2014-06-20 Rolling to the Stones 2014 edition

^^ Ha I remember that! I got neg repped actualy for just repeating the conversation:
"Who are you people?"
"We're from an internet forum, LFGSS."
"What is that, the Lonely Gay Bike Society?"

I qualify for bedwetters. Bad back, a young baby, out of shape. Had to take a day off work after riding to Margate recently as I was so physically destroyed.

I was the inaugural member of LGBS.

I qualify for bedwetters. Bad back, a young baby, out of shape. Had to take a day off work after riding to Margate recently as I was so physically destroyed.

As long as you're alright to keep with with YAL and co lets do it!

I'm in the country, be rude not to do this for this 4 time in a row :|

Ok for my benefit I'd be good for me to list the lists because that's the kind of guy I am (and the fact that I probably won't do it with less than three people). Apologies if you hate lists.

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. Mule
   
3. fussballclub (I think)
   
4. gretsch?
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. laner
   
4. dicki
   

coy and watching the weather forecast

o i c....

I'm up for it, but it all depends of whether my knee gets better after fucking it up during the Tour of Wessex.

I may be pulling so

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. laner
   
4. dicki
   
5. Mule
   

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. laner
   
4. dicki
   
5. Mule
   
6. Skully Tor
   

YAL...just had a bit of a planning session with Dropout (by which I mean pints) and we are wondering whether best to meet en route by Bracknell or in the Lonely Gay Cyclist pub in Virginia Water. In either case, we need to agree a time.

Any thoughts?

Yeah ok...what about this: Bracknell looks to be about 30 miles out so reckon if the London group leave at 7:15 (potentially optimistic but I'm serious about promptness) and meet Train group in Bracknell at 9:45-10? This considers Friday night traffic and London group going at 14mph aka civilised pace? That takes the edge off the ride for you guys and means we don't have to crush it out to meet you. We could meet at the Bridge Pub in Bracknell on Wokingham Road - which could of course be rough as fuck but we'll be wearing tights and plastic hats so probably won't get any grief if either group needs to wait it out. How does that sound?

coy and watching the weather forecast

I'm coy and watching the ever-increasing array of options for doing this ride. :)

Though it's a great route it's not one for My Very First Night Ride™

We will probably be cutting 30mi or so. This will not make it a good candidate for your first night ride sadly. Prob best to save yourselves for Dunwich if in any doubt.

Christine just made me read the small print. I havent been on a night ride for about five years, and then that was only about 20km or so (but in pitch black roads). I've got two Hopes which would be mounted on the bars - but what are the problems that you think might make it unsuitable for someone who hasnt done something like this before? Dan you've been on spins with me, do you think it's a problem? Be honest, I wont be offended or anything.

Dubkev I think the main issues are (in general, not with you) fatigue and competency. The ride has 4k feet of climbing - 1k more than Brighton, but that isn't such a big deal - but riding through the night increases the fatigue so it can make the ass-end a little hard going when it's mile 70 for you and 3:00 am. And once the trains stop around 11pm there's no way to bail from the ride really, so having enough energy, good lights (check), can fix a puncture in the dark (check), and generally not riding like a dick (check) means that the group will stay mostly moving and everyone's safe. The main idea is that it's fun for you and the whole group, eveyone riding a nice pace consistently. I know you can do it and would be fine for it, but if the thought of riding to Brighton with a little bit of a hangover makes you feel slightly hesitant I'd give it a second thought. Make sense dude?

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. laner
   
4. dicki
   
5. Mule
   
6. Skully Tor
   
7. Ultracrepidarian
   

Right, looks like there are a few in for this so this ride is definitely going ahead. Second, and not that I was going to be dictatorial about it anyhow, but it's open to gears. Which isn't to say the pace is going to be substantially different, but Laner and I will be taking gears for bike fit reasons (unless I can get my cockpit sorted in time but that's doubtful), and I presume that fussballclub would rock up on gears anyhow : ) So if that was a barrier to coming along then please reconsider.

First train is at 8:13, the next one at 10:16. I'd really like to get that 8:13 train. It's £21 single back but a groupsave should reduce that down to around £17/18 if we travel together.

