GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
I would advise consulting dregs.
Dellzeqq has all the mystical powers he needs; he vulcanised mind meld is making me ride my commute route at 0200 on a Saturday morning. My wife now thinks I'm completely certifiable.
FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast in aid of Martlets Hospice 3rd September 2010
- Thread starter dellzeqq
- Start date
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I would advise consulting dregs.
Dellzeqq has all the mystical powers he needs; he vulcanised mind meld is making me ride my commute route at 0200 on a Saturday morning. My wife now thinks I'm completely certifiable.
arallsopp
Post of The Year 2009 winner
- Location
- Bromley, Kent
Oy! ILB! You're late!
Right, I just saw them all off, which was quite a sight.
They've had a police escort of at least four police cyclists. Two were staying at the back of the main group, and two others were blocking at junctions to get the main block of cyclists through faster. Inevitably there was some backlog of motor traffic, which meant that the Martlet's van got stuck a bit.
I stayed at the back with Simon, and we had to stop and deal with a couple of mechanicals, both people who managed to over shift and jam the chain between the frame and wheel. The first one happened within a couple of hundred feet of Sloane Square, and was bunged into the back of the van. The second was in Queenstown Road, and the van was probably half a mile back in traffic. I managed to unbolt the rear wheel and loosen the chain up. We then managed to catch up with the rest of the cyclists who were backed up along the footpath off of Windmill Drive on Clapham Common. I left them there, and continued on my way back home.
It was quite impressive looking at the path from the more southerly section of the Clapham Common cyclepath, and seeing this vast crowd of red lights. I tried to take some photos, but I suspect they won't be half as impressive as the reality.
I'm uploading the photos that I took now, but they'll be a while yet, and I suspect most of them will be a bit blurry.
They've had a police escort of at least four police cyclists. Two were staying at the back of the main group, and two others were blocking at junctions to get the main block of cyclists through faster. Inevitably there was some backlog of motor traffic, which meant that the Martlet's van got stuck a bit.
I stayed at the back with Simon, and we had to stop and deal with a couple of mechanicals, both people who managed to over shift and jam the chain between the frame and wheel. The first one happened within a couple of hundred feet of Sloane Square, and was bunged into the back of the van. The second was in Queenstown Road, and the van was probably half a mile back in traffic. I managed to unbolt the rear wheel and loosen the chain up. We then managed to catch up with the rest of the cyclists who were backed up along the footpath off of Windmill Drive on Clapham Common. I left them there, and continued on my way back home.
It was quite impressive looking at the path from the more southerly section of the Clapham Common cyclepath, and seeing this vast crowd of red lights. I tried to take some photos, but I suspect they won't be half as impressive as the reality.
I'm uploading the photos that I took now, but they'll be a while yet, and I suspect most of them will be a bit blurry.
I've just got home after helping to sign them in and wave them off.
It was quite a sight and almost all left in one one go. I hung around for a bit to make sure the last 2 knew the way, running about 20 minutes late but I'm sure they'll catch up.
We signed in approx 350 riders with a few extras and I'm sure a few just didn't sign in, so a good turn out.
Riders and bikes of all shapes and sizes. Some in better shape than others.
Wish I could have been on the ride, but I went home with a smile on my face.
I had quite an eventful night in all. Leaving/birthday drinks in Kilburn before, where I drank far more than I should have but all in the spirits of the lushketeer
Fingers crossed for a smooth arrival in Brighton.
It was quite a sight and almost all left in one one go. I hung around for a bit to make sure the last 2 knew the way, running about 20 minutes late but I'm sure they'll catch up.
We signed in approx 350 riders with a few extras and I'm sure a few just didn't sign in, so a good turn out.
Riders and bikes of all shapes and sizes. Some in better shape than others.
Wish I could have been on the ride, but I went home with a smile on my face.
I had quite an eventful night in all. Leaving/birthday drinks in Kilburn before, where I drank far more than I should have but all in the spirits of the lushketeer
Fingers crossed for a smooth arrival in Brighton.
Right the photos are going up here. It'll be another hour or so before they finish uploading, and I won't be around to start the auto-thumbnail generation, so the first person to look at a picture will have a wait. Similarly I can't correct the orientation of the later shots, so some pictures will be on their sides!
