2014-06-01 Reverse Tour De France Stage 3

Sparked by an idea by S7EN, the plan is to ride the Tour De France Stage 3 route from Cambridge to London backwards.

The rough route is as below
http://ridewithgps.com/routes/4849446

A later amendment says we leave from Shoreditch High St Station and get out of London as soon as possible, rather than being faithful to the whole route.

Depart from outside Shoreditch High St station
1st June 2014, 8.00am
PM me if you want my mobile no.

I'll be doing it geared, but fixed is more than welcome, I would estimate an average of (I have no idea).

Pub suggestions for lunch along the way are more than welcome.

1. bmx_fred
   

Average on the flat or total average? Maybe a bit speedy for me if the latter :(

apologies, edited. we'll go at whatever speed anyone wants us to go at. This is NOT a roadie douchebag ride :). however bear in mind it is just over 100 miles, it'll be brisk but I'm no racer and no one will be left behind

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
   

yeah alright then. will have to be gears.

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
   

i'll be doing geared as I have no fixed bike

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
4. Murrance
   
   

Not sure if ill use my singlespeed or road bike but im in looks good

and i didn't break the list ya :)

I'm down to work, but I'll see if I can change that... might have to work day after Nocturn instead.

Reverse is great idea - did a stage of last year's Tour through Britanny... supposedly a flat stage... not so much on your own!

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
4. Murrance
   
5. Oliver Schick
   
   

I may not be in London, but I'm provisionally in.

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
4. Murrance
   
5. Oliver Schick
   
6. JB
   
   

In if my road bike is sorted by then.

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
4. Murrance
   
5. Oliver Schick
   
6. JB
   
7. TooTallTim
   
   

In! Cambridge ride is always good

just realised it's the norwich 100 the day before this, I think my average speed for this ride may come down a little

in other news I've finally got a garmin so hopefully we won't get too lost.

Also, I'd like advice on wether we should find the fastest way out of London to Epping to get onto the nice bit as quickly as possible or if we should stick honestly to the route meandering around East London before heading North. What would people prefer?

In my experience, the former wins every time.

Also, I'd like advice on wether we should find the fastest way out of London to Epping to get onto the nice bit as quickly as possible or if we should stick honestly to the route meandering around East London before heading North. What would people prefer?

I'd prefer just to meet somewhere in the City and head straight towards Hackney Downs / Clapton Road, getting out of the city as soon as possible. No point (imho) in meandering around Stratford etc, you can do that any time you want. It adds an extra 35km or so onto the ride which will just be trafficky and time consuming in a bad way.

But then it's not the TDF route but a glorified ride to Cambridge through Essex?!?
Do it all! :)
You're leaving early in the morning, as you're doing this in reverse, you should be starting with a sprint down The Mall! :)

Not keen on traffic-y parts either and I have to ride all the way from SW landan :P

good, i agree, so I'd like to suggest the new meet place as outside Shoreditch High St Station. This allows people to get the overground in if they don't fancy riding to the start. We can then head up to Hackney from there and out of town.

You're all focusing on the wrong problem, the real challenge will be all this riding backwards.

I ride around London all the time, if I get a pass to go out for a long spin, I'd rather not spend the first two hours of it fighting through traffic in the east end. But I'm not a purist about TdF routes...

1. bmx_fred
   
2. croft
   
3. amey
   
4. Murrance
   
5. Oliver Schick
   
6. JB
   
7. TooTallTim
   
8. Yukirin
   
   

In!
Amey, are you riding up from Wimbledon area? Could meet up on the way if so.

Yeah definitely want to get out of town asap....

Amey, are you riding up from Wimbledon area? Could meet up on the way if so.

yes sir; Can meet somewhere on merton road/garratt lane once the time and starting place is sorted

I will also be coming from West London I'm out in hounslow. Possible to meet up as well ?

I will also be coming from West London I'm out in hounslow. Possible to meet up as well ?

Aye, there is a Sainsbury's at the north end of Garratt lane?