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

Wind speed?
Direction?
Expected required watts per kg required to maintain speed on the front vs in the group?
Expected quantity and duration of time spent on the front?

Just trying to work out if I want to join the slow group or not.

You do not get a choice, you're in the fast group on your posh bike.

Hoping to join the gentle group, trying to fend off some work that threatens the saturday at the moment.

I'd like to lead a social ride extension from Bletchley, of about 10miles, if anyone's willing, solely using MK's little-used but interesting Redways cycle network. These cycle paths are almost all separate from road routes (which are not recommended for riding since all trunk roads are 60mph speed limits). Was thinking about a trip to the Japanese Buddhist temple at Willen. It was the first Buddhist Stoupa in the western hemisphere. The monks and nuns there may be familiar to anyone who may have been at anti-nuclear/peace demos from the 80s to now. Willen has lakes, and a stunning church by Robert Hook, and is quite a nice destination, perhaps for a picnic. It is 4 miles, roughly, from Bletchley Park. We could return from MK central sation from there, which is a tad nearer.

I'd really like to explore the redways in a group, perhaps we could discuss our opinions of segregated cycle paths having ridden on an extensive network of them.

I'd be up for that Skully. Though segregated country paths are not the same as city segregation

Drunk. Did I mention the pub?

Milton Keynes is, to all intents and purposes, a city of sorts.

Drunk. riding segregated paths drunk... even better.
Yes heard about that experiment. Aren't they deserted?

What's the elevation profile like- more or less than 3,000 feet of climbing?

This is James's garmin route from the first maths ride: last time.

I make it around 1000 metres elevation on the way out. If you look at the elevation profile it's what I would describe as rolling.

Good to have you in StuF! I'm just battling to get the day off work now. Did we say an estimated time of departure?

See, this practically organises itself.

8.30 start time for the slower group.
9.30 for the Roadie scum.

The start point will be here

I've also had a potentially fucking stupid idea for the 101st birthday of Turing on the 23rd of September 2013 which happily falls on a Sunday.

whats the stupid idea?

According to a cursory 2 second google maps direction search around 167 miles.

i'm in

around 167 miles.

Is that a prime number?

Yes. It's a Chen prime.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/167_(number)

Interestingly.
The next prime birthday celebration would be in 2019 as 23062019 is prime
That would be Turing's 107th birthday which is of course also a prime number.

So whatever happens that year I'll be doing something special.

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
7) tom k&e - probably SS
8) bothwell - fixed
9) Lady Liz - tbc
10) Edmundro - geared
11) Stu F - 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
13) Sean - geared (One way only, visiting parents in Bletchley. Frown upon me if you will)

I've probably done this route 20 to 30 times, so can help with keeping us on course.

Will people not meeting the advertised speed be dropped?

In the slower group no.
In the fast group yes. 6pt will be dishing the pain.

Great.

Apparently they're re-surfacng the particularly nasty surface on Leighton Buzzard Rd near Water End.

I only plan on dropping the people I don't like or don't know.
(I don't really want that to happen. It will be hugely satisfying if everyone holds on and we make our time.)

are there are any major hills?

if so i might get dropped on them... but i reckon i can make it up on the descents/flats...