Well done signing them all in, there was quite a seething group at Sloane Square, so if you managed to get most of them signed in you did pretty well.
The seemed to be quite a delay getting them back on to the road after Clapham Common. That junction always causes some delay, because the ride has to go through multiple bits and lights which can slow people down. Your late leavers probably managed to catch the main group up there. I probably arrived at that point with Simon at least ten minutes after the leaders, due to the couple of mechanicals and lights, and looking at the length of the ride from further across on the commons, I doubt they cleared through there in less than ten minutes.
Marna was obviously ready with her lit up bike further along. I doubt they were missed by the ride! I aso saw the other odd twitter that showed that at least some people on the ride managed to get to the end earlier than we normally do, so the front was obviously moving reasonably fast.
upsidedown
Waiting for the great leap forward
- Location
- The middle bit
Just home. What a great ride.
My thanks go to all of you that gave your time to organise a great ride, it really could not have been organised better.
The food and drinks at the halfway point were very well received and again thanks to the volunteers who were serving and cleaning up.
Thanks to McWobble for guiding me to SS last night.
Now i've done one i'd be happy to help at the next in whatever capacity is needed.
cheers
paul
My thanks go to all of you that gave your time to organise a great ride, it really could not have been organised better.
The food and drinks at the halfway point were very well received and again thanks to the volunteers who were serving and cleaning up.
Thanks to McWobble for guiding me to SS last night.
Now i've done one i'd be happy to help at the next in whatever capacity is needed.
cheers
paul
Arthur
Comfortably numb and increasingly fixed.
- Location
- Gillingham, Kent
I didn’t ride this one, but I did spend a delightful few hours watching people turning left at Lindfield Post Office. Seriously, it was great, although I very nearly didn’t make it, as I had printed out the route directions from my house to Lingfield by mistake. My thanks to the chaps who put me back in the right direction after I retraced my route to the top of Turner’s Hill.
The moon was no more than a sliver and I saw Orion for the first time since last winter. Riders were passing me in assorted states of jollity, determination and sleep deprivation. Two were in such a trance-like state that they carried straight on at the turning and didn’t seem to hear me when I shouted after them. Hope they found their way OK.
Marshalling duties over, I made my way to the top of Ditchling Beacon to take a few snaps, then on to the finish. Of course, by then, all of the front-runners had already been through, so apologies to those I missed.
Photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24908271@N03/sets/72157624876020874/
Congratulations to all involved; from where I was standing it seemed a great success.
The moon was no more than a sliver and I saw Orion for the first time since last winter. Riders were passing me in assorted states of jollity, determination and sleep deprivation. Two were in such a trance-like state that they carried straight on at the turning and didn’t seem to hear me when I shouted after them. Hope they found their way OK.
Marshalling duties over, I made my way to the top of Ditchling Beacon to take a few snaps, then on to the finish. Of course, by then, all of the front-runners had already been through, so apologies to those I missed.
Photos are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24908271@N03/sets/72157624876020874/
Congratulations to all involved; from where I was standing it seemed a great success.
That's an interesting view down to the mist from the top of Ditchling, I don't think I've ever seen it like that. Very scenic.
Lots of happy faces at getting to the top of Ditchling, and a few recognisable ones. Good stuff.
GrumpyGregry
Here for rides.
Arthur's post explains why I had people creeping up on me from the east at Slugwash Lane.
Everyone was so nice and happy and polite that marshalling was a pleasure, it was quite hard to see faces so if I ignored anyone I know I apologise. Glad I got there early as the trail was blazed minutes after 03:00 and the dribs and drabs became a veritable rush as 5:30 approached. I was in two minds about just sneeking off back home after but when the usual suspects turned up at the tail and as usual their sheer ruddy joie de vivre made me realise that going hoe was the wrong call. I had to get a move on because I'd been stood standing still for 3.5 hours and needed to get some warmth going. The Beacon duly appeared and a wave of testosterone based logic crashed up the shore of my brain. I've only cycled 20 miles I thought. My legs are fresher than most I thought. I'm not walking or stopping I thought. I going to climb in a much bigger gear than usual I thought. So I did. Then, near the top, a lovely young lady young enough to be my daughter overtook me. Humming a happy little tune and being very cheerful as she had every right to be. I let her go and then something primeval in my head convulsed and I felt myself clicking into a higher gear and standing on the pedals and saw the gap closing and with a lack of gallantry that will have my dear dead mother spinning in her grave, I passed her.
