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All are welcome, whatever the set up of their bikes. However, it will be hard work on single speed or fixed, and I would suggest all to take the geared option. No further discussion or $*!t stirring please, this is the beginning, and end, of this point.
applause chapeau
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top man Bernie. Have been a little bit busy in the child development stakes this week but just to let you know I am 100% on this. Great ride and highly recommend
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What sort of pace will you guys be going at? I'd like to tag along to Watlington as I planned to cycly to Oxford that day anyway. Just not too sure I'd be able to keep up!
I think the plan is for this to be a social ride, but to keep the pace at something like 15 mph. Also, if you can hang on to the back of the group, and let others take the lead and carry spares and food reserves, you will have a built in advantage.
My suggestion would be to come out with us, and see how you feel after say 15 miles. If the pace is making you feel uncomfortable, you will be able to proceed under your own steam, but at least will have had some company for the opening section, and be no worse off than if you did Oxford solo. However, I am sure you will fine.
One of the joys of the forum, is there will inevitably be at least one member who has been out on the lash 'till silly o'clock, so your suffering will be nothing compared with what they are going through.
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Ok cheers Bernie, I'll tag along and see how I feel, see what I'm made of. See you guys at the station. In!
- 50/14.
- Clintsmoker.
- Bernie.
- BenJam
- esstee
Excellent news.
Paul, really good friend of mine, lives in the area and will be joining us at Pinewood Studios. He has spotted some elements of the ride, where with a minor detour, we can get off the main drag, and catch some traffic free roads and magnificent views. Therefore there will be some minor variations from last years route bit nothing too dramatic.
Please spread the word folks. All welcome and if this weather continues we are in for a real treat.
- 50/14.
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I hope to come.
Excellent.
My mate Paul rode the course on Monday, and has now a clear plan for some minor detours, to get us off the main drag, and to maximise the views and traffic free lane element of the journey. He said the place was heaving with red kites, and is looking forward to the main event.
He did suggest that people do not bring their most fancy wheels and rubber, as the road surface is pretty flakey in places, and puncture resistant tyres would be a good idea.
On that note, can everyone overload with inner tubes for the ride. We all know what it is like to run over a glass or thorn patch, and having a few extras will ease all our lives.
Also, i have been wavering about transport arrangements, from South London. There is a train from Norbury at 8:15 that goes to Kensington Olympia but it seems there is alot of rail disruption this weekend, and tap dancing around Clapham Junction in Keo's is of only limited appeal. I may not be a'fraid Astaire's, but a face plant before we even get to the start line is not the look I am after.
If it is a pleasant morning, and that is the forecast, I think I will be tempted to ride past saaf's drinks Coach and Horses, up through Battersea, and follow the A4 past Heathrow. If there were any other takers, for a meet at 8:30am at the Coach and Horses, Acre Lane, Clapham, then that would seal it for me, and leave us with 1.5 hours for the 17 miles to West Drayton.
PM me if you want a mobile number, or with any queries before the ride. Will be up early on Saturday morning ("Come on Ireland!") so don't feel abashed about getting in touch.
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sat in bed as a precautionary measure against a little head cold that came on today from the kids at school.
There is a train at 09:27 from paddington to west drayton which gets in at 09:46 and costs 2 pounds and seventy pence in English money if that money has all ready been invested in Oyster 5.50 if liquid cash. I'll be on that one. fingers crossed on the health front. Last year was great and there seem to be lots of bail out points along the way for hungover tired legs. we had to cut it short because of a massive blow out that left me with a gaping hole in my rear tyre. That was due to huge flint pieces around xmas common. So I'm packing a spare tyre and a boot or two. The ride was none the less enjoyable for being shortened either
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I wish I could come/had gears (and an idea!)
Have a lovely ride yous lot!
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I don't think so : ( Really should sort myself another Bike2Work loan and get myself sorted, eh? ; )
hippy
jonny
benjam
pootsmanuva
clintsmoker
esstee
jimalex
dumps
clubman
almac68
balmain-
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About
2011-10-8 Red Kite Ride # 2
Posted by
@Bernie
Last year Pistanator organised a ride out from London, which was a great success.
With his blessing, myself and Clintsmoker are leading the 2011 version.
The ride will basically be over to the triangle that is Stokenchurch, Lewknor & Watlington - Junctions 5 & 6 on the M40. We'll go the backroads(exact journey to be decided nearer the time)
Saturday, 8th October 2011
10am start - departure from West Drayton train station
Right, there's no trains from Iver on that date, engineering works so we'll go to ***West Drayton ***and cycle from there
Route:
[ame]http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/457653[/ame][/COLOR
[/ame][/COLOR]36m from West Drayton to Watlington via Iver, Farnham Common, Hedsor, Cookham, Marlow then straight through. From here is prime Red Kite territory and this is where we'll hang out, get some snaps and go for a pint & pub lunch
Planned route is back from Watlington back down to Henley On Thames then across to Maidenhead and up through Burnham back to the route - a big loop effectively.
This loop all the way back to Farnham Common is around 62m then just carry on back to West Drayton for a train back or if the crew are feeling strong, we will just carry on back to London instead
So in total the ride will be around 75/80m
All are welcome, whatever the set up of their bikes. However, it will be hard work on single speed or fixed, and I would suggest all to take the geared option. No further discussion or $*!t stirring please, this is the beginning, and end, of this point.
If your concience, or Olympic endurance fitness, means that going geared will make the ride unbearably easy, can you consider coming on sprokets, and bring a courier bag chock full of replacement chains, tubes, tyres and bottom brackets, a full set of hand tools, wheel jig, energy gels and drinks, for the benefit of all.
So, as the way of these things, a list.....