London to Southend

[funk my fixie]

hehehehe. Well that would only be 21 mph and I am used to doing a 20 miler each day with some uphill on an old rickshaw like they have in India with her on the back. On your yummy new speedster and for a fit guy who has done a COUPLE of marathons (excuse the expletives), F@*k sake, SH@**ing hell and holy dog doo, I couldn't run to the end of my street let alone halfway across London, this should be a walk in the park. I expect to see a flash of LTS T-shirt fly pass me like a bl@@dy rocket to the moon hehehehehe

 

[caimg]

caimg, if you were responding to my post about the Friday night rides, there's a site here and look for news on the upcoming rides in the Informal rides forum on here. As for costs, I had to pay for CTC club membership (either £15 or 12), the train ride back (being too feeble to join the big boys and girls to cycle back!) and a real olde worlde annual membership fee of £2! Oh, and adequate lights for unlit roads.

Thanks mate, appreciate the info

 

[Primal Scream]

THREE marathons I will have you know

I have just got back into cycling after a 40 year break that is apart from some short rides when my boys were children.

Really looking forward to it now thanks to you guys .

My wife reminded me we are at Hyde Park to see Springsteen the day before shame because I will have to leave the beer alone

 

[funk my fixie]

my word, he drinks beer as well as all the marathons, now you are just showing off tehe. good for you pal x

 

[Primal Scream]

Showing off, good one all the gear and not a lot of idea more like

Do you do the 20 mph thing on your fixie, it would scare the life out of me, are you clipless on it, see I know all the jargon, all I need now is to find out what it means

 

[funk my fixie]

I do 25.6 mph on my fixie (average) over the local mountains (well hills) and back along an old railway path. I cycle pass Knockhill raceway each day, do you know it? I do a 20 mile round trip per day. I do the 20 mph thing with her on an old MTB. (specialised rockhopper) . Well, yesterday it was 18.4 mph. Sounds like I am showing off but I can assure you while that is easy, to a degree, running is NOT. I busted my fixie one day and had forgotten my pack with spanners etc in it so had to run home the final 4 miles with my bike on my back. NOW THAT DAMN NEAR KILLED ME. Anyone who runs is far fitter, in my opinion, than a person who cycles. I guess that is why runners make good triathletes.

One thing I have learned from talking to many cyclists is that they have this super fast speed which they achieved once, on a mild day, with a low wind resistance etc etc and often downhill. They could probably do my course in half the time.. If they really were this good though then you would never have heard of Lance Armstrong. I know a couple of runners, however, who have done the marathon thing and they and all their pals go out in all weathers and with sprained this and broken that and run 10-15 mph for fun. Suddenly, doing 20 mph on a bike is not so impressive eh?



I do ride without clips, yes. I was warned against them by the shop when I started to ride a fixed gear and now just find it more comfortable. I have tried those racing shoes but they hurt as they keep your foot straight all the time. I was thinking next pay day I might get some straps/clips though as, by all accounts, it will make me go faster as you use them to pull your foot through the second 180 degrees of rotation on a fixie.

 

[caimg]

Funk my fixie - 25mph average seems awesome! Nice one!

Well this thread has inspired me. I've signed myself up to this event too now and just finished setting up my sponsorship page. Really excited now!

Though I've just checked the diary and I have a gig the night before...and my start time is 7am for the ride. Uh oh...

 

[funk my fixie]

superb, good for you. You have made my day. To inspire is to achieve. See you there.

 

[SteveBM]

I'm doing it this year for the second time. I did it last year on my mountain bike. Boy that was tough going. This year I'm doing it on my road bike and have been in training for a couple of weeks
It is fairly flat but there are a few reasonable hills around chigwell and Hainault as I recall

Last year was a fabulous event. Looking forward to it again this year

I do have a back story....

My dad was a great club cyclist in the 1960s regularly riding from Romford to Southend and also a twice a year ride from Romford to Wales!!
Last year he really encouraged me to take part in the London to Southend and was really proud of my 4 hour time.
A week later he died of a heart attack. Completely unexpected.

So this year I'm doing it it again on my road bike inspired by my dad. I shall be wearing my In Memory Of.... card with pride and will be doing the event knowing that the old fella will be looking down on me egging me on.
I'm guessing the mods prevent me from posting my justgiving link, but can you ALL make sure you make a big donation to the British Heart Foundation please? They do a great job but need more funding

 

[caimg]

I'm doing it this year for the second time. I did it last year on my mountain bike. Boy that was tough going. This year I'm doing it on my road bike and have been in training for a couple of weeks
It is fairly flat but there are a few reasonable hills around chigwell and Hainault as I recall

Last year was a fabulous event. Looking forward to it again this year

I do have a back story....

My dad was a great club cyclist in the 1960s regularly riding from Romford to Southend and also a twice a year ride from Romford to Wales!!
Last year he really encouraged me to take part in the London to Southend and was really proud of my 4 hour time.
A week later he died of a heart attack. Completely unexpected.

So this year I'm doing it it again on my road bike inspired by my dad. I shall be wearing my In Memory Of.... card with pride and will be doing the event knowing that the old fella will be looking down on me egging me on.
I'm guessing the mods prevent me from posting my justgiving link, but can you ALL make sure you make a big donation to the British Heart Foundation please? They do a great job but need more funding

Sorry for your loss bud. I know that doesn't mean much but I know how difficult it can be. Good on you for getting involved, should be a good one - if the weather's half decent!

 

[kristen dean]

Is there still time to sign up for this? Doing the london to brighton next month and am thinking of doing this one too

 

[caimg]

Is there still time to sign up for this? Doing the london to brighton next month and am thinking of doing this one too

I signed up in the early hours of this morning so yes

 

[Primal Scream]

Hey Steve, I am doing my trainhing around Chigwell and Hainault as well, have not tried Hog Hill yet though if you see an old git on a white Triban 5 give a wave.

 

[caimg]

Hey Steve, I am doing my trainhing around Chigwell and Hainault as well, have not tried Hog Hill yet though if you see an old git on a white Triban 5 give a wave.

Slightly OT - what's the Triban 5 like? Had a Triban 3 for 2 weeks and loving it, wondered what it's older bro is like...

 

[Primal Scream]

Very similiar, but with a Sora groupset, rear carbon stays, clipless pedals. I dont know if there are any other differences.

I went to buy thr T3 but they did not have my size so I thought what the hell and bought the 5 instead. I love the bike,rides like a dream.