2014-04-06 The London Classic

Oooh who won what? I left before the raffle.

Feeling distinctly mummified and altogether a bit odd today. Think I overdid it with all the caffeinated gels and caffeinated energy drinks and performance enhancing technical goo that I ate. From now on I'm sticking to flapjacks and espressos.

Even after all those Guinnesses at the GHT I still had to self-medicate with a bottle of red wine when I got home just to try and stop the world from vibrating around me.

Love the photos guys, keep them coming.

Lovely time...one thing I really like about it is friendly attitude of everyone participating. Was more than happy to do my own thing knowing there'll be friendly faces to ride along with and swap stories. Long may it continue. Can only echo the view, thanks to everyone (organisers, helps, participants) who made it happen...

Well said Gus. An important point to make about TLC.

On the issue of arrows/route ...

I would suggest the route sheet adds a rough distance on each
line to the next turn/instruction, in the same way that audax routesheets do. This would mean the routesheet reminds you as you work through it, roughly, how far you can roll before keeping an eye out for the next instruction.

Then you could do away with the arrows altogether. They infantilise the riders.

another great London Classic.

big thanks to the organisers and sponsors and the GHT

extra big thanks to Diapo, T4nya and Ben for top notch cream of the crop company all the way round those lumps and bumps.

and was great to see so many lovely faces out there.

already putting this in the mental diary for next year.

favourite sign was the one stuck to the back of a car near Roger Street. loved it.

awesome work Zebra Cyclist. massive chapeau to you sir

Greetings and love folks,

Really enjoying the write ups and the general feeling of what a great day out it was....

Talking of which.... Here is my

I got up to TLC HQ at about 8.15 am to say my hello's do the admin and then get going. As soon as I left the Tavern the rain started, so plastic bag on and off I went. I go a bit freestyle with the route and I didn't have my passport so I had decided to leave the East End alone and concentrate on all things Saarf. So my route was follow signs until Loughborough Junction, then Ruskin Park, Peckham Rye, Nunhead, New Cross, Greenwich, then back on track at Maze Hill.

By time got to Ladywell the drizzle had subsided, so that was a result. Talking of which I got back to the pub just before 11 am to be met by the lovely Dave who said over 340 riders had registered and were currently around the route.

After a bit of a break, I headed out for lap number 2. I was feeling full of epic-ness having conquered Canonbie Rd

(what a great view and also what a great Ford Capri on left.....) and Eliot Bank first time, so was feeling rather invincible. However on second lap was beginning to feel tired, so had to walk up the last bit of Canonbie and Eliot which is no disgrace and good to keep the ego in check...

Got back to Crystal Palace with still a hunger for miles, so rode around Dulwich, Brixton, Streatham getting back to the Tavern in time for 3 pm. So caught the end of the Tour of Flanders and then was ready for the main event.

Yes people that is the annual Dave TLC sermon and then the raffle... Here is our great leader in action

I never win anything - which is fine because it is the taking part that counts.... But the third Brixton CC bidon that was thrown just seem to have my name written on it. It bounced on the table in front of me and I pulled off a catch that even the England slips could have managed. Sweet as and thank you...

Then headed back and when reached home I had 61.07 miles on the clock, big smile and many aching limbs....

This ride seems to bring me out of the woodwork on here - er please see the numerous posts in the build up.... It was lovely chatting to everyone and seeing the great TEAM LFGSS in action. You can keep your Sky and Omega Pharma Dubstep. TEAM LFGSS is where it's at....

I'll leave you with a link to a lovely photo of two old bearded cyclists who had been given special permission to be allowed out for the day.... Here they are talking about Gipsy Hill during the Blitz...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fudonet/13679043954/in/set-72157643547425385

Thanks Dave et al for a magnificent ride. Thanks people for making it such a wonderful day out.

Given health and strength, I 'll see you next year...

Peace and Love every time,
Tim

Loved it!

Really good to see everyone....that made my day.

The lack of signage, and sometimes spurious crib sheet, added to the camaraderie and fun.

Comedy moment was about ten of us following Skully round a mini-roundabout when he had to bail with mini-Skully. He tried to tell us, but we followed blindly anyway.

My sister is now a total cycling convert and nut. Chapeau ZC.

