2013-11-9/10 Lilliput and Back

Looking forward to it now

is it too early to start looking at weather reports?

also, yesterday the missus said "so you're not going to be here when Wendy & John come over for tea on Sunday? I'll be very annoyed if your not here!"
... bit rich really, as John is rarely about if we go over to theirs

Out for this. But this does mean I am in for Cambridge the following week...

Forecast so far looks like sunshine with the odd shower, slightly less of a breeze than today:

1. 50/14
   
2. Bernie
   
3. upstart (to and from)
   
4. esstee
   
5. Branwen
   
6. JoePablo (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
   
7. cnkr
   
8. Raeba (and possibly housemate)
   
9. T4 (to and from)
   
10. Balmain (to, maybe from)
    
11. jochta (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
    
12. almackety, no slackety, there and backety xc
    
13. AirTime
    
14. princeperch
    
15. Dumps (making own way to Ox, maybe from, definitely beers)
    16.TheWarden (and friend) - both ways
    

I think I should be able to make this, but only on the Sunday.

Do we expect a fair number of single gears? On the whole I'd prefer fixed, but not if I'm in a minority of one (which did happen on one occasion).

^ Chris, I'll be riding fixed and I reckon a fair percentage will be. Re. the sunday ride, Bernie did mention something, somewhere about taking the A40 back, so it may not be a particularly scenic ride!

is it too early to start looking at weather reports?

also, yesterday the missus said "so you're not going to be here when Wendy & John come over for tea on Sunday? I'll be very annoyed if your not here!"
... bit rich really, as John is rarely about if we go over to theirs

Maybe time for a

"Dear John" letter?

Don't worry about the weather reports.

Myself and Almac did a recce ride yesterday.

Wind, leaves, bright bracing sunshine, and a lovely cup of tea half way.

Com'on, what possibly could go wrong?

^ Chris, I'll be riding fixed and I reckon a fair percentage will be. Re. the sunday ride, Bernie did mention something, somewhere about taking the A40 back, so it may not be a particularly scenic ride!

I will be rolling fixed, and I am sure at least two others will be the same.

So, for those riding to the start from Saaf London, the full route is actually nearer 19 miles, so the start will be

9am

Tooting Broadway, NOT the original time of 9:30. Opening post has been amended, but please spread the word.

The route will be as follows

• Tooting Broadway
  
• 
  
• Garratt Lane
  
• 
  
• Wandsworth
  
• 
  
• Putney Bridge
  
• 
  
• Hammersmith
  
• 
  
• Shepherds Bush
  
• 
  
• A4020 Uxbridge Road
  
• 
  
• Ealing Common
  
• 
  
• Southall
  
• 
  
• West Drayton Road
  
• 
  
• West Drayton station
  
  

We will be taking a leisurely 15 mph pace, and NOT stopping at any of the above points. Work out when you think we will be at a particular destination, PM me to say where you will be, and be there 15 minutes early, and we will sweep you up on the way through.

For the Oxford posse, we will be rolling past the Fox and Hounds, Christmas Common, OX49 5HL and stopping for a quick water bottle fill and "comfort break."

I cannot give a ETA as all timings will be dependent on weather and inner tube conditions but we will post on the forum as we move into the hills.

Now have family visiting this weekend, so will be riding out and then getting train back after a few beverages, allowing me to spend Sunday with them.

1. 50/14
   
2. Bernie
   
3. upstart (to and from)
   
4. esstee
   
5. Branwen
   
6. JoePablo (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
   
7. cnkr
   
8. Raeba (and possibly housemate)
   
9. T4 (to only)
   
10. Balmain (to, maybe from)
    
11. jochta (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
    
12. almackety, no slackety, there and backety xc
    
13. AirTime
    
14. princeperch
    
15. Dumps (making own way to Ox, maybe from, definitely beers)
    16.TheWarden (and friend) - both ways
    

@Bernie
2.5hrs/19 miles = 9.5mph

I thought I was being cautious leaving 2hrs to travel 23 miles

@Bernie
2.5hrs/19 miles = 9.5mph

I thought I was being cautious leaving 2hrs to travel 23 miles

I am sure there will be a few emergencies that hold us up, and as the organiser, I really should be early, rather than late.

Are you willing to list out your route to the start, so anyone not following the saaf massive, can meet up with you on the way?

No dishonour in taking the train from Paddington to West Drayton, but for those south of the river, it is as easy to ride directly to the start.

No dishonour in taking the train from Paddington to West Drayton

will be guilty of this your honour

Bernie, sorry, but family commitments mean that I'm out for this weekend. Hope you all have a good ride.

will be guilty of this your honour
~
Guilty here as well.

1. 50/14
   
2. Bernie
   
3. upstart (to and from)
   
4. esstee
   
5. Branwen
   
6. JoePablo (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
   
7. cnkr
   
8. Raeba (to only)
   
9. T4 (to only)
   
10. Balmain (to, maybe from)
    
11. jochta (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
    
12. almackety, no slackety, there and backety xc
    
13. AirTime
    
14. princeperch
    
15. Dumps (making own way to Ox, maybe from, definitely beers)
    16.TheWarden (and friend) - both ways
    

as requested by our leader. If anyone happens to be coming from an ENE direction* here is the route I'll be taking:
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?msid=208703080153350266319.0004e89e8c7d84a6d388c&msa=0
Let me know if you are and maybe we can link up

here are some pics from the archive

2 Attachments

Any thoughts on departure time / route home on the Sunday?

