... got scared witless riding solo through the badlands with a rapidly failing light ...
Glad to see you got around OK, even with that! I was tempted to accost random female cyclists until I find out who you were, but thought better of cycling up to every woman on the ride and asking if they were "funnymummy" ! I was the idiot with the polka dot YACF jersey, and too heavy pannier full of tools and spares, which thankfully I avoided using thanks to the good work of the chaps from Brixton Cycles.
I ended up cycling through a bit of the badlands with (I think) Simon's two panniered friend, a West Ham supporter (I barely recognise a football jersey when I see one, let alone know who it represents!) who had been getting a bit nervous cycling through there by herself. A few minutes with me rambling on about random nonsense got her mind off of things, and even sped her up (obviously trying to get away from me!) since we caught up some other riders. I was glad to see she also survived the entire ride, getting to the Madeira as I was just starting on my breakfast.
I believe there were minimal mechanicals. The main ones I came across were the punctures being repaired at Mitcham common, which I avoided aiding with by Simon asking me to sprint across to Portnalls Road to cover that junction. It's only five miles, which I did at a touch under 20mph, and then promptly spent the next 20 minutes sitting on the ground, eating carbs, and chatting to the chap who had been grabbed and asked to cover it (and I forget who, my memory for details on night rides is appalling).
Twice on that sprint I hacked the brakes on to stop for other puncture problems, only to be told that they were pretty much solved. Come on guys, I've got a reputation to live up to! This also meant that a few people got overtaken by me twice within a few minutes!
I did get to behave a bit like a nutter a few other times on that ride. At Clapham Common, Titus's impressive below of "All Up" was never going to get to the front, so I hammered up the pavement (carefully, but admittedly a little bit naughtily) only having to dodge one abusive drunk, and carefully went around the chaps at the tea cabin. I got to continue playing TEC with Titus and others for a while, so missed the fun and games with the off duty members of the Met which Apertif talked about earlier.
An other memory was at the halfway point watching the helpers bringing out several more plates of sandwiches, thinking "There not enough people left to eat those", only to have the crowd of Marshals who had collected, descend upon them, and scoff the lot! (and yes, I helped out there as well!) On reflection savoury sandwiches go down better after carrying a load of sweet carbs to keep the fuel levels up.
I sort of alternated between TECing and sprinting along the ride to see if anyone further up needed any mechanical help or encouragement, which is a great form of exercise, but absolutely kills a regular pace, and nackers you out! I don't think I've ever been so exhausted after a FNRttC before!
I'm going to avoid cycling up Ditchling with the Kaffenback and pannier in future, it was so much easier last time with
Red which probably weighs less than half the Kaffenback, and doesn't allow me to carry a pannier!
Susie had a minor mechanical on Ditchling, managing to kill her rear wheel a bit with a spoke failure, although she didn't let it stop her cycling all the way up. Yay! The last time I looked, she was trying to use this failure as justification for a new bike.
It was great to see so many people completing the ride, and a few who obviously never thought that they would. I tried to encourage some people along the way, although the pair I went past on Ditchling Road, near Moulsecoomb Park, and the Golf Course had to be some of the more releaved when I told them that after they got to the top of the hill they were struggling up, it was all down hill for the remainder!
So, another great Martlets ride. I hope they raised lots of cash, and encouraged a few more people to cycle a bit more, even if not on FNRttCs.
) commented, whilst speaking about Scotsmen and their inability to hold their drink, on the good old days of Tennents lager that used to have scantily clad women printed upon them - another Scotsch misery invention.
