2013-04-07 The London Classic 2013

Boss boss boss boss boss boss boss boss....

I had a really memorable day!
There are far too many high points for me to list, all I can say is a big thanks to all of the organisers and hosts who made the day what it was. And the weather gods!

Good weather. Good people. Good laugh. Good ride. Good night.

Top day out. Best ride this year so far. Can't believe I actually got so hot that I had to de-layer (and then chase back on).

Nice riding with everyone and a few drinks after. Cheers.

Sounds a brilliant day, would love to have had a crack at Gypsy hill fixed.

Excellent day out! Many thanks to the organisers and all who made it work so well.

All bike components present and correct after the nicest 100 km I've had for months.

Sounds a brilliant day, would love to have had a crack at Gypsy hill fixed.

Gipsy hill wasn't the problem....
Canonbie, fox and a couple fo the others were tough.

Was a shame I didn't actually see any of you today (although did see one guy in a lfgss hat very early on)

Were you one half of male/female pair who descended Blackheath Hill like total bosses? 40mph bosses?

I <3 London Classic x

Perhaps, we didn't have matching lids (mine black, hers pink) and she was 6 but Descended like bosses

Perhaps, we didn't have matching lids (mine black, hers pink) and she was 6 but Descended like bosses

^lol

Lots of fun, but tough too. My legs won't be thanking me tomorrow. Perfect weather.

Well done to the organisers.

Oh yeah! Big massive thanks and love to the organisers. THANKS!

London looked more than nice today - having loitered for 20 plus years I get jaded on occasion, but today I had a real sense of pride and excitement about living here... Riding this route with such interesting, cool people made me appreciate that we all make up and share in something pretty bloody special.

Also, Mini-Benj seems to have developed an unhealthy interest in cobbles after today - I somewhat worriedly anticipate a Paris-Roubaix sportive for us in the none-too-distant...

Thanks to hms for being masterful with the twists and turns of the route today and guiding us round without incident.

Big, big thanks to the organisers and all the people who made today possible.
Ben

Congrats to mini-skully, must have been hard pushing that bloke over those hills, and embarrassing having to associate with him afterwards!

This! I was chatting in the pub to Skully afterwards, asking him if they did all the bergs, and he was like "yes, we missed a lot of them out, well you saw me, yes, I had a small child" when the small child in question was the only thing propelling that lazy sod up every hill they went near. Tsk. Chapeau smallskully.

A fantastic day out, as always. Also top work to mrs esstee for not only putting up with estee, but caning the entire route and still looking impeccable at the finish.

Great day have started to load some of my 300+ photos from the day onto flickr here http://www.flickr.com/photos/funny_cyclist/sets/72157633186859547/ will not finish today because because I am knacked and bizarrely my face is sun burned.

Tomorrow is the Bicycle Film Society night http://www.lfgss.com/thread104130.html so will not be able to load all pictures till later in the week. Any of you interested in attending the show would be most welcome

Zebs

All of the above! Really nice vibe and great route - super tour of the south east, especially for folks that don't get out that way often or ever. Canonbie and Fox Hill were crackers but Wells Park was the one that broke me - a minute's rest half way up required. The really steep bits were fascinating.. befuddled to find myself leaning back, pedalling forwards and hauling up on the brake hoods to brace against the pedal stroke. Mental, in the best possible way.

Superstoker and family now 1 hour into v noisy fire drill at the Travelodge....

Apologies to Ramaye for not having recognised you when you sat opposite me at pre-ride coffee time and I coughed all over the place - you weren't in a trilby is my excuse.

Headed off with Jurek and Sgt Pluck at about 9.15 but soon found myself riding up into town with a small group including a black white and green curbside and a couple of road bikes - my hideous yellow Rockhopper Comp was a bit out of place but it muched up the pave very happily.

There's something delightful about following a route with so many twists and turns - I relied happily on a combination of having done a bit of homework, keeping an eye out for the arrows (big thanks to the signage team!) and remembering some sections from last year.

Honor Oak Park, Canonbie and Eliot Bank held no surprises and were taken slowly. Wells Park Road and Fox Hill, on the other hand, are roads I've never cycled up before and they were tough - despite stupid low gearing I really struggled up them. Well worth it though, for the final descent to the pub where a pint of Bombardier in the sun was the perfect finish after three and a half hours on the road.

Head definitely sunburnt!

Wells Park Road I used to do my hill training on on the fixie.
Once you're past the old station master's house the gradient eases off significantly.
It might be interesting to include the footpath on the opposite side of the hill to Wells Park Road.
It runs up from Sydenham Hill railway station and comes out opposite the Dulwich Wood House.
I've tried and failed to get the fixer up there. It's a struggle to walk that one.

I go up there when it's quiet- 52x18 can be ridden to the top if you get into a good rhythm.

I go up there when it's quiet- 52x18 can be ridden to the top if you get into a good rhythm.

Tell me you don't mean the footpath, please.

Oh yeah, I though I might have burnt my lips on the chicken which I was manically mashing into my face but no, I think they were sunburnt.

Great day, thanks to organisers, pub staff and basically everyone - friendly faces along the ride. Great to meet some of you all too.
Thx to JD for making me spinny spin there and Indra for making me ride home :)

Cap curse may have been balanced-out with the jersey.

Greetings and love to each and every one,
Well what a great day out that was.... My training had not really gone to plan as I got a stinking cold and did my back in last week, enough to keep me off my bike for a few days.
So I thought the only way I can do this is to skip the cobbles and just do the hills. Got to Gipsy Hill Tavern at around 8.30 to find Dave, Lincoln, Simon et al doing the organising bit. Lovely chats and then off I went. I started off with a couple in full Rapha mode but in my state they soon shook me off. I headed straight to Greenwich on the main roads from London Bridge then picked up the ride proper from Maze Hill. Really enjoyed it conquered Canonbie which beat me last year. Though Fox Hill was too much and I had to walk up the last bit of that.
As this ride is in my neck of the woods I was able to go back for 'home dinners'. Then did a few more miles around the gloriousness of South London before heading back to the Gipsy Hill Tavern where it was wall to wall smiles.
Watched the end of the other great classic race of the day, I think it is called Paris-Roubaix or something on the big screen. Then the raffle then back home after thanking the organisers for another cracking day out.
50.76 miles on the clock.
The weather was cracking as it always comes good for this one.
I just spent the whole day giving thanks for the fact my health is usually much better, the weather was great and just that life is sweet.
Well done to everyone who did this and made it such a lovely day out - given health and strength I'll see you next year.
Peace and Love always,
Tim

What a rad Sunday. My bendy plastic LOOK coped with the cobbles surprisingly well, I got up all the hills, despite dropping my chain at the bottom of Canonbie. What a view! BBQ and beers with mates then inviting myself to a roast leg of lamb in the evening. Perfec.

Thanks to all the organisers and helpers for a fantastic day in the sun.

Tell me you don't mean the footpath, please.

It's a bit naughty, I don't generally condone pavement cycling but do pop up here every now and then when there are no peds.