2011-11-06 London to Brighton Veteran Car Run 2011

http://www.veterancarrun.com/

I had a whale of a time in 2008 when I participated, unofficially, in the London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, by riding a bike along the route:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread12197.html

I haven't done it since then, as to me this ride now requires great weather. It's the only ride for which I demand that. I think that it is best ridden as a time trial rather than as a group ride. Undoubtedly, some small groups will form that go at a similar pace, but I won't be leading a ride of any particular group.

This is mainly to give everybody a heads-up about the event. I expect that Lewisham Cyclists will again organise a ride on the occasion and I'll post details of that when I see them.

If 2008 is anything to go by, people are generally friendly and in a celebratory mood and you get a very positive reaction in village, where spectators congregate, as you go through by bike. The route is the flattest route you can go to Brighton, very fixed-friendly, and only has two hills in it, neither of which are very serious, Clayton Hill and Hammer Hill.

The route is along a lot of A-roads, especially long sections of the A23. On the day I did it, there was very little motor traffic, though. From what I've heard, this seems to be the case for every edition of the event.

Previous thread for when I didn't end up doing it:

http://www.lfgss.com/thread30091.html

I'll edit this post later to suggest a meeting time and place, although it will most likely be East Croydon Station. Obviously, as I said above, I think this is best ridden by everybody at their own speed, so you may want to do without a meeting-point altogether. I think it would be nice to regroup in Brighton, though, so perhaps we should think about how best to do that.

List:

1. Oliver Schick (only in good weather)
   2.
   

I'd have done this (and the missus) but we're away on holiday!

Sad face.

Put it into your diary for next year, Paul!

yeah, love a list! May be a tweed day!?

List:

1. Oliver Schick (only in good weather)
   
2. ian (conker) (if it's dry/don't mind cold)
   

Here are the details of the Southwark/Lewisham Cyclists event:

Time again for that most curiously British of events, the London to Brighton veteran car run. As has been the practice for the last four years, a motley crew of cyclists will meet and follow the ride to the coast.

This year the ride is a collaboration between Lewisham Cyclists and Southwark Cyclists, and while we will stick with the East Croydon station meeting point, the ride will begin this year nearer to the vehicle start.

Meeting outside Lambeth North tube station at 7.15 for a quick getaway, we should see the smaller vehicles and those mobile coal scuttles that have passed through Croydon before we would have joined the ride. We will then follow the ride down to East Croydon to meet anyone who has been unable to join us at the start, meeting outside East Croydon Railway Station at 8.15.

Always a great atmosphere. Lots of spectators to cheer everyone on. This will be a fast ride, as we sprint to overtake cars, only to stop again and watch them go past, while waiting a little for others to catch up.

However there will be others who wish to make it a more leisurely day, and will follow the cars at their own pace. Start planning your butties for our Crawley stop where we'll pause with the cars. Then another pause at Ansty where beer and snacks are usually available. But do bring food and a good lock to share should we rest a while in Brighton. (Late news suggests the Ansty pub may be no more...watch this space)

Neither First Capital Connect or Southern have published their engineering works timetable for November yet, so fingers crossed for a normal service and no repeat of last years detour to Haywards Heath.

Tom Crispin will be arranging a slower family orientated excursion; details will be found hereabouts soon http://www.britishschoolofcycling.com/rides/extreme/cars.htm

Full details of the Veteran car run here http://www.veterancarrun.com/

Details of feeder rides and other stuff will appear here http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/eventsrides/ and here http://southwarkcyclists.org.uk/calendar

We’ve only had one wet ride, weather usually cold and misty damp to start with the sun making an appearance from mid morning. Get the date in your diary now!

.