My glory, not that real glory ever comes from being unchivalrous, was all too short lived. I think I heard a "well done Greg" from Claud and another from Rich. I tried to raise my head to smile but that act of doing so seemed to cause my head to spin and my guts to churn and surge and the inevitable, unstoppable, involuntary upchucking began. 'Serves you bloody well right' I thought to myself cycling past everyone to find a bit of grassy bank to spew upon. A charming antipodean lady on a lovely white bike offered me some water and various people looked, and expressed, concern. I've not done that since I stopped rugby training.
One of Tim's rock cakes, some water, and a nice little sit down, settled the turbulent ocean of my stomach and the race to the sea front commenced. I saw the van parked up and someone being minstered to after crossing the A27. I hope all were ok. No speed records were set on the Ditchling Road, far too many cars and besides "The Babe" as our beloved great leader like to call her is just that and utterly charming company too. So side by side we rolled into town, tutting and shaking our heads and occasionally intoning with as much solemnity as we could muster "This is a CTC ride and you will obey the highway code...." when one of our great band was seen to take a mobile call and RLJ just before the Level.
Breakfast demolished in splendid company and a discussion of the merits of hill climbing in darkness ensued. Teff took me once more under his wing and pointed out all the school boy errors in my bikes assembly; I hesitated to correct them only when it became apparent he would insist on my stripping the front hubs. Rich and I debated the merits of the splendid range of Shutt Velo Rapide clothing, some being modelled by the lovely Claude and I. Such attention to detail that girl, she even had the socks. I won't wear them becuase the are white and I am the man in black. Al approved of my cross top levers but seemed to suggest discussion of the merits of Castelli's clothing for the fuller figured gentleman was a bridge to far. This from a man who has probably owned more handlebars than I have jerseys
I took my leave of these dear folk and pootled off to Shoreham eschewing, as is my wont, the cyclepath and sticking to the road. Over the wooden bridge and through Coombes and Botolphs in the glorious morning sunshine and Steying hove into view. Steying is home to my favourite tea shop in the whole county and elevenses was duly scoffed. I was joined by two charming local ladies in Hardrocks who, as I type my be googling "Friday Night Ride to the Coast" before unexpctedly who should join my but one of my lovely colleagues from work and her partner. We had a good old natter about where to go MTB'ing as they only recently moved to Steyning and have not yet tried the delight that is Mouse Lane. They left, conveniently forgetting to pay their bill which cause such a row in the tea shop that I did the decent thing and coffed up for them and me. Hopefully I can persuade her on Monday that she forgot and get my money back!
North I went, and on reaching Partridge Green the lure of the downslink became too great. A small voice whispered 'you can't take this bike down there it's got skinny little tyres and no suspension' but Looking down I confirmed said bike is not made of eggshells and glass so off we went, thus sparing me some of the lumpy bits between there and here.
Home was found at 12:45, to my dismay it appeared, upon dismounting, that my legs had forgotten how to walk but as some young people were in the garden I simply did what all Dad's do and sat with them and annoyed them by my very presence. (and smell)
Well done Simon. Well done the Martlets people and the Cafe crew. Well done the riders of the BSO's. Well done even the people who went out on a night ride without any lights. When are we going to do it again?
A statistical postscript; No. of kms cycled in the six weeks prior to today = 0.(Yep; nada, bupkiss, zilch, zero, nil) No. of kms cycles since 01:45 today 107km. No. of times I threw up atop the Beacon = 3 Size of my grin right now thinking about the ride = about a mile wide.
