Preparing for my first FNRttC - Prep advice welcome

[RoubaixCube]

Don't forget the number of a reliable taxi firm.

BC will send a rescue team out for me if i suffer a big mechanical that cant be fixed by the road

 

[slowmotion]

No need for taxi numbers. You will be given a stiff drink and be handed the Silver Derringer. I narrowly escaped this fate once.

 

[TheDoctor]

Is a taxi up Ditchling available? I wish I'd known!
On my one and only FNRttC, I had a major crisis of confidence at Ditchling. Aperitif got a photo of me looking deeply contemplative at the top.
No, not contemplative, the other thing.
Suicidal.
Only the thought of a long downhill and a big fryup restored my will to live.

 

[ianrauk]

No need for taxi numbers. You will be given a stiff drink and be handed the Silver Derringer. I narrowly escaped this fate once. View attachment 126103

Rider and bike will be thrown in a ditch squirted with lurid blue energy drink and sticky gels and set alight...

 

[Fab Foodie]

Rider and bike will be thrown in a ditch squirted with lurid blue energy drink and sticky gels and set alight...

And that's just the good guys .....

 

[redfalo]

I think it's a little bit unfair to subject a newbie to an in-joke about a certain person who was wanting a taxi up Ditchling Beacon once (and failed to get one, I understand).

A train, however, was available once, IIRC

 

[slowmotion]

On one FNRttC, I jumped ship at the half way café, took a very expensive taxi to Gatwick, and headed back to The Smoke on the first available train feeling extremely sorry for myself. The lesson I learned was not to attempt such a ride with a minor chest infection. Never.

 

[Incontinentia Buttocks]

My list has been...


Breakfast beer money


Best words I've read all week.

 

[BalkanExpress]

that's just @dellzeqq 's sense of humour, no offenses I'm sure(we actually tweaked the basics for the new website, and watered down the previous anti mudguard talibanism)

What's this? Mudguards are no longer frowned upon?

Rushes off to remove guards immediately...

 

[RoubaixCube]

Nothing much to add over the excellent advice above, just a couple of points:

Check your tyres to see if there are any bits of flint or similar stuck in them to reduce risk of puncture.
If your lights are rechargeable, don't forget to recharge them in good time to avoid last minute faff. If you have anything (lights, GPS etc) that takes batteries then take along some spares, and if they are rechargeable, take charged up ones not flat ones (no one would be so daft would they ... would they? )
Test ride your lighting setup if it's a new combination (new light, old light on different bike) to make sure that the mounts are sound and don't shake loose.
Some small denomination money for the half way stop. You don't want to be paying for your cake and tea with a £20 note.

Enjoy!

Everything is new - New bike and new lights, It will be my carbon that i'll be going out on. My carbon is reserved for rides like these but if its going to be quite wet then theres a chance i might take the triban instead.

 

[BalkanExpress]

Well, since we have a new regime, it has started to rain during rides so it seems only fair to allow them.

Ah yes, the famous Drystable ride

 

[dellzeqq]

Did it ever stop the questions completely?

it greatly reduced some questions. I failed to head off the 'am I too fat/old/slow?' questions, and the 'please send me the GPS of the ride' requests. In fairness most of the e-mail questions were more about the need to ask questions rather than a need for information, and, I suppose, those will always be there.