FNRttC London to Shoreham Friday 2nd June 2017

[robjh]

Hope the brekkie is as good as last time!!!

It is!

 

[robjh]

And this is how it all began. Thanks @Flying Dodo for another great FNRttC.

 

[J1888]

Great ride. Now waiting at the station for my train...which is in an hour. Didn't really think this bit through

 

[User482]

That was splendid. Thanks FD.

 

[mmmmartin]

Best. Night. Ride. Ever.
Quick exit from That London.
Lovely lanes.
Warm night, short sleeves!
No wind.
Lovely views.
Birdsong.
Super to see and chat with old chums.
Great breakfast, probably the bestest.
Few mechanicals, cuppla visitations and @robjh demonstrated his winning performance in the Olympic chain wrestling competition and proved you don't need a chain whip to free a jammed chain. Oh no.
Very professionally served breakfast, several had second helpings and there seemed to be unlimited coffee.

 

[hatler]

Great fun. Beautiful route. I had no idea that there was a view to the left on that stretch of road after Turners Hill, I've only ever done that one in the other direction in pitch blackness.

That was my first time wholly at the back which, given my current lack of time on the bike, was probably no bad thing.

Three incidents: Puncture 1 (Stuaff's first ever FNRttC puncture) was dealt with quickly; Puncture 2 (Julian) likewise; robjh's chain jam was of a slightly more serious order of magnitude. It took about half an hour of (robjh's) oily-handed wrenching to get the chain out from between the cassette and the wheel. He ended up having to break it, then use the leverage of one of the chainrings to pull it free. One link discarded to be replaced with a spare quick-link, and a massive adjustment of the limit screw to ensure it didn't happen again. Ugly.

Aside from that, and as Martin says, bird song aplenty and very little motorised traffic on the chosen route.

Sadly I had to bail as we got to the airport (domestic duties demand dad) so missed out on the brekkie, which was a bit of a wrench, knowing how good it is.

Scooted off to Shoreham station and had only eight minutes to wait for a train back to London. (And was back home before the poor GCSE student was even awake.) All good.

 

[sagefly]

Disappointed to have missed the ride, vis a vie, suggestions for a replacement front light very welcome!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

First Whitstable was my first love but now I have a new mistress with whom to while away the night.

Best English Night Ride, ever. Simple as. End of.

My legs appear to be hollowed out, and as I type there is a strange lump in my throat. Old friends, new friends and a ride on my fave roads in Sussex with them. Bliss.

and what a breakfast!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

and a word on AyUps. I last charged mine in 2014. Seriously.

They lasted all night. Amazing.

 

[wanda2010]

I think this was the warmest night ride I've done so far, despite wearing two thin pairs of gloves (fingers freeze no matter the temp). As much as I whinge about hills/inclines/mountains, I sometimes forget that I've improved a lot since starting the night rides. Tonight I only walked up a small section and it wasn't Turners Hill

The breakfast was foine/superb/lovely and I hope we get enough people next time to fill the restaurant area too .

Thanks Adam and the TECs and waymarkers.

Now, if one of you could come clean my bike and get the food shopping whilst I have a kip, I'd be most grateful

 

[srw]

As I sat down for breakfast, @Flying Dodo said "how are you?"

"I'm past participle of an Anglo Saxon derived verb indicating sexual congress."

That was tough. It's the furthest I've ridden since the autumn, and coming back from sickness I don't have the base fitness - so my granniest gear was in regular use. It is a good route, even if it seemed to show off some of the roughest tarmac in Surrey, and revealed that just throwing on a dynamo light without adjustment doesn't really work to illuminate a downhill road.

Apologies to anyone trying to engage me in conversation - I could hardly string together a sentence. And thanks to @User13710 for the offer of a flatcut through the Adur valley.

I made it back to Surrey safely, have inhaled a bit more food and after a snooze am vegetating in front of rubbish telly.

I will be back, fitter and stronger!

 

[srw]

I don't have the base fitness

No. I do have the base fitness. I don't have the base stamina.

 

[ianrauk]

An awesome nights riding. Thank you @Flying Dodo . One of the very best night rides. Thank you especially for making so that the temps all night meant it was probably the warmest ever FNR. No need for armwarmers or jacket for me. Superb
I loved the new 'Improved' route. It made for splendid riding. The Edifice was brilliant with hosts being their usual friendly selves.
The Shoreham brekkie? Well what can one say. It's simply the best, and yes I dug into seconds.

So thanks all Apart from the couple of punctures and Robs chain wrenching. A most successful, enjoyable, brilliant FNR

The SMRbtH, with @rb58 @Gordon P @robjh & @StuartG

The scores on the doors.
20 Miles to the start.
60 Miles to SHoreham.
56 Miles to home
14 extra miles on top.. just because it was so nice out there this afternoon.
Making a grand total of 150 miles.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Good to find that breakfast at the airport was as as fine as last time.
My only concern is that any first timers might now have unrealistic expectations for all future rides.

The Brighton breakfast for one of next year's rides will be a bit of a culture shock.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I think this was the warmest night ride I've done so far, despite wearing two thin pairs of gloves (fingers freeze no matter the temp). As much as I whinge about hills/inclines/mountains, I sometimes forget that I've improved a lot since starting the night rides. Tonight I only walked up a small section and it wasn't Turners Hill

if I may... That bit where you caught and passed Titus and I and we suggested comparisons to Superwoman. Had you sat behind us and twiddled..... My money is on no walking, next time.