Any thoughts on departure time / route home on the Sunday?

Very much open to suggestions. Was thinking we should compare sore heads, weather forecasts, and appetite for pain, but please do consider some preferred options, and we can then decide how we roll.

The straigtforward route is Wattlington, then up on to the A40, but if we can persuade Clubman to join us, I am sure he can think of a more challenging and interesting route.

Oh, and could you "Garmin" the route from Tooting Broadway to West Drayton? I am good to Shepherd's Bush, but it would be of great to have the final back doubles confirmed on a GPS device.

And finally, the promise from everyone attending is that they have checked tyres and inner tubes for life expectancy, and replaced where necessary, so we get no where near last years record number of blow outs.

Bernie, sorry, but family commitments mean that I'm out for this weekend. Hope you all have a good ride.

No problem mister, shame you will not be there.

Feel free to join us for a pint if you are free, or a few miles on Sunday morning, if you can sneak out of the house for a couple of hours.

Re going home - via Windsor? (especially for those southies amongst us)

Though it basically means going back the way we came.

Will garminate the route out and post that up.

Just popping in to say I will be in attendance for the roll back to LDN and am a Southie with a preference for interesting routes (upstart can confirm).

hey, I'm very much a maybe, as I'm hoping to go to a music festival in Brighton, but for whatever reason that's now looking unlikely, so i have a few quick questions.

Is it really impossible to get your bike on a train at oxford?

Are there enough people training back for a group save, or is it a cheap ride anyway?

Is anyone (balmain - I'm looking at you) thinking of going there and back in a day?

I'm in for this. Outward journey only though. I'll take the train back after a refreshing beverage or two, so in for a group save if enough others are.

Enjoyed last years trip apart from riding up to Christmas Common with an ever decreasing amount of air in my from tire.

1. 50/14
   
2. Bernie
   
3. upstart (to and from)
   
4. esstee
   
5. Branwen
   
6. JoePablo (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
   
7. cnkr
   
8. Raeba (to only)
   
9. T4 (to only)
   
10. Balmain (to, maybe from)
    
11. jochta (one way only, joining somewhere in the hills)
    
12. almackety, no slackety, there and backety xc
    
13. AirTime
    
14. princeperch
    
15. Dumps (making own way to Ox, maybe from, definitely beers)
    16.TheWarden (and friend) - both ways
    
16. vunugu (to only)
    

hey, I'm very much a maybe, as I'm hoping to go to a music festival in Brighton, but for whatever reason that's now looking unlikely, so i have a few quick questions.

Is it really impossible to get your bike on a train at oxford?

Are there enough people training back for a group save, or is it a cheap ride anyway?

Is anyone (balmain - I'm looking at you) thinking of going there and back in a day?

You will be more than welcome, if you can make it.

In terms of the three questions.

1. Certainly not impossible, but dependent on the approval of jobs worth train guards, and there being no bikes already on the train, before it gets to Oxford.

2. Possibly, but see 1 above. Last time the group was split, and personally, a long drawn out slanging match with train staff is not how I want to close an epic ride in the Chilterns.

3. Again possibly, but it does make for a big day in the saddle, and the last 20 miles tend to be proper hard work. Add in the fact that you miss the jolly japes and pints in Oxford, and may well have to do the final part of the ride in the shopper traffic of a darkening Saturday evening, not the most appealing of prospects.

I'm not 100% for this at the mo - a bumpy session on the squash court last night leaves me a tad fragile today. Hopefully good for Saturday. As a westie will probably do the train to West Drayton

Think 4 of us got the train back last year, can't remember any problems getting on - may have just been lucky. I've got a network railcard which is good for a third off for 1-3 people if a GS 4 doesn't come together. As for riding back... dark lanes on the scenic route probably not so much fun this time of the year and there are post ride beers to think about in Oxford so I'm definitely training it.

hey, I'm very much a maybe, as I'm hoping to go to a music festival in Brighton, but for whatever reason that's now looking unlikely, so i have a few quick questions.

Is it really impossible to get your bike on a train at oxford?

Are there enough people training back for a group save, or is it a cheap ride anyway?

Is anyone (balmain - I'm looking at you) thinking of going there and back in a day?

1. 50/14
   
2. Bernie
   
3. upstart (to and from)
   
4. esstee
   
5. Branwen
   
6. 
   
7. cnkr
   
8. Raeba (to only)
   
9. T4 (to only)
   
10. Balmain (to, maybe from)
    
11. 
    
12. almackety, no slackety, there and backety xc
    
13. AirTime
    
14. princeperch
    
15. Dumps (making own way to Ox, maybe from, definitely beers)
    16.TheWarden (and friend) - both ways
    
16. vunugu (to only)
    
    

Very unlikely to be able to make the ride now I'm afraid. If I happen to be able to get to Christmas Common to meet with the ride to Oxford then I'll be there but don't wait (not that you would!).