Loved it, again. Thanks Dave, and thanks also to the many helpers and to the friendly folk out on the road.

Saw Skully and mini-Skully having serious man talk at lmnh while I replaced an inner tube (first puncture out on a ride in about 6 years I reckon) and was sorry to hear the ride was cut short.

Was good riding with the group, happy to lead.
thanks captain garmin, you did a great job on the convoluted middle section
I think I might actually be smiling in Ho's first pic o_O

no that's me, you div

^ Uh. First pic of me. Obv. ... ...

...

(possibly missing [/sarc]?)

I like this one, urging the break to work together to make the gap stick ...

Not sure it's been mentioned, but did any one see that 'gold car' ? Cars don't really do it for me, but it was an amazing colour....

Something like this.....

Nearly fell off when I saw it at the bottom of the hill /street....

I remember thinking it was the tackiest looking thing I'd ever seen!

But gold does not do it for me. Silver all teh way plz.

Another triumphant year. Was pretty set for a maudlin wash out when we got soaked cycling from Peckham to the Gipsy Hill Tavern at 8am, so was especially pleased that it cleared as soon as we set off. Sporadic signposting between Covent Garden and Wapping slowed us down a bit—lots seemed like they'd been pulled down?—but it ended up meaning more pelotons with other lost LC-ers, so no bother.

Post-Greenwich after the traditional stop at the Trafalgar was especially good. A year of running and thus losing what minimal muscle mass i had before certainly made the hills easier. If anything a few more peaks should be added in again next year.

Cheers to all the organisers, ride of the year by a mile. What was with ALL the punctures though? Seemed to pass stricken riders every 10 minutes or so.

Perhaps this man had driven in to town

Just want to give a shout out to the 3 fixie-skidders I rolled with yesterday after LMNH, was fun riding with you guys!

Gold BMW X6 was truly magnificent. Beyond crass, out the other side and somehow mystifyingly good.

Nice snaps! Looks great fun. I live in Honor Oak Park and Canonbie Road is a beast. Chapeau to all who did it. :-D

Loved it!

Really good to see everyone....that made my day.

The lack of signage, and sometimes spurious crib sheet, added to the camaraderie and fun.

Comedy moment was about ten of us following Skully round a mini-roundabout when he had to bail with mini-Skully. He tried to tell us, but we followed blindly anyway.

My sister is now a total cycling convert and nut. Chapeau ZC.

I happened to be riding just behind your sister as she started the climb on Eliot Bank. She may have said "Oh my poor little legs"

Enjoyed the ride this year, especially the later part. Was good fun running in the 29er, but it's tantamount to cheating when it comes to riding on the cobbled bits.

—lots seemed like they'd been pulled down?

I've been thinking about this a lot because I'm pissed off about this.
Yeah they did seem like they had been pulled off because even if they got soaked (which they did), they would have stayed stuck to the posts I put them on because of the cable ties.

Also I picked up/looked at a few which were on the ground and they looked like they had been pulled before they were wet, as the rips were at the holes.

Assholes

Great day out Ladies & Gents, even with the soaked start. Huge thanks to the organizers.

Good to see a few faces I've not seen in a very long time too.

I'm not exactly looking at my best in that photo, Hoke, so I've adopted a new avatar

I happened to be riding just behind your sister as she started the climb on Eliot Bank. She may have said "Oh my poor little legs"

You old dog, Mike.

I've been thinking about this a lot because I'm pissed off about this.
Yeah they did seem like they had been pulled off because even if they got soaked (which they did), they would have stayed stuck to the posts I put them on because of the cable ties.

Also I picked up/looked at a few which were on the ground and they looked like they had been pulled before they were wet, as the rips were at the holes.

Assholes

This is really annoying. I put up the ones in Covent Garden/Clerkenwell and as I was doing it I wondered whether saturday night might be unkind to the signs. It pisses me off that some peoples idea of fun is to ruin things for other people.

Maybe the signs in central London should be put up on the sunday morning... I did contemplate going and checking on them as I went through town in the morning but was running late, so I couldn't :(

^ Uh. First pic of me. Obv. ... ...
...

(possibly missing [/sarc]?)

I like this one, urging the break to work together to make the gap stick ...

Yes I was joking.

The elastic didn't snap on that occasion, but we forced a selection before the hellingen (by having a toilet stop!)