Hoo Peninsula Sunday 20th May

[Aperitif]

He's a bit like his football team, Ian - all show and no go...

 

[martint235]

He's a bit like his football team, Ian - all show and no go...

And you'll be on the FNRttC to Whitstable will you???

 

[Blue Hills]

mm

at the risk of being bah humbug, this is why I so rarely think of turning up on these things - four pages of maybe this, maybe that and then nothing.

bah humbug

I've led rides through torrential rain - advertised so they happened (those tough nuts from the lcc borough groups) - one rather memorably to Brighton with a guy in a T shirt and flip-flops

musing whether to rerun Chiddingly Mr Rauk

 

[ianrauk]

mm

at the risk of being bah humbug, this is why I so rarely think of turning up on these things - four pages of maybe this, maybe that and then nothing.

bah humbug

I've led rides through torrential rain - advertised so they happened (those tough nuts from the lcc borough groups) - one rather memorably to Brighton with a guy in a T shirt and flip-flops

musing whether to rerun Chiddingly Mr Rauk

Humbug away.. where was this blessed rain? No rain.. nope none, zero, zilch.....

Chiddingly would be nice Mr Hills.. though perhaps not for 2 of our esteemed boozing friends

 

[potsy]

mm

at the risk of being bah humbug, this is why I so rarely think of turning up on these things - four pages of maybe this, maybe that and then nothing.

Wouldn't happen on a northern ride, just saying

 

[martint235]

mm

at the risk of being bah humbug, this is why I so rarely think of turning up on these things - four pages of maybe this, maybe that and then nothing.

bah humbug

I've led rides through torrential rain - advertised so they happened (those tough nuts from the lcc borough groups) - one rather memorably to Brighton with a guy in a T shirt and flip-flops

musing whether to rerun Chiddingly Mr Rauk

It was an idea. It didn't work out. It also didn't rain.

Sorry but I've been on rides through torrential rain and much though I enjoy being on my bike I prefer being dry.

I went yesterday and it was fun. I will re-organise for another day. There will be no running of red lights and no browbeating people for not bringing food. Just saying.

 

[Blue Hills]

It There will be no running of red lights and no browbeating people for not bringing food. Just saying.

Do I know you Martin? Is this a reference to me? I would have PMed you but can't figure out how to do it anymore.

 

[Blue Hills]

Chiddingly would be nice Mr Hills.. though perhaps not for 2 of our esteemed boozing friends

Will see if can fit something in (no I'm not starting a thread - if it's arranged it will happen/details fixed and posted/folk come or not - but anyone who posts three times a la "I'm talking to the cat about it"/ "will have to see if I can get a pass from the Mr/Mrs", "ooh - not sure about the latest NASA rolling five-minute weather forecast" will be left.).

Ah yes, our boozing/fine dining pals Mr Rauk - I heard on the grapevine about your trip westwards up the Thames a while back

 

[martint235]

Do I know you Martin? Is this a reference to me? I would have PMed you but can't figure out how to do it anymore.

Sorry my post was probably unnecessarily antagonistic but I felt your post was unnecessary and condescending. I arranged the Hoo ride because I'd never been and thought some friends may like to join me. As I said, didn't work out, c'est la vie. Although I did visit Hoo alone yesterday.

Yes we have crossed paths. I've been on one ride led by you where, as I intimated, you as ride leader ran a red light at Deptford Creek. Sorry if I find this appalling. I was also belittled for not bringing food for what I considered a small ride to Brighton (I rode back). Perhaps Ianrauk will back up my riding ability, we'll see.

 

[Aperitif]

Martin, you had breakfast and a sandwich stop in last year's 250+/- miler in the pissing rain at night too, whilst giving your time to contribute to other's wellbeing. And you don't take food for Brighton? Distressing! I should give the bike away and try limbo dancing.
PS I set off for Hoo yesterday too. Got as far as Greenwich etc but I had consumed approx 15 pints earlier in the 24 hours, and didn't really fancy it much after the first 25 odd miles from NW. I was going to take a load of snaps. Lesser riders might not have appreciated the breeze - I just felt jaded and cold (story of my life). If I had made it, this thread would have been full of sky pictures!

 

[Blue Hills]

Hi Martin

Sorry if my initail post seemed a bit tough - in truth it was maybe caused more by stuff that happens a lot in a certain other place - endless ifs and maybes etc. My background is more the local lcc rides where folk plan a ride, and announce it and then. barring ice, go.

I very rarely run red lights - I think I maybe know the junction you mean and tend to think that it was pretty clear with good visibility early on a Saturday/Sunday morning. If not, well I was in the wrong.

As for the food, can't think why I would have suddenly made an issue of it - I have had a grumble once or twice with folk who brought nothing and then made the entire group stop while we went in search of food for them - one guy once turned up for a longish ride and hadn't even had breakfast. I've also been known to tut tut at folk who have turned up without water to save weight - a nice bod on here probably knows who that refers to.

all the best - I'd be interested in a PM from you with more clues as to your identity - have we met more than once or was that once enough

 

[User10571]

mm

at the risk of being bah humbug, this is why I so rarely think

FTFY

Thanks for your much valued input

 

[her_welshness]

Humbug away.. where was this blessed rain? No rain.. nope none, zero, zilch.....

Chiddingly would be nice Mr Hills.. though perhaps not for 2 of our esteemed boozing friends

Hmmm, we both Ian had a bitch about that ride afterwards, and also I remember the state that that poor Korean lad was in. Sorry Monsieur Hills.

This thread really raises issues about informal rides, doesn't it? You have people on here laughingly saying 'lets go super-speedy' which I do think make some folk think 'hang on, if they are going to do a fastish one then I won't bother'. Extremely offputting, especially for new cyclists. It was nice to see some reassurance from Martin afterwards that it was not going to be fast. The Hoo ride is one of my favourite rides and it is one to be savoured, an opportunity to see a bit of Kent not many people go to, and its perfectly easy to comfortably do 80 miles in a day as there are not too many hills.

 

[ianrauk]

Hmmm, we both Ian had a bitch about that ride afterwards, and also I remember the state that that poor Korean lad was in. Sorry Monsieur Hills.

This thread really raises issues about informal rides, doesn't it? You have people on here laughingly saying 'lets go super-speedy' which I do think make some folk think 'hang on, if they are going to do a fastish one then I won't bother'. Extremely offputting, especially for new cyclists. It was nice to see some reassurance from Martin afterwards that it was not going to be fast. The Hoo ride is one of my favourite rides and it is one to be savoured, an opportunity to see a bit of Kent not many people go to, and its perfectly easy to comfortably do 80 miles in a day as there are not too many hills.

Indeed, I think that ride killed that poor little fellow. Did he ever join another ride? And who could forget the good Doctors deraillieur/Wheel coming together episode?

The Super Speedy thing. As far as I know there has never been a ride described as super speedy in informal rides, only Speedy... of which was a once a month ride set up for those that wanted to push themselves a little harder, faster & further (100 miles plus) rather then a days pootle. It made no bones as to what they were/are and at the end of the day these type of rides are certainly not for new/inexperienced cyclists.

The last thing we would have wanted is for someone to come along and find they are out of their depth. It's not fair on them and not fair on the ride.

 

[ColinJ]

Wouldn't happen on a northern ride, just saying

TBF - we have postponed/cancelled one or two this year because of dire weather forecasts, and people who did venture out anyway confirmed that we were wise to do so!

OTOH, we have also been out in dire weather a few times and survived.

No excuse this week over large areas of the UK - sunshine every day!