Envious of Scots' CycleChat Rides.

[Peter]

Just seen this, but I could be up for it, if I can get my kids' taxi-ing requirements sorted satisfactorily for that day. Should be within easy striking distance of Harrow.

Jonathan

That's great - soon we will be causing huge tailbacks in London, due to the size of the "peleton"

 

[Sittingduck]

Looking forward to it and still in 2 minds if I am to do the full 48 or the 25 mile route. Travel to and from RP will add another 10 miles perhaps so I'll likely do the 25.

Did another ride this morning to try and build up a bit, managed 36.5 miles but I think the legs may be sore in the morning

Also set the landspeed record for a fat duck on a bicycle. Going down one of the park's hills I hit 31.1 mph. The fastest I have travelled on a bike since '91

Roll on next Sat but I pray for no wind! (weather wise)

 

[Batzman]

I've got a decent camera... I'll bring it

 

[tdr1nka]

Cheers Batzman!

 

[Auntie Helen]

User1314, are you going to put a link to this thread on the 'Events' section of the forum as the title of this thread doesn't exactly tell you what it is?

Looking forward to it, hoping for better weather than today (I did a 15 mile ride in snow with the wind blowing icy needles into my face a lot of the time; still enjoyed it though!)

 

[DJ]

Oh Golly gosh I have just come back to this thread how many of us are there now? I'm a social imbacile and am not very good in crowds of more than ,er one!

 

[redjedi]

Will do!

I have one q, though. It's in relation to the route from Sunbury Cross heading North along the A 316 section. I've not ridden that section before. I know it's a dual carriageway and that we join it just as the M3 ends before Sunbury Cross.

Let me know what you think - anyone know the area better then me? Otherwise the route can be tweaked so that we continue heading east past Kempton Park before heading back North through Hampton Hill.

I see what you mean about the A316, it doesn't look very inviting.

We could go up either London Road to Bedfont or Cadbury Road (mmmm Cadbury ) to Feltam then cut down past Hanworth Park.

But both these routes takes us over the Apex Corner roundabout. I would probably do it on my own, but with a large huge group it might be a bit tricky.

 

[Aperitif]

I see what you mean about the A316, it doesn't look very inviting.

We could go up either London Road to Bedfont or Cadbury Road (mmmm Cadbury ) to Feltam then cut down past Hanworth Park.

But both these routes takes us over the . I would probably do it on my own, but with a large huge group it might be a bit tricky.

Is there another? I thought it was in North London - at the top of Mill Hill...gezza the LONDON TAXI DRIVER WHO DESPERATELY WANTS TO GO ON THIS RIDE BUT IS A BIT SHY (and watches QPR also - oh well) will know

Taxi!

 

[bleakanddivine]

For us Norverners (parochially speaking of London) Apex Corner is where A1 and A41 cross, physically almost above the M1 itself, although I think that's officially called Northway Circus. Don't know about junction nomenclature in the Sarf.

Jonathan

 

[redjedi]

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?ie=UTF8&ll=51.436247,-0.378588&spn=0.004682,0.009613&z=17

There must be two

 

[Aperitif]

Do you know what? I am a prize plonker and I live only up the road from that! Of course of course!
This roundabout is ok - and I use that road to get to and from Richmond with no problems. As you pass on the return leg it is a 'flyover' anyway - so it is a straight road. It is quite a speedy slip road from the roundabout into that section though, so one rider ahead and telling the advancing juggernauts and mindless chavs motorists to calm down...primary verging on right hand side of left hand lane etc... tdr1nka will be there - you are all safe!
No problem - and a homage to stadium thrown in...

The only thing I would suggest is that the peloton continues across the roundabout at the Stadium, across the next one and hangs a right at the third, which takes you past St Margaret's Station and is a bit more 'picturesque'...with the approach to Richmond bridge. Tricky (as in sort your gears out early) roundabout on an upward slope and remember to bear left into Hill Rise almost immediately and climb the calm climb () to Richmond Park. There's a nice view at the top, as you gasp for breath relax while bearing right and arriving at the Star & Garter.
Bloody Paris

 

[redjedi]

remember to bear left into Hill Rise almost immediately and climb the calm climb () to Richmond Park.

It doesn't look as bad as the climb up Nightingale Lane the last time I went to Richmond Park. I got a bit lost and saw that was the quickest way to get to the park.
I got up the first climb, but didn't realise that was the easiest part of it, as I turned the corner and saw the road standing vertically in front of me .
Of course being a man I had to give it a go....I have never felt so much pain in my life. My lungs were bursting out of my chest (I didn't make it all the way to the top), and I had to walk the rest of the way to the park and sit down for 10 mins.

 

[redjedi]

Firstly, sorry you can't make it!

We'll be cycling past Twickenham Stadium an hour and half before kick off - Eng vs New Zealand - so we'll have to walk across that RDB by the Stadium anyway! Well deserved break!

And yes - marvellous view from the Star and Garter!

"Tricky (as in sort your gears out early) roundabout on an upward slope"

Gears? What gears?

Will there be more traffic than usual then

How does the traffic move on the A316 before a match? I don't think we want to get stuck in traffic and have to walk past it all. It should be ok after the roundabout, but what about before it?

 

[Aperitif]

Nightingale Lane - so called because it makes you whistle!
Respect.

 

[bleakanddivine]

Obligatory fancy technical question - can that googlemap of the route be downloaded into a GPS? Can it be distributed as a suitable file or do I need to recreate myself it in some mapping software?

Jonathan