Hi all
I inadvertently led oliver to post incorrect information; the link for the british school of cycling is last years link 2010. There is no info yet as to the state of trains back on the 6th Novermber 2011.
you will need to check nearer the time.
please accept my apologies

BTW when i tried to get the train back with a bike 2 years ago on the saturday before the day of the london to brighton charity bike ride the officials at Brighton station were quite rigorous in enforcing limits on the number of bikes that they would allow on each train. Sometimes they wouldnt let on more than 6 on each train.

bob

Some updates:
The link to the British School of Cycling shown above for the more sedate ride should now point to this year's event.
Bob has a recumbent I think and I've never been involved in a ride/train/bike interface with one but I've led and been on loads of rides with Lewisham Cyclists and our experience has always been that First Capital Connect and Southern (the two companies running from Brighton to London) are fine with bikes at weekends - maybe they are more strict around about the time of the Brighton charity ride. We've had 15 on no trouble. I'd expect folk to return from this ride in groups anyway - some of us sit on the beach (done it several times even in November) noshing fish and chips and a hard core even ride back to south London.
One point - Lewisham Cyclists/Southwark cyclists have learned to leave that whippet Oliver (and maybe his fixed gear pals) :) to themselves on this - it's all a great day for everyone - but if you are joining the main ride at East Croydon (other points available - see above) ask for Paul or Bill - another group has tagged on to this but is planning to leave 15 mins earlier - but they may well be slower.
As I said, we do leave some of the, er, faster souls to themselves, but some important safety advice follows. As well to be aware of.
[SIZE=2]The first year we did this ride, due to understandably limited opportunities to survey the route, we ended up on a bit of A road just north of Brighton which is a virtual multi-lane motorway. Yes it was fun in a mad mad way, but it isn’t advised. And so, like all years after the first one, the leader will not go that way.
The road in question is just after the descent from Clayton Hill, the last hill before Brighton. We come down the A273 but turn right into Pyecombe just before this becomes the madness that is the marked-green A23. If you end up on this, you enter a multi-lane highway and then encounter a tricky fast feed into a roundabout with cars trying to go left towards Lewes or straight on to Brighton.
To avoid it we will be turning right to go via Pyecombe onto a national cycle route.

You can see the road in question here:

http://g.co/maps/zybry

After following the cycle route for a short distance, we will rejoin the main road for the triumphal zip down to Brighton and the pier.

If you do take the fast road, be warned.
Apart from this, the rest of the ride follows the exact route taken by the cars. That's what makes it so special.
[/SIZE][FONT=Times New Roman][/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Another safety word from someone who has done the ride a few times:
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]It's not advisable to stop in front of any of the vintage cars at junctions or traffic lights. Some of these old cars take a very long time to stop, if stop at all. Brakes seemed to have been an afterthought on some of these contraptions. So be aware and keep to the side of the road if there are cars coming up behind you.
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman]Have fun chaps
[/FONT]

Apologies for the wonky formatting above - I was expecting to be able to edit it if it looked wrong - I'm a very very occasional visitor here.

Do try to read it anyway.

Good bump, Paul! So far, the weather forecast for Sunday is looking OK.

The first year we did this ride, due to understandably limited opportunities to survey the route, we ended up on a bit of A road just north of Brighton which is a virtual multi-lane motorway. Yes it was fun in a mad mad way, but it isn’t advised. And so, like all years after the first one, the leader will not go that way.

The road in question is just after the descent from Clayton Hill, the last hill before Brighton. We come down the A273 but turn right into Pyecombe just before this becomes the madness that is the marked-green A23. If you end up on this, you enter a multi-lane highway and then encounter a tricky fast feed into a roundabout with cars trying to go left towards Lewes or straight on to Brighton.

To avoid it we will be turning right to go via Pyecombe onto a national cycle route.

I can understand your caution. I don't think I'd do that with a large mixed-ability group, either. When I did it, there was hardly any traffic and I was on my own, so it was more than feasible.

Hope to see you (briefly :) ) on Sunday Oliver.

all the best, P

Just clocked this - was planning on a run down to Brighton on 6th. Not worried about route, as was planning to go geared and take in hills, but am now nervous about train situation. I'm half assuming that there aren't generally so many cyclists that there are real issues getting onto trains. Is that wishful thinking?

