2013-04-07 The London Classic 2013

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.

^I did wonder if you were going to get drunk and get the train home.
Congratulations for making it there then doing the ride and then back home .

Great day for the ride. Good to see so many old faces I don't see so often.
It was so good I loved the cobbles and made every hill for a change.
Thanks to one and all especially the organisers.

It was good to see lots of folks doing the ride on "normal" bikes, 3 speeds with flat pedals and the like, including one that was the rattliest bike I've heard since the 70s.

That was probably me. Beardy on a tourer.

With the Speed Metal jersey... if so, hello. I loved the jersey... will be checking out their site later.

Anyhooo, I finished in about 3.5 hours, the only hill that beat me was the middle bit of Canonbie... stood up to push it and cramped, had to jump off. Walked for a bit, then got back on to finish it (got to make an effort for the photographers :o)

I turned up alone, my mate bailed (I wish I had messaged here about it, I hate the thought that a place went unused) but I hooked up with Carl and his pals... riding at a good pace for me and good conversation all round. If you're here, cheers!

^I did wonder if you were going to get drunk and get the train home.

Nah I was trying to be a responsible guardian :P
also conscious that the #capcurse2013 hadn't got me just yet...

@bothwell & whatok Don't quite know how I've ended up being portrayed as lazy whilst towing a 5 stone eight year old round London.

@Benj great you brought your kid, we're sorry you didn't come to the pub too. Gareth's daughter on the tandem and my lad were the only kids there who rode it (apart from Indra). I think it's really doable for nippers... this morning my lad kept saying 'I survived the London Classic!' and asked if we can do it next year... what an ffing star.

Time to plan another camping tour.

Super proud dad^

Me and my brother habing been up the night before almost didnt make it. However we set off by about 11 and saw a fair few people on our way round. All timed perfectly so that I could get back and win a brooks saddle in the raffle! So pleased

Thanks so much to organisers etc. Great day

@Benj great you brought your kid, we're sorry you didn't come to the pub too. Gareth's daughter on the tandem and my lad were the only kids there who rode it (apart from Indra). I think it's really doable for nippers... this morning my lad kept saying 'I survived the London Classic!' and asked if we can do it next year... what an ffing star.

Sam was a charming star! A real credit!

And chapeau to Gareth and daughter! You were the pair on the yellow tandem yeah? With sorta modified double cranks for the shorter legged stoker?

Amazing. Love how London Classic gets every type of cyclist out.

^^That was good karma mate! You're the one who gave my lad that water bottle right?

OK Proper post to say:

Thanks and praise to all the brilliant cobblemonsters who
made it happen, they know who they are. Seriously TLC is the best thing to do on a bicycle in London, no question. A really inclusive event. This ride exemplifies what means I will never leave London ... proper nice people who make this city better. Thanks to the hosts GHT, and the people who made food to sell, it was great that there was not too much hanging around. And thanks Thomas and Lucy for riding with us. Thomas' brilliant outriding meant I had No Worries all day.

Thanks to all you who so nice to my lad, I think he really felt part of it and that counts for a lot.

^^That was good karma mate! You're the one who gave my lad that water bottle right?

I was wondering if that was you (reading all the posts about having a stoker). Hello!

What a great day out! Thanks so much to everyone who organised it, I had a blast. Really fun route, awesome company and SUNSHINE! I even snuck in a bit of epic walking too, despite not making it to Fox Hill (got lost and went up Anerley instead).

One thing I will say is that cobbles and carpal tunnel syndrome do not mix well, painkiller central here today…

See you all next year :)

Nah I was trying to be a responsible guardian :P

Of yourself?

first TLC for me and will make sure this is in the calendar next year.

massive thanks to all the organisers for putting such a fun/epic route together around the cobbles and the lumps of this great city. and for topping it off with a great gathering place at the gipsy hill tavern with food/raffles/laughs and the G. brilliant stuff.

pleasure as always to ride with smiff, skive and corndog(doll!). smiles and laughter the whole way round

despite not making it to Fox Hill (got lost and went up Anerley instead).

How many of us did that?! I was in a group of about 15 who all kind of followed each other up the "wrong" ;) hill.

It was me (long sleve blue and black jersey), my girlfriend (Red long sleeve Torm jersey). I remember a young Asian girl on some well nice (but pricey) looking bike with a kind of shimmery purple and green paint effect. Also a youngish lad with a very bright replica team jersey and an earring...

On here?

One of them sounds like Two Omegas and her Klein Quantum.

Corndoll ... heee

I'm here all week

One thing I will say is that cobbles and carpal tunnel syndrome do not mix well, painkiller central here today…

An aside, but I found this book to be the start of being able to manage my RSI-type symptoms. A bit, "aren't we great" but the message is there - it's probably not your carpal tunnel, it is more likely to be your shoulders and neck. Really helped me out.

It's Not Carpal Tunnel Syndrome!: RSI Theory and Therapy for Computer Professionals: Amazon.co.uk: Suparna Damany, Jack Bellis: Books

EDIT: I gave a copy of this to a colleague, I will ask him if he has finished with it - if he has it is yours if you would like it, gratis I mean.

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.

I think it was the gearing that was the shock factor. You ANIMAL you!

^^ Cheers Andrew, that would be great. In my case it very definitely is my shoulders/neck - I have a trapped nerve from my neck down to my fingers. I'm so over it.

Should anyone be interested in trading one of the t-shirts available in the pub in medium for my large, I'd be interested. As an added incentive you'll get to pong of me.

^^ Cheers Andrew, that would be great. In my case it very definitely is my shoulders/neck - I have a trapped nerve from my neck down to my fingers. I'm so over it.

Aha, sounds like you have it worked out. But I will find out if he wants the book anymore and PM you for your address if not. I have been managing something like this for five years now... the secret seems to be massage, yoga, swimming and keeping the pain killers to a minimum. I know what you mean by over it.

Yeah, I know, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> some other thread :-)

I think it was the gearing that was the shock factor. You ANIMAL you!

No, no.
The shock factor is the gradient.
That footpath is near-as-dammit vertical.
I iz in awe.

I must mirror all the sentiments from the people who are waxing lyrical about this event. Well run, good signage, good social crowd for the cobbles before joining some TNRC regulars for the rapid ascents of the hills.

This is going in the diary for next year and now I know the route I will be confident that I can drink much more and still be fine.

Sorry for anyone I blanked, I hardly know any faces or names. Did not even realise it was Ludd I was table crashing early on until a few posts up there ^. I think I saw and blanked villa-ru and a few others.

Well done all and here's to me ignoring you again next year.

being part of the urban landscape and among the south london massive..
i consider a privilege.. it'll will always be part of my ride diary for as long as possible :)

Where's Lynchman?

This is a good question...