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Hmm... 24 hr TT..

What are the entry requirements for one of these (other than being a total lunatic)?

In my own case the requirement would have been never to have seen what happens to the riders around dawn and at the finish.
I did once daydream about the possibility of riding a 24 myself, but when I helped clubmates who were competing and saw the level of pain I put the idea out of my mind. Even the leaders, real long distance specialists like Nik Gardiner, looked like death warmed up at times. My club won the team prize in the 1998 championship - one of them was too knackered to get onto the stage for the prize presentation.

I don't know when the last 24 was won by a fixed wheel rider, but I happen to have a copy of 'Coureur' for December 1958 which reports that year's 24 Championship. The winner was Dennis White of the Swindon Wheelers who did 484.75 miles *on 79" fixed !
*Looking at the photos and guessing, I'd say he used 50 x17, and the rest of his bike looks extremely ordinary, even by late '50's standards - for example the chainset is a steel Williams C34.

Obviously I'm no expert, but if I wanted to ride a 24 I'd ride at least one 12 the previous year, then do a lot of miles in the six months before the race, but I'd rest for 10 to 14 days before the event. I'd say it's a very common mistake to come to the start line feeling tired. I would never have wanted to attempt such a ride without a support car.

From the journalism point of view I believe long distance TT's make much more interesting stories that the shorter distances, and since time trialling desperately needs good media coverage to keep people interested I can only say I hope forum members ignore my comments at the start of this post and get their entry forms completed asap.

Nobody pays attention to me these days.

That's right, nobody.

I know, nowadays there's nothing but wronging the ancientry.

I'm happy to say I've no direct experience of being 70 - although in the first couple of weeks after that recent crash I often felt I'd gone straight into my eighties.

However, I can tell you my tolerance of alcohol has lessened with age and I now avoid drinking the day before any serious riding, and after a hard day on the bike drinking in the evening will cause problems the next day.

I prefer to feel alert on at least some mornings, and I see my practice of abstaining one or two eveings a week as a benefit which I'd lose if I stopped riding.

Incidentally, I'm just beginning to get back on my bike.

It's not like the Great Drought of 2008.. 2 months man.. 2 fucking months!!

If all be true that I do think,
There be five reasons we should drink:
Good wine, a friend, if we are dry,
Or lest we should be by and by,
Or any other reason why.

Because it wouldn't be hijacking - it would be just lying down in the road in front of it.

There are plenty of other possibilities - our open 25 or next year's 100 for example. No, if it could be done I'd like to create something different, interesting and perhaps worthy of having the Ron Brown name attached to it.
I hope to have some material about the remarkable Mr. Brown to publish here soon.

Ah, what?! And just after I'd done a 50 today and realised longer distance TTing is something I really really don't want to do?! It's almost as if I paid you to cancel it..

Seriously though, that sucks. :(

In a way I'm in a similar position since I was out as a result of my crash. However, I have a vague idea floating in my mind that, using the £25 fixed prize, we might have some kind of special club event at the end of the season.

I'm thinking of a sporting course, perhaps 30 -40 miles, using the roads which were once part of the Bath Road 100 north west of Newbury, going through Chilton Foliat, and then onto the Ermine Street (as used in the 10 championship in 2009).
Of course the committee dinosaurs may well veto the idea, but does this sound an attractive idea to any one here?

With great reluctance it has been decided to cancel the 2010 edition of the Ron Brown Memorial 100.

On the 4th July, the day of the race, the Alton and North East Hants Show (an equestrian event) is to be held at the Froyle Park Showground - just next to the start and in the middle of the course.

This will cause an intolerable amount of traffic and would make the time trial, at best, a dangerous lottery.

Therefore, in the interest of safety, and with a view to avoiding endangering the future use of the course, the organiser has decided the only option open to him is cancellation.

[QUOTE=Sainsburys Ed.

@clubman the problem for me is that I struggle not to go hard when on the front + I had read your and other posts about knowing the way so I didn't even look at the route + I was riding back to wargrave so I had looked at that route and was hopping someone else would worry about the way there.

The end result was that I was leading the way, we probably went too hard for the first section along the a4 and the rest took too long because I was having to check that we were on course.[/QUOTE]

Well at least you managed to get there, so it wasn't all bad.
It's always going to be difficult with a group where there's an unknown mix of abilities, and where there will probably be some weak riders who don't have sufficient skill to follow a wheel.
Even though I usually know where I'm going I always prefer to have an OS map with me when out on a bike. The problem with following a route like the one at the top of this thread is that, however detailed the description, once you make a mistake and leave the prescribed road, you really are lost. The weakness of a satnav is that it can only tell you how to get to the place you asked it to get you to, whereas a map will show you places you might* like* to go to.

Nothing really beats having the route in your head, because it allows you to ride with a steady rhythm. I'd say the best way to achieve this is to study the map, then ride over the roads, then repeat until you achieve perfection (I haven't got there yet).

