2012-06-23 Sat - The Maths Geek Ride 0001.5 - London to Bletchley to London

I only put probably fixed, as i'm not sure if i will have geared bike by then or not. Happy to get dropped if i'm slowing people down.

Can people please start splitting themselves between the fast group and the sociable group. Can you also please indicate either Fixed or geared.

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. mountaingoatmatt
   
5. tom k&e
   
6. middleofnowhere
   
7. Digger
   
8. mmccarthy
   
9. lolster
   
   

If anyone fancies going to Northampton, i'll take you to the newly reopened, refurbished, world famous, SHOE MUSEUM.

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. mountaingoatmatt
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. Digger
   
7. mmccarthy
   
8. lolster
   

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. mountaingoatmatt
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. Digger
   
7. lolster
   

Suddenly it becomes possible!

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. mountaingoatmatt
   
5. middleofnowhere
   
6. Digger
   
7. lolster
   

Suddenly it becomes possible!

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS
11) mountaingoatmatt - geared

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Digger
   
6. lolster
   

I'd feel shame if I rode geared in the slow group when everyone else is single or fixed.

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS
11) mountaingoatmatt - geared
12) fade - geared

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Digger
   
6. lolster
   

What's the average age of each group?

What's the average age of each group?

Mean, median, or mode? Be specific, man. Honestly, where's Oliver when you need him?

I'm here, but if you expect me to be able to help with maths, you've got another think coming. :)

Oliver is a philosopher not a mathematician. Although mathematics is actually a branch of philosophy so perhaps he can help.

I wouldn't say that mathematics is a 'branch' of philosophy; I think that where mathematics begins is most definitely where philosophy ends, although in modern times this closeness has been rather confused by certain developments in contemporary logic.

All these names are really fairly artificial, anyway; I personally don't like the vague (and anachronistic) umbrella term 'philosophy' very much. I think that it's much better to distinguish the different sciences that are typically grouped under 'philosophy': Metaphysics, ontology, ethics, logic, etc.

If you wanted to, you could even group physics under philosophy, although the contemporary science is very different from ancient physics.

Anyway, I'm not the worst mathematician in the world. It was one of my A-level subjects, but that was more for balance. I haven't done much by way of maths for 20 years.

Perfect last big training ride before the Marmotte so I'm in:

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS
11) mountaingoatmatt - geared
12) SRBradley - geared

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   c. Edmundro
   d. Lady Liz
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Digger
   
6. lolster
   

20mph over this distance is 'actually fast', not just 'forum fast'. I don't know what object's thoughts are on the matter, but as previously mentioned I plan not to stop, and not to go easy. If you're in the fast group and you can't hang on, you better have a contigency plan, or shuffle over to the slower group.

Just making things clear is all.

2009's ride out was ridiculously fast in places. I'm not fit enough this year to keep up with a fast group and am just looking forward to a relaxed ride.

20mph over this distance is 'actually fast', not just 'forum fast'. I don't know what object's thoughts are on the matter, but as previously mentioned I plan not to stop, and not to go easy. If you're in the fast group and you can't hang on, you better have a contigency plan, or shuffle over to the slower group.

Slowest,slow-group:

1. skydancer
   

I wouldn't say that mathematics is a 'branch' of philosophy; I think that where mathematics begins is most definitely where philosophy ends, although in modern times this closeness has been rather confused by certain developments in contemporary logic.

All these names are really fairly artificial, anyway; I personally don't like the vague (and anachronistic) umbrella term 'philosophy' very much. I think that it's much better to distinguish the different sciences that are typically grouped under 'philosophy': Metaphysics, ontology, ethics, logic, etc.

If you wanted to, you could even group physics under philosophy, although the contemporary science is very different from ancient physics.

Anyway, I'm not the worst mathematician in the world. It was one of my A-level subjects, but that was more for balance. I haven't done much by way of maths for 20 years.

I didn't really mean branch as a subsection but more that historically the study of mathematics grew out from the study of philosophy, particularly by the application of reason to problems involving quantity.

I agree that the term "philosophy" has become such a vast overreaching term that it can be applied to almost everything. This is probably why that trick of repeated clicking on the first links in wikipedia articles leads to the Philosophy page.

The slower group: 100k
Circa 4 - 4.25 hours including stops
Sociably paced 15 average with "comfort breaks" if/when required.
No one will be dropped.
If you like a nice ride with good company and the occasional chat this is the one for you.

1) Skydancer - Fixed
2) Mothergirl - Fixed
3) Hairnet - SS
4) Oliver Schick - TBC
5) conker (ian) - fixed
6) Velocio - Geared unless I buy another bike before the ride
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed
9) Lady Liz - tbc
10) Edmundro - geared

The fast group - 2×100k:
Sub 3 hours out, no wee stops.
6pt reckons he could do it 19–20mph average solo so we'll be looking to improve on that as a group. I will also endeavour to teach him that his choice of unit is inferior.
People doing the fast ride one way will be frowned upon (unless they happen to carry on for a solo century warm down).

1) Hillbilly - Geared
2) Dammit - Geared
3) Object - Geared (Assuming I can convince someone to lead the other group)
4) joe smith - geared up to the eyeballs
5) FridayMarch26th
6.pt - Geared
7) zanda - geared
8) laner - fixed probably
9) avellana - geared (will continue North)
10) mmccarthy - SS
11) mountaingoatmatt - geared
12) SRBradley - geared

Still to confirm group:

1. Fussballclub
   
2. BenJam
   
3. Soul
   b. OLC
   
4. middleofnowhere
   
5. Digger
   
6. lolster
   

I didn't really mean branch as a subsection but more that historically the study of mathematics grew out from the study of philosophy, particularly by the application of reason to problems involving quantity.

The precise origins are lost in history (and there was much intellectual activity preceding that in Ancient Greece), but my reading of what little we know of pre-Socratic philosophy is that Thales, who is often called 'the first philosopher' or 'first Greek philosopher' was really a natural scientist and mathematician. I think he caused other thinkers to oppose some of his views, e.g. his view of water as a first principle. In this way, I tend to think, it was rather the other way around--'philosophy' grew out of physics and mathematics (although it must be borne in mind that (a) we've undoubtedly lost a lot of knowledge about potential earlier writers, and (b) there was already a wealth of philosophical thought in other areas of the world; I often wonder about the parallels between Heraclitus, for instance, and the Buddha, who seem to have been close in time, if not exact contemporaries, and many miles apart).

Both Thales and later 'philosophers' set greater stock in logos over mythos, but I think the result of his logos was a still-mythological physicalism (although he apparently believed that matter was alive).

I think that the 'faultline', if you can call it that, which developed in pre-Socratic philosophy and has never really gone away despite taking on many different forms, is really one between natural science and the philosophical sciences. I think that the first 'real' Ancient Greek philosopher was Parmenides, in which I follow mainly Plato.

I agree that the term "philosophy" has become such a vast overreaching term that it can be applied to almost everything. This is probably why that trick of repeated clicking on the first links in wikipedia articles leads to the Philosophy page.

Ha, does it? I've never tried that (although I just remembered that I may have heard it before).

20mph over this distance is 'actually fast', not just 'forum fast'. I don't know what object's thoughts are on the matter, but as previously mentioned I plan not to stop, and not to go easy. If you're in the fast group and you can't hang on, you better have a contigency plan, or shuffle over to the slower group.

surely there's a point at which you start losing speed as a group because you've dropped too many off the back? I'm sure I could be handy in a bunch but not as a loner. This speed would probably bump me out at a sharp incline due to my 95kg's of weight.

Boo!

fuuuu!