Those who want to shave off the first 30 miles the meet-up is at the Bridge Pub on Wokingham Road in Bracknell around 9.45-10pm. Looks to be outside seating. Happy to give you my number for logistical reasons, please PM me.

Other than that same old shit: bring food, tubes and patches, tools, money, extra batteries, maybe something caffinated and some sort of fake gemstone to give to the pagans as offering etc etc.

first post updated.

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. laner
   
4. dicki
   
5. Mule
   
6. Skully Tor
   
7. Ultracrepidarian
   

Right, looks like there are a few in for this so this ride is definitely going ahead. Second, and not that I was going to be dictatorial about it anyhow, but it's open to gears. Which isn't to say the pace is going to be substantially different, but Laner and I will be taking gears for bike fit reasons (unless I can get my cockpit sorted in time but that's doubtful), and I presume that fussballclub would rock up on gears anyhow : ) So if that was a barrier to coming along then please reconsider.

First train is at 8:13, the next one at 10:16. I'd really like to get that 8:13 train. It's £21 single back but a groupsave should reduce that down to around £17/18 if we travel together.

Those who want to shave off the first 30 miles the meet-up is at the Bridge Pub on Wokingham Road in Bracknell around 9.45-10pm. Looks to be outside seating. Happy to give you my number for logistical reasons, please PM me.

Other than that same old shit: bring food, tubes and patches, tools, money, extra batteries, maybe something caffinated and some sort of fake gemstone to give to the pagans as offering etc etc.

first post updated.

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
4. laner
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. dicki
   
4. Mule
   
5. Skully Tor
   
6. Ultracrepidarian
   

I think I might be down for joining you guys at Bracknell. I was going to join you at Bedfont/Staines since that is where I work. But I think perhaps I will go to Bracknell and meet you at the pub.

How quick do you reckon you are going to be rolling?

Last year when we did it "fast" we averaged 15 mph, so it's definitely not usually a quick ride. More important is keeping stops to a minimum to get there in time.

Happy to ride gears.

Cockpit cockpit cockpit

^ Remind me to buy you a beer for sticking me on the telly.

I'm in for that one, sound fun.

Hyde Park > Avebury

1. YAL
   
2. fussballclub (I think)
   
3. gretsch?
   
4. laner
   
5. santino
   
   

Train > Countryside meet up > Avebury

1. Stonehenge
   
2. Dropout
   
3. Dublinkevin
   
   

subscribed but being coy:

1. smiff
   
2. fixedcheese
   
3. dicki
   
4. Mule
   
5. Skully Tor
   
6. Ultracrepidarian
   

Dubkev I think the main issues are (in general, not with you) fatigue and competency. The ride has 4k feet of climbing - 1k more than Brighton, but that isn't such a big deal - but riding through the night increases the fatigue so it can make the ass-end a little hard going when it's mile 70 for you and 3:00 am. And once the trains stop around 11pm there's no way to bail from the ride really, so having enough energy, good lights (check), can fix a puncture in the dark (check), and generally not riding like a dick (check) means that the group will stay mostly moving and everyone's safe. The main idea is that it's fun for you and the whole group, eveyone riding a nice pace consistently. I know you can do it and would be fine for it, but if the thought of riding to Brighton with a little bit of a hangover makes you feel slightly hesitant I'd give it a second thought. Make sense dude?

Thanks for the info / advice Dan. I'll be ok. I'm riding geared (dont have a fixed gear bike) so wont be grinding it on a single gi the whole time. I'm not worried about the keeping moving thing - I hate stopping on rides for lunch / a pint etc, I'd rather just keep moving and have a quick five to ten mins every two hours or so for a piss / water / snack break. If it gets too exhausting with the climbing then I'll just turn around and head for home, no problem there, or just head to the nearest train station and wait for the first train home, I've slept rough before so it'll be alright. I never go on rides with a hangover, no point. I've got my hopes charged and will check the bike tomorrow evening, and get well stocked up on snacks and that.

I'm up for getting the 8am train home too, rather than the 10am one... unless we score some sweet LSD off some druids there and I decide to hang around.