There are hardly any cyclists, Katie, perhaps a couple of dozen at the most (that's optimistic). Paul will be able to say more accurately how many are likely to come on the Lewisham Cyclists ride. If there are no engineering works, there should be no worries about trains back at all.

Brilliant - thanks for the reassurance. May see you at Brighton station on 6th!

Yep, appears that there are no engineering works.

The ride has been growing - last year I'd guess that by the time we all assembled at East Croydon there were about 45 of us - maybe a bit more. But this isn't a big event and well under the radar of the train companies. No-one had any trouble getting back last year. Anyone who fancies a few extra miles can pootle along the nice coastal path westwards to then pick up the line through Arundel (caution - I haven't checked that line for works).
Another possible for extra miles is to ride back to Haywards Heath back up the route - kind of poignant - the real stragglers belching and puffing as they struggle to get to Brighton by the cut-off time.

If you come do introduce yourself to me KT Bee - I'll be on a blue Cannondale - if weather is really bad, an old Ridgeback hybrid.
Paul

Paul, are you leading the feeder ride from Cutty Sark? I am interested in this and may join there, will be learning soon if I can get a day pass to join in.

If you come do introduce yourself to me KT Bee - I'll be on a blue Cannondale - if weather is really bad, an old Ridgeback hybrid.
Paul

Thanks - was thinking about heading off a bit later and going via Turners Hill etc, but a flat route with old cars sounds interesting! Have a good ride, if I don't see you.

Paul reminds me that there'll be no lunch stop on this ride, unless you're riding under your own steam, so if you want to go with the group, bring a sandwich or seven.

Paul, are you leading the feeder ride from Cutty Sark? I am interested in this and may join there, will be learning soon if I can get a day pass to join in.

Yes - usually it's the start, this year it's a feeder. 7.15 PROMPT departure. The Fast to Forest Hill Station forecourt (complete with handy free toilet you can take your bike into) then Fast to East Croydon.

Full info at:

http://lewishamcyclists.co.uk/eventsrides/

Paul reminds me that there'll be no lunch stop on this ride, unless you're riding under your own steam, so if you want to go with the group, bring a sandwich or seven.

Thanks Oliver.

We usually stop (I think Oliver presses straight on) to eat our supplies at the south end of Crawley High Street. The cars pause in the High Street to take on fuel and water themselves so it's a handy point to watch them splutter off again - we usually hang around there for 15 mins or a bit more. If you should lose us, a good place to try and meet up again.

Thanks Oliver.

We usually stop (I think Oliver presses straight on)

I've only done it the once, Paul, I have no established habits! :)

for info for Hillybiker the time i tried to catch the train back I didnt have a recumbent [for once]
but i think we will all be under the radar;
see you in Croydon/ Brighton [ recumbent on the 6th]

See you there Bob - it's looking like there may be another bent on the ride.

Weather looking good.

Some final late notes:

Weather looking good.

Some late notes/reminders

Please bring two spare tubes - we want to keep moving - this ride has a
mad rhythm of its own.

No sit-down lunch stop at all -
bring sandwiches or something that counts as lunch in addition to
snacks/on-the-go fuel - you can eat this at the
traditional pause at the south end of Crawley High Street.

No formal back-marker as such on this ride (I know it sounds odd but
it's the only way to run it without
killing the ride) - if you manage to trail the first group on the first leg
to Crawley and don't get swept up by Tom
Crispin's intrepid group following behind, get yourself to the south end of
Crawley High Street where we will be
pausing a fair while to eat our butties etc.

Following the route after Croydon is very easy - just follow the loads of
temporary signs (usually blue RAC or yellow
AA I think - can't remember) the mad chuffing cars, the crowds.

Please read the safety information above.

Enjoy.

Anyone on here doing this? I've been pondering for the last week - looking at all the online weather forecasts I can find. Haven't contacted Oliver but I reckon he'll be giving it a miss as "to me this ride now requires great weather. It's the only ride for which I demand that." and it looks patchy at best!