 GI was 'too spinny'. OLC reckons it's doable on my 74GI commuting gear, but will probably gear down to 69GI.

Ok - seems I need to man up :) Not 100% I'm free yet but in if I am

talking of stokey and shanty reminded me of these guys:

http://www.cityshantyband.com/

I love these fellas.. Had a very random, messy night with them at SGP a few years ago. One minute I was dancing to ragga and dancehall with a pair of loons, the next they were all "new festival friend! Come with us, we're performing in Strummerville in a mo" And there they were. Doing sea shanties. Am quite good mates with one of them now/.

as other's have said, pack light and come not-too-hungover and you should be ok fixed with your regular road ratio upstart

i did the first half of this route with the brum to berlin group. there are lots of hills but they're not individually challenging

I wish I was doing it fixed but I'm just not used to my new steed with risers since events forced me to ride it :(

Geared it is.

as other's have said, pack light and come not-too-hungover and you should be ok fixed with your regular road ratio upstart

I believe his "regular road ratio" is 82gi !

I think you're confusing me with shambolic!

alright, i am gravely concerned about the hilliness of this ride - i did only herne bay/margate and clacton w/ Ma3K and it was fine. but i do not want to be holding people back if i fail to climb well enough on this ride (SS @ 42/16 ≅ 69gi).

in the light of this i am even considering defecting to the ladies' brighton ride.

Its not so much hilly as rolling to be honest. If it makes you feel any better, I have a few fitness concerns too. Its better to try and fail rather than not try at all. We will NOT leave you behind, we will not feel like you are holding us up, we are leaving plenty of time for this ride and there are also plenty of intermediate stations that you could go back to London from if you really did struggle.

Personally I think you just have pre pride nerves and should come along and give it a go :)

Hmm, I just noticed this is an 8am start from south London. That kinda means quite a lot of effort if one is coming from north London, I think I'm now tentative.