Everyone was so nice and happy and polite that marshalling was a pleasure, it was quite hard to see faces so if I ignored anyone I know I apologise. Glad I got there early as the trail was blazed minutes after 03:00 and the dribs and drabs became a veritable rush as 5:30 approached. I was in two minds about just sneeking off back home after but when the usual suspects turned up at the tail and as usual their sheer ruddy joie de vivre made me realise that going hoe was the wrong call. I had to get a move on because I'd been stood standing still for 3.5 hours and needed to get some warmth going. The Beacon duly appeared and a wave of testosterone based logic crashed up the shore of my brain. I've only cycled 20 miles I thought. My legs are fresher than most I thought. I'm not walking or stopping I thought. I going to climb in a much bigger gear than usual I thought. So I did. Then, near the top, a lovely young lady young enough to be my daughter overtook me. Humming a happy little tune and being very cheerful as she had every right to be. I let her go and then something primeval in my head convulsed and I felt myself clicking into a higher gear and standing on the pedals and saw the gap closing and with a lack of gallantry that will have my dear dead mother spinning in her grave, I passed her.
My glory, not that real glory ever comes from being unchivalrous, was all too short lived. I think I heard a "well done Greg" from Claud and another from Rich. I tried to raise my head to smile but that act of doing so seemed to cause my head to spin and my guts to churn and surge and the inevitable, unstoppable, involuntary upchucking began. 'Serves you bloody well right' I thought to myself cycling past everyone to find a bit of grassy bank to spew upon. A charming antipodean lady on a lovely white bike offered me some water and various people looked, and expressed, concern. I've not done that since I stopped rugby training.
One of Tim's rock cakes, some water, and a nice little sit down, settled the turbulent ocean of my stomach and the race to the sea front commenced. I saw the van parked up and someone being minstered to after crossing the A27. I hope all were ok. No speed records were set on the Ditchling Road, far too many cars and besides "The Babe" as our beloved great leader like to call her is just that and utterly charming company too. So side by side we rolled into town, tutting and shaking our heads and occasionally intoning with as much solemnity as we could muster "This is a CTC ride and you will obey the highway code...." when one of our great band was seen to take a mobile call and RLJ just before the Level.
Breakfast demolished in splendid company and a discussion of the merits of hill climbing in darkness ensued. Teff took me once more under his wing and pointed out all the school boy errors in my bikes assembly; I hesitated to correct them only when it became apparent he would insist on my stripping the front hubs. Rich and I debated the merits of the splendid range of Shutt Velo Rapide clothing, some being modelled by the lovely Claude and I. Such attention to detail that girl, she even had the socks. I won't wear them becuase the are white and I am the man in black. Al approved of my cross top levers but seemed to suggest discussion of the merits of Castelli's clothing for the fuller figured gentleman was a bridge to far. This from a man who has probably owned more handlebars than I have jerseys
I took my leave of these dear folk and pootled off to Shoreham eschewing, as is my wont, the cyclepath and sticking to the road. Over the wooden bridge and through Coombes and Botolphs in the glorious morning sunshine and Steying hove into view. Steying is home to my favourite tea shop in the whole county and elevenses was duly scoffed. I was joined by two charming local ladies in Hardrocks who, as I type my be googling "Friday Night Ride to the Coast" before unexpctedly who should join my but one of my lovely colleagues from work and her partner. We had a good old natter about where to go MTB'ing as they only recently moved to Steyning and have not yet tried the delight that is Mouse Lane. They left, conveniently forgetting to pay their bill which cause such a row in the tea shop that I did the decent thing and coffed up for them and me. Hopefully I can persuade her on Monday that she forgot and get my money back!
North I went, and on reaching Partridge Green the lure of the downslink became too great. A small voice whispered 'you can't take this bike down there it's got skinny little tyres and no suspension' but Looking down I confirmed said bike is not made of eggshells and glass so off we went, thus sparing me some of the lumpy bits between there and here.
Home was found at 12:45, to my dismay it appeared, upon dismounting, that my legs had forgotten how to walk but as some young people were in the garden I simply did what all Dad's do and sat with them and annoyed them by my very presence. (and smell)
Well done Simon. Well done the Martlets people and the Cafe crew. Well done the riders of the BSO's. Well done even the people who went out on a night ride without any lights. When are we going to do it again?
A statistical postscript; No. of kms cycled in the six weeks prior to today = 0.(Yep; nada, bupkiss, zilch, zero, nil) No. of kms cycles since 01:45 today 107km. No. of times I threw up atop the Beacon = 3 Size of my grin right now thinking about the ride = about a mile wide.
