Badgers In Darkness

I was thinking of jumping on the train from Central London, where I work, out to Chingford, with my bike in tow.

Do a muddy potter around the forest, and then cycle home. So technically I'll be heading out to meet 'strangers in the woods' around rush hour, when I imagine Liverpool St is complete carnage and full of commuters! I wouldn't want to be next to a smelly cyclist with a rarely-cleaned-so-very-muddy-but-dry bike if I'm in my suit

I live on the Northern Line, its about 10/11 miles from Chingford. Will probably cycle from home to work, on my very draggy tyres, about 10 miles. But probably not from work to Chingford (My average abilities are complemented with mediocre fitness)

Just noticed I can't take a bike on a train till after 18:30 from Liverpool Street, but that'll work fine with the start time

Average abilities AND mediocre fitness?!?

I never wanted things to get this serious.

I've taken the train many times from Kings X, Victoria, LVPST at rush hour (or the soonest train just after 7) and it's not a big deal. The English reserve holds fast even when people are wearing lycra. Be polite with your bike and generally people are polite back. If the train is rammed then yeah don't force it and you might have to catch the next one (in 10 mins). There's often a disabled carriage / loo carriage / bike carriage so look out for that. You'll be fine (again the evening road ride peeps do this exact thing a few times a month with 7 bikes per train easy(ish))

I like the sound of this, and I really need to get back on my mtb bike after the lazy winter that I've had.

I'll join if that's ok.

Wait till I impress you with my bike trials tricks - on a good day I can track stand for at least half a second and wheelie for about quarter of a crank turn

on a good day I can track stand for at least half a second and wheelie for about quarter of a crank turn

Careful all, we got a pro here.

I'll join if that's ok.

No worries. This is after all the

most lax/welcoming forum subgroup evar

:-)

Fantastic, pleased to hear it!

My wheelie skills are pretty amazing too, if I do say so myself. Last time I tried it I fell straight onto both elbows, on concrete. The pain was sufficient to stop me trying it ever again.

There won't be any concrete to fall on...

I've added some a rough time & date to this event. Date will be sometime between Monday 25th of April and Sunday 1st of May.

Time approximately 8-10pm

I have some tyres for sale - tyre spam!

I think I'm around most of that week and 8pm is a good start time for me, so fingers crossed i'll be there!

Excellent, sounds good to me too.

If anyone is uhming and ahing about $$$$$$ lights for this ride:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=solarstorm&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=1&_trksid=p2045573.m1684

I have used one of these offroad for a while now, including a few times in really bad conditions. My unit (a 2 LED one) has been totally reliable, and is definitely bright enough. Cheap and cheerful.

I know @M_V has one, not sure what his experiences are..

No excuses. (lol @ rear light gift)

That is crazy cheap!

I read a few dodgy comments about battery chargers exploding a year or two back, but I think the new ones are probably fine.

I went for a Magic Shine Light about a year ago, which now looks well overpriced compared to the latest cree lights.

Yeah, the charger IS shit. I wouldn't leave it on by itself.. But you could use a different, better quality one. Most people have them lying around and I found one for a Duracell charger that had the appropriate stats. But the battery is sound as far as I can see.

Woohoo! I'm off duty, and will be there for some nocturnal badger action! ...that sounds wrong
For those lacking lights, as well as my ay-ups, I wanted something as a back up and bought one of these from torchy the battery boy on eBay.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=291685839645&globalID=EBAY-GB

He imports them from China, strips them, checks them (including the condition of the battery cells) then sells them on......£20 gets you at least 5.5hours on 'low' which is plenty to see by off road at night....I used it on the peddars way back from Hunstanton the other week. Honest, it's a proper bargain, from a UK seller with great back up, if needed.

Nice work, whatok! Although a little too hi-tech for me...

Right, Monday 25th of May or Wednesday 27th??????

I know someone with one of those, in fact the only reason why I found mine is because i think 'Torchy' posted a review somewhere saying they werent bad!

Honest, my ay-ups were over £300 for around 700 lumens and 6 hours on low....this was £20 for 1000 lumens and 5.5 hours (at least) on low.

By the way @BareNecessities , the 25th is best for me :0)

I'll start a list then.

I like lists.

Monday 25th April

1. BN
   
2. stedlocks
   
   

or

Wednesday 27th April

1. BN
   

I like lists.

Monday 25th April

1. BN
   
2. stedlocks
   
3. Ramsaye
   
   

or

Wednesday 27th April

1. BN
   
2. Ramsaye