Once again I apologise for not turning up, but I can only repeat that the circumstances were completely beyond my control

Anyway, thanks to all, and Clubman - I hope you're healing up fast - we certainly could have done with your local road knowledge!

It was frustrating not to be able to ride, and now it seems my presence would actually have been useful.

I think a run like this does really need someone who knows where he is going, and it seems to me that older riders (like myself) have rather taken for granted that there would be a younger generation coming through who would replace us as leaders. My experience of the navigation abilities of others, especially outside my own club, is fairly limited, but I must say it does seem a strange turn of events that I can still go on early season training runs (probably a similar level of effort to this Oxford trip) and be confident that I won't be dropped - not because of my riding abilities but because I'm often the only one who knows the way home!

I'm keen to pass on what knowledge I have. I've written an article on leading training runs (originally for my club magazine) which I will post here as a new thread, but I need to find a suitable photo to go with it.
Perhaps we might have a ride( or rides, even) in the Autumn when some routes might be learnt. I fancy Tring and back, but the distance can be adjusted according to conditions and strength of riders.

I say Autumn because although I am healing after that crash, it's not proving to be a rapid process - I'm not near to getting back on the bike yet. I'm committed to a (non cycling) holiday starting in late August so I'm not likely to get back to any sort of fitness before then.
I'll report back when fit.

I'm very sorry to say I will not be with you. I was hit by a car on Tuesday evening - no really serious damage, but I think I've got a cracked rib which is painful enough to stop me riding.

The driver,who was facing towards me, suddenly decided to turn right directly across my path leaving me nowhere to go except over his bonnet. And that was where he first noticed my existence.

I suspect the crash has ended my 2010 racing season, so this might leave space for me to come on more long forum rides in the future.

Good luck to all of you on Saturday.

Yes, I tried tribars on my road bike, but the fixed bike just seems faster and with tribars the road bike is no more comfortable. Did 2:15:24 yesterday on 87" on the H50/1, and unless I've read the GPX file all wrong the P885 is no more challenging than that.

I've ridden the P885/25 on fixed and done 1.2.28, which is quite good for me, nowadays.
I found the gift hill at the start a bit of a problem on fixed (and with only a front brake), particularly as,at the time, I wasn't expecting it and didn't know the road.

Naturally the effect of one hill is going to be less in a 50, but if you have a chance to look at the road before the event I'd advise you to do so.

Hounslow 100 Preview

There are only sixteen 100 mile time trials in the whole of Cycling Time Trials programme for 2010, so the approach of a closing date for entries is something to be noted in a diary.

The Hounslow and District Wheelers Ron Brown Memorial 100 to be held on 4th July (closing date 22nd June) has produced many fast rides on its current Farnham -Alton course, which is readily accessible from London. Last year’s winner was the reigning BBAR champion, Nik Bowdler (Farnboro.& Camberley) with 3 hours 43 minutes 23 seconds., in 2008 Paul Dring (Echelon SPIUK) took the honours with 3.48.34, an almost identical time to Steve Golla’s (High Wycombe) 3.48.42 the previous year.

Over the years the promoting club has often provided the winning rider as well as the marshals, here in roughly chronological order: Kevin Fairhead (2 Wins) Jeff Marshall (2), Martyn Roach (4), Colin Roshier (3), Robin Jackson (1) and most recently Paul Holdsworth with two wins, the second in 2006. Paul hopes to be a contender again this year. The Hounslow has also shown an impressive consistency in the team award category, having taken the prize thirty times out of fifty four possible occasions.

It  would be wrong to imagine this is in any way a ‘club’ event  and many past winners from other clubs have been on their way to winning that year’s BBAR championship, for example: Brian Kirby (1961), Ant Taylor (1969) and Michael Hutchinson (2000). Hutchinson’s victory is perhaps the most notable since it was his first ever attempt at the distance, and his main reason for entering was to get a qualifying time for that year’s championship 100; his winning time- 3.38.26!

The race had a previous existence as the Calleva Road Club 100 and was first promoted as an open event during the second world war, but it was originally run in the 1930’s as a club event. When this legendary club ran into difficulties in the mid fifties the Hounslow stepped into the breach and has run it continuously since 1956.

There were ninety five entrants in 2009, and although the size of this year’s field cannot yet be predicted it is interesting to note that the 2010 Charlotteville 50, which uses the same course and might well be seen as a warm up for this event, attracted the exceptionally large entry of one hundred and forty would be competitors. It’s not clear why the Charlotteville was so popular, but it does give the organiser, Trevor Gilbert, some cause for optimism. However it must be said that a full field of 120 is unlikely.

A slightly unusual addition to this year’s prize list, which the club hopes is in tune with the current zietgeist, is a fastest on fixed wheel award of £25.

The club believes that all entrants will be offered the best of the time trial tradition combined with an opportunity to record a fast 100 time.

