Ditchling beacon single speed?

[BigonaBianchi]

http://summeronabianchi.blogspot.co.uk/

Riding up the beacon today I came across a few tour of britain riders...strange that...

 

[outlash]

Hi,

Well I was just replying to the OP who is thinking of doing the L to B on a single
speed, for the first time, and hasn't really rode that mileage before, and my
conversations with some cyclists in Brighton about doing the L to B route.

Generally not on single speeds though. Even so the L to B first timers
generally comment on Ditching Beacon being really tough, especially
as its towards the end of the ride and their abilities in general mileage.

Especially if your hammering it looking for a good time.

Forewarned is forearmed IMO, and trivial comments like its quite
easy climb, which it isn't for anyone first time stretching their
overall mileage limit, doesn't reflect the OP's reality.

That I've never done it is irrelevant.

rgds, sreten.

https://sites.google.com/site/cyclingroutes/London-to-Brighton-bike-ride/ltb-elevations

Of course it is a walk in the park for a seasoned prepared 100mile+ cyclist, there is only
one real hill on the course, and its not really a "real" hill, being only about category 4.

That's the worst bit of back pedalling I've ever read. So bad in fact it's not.


Tony.

 

[sreten]

Which is both stupid and impossible at the same time on the BHF L2B ....

Hi,

i'm not taking about the big event, i'm talking about people who do L2B randomly.

I'd never do the official L2B, too many clueless riders, its dangerous.

Of course I've talked to people who do the main event, that is very different.

rgds, sreten.

 

[sreten]

That's the worst bit of back pedalling I've ever read. So bad in fact it's not.
Tony.

Hi,

Care to elucidate what back pedalling is involved without appearing stupid ?

The OP is talking about doing L2B, but not the "L2B".

rgds, sreten.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Hi,

i'm not taking about the big event, i'm talking about people who do L2B randomly.

I'd never do the official L2B, too many clueless riders, its dangerous.

Of course I've talked to people who do the main event, that is very different.

rgds, sreten.

I know, that's why I specifically mentioned the BHF L2B.

 

[ianrauk]

Hi,

i'm not taking about the big event, i'm talking about people who do L2B randomly.

I'd never do the official L2B, too many clueless riders, its dangerous.

Of course I've talked to people who do the main event, that is very different.

rgds, sreten.

Once again you are making silly assumptions. You have never done the L2B yet you are calling it dangerous. It's not dangerous at all. As with all mass events, if you partake then have your wits about you and ride sensibly. Do you actually know how many people do the ride every year successfully without incident?

 

[BigonaBianchi]

Whilst I appreciate the OP is talking about a single speed bike, there is a lot of unecessary 'bigging up/fear' of the beacon IMHO. It is just a hill. While many grown men debate it's doability on forums like this, here is a shot I took yesterday up there of a young lad who rode it all the way up solo. No fear necessary, just do it.

[url=http://postimage.org/] free picture upload[/URL]

 

[outlash]

Care to elucidate what back pedalling is involved without appearing stupid ?

I can, but it'd make you look stupid .


Tony.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Do you actually know how many people do the ride every year successfully without incident?

My guess is about 49, 996. Am I close?

 

[outlash]

More importantly, did they get all over the beacon without having a coronary or resorting to 3D graphs to measure the 'brutality' of it?


Tony.

 

[outlash]

<duplicate post>.

 

[sreten]

Whilst I appreciate the OP is talking about a single speed bike, there is a lot of unecessary 'bigging up/fear' of the beacon IMHO. It is just a hill.

Hi,

Well you can say that, but on the L2B route it is the "Hill" and it comes towards the end.
First timers on the route i've talked to in Brighton, and generally Londoners trying their
first extended ride in a training regime (L2Ba nobrainer for londoners) don't regard it
as "just a hill" at all. Its tough, by very far the toughest part of the course, especially
for those that don't do "real" hills in their training, a lot of people don't, compared
to the minority who think real bike riding is all about hills and polka dots.

Forwarned is forearmed.

rgds, sreten.

 

[slowmotion]

Just beware of dead cyclists rolling down the hill towards you and you will be fine

Cyclists riding up don't need to worry about the corpses rolling down. They get caught in the hollows.

 

[Tankengine]

So....better late than never.
Picked a good day for it, sunshine and bit of a breeze, in summer gear.
From my door to brighton it's pretty much 100km on the dot - my first metric century and the furthest I've ever ridden!

The beacon kicked my ass!! Had to stop / walk sections of it. At every opportunity when regained my breath/gradient eased a little I jumped back on and tried again (if at first...errr??!)
Despite being a bit bummed I couldn't do the beacon, it was a great ride, great fun. Went the BHF route, loads of quiet country lanes through sweeping countryside and I loved the bit along the top/down from the beacon. Brighton traffic/crazy pavement bike lanes however..... :/

Next challenges:
- ride the beacon again and try and get further / do more!
- ride a 100 miles ! Felt like I could have done more today. Any good routes/ideas for an 100 miler guys?

 

[rowdin]

What gear ratio do you have on the bike.