Finally back into the world of the living. A great ride was had. First time marshalling and really enjoyed it especially watching the riders coming out of the darkness.
A big thanks to Simon and all the other helpers for making this ride what it was- excellent
A big thanks to Simon and all the other helpers for making this ride what it was- excellent
redfalo
known as Olaf in real life
- Location
- Brexit Boomtown
Flying Dodo
It'll soon be summer
I've re-surfaced after a few hours sleep.
I decided to cycle in for a change, so popped down the A5, and as I was passing Kilburn, I became aware of someone following me. I thought it was a bit cheeky to get a wheel sucker, but as I turned around, I discovered it was Aperitif! So we headed off to Sloane Square which was quite a sight with clearly hundreds of cyclists milling around. The place needs some Sheffield stands though for all the bikes.
The marshalling (or marshmallows as Adrian referred to us) group of 15 left just after 11.30 and fortunately none of the Martletts riders followed us. A rapid tour through the suburbs meant we were soon at Reigate Hill by 1.25, after gradually distributing riders off at the designated points. Susie & Claudine were clear about their words of wisdom to impart to the Martlett riders as they went through, so hopefully there weren't any mishaps. I'd been texting dellzeqq with our progress as we'd dropped off some of the marshals. In Horley, we managed to go straight past Tim & Marna waiting at the junction of Haroldsea Drive, despite Marna's wonderfully lit up bike, and by then, there were just 5 of us left, as we zoomed down the Surrey Cycleway. I was left on Broadbridge Lane, and then it went all quiet for a while. I was glad I was dressed up OK, as it was certainly a bit chilly.
After about 20 minutes, the first riders appeared including John (redflightuk), so clearly they were going for a speed record for a FNRttC, and at about 2.35 I was told the last riders had just gone down Reigate Hill. There were some lovely bits of mist drifting around, and for the first hour, time seemed to go rapidly, as I stood out in the road whenever a group of riders appeared, and directed them off to the right, and cheering them all up by telling them it was only 5 or 10 minutes to the food stop. One girl clearly needed to get her eyes tested as she called out her thanks and called me a young man! The riders were very spread out, with often 10 minutes between groups, with some people riding alone, including 1 chap who had no lights front or rear, with just a glow stick wrapped around his leg. He must have had fun trying to avoid the bumps, grooves and bollards on the cycle path!
Many people commented they'd got lost on that section, which I wasn't surprised about, as we'd recognised that we really should have had another marshal at the end of the actual path itself, to direct people to turn left at the Surrey Cycle sign. I'd left some glow sticks on the road, and Adrian had put some on the left arm of the sign itself, but it turns out people has turned right there, and also tried to turn right on an earlier fork of Haroldsea Drive. Slowly the flow of riders eased up with the Tail End Charlies coming along, but it must have been after 4.30 by the time Tim & Marna rolled up but it had been commented on that a slow rider, Alberta, hadn't been seen, so after zooming up and down, and sending others on, she was eventually found in the company of Dave. Despite her protestations, dellzeqq bundled her into the car, and we headed off to Copthorne school. Fortunately there was still plenty of food, so our little group made an attempt to clear a plate for the helpers, to lighten their load, as they were in the process of clearing up.
Setting off again, it was getting lighter, and as we headed up Turners Hill, we started to go past riders who were clearly starting to feel tired. Further on, poor Greg had been waiting at the top of Slugwash Lane since 3 am, so he must have ended up being there over 4 hours. I pressed on, as I had an early train to catch, but I was a bit concerned by the riders who were walking at Ditchling. This was 1 mile before the actual village, not up the beacon! Andy at the crossroads was another one who'd had a long wait. On the actual hill itself, there were loads of riders dotted across the road, like yellow ants, although many were giving it a good go at trying to ride up, so well done to all. At the top, as shown in Arthur's photos, there was a welcoming committee complete with horns, which was nice. Then it was just the usual sprint for the speed camera - 35.5 mph. I might have triggered the flash, but it could also have been the sun popping between the trees, as I turned my head back to check. Lots of tables outside the cafe on Madeira Drive, and another welcoming committee. The Martletts volunteers certainly did an excellent job.