'Brevity delights' the Romans said, but your post is taking this to extremes, fasteddy.

See my post no.102 in the 'Tell us about your week end ride' thread.

Oliver suggested I should also post it in this thread, but I'm not clever enough to transfer it.

The Veteran - Cycle Club is an excellent institution. I recommend that anyone with an interest in retro cycling should join it.

Well it seemed as though it would be ok, an afternoon 25, without much wind, on a course with no big hills. But it didn't work out for me.

I seemed to be going reasonably well in the first few miles, although my 90" gear did seem a bit higher than usual on the modestly uphill parts. Then John French (Oxford City RC) caught me for two minutes long before he should have done. Mr. French was the only other fixed gear rider, and he finished with a creditable 58.00 for tenth place.

The winner was David Johnson (VC10) with 55.28, closely followed by Mark Cox (Fairly United CT) with 55.47.

I recorded a disappointing 1.6.48. Maybe I had dehydrated - I was still about six pounds under my normal nine and a half stone that evening. And I had a hangover like headache without having drunk any alcohol.

Note to myself for the next hot afternoon: Drink plenty of water beforehand.

I was actually talking about going down it.
Its not such a big hill.
The last Oxford ride (that I remember- cos I met the bastards when they arrived), it ended with a broken collarbone, and several people crashing, as its super winding on the downhill- and the road surface, as with most Oxfordshire roads (esp after this winter) is shit.

Just a gentle warning- take a brake.

Oh and I'll meet you kids at the end maybe- depending on speed of packing.

Yes it's a dangerous descent, but only if you don't know it's dangerous. I must have been down it on dozens of club runs - without incident so far - but then we do always warn newcomers beforehand.

It's perfectly possible to avoid the ascent and descent by going from Cookham to Marlow on the A4155 which is completely flat. Equally, the really horrible climb between Turville and Christmas Common can be avoided, but I think if someone has organised a ride and chosen a route it's up to his followers to follow and not quibble about a few hills.

Is anyone thinking about riding back? or part of the way back? Dicki? I need to get some more miles in before Dunwhich

I don't think you've read my posts 15,17 & 42 in this thread.

Unfortunately, not impressive to the initiated, given that Obree did 18:27 on fixed on the Q10/30 in 1993.

Yes, that's exactly why I used the word *un*initiated.

Thanks......I'm impressed.

sub 24 might need gears.

What you need is a perfect evening. Warm, no wind, low air pressure .... and finish just before the thunderstorm breaks. That's how I did my pb's.

So just keep entering on fast courses - your day will come, and if you stick to fixed your 23 minute (or faster if you get really *ideal *conditions) ride will be more impressive to the uninitiated.

As for tyres, SJS usually has cheap Schwalbes in stock..

I'd certainly be interested to hear if they have 26 x 1 and 1/4"

The diameter of the seat pin is a fair guide to the quality of a steel frame.

Standard 531 butted tubing (which would probably be the basis of every Thanet) will take a 27.2 mm. pin. There are some good frames which take 27.0 or even 26.8, but smaller than this and you're not looking at a high quality vintage machine.

Incidentally I believe the red star of the Thanet head badge reflected Les Cassell's interest in socialism.

I may have missed it, but is the plan to take the train back? (Or to ride 200km in one day?) If so, can we all bring our bikes on the same train? I'll be visiting from Canada and don't recall the train/bike rules over there...

I think you missed my posts numbers 15 and 17 above in this thread.

In England it's still quite normal to refer to this distance as 125* miles *which doesn't sound quite so daunting, but afterwards, when the ride has become an anecdote, you can revert to kilometres.

this is my favourite chilterns ride out from beaconsfield

Is there a cafe at Hambleden?

One of my clubmates has delayed the start of his racing season until June. As a result he is bursting with energy and speed which he would normally have dissipated by racing.

He had to go to work in the afternoon, so he had to restrict his Sunday morning ride to about 70 miles.

I was in his little group (eight in total) which went from Staines to Stokenchurch (a high point of the Chilterns) and back. You might have noticed there was quite a strong north west wind yesterday, in other words a head wind on the outwards trip. My abovementioned clubmate stayed on the front and on the big ring for the whole day, wearing out the rest of us one by one at his side. I managed about 5 miles before finessing my way to the back at a junction, but I felt I'd done enough.

The roughly 30 miles uphill and into the wind took about an hour and three quarters, after that it was an easy but fast descent to Henley where five of us, including myself, stopped in the cafe and subsequently rode back to Staines at a modest pace.
I'd done about 65 miles.

The previous day I'd spent some time preparing a bike for the forum Richmond - Oxford ride and I had considered using it yesterday. In the end I decided against it and took my ancient training bike with a 16 - 22 block; I have to admit it would have been impossible for me to do that ride, in that group, on fixed.

I foresee a successful second half of the season for my friend.