2013-04-01 - London Phoenix Easter Classic

^^ Breathes a sigh of relief. My first sportive. Am a tad nervous already.

Train here....and I suspect for himself. Want to buddy up for some Groupsave action KT & CW?

Course mate!

Seven Kings is not that near. I d get off @ Iflord and then ride up Cranbrook Road to Hog Hill.

If you want to get nearer then get off the train @ Stratford and catch a central line train to Barking Side. Hog Hill is just up the hill from there.

The short route looks like one of Sunday Club Runs; look out for Toot Hill ....

Hmm, so LS to Stratford then Central Line to Barkingside. Doesn't sound too onerous.

Weather forecast for April Fool's Day looking good. We've just added more places to the British Cycling website so don't be shy and get entered!

This is very local to me. Hmmm

bump.

Entered this and will be riding out from West London if anyone feels like flipping me the bird on the way through.
Or joining.

Totalled about 120miles of fairly flattish adventure last year.

I may ride out, as transport is looking complicated. I have mostly not ridden my bike in weeks, so this may be slow.

Nah, the opposite, you'll be well rested. ;)

It's not too difficult to ride out there, although last year we ended up negotiating the A12 briefly on the way back, which wasn't much fun. Need to plan better this year.

I like your thinking - I'll treat it like a very long pre-race taper -spent on my sofa.

I may ride out, as transport is looking complicated. I have mostly not ridden my bike in weeks, so this may be slow.

All of this! We'll be the kids at the back having a fag in the bus stop.

Actually, one question for any LP types - is there definitely a feed stop on the short route?

#fatty

Just go out to the long route feed station and head home.

The long route feed station is further than the whole of the short route IIRC...

I'm doing the short route fixed with a few friends this year, partly because one of them has never really ridden distances and wants to gear up to do 100 miles on her single-speed in the summer.

Just wondering if I can get away with one bottle (I only have one bottle cage on the fixed) and top it up halfway. I tend to drink a lot on the bike.

Just read the LP site summary again - there definitely isn't a stop on the short route, is there? That would be silly. It must have been the description on the BC website that mentioned it.

Sorry. Ignore me.

I was kidding. Last year they'd sent out routing info by now. I guess we'll get some emails soon? Can you bung a bottle in your jersey pocket? I only have one cage on my roadie and hate running out of juice. My slow pace last year was partly* as a result of panic over drinking at the feed stop followed by more than one wee stop.

*mostly down to slowness of legs and wind... and rain.

Can you bung a bottle in your jersey pocket?

Yeah, I'll just do this, it's no bother.

I did the short route two years ago and while there wasn't an official feed stop, there was a convenient cafe on the side of the road where you could get normal snacks (ie chocolate bars, as opposed to Torq) and water. I think they even had a loo.

On the short route a banana and a handful of jelly babies should suffice, surely, if you've had a decent brekkie?

Really must think about how i'm getting out there....

I'm riding out as there aren't any decent transport options from the deep south.

If there's a South London contingent riding out, can I join? Am pitifully slow so may need a tow/push. Doing the short route so should survive. Hopefully.

I'm riding out as there aren't any decent transport options from the deep south.

Fancy some company?

^Always