I'm surprised at over 350 riders being signed in though. I was trying to remember to keep a count as they went past and only reckoned on 250-270 or so. So I hope we didn't miss any. Hopefully everyone has now got to the end!
A few photos here.
I decided to cycle in for a change, so popped down the A5, and as I was passing Kilburn, I became aware of someone following me. I thought it was a bit cheeky to get a wheel sucker, but as I turned around, I discovered it was Aperitif! So we headed off to Sloane Square which was quite a sight with clearly hundreds of cyclists milling around. The place needs some Sheffield stands though for all the bikes.
The marshalling (or marshmallows as Adrian referred to us) group of 15 left just after 11.30 and fortunately none of the Martletts riders followed us. A rapid tour through the suburbs meant we were soon at Reigate Hill by 1.25, after gradually distributing riders off at the designated points. Susie & Claudine were clear about their words of wisdom to impart to the Martlett riders as they went through, so hopefully there weren't any mishaps. I'd been texting dellzeqq with our progress as we'd dropped off some of the marshals. In Horley, we managed to go straight past Tim & Marna waiting at the junction of Haroldsea Drive, despite Marna's wonderfully lit up bike, and by then, there were just 5 of us left, as we zoomed down the Surrey Cycleway. I was left on Broadbridge Lane, and then it went all quiet for a while. I was glad I was dressed up OK, as it was certainly a bit chilly.
After about 20 minutes, the first riders appeared including John (redflightuk), so clearly they were going for a speed record for a FNRttC, and at about 2.35 I was told the last riders had just gone down Reigate Hill. There were some lovely bits of mist drifting around, and for the first hour, time seemed to go rapidly, as I stood out in the road whenever a group of riders appeared, and directed them off to the right, and cheering them all up by telling them it was only 5 or 10 minutes to the food stop. One girl clearly needed to get her eyes tested as she called out her thanks and called me a young man! The riders were very spread out, with often 10 minutes between groups, with some people riding alone, including 1 chap who had no lights front or rear, with just a glow stick wrapped around his leg. He must have had fun trying to avoid the bumps, grooves and bollards on the cycle path!
Many people commented they'd got lost on that section, which I wasn't surprised about, as we'd recognised that we really should have had another marshal at the end of the actual path itself, to direct people to turn left at the Surrey Cycle sign. I'd left some glow sticks on the road, and Adrian had put some on the left arm of the sign itself, but it turns out people has turned right there, and also tried to turn right on an earlier fork of Haroldsea Drive. Slowly the flow of riders eased up with the Tail End Charlies coming along, but it must have been after 4.30 by the time Tim & Marna rolled up but it had been commented on that a slow rider, Alberta, hadn't been seen, so after zooming up and down, and sending others on, she was eventually found in the company of Dave. Despite her protestations, dellzeqq bundled her into the car, and we headed off to Copthorne school. Fortunately there was still plenty of food, so our little group made an attempt to clear a plate for the helpers, to lighten their load, as they were in the process of clearing up.
Setting off again, it was getting lighter, and as we headed up Turners Hill, we started to go past riders who were clearly starting to feel tired. Further on, poor Greg had been waiting at the top of Slugwash Lane since 3 am, so he must have ended up being there over 4 hours. I pressed on, as I had an early train to catch, but I was a bit concerned by the riders who were walking at Ditchling. This was 1 mile before the actual village, not up the beacon! Andy at the crossroads was another one who'd had a long wait. On the actual hill itself, there were loads of riders dotted across the road, like yellow ants, although many were giving it a good go at trying to ride up, so well done to all. At the top, as shown in Arthur's photos, there was a welcoming committee complete with horns, which was nice. Then it was just the usual sprint for the speed camera - 35.5 mph. I might have triggered the flash, but it could also have been the sun popping between the trees, as I turned my head back to check. Lots of tables outside the cafe on Madeira Drive, and another welcoming committee. The Martletts volunteers certainly did an excellent job.
I'm surprised at over 350 riders being signed in though. I was trying to remember to keep a count as they went past and only reckoned on 250-270 or so. So I hope we didn't miss any. Hopefully everyone has now got to the end!
A few photos here.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Your photos are exquisite, Arthur. Thank you.
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