StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
…and you're missed!!
FNRttC Shoreham Thursday 17th April 2025
- Thread starter LucretiaMyReflection
- Start date
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…and you're missed!!
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
A corker, and the first century of the year for me. Slightly-less-frenetic new abnormal post work routine again. Since the shift hours were altered last year, the seven-and-a-half minutes I had to make the Waterloo train of choice is now twenty-two and a half. I managed to manage that perfectly last night- despite a momentary panic when the Hope front light wouldn't switch on (battery holder was the wrong way round, I discovered on the train), I got to the northbound platform just as it was pulling in. OK, that happened a lot before these past few years, but this time I was already in my gear rather than in need of a moving changing room. Usual eating/kit rejigging routine followed, before arrival bang on time. After filling the bottles, round to the NT. Unsurprisingly, I was first there, and took my only other photo of the night, of the bike that was going to pop by 'home' later on (in Partridge Green, we passed both the Huffwood trading estate, home to The Rider Firm of Hunt Bike Wheels fame, and the Star Estate, and Upgrade Bikes- parent of Kinesis UK and distributor for Lezyne and many other brands).
I was soon joined by a few others- not quite the throng of some rides past, but a good turnout despite a few last minute dropouts, including a few first-timers, forty or so in all. Some faces I hadn't seen in years (literally!). A few riders had to catch us up after train issues. Jim was ride leader again, with Mark as his able deputy, and the one and only Tim D as all-upper. We were slightly late away, but we weren't exactly rushing, as ever- the Port Kitchen (ahem, near Shoreham, for geography pedants) wasn't opening until 8am (well…more on that later). Thankfully, there was little or nothing for Tim to do in the way of mechanicals. No rear derailleurs were harmed in the making of this ride
Exit from the Great Wen was via a tried-and-tested route: the wiggle past the Old Vic, Kennington, Stockwell, alongside Clapham Common,Tooting Bec Common, Mitcham. From there, onto Hackbridge, Carshalton (where a waymark was enlivened by two noisy but harmless drunk blokes loudly conversing on…well, they were drunk, probably had about as much of a clue as I did). Then Chipstead, via a climb that is somewhat different from our old friend Portnalls Road, though still nicely warming on a rather parky night. On via Smallfield to Redehall Road (where no-one had a long wait this year, because no exploding derailleurs) and the fine folk at the scout hut, who yet again did a sterling job (though one of them had to learn about not invoking the ******* fairy). The thought occurred that not only was it now sixteen years (all but a month) since the first visit, I was the only rider there on that night and this. Blimey! I had erred on the side of caution in terms of clothing (memories of marking that corner in near-freezing temperatures are somewhat vivid), and it was time for the jumper, Sealskinz socks and extra buff. Easier and better to feel too warm and remove layers than be unable to add what you haven't brought.
And then, off into the coldest part of the night and the first light. Oh, and West Sussex (the border being a few minutes down the road). More climbing, with a couple of short steep climbs that required walking in my case and others- the same ones that caught me out before, I think). And Turners Hill (nope, managed that one just fine, as usual). After Turners Hill we swung SW, to Handcross, Lower Beeding, Littleworth, Partridge Green (thanks, bike's mums and dads!), and Steyning. For the stretch into Shoreham, a few tweaks worked out perfectly. Instead of a hairy and apparently now even more awkward crossing of the A27, an off-road path that proved absoutely peachy (for the most part, gravel, but of the very mild kind). Then the last stretch along the 259, which I could of course do metaphorically blindfold, into an increasingly gusty headwind- but it was only a couple of miles, so no problem. First 62.2 miles, done.
The Port Kitchen was supposed to open at 8. We (well, front of ride, tail not far behind of course) were there at 8.10 or so. Nice manager said the kitchen wouldn't be ready for breakfasts until nine, but they could do drinks and cakes. Some went in search of sustinence elsewhere (Carats was open, the Hummingbird at the airport, our previous stop, might have been an option as well, and quite a few options in the neighbourhood), but I decided I was OK waiting, the food last year was superb. So when did I get my breakfast? 8.30. Kitchen team clearly decided to accept the challenge and more than delivered. Excellent breakfast, again. By nine or so, thinking about the journey west. I had intended to ride to Brighton a few weeks ago- the headwind was as strong as it was this morning, and I was so knackered by the time I got to Worthing that I aborted going further west, and despite a restorative pie and mash from the excellent Turners Pies, the trip home was as much of a slog as the way there. But this time, the wind was definitely in my favour, I felt in better shape (despite being awake for twenty-five hours, work…), so it was looking good for a ride home.
Off about 9.10. Early signs, very positive. Last year, I gave up at Worthing after slogging along for 45 minutes. This time, passed the town sign after twenty minutes, into the centre of town in twenty-five, and Goring (eight miles along) within 40. That pace I managed to maintain pretty much all the way home. Unsurprisingly, I wasn't hammering, but 11-12 overall average was more than acceptable, and a few short stops were all that I needed. Back, without troubling any of my Strava PRs but without difficulty, at 1310, 105.35 miles done since the NT. The afternoon nap resembled Christian Bale at the end of 'The Machinist' (in the out-like-a-light sense, not the gaunt underweight one).
Thanks everyone, and yes, booked in for Southend!
PS: the day got better. Football result. Norwich 3, Portsmouth 5.
I was soon joined by a few others- not quite the throng of some rides past, but a good turnout despite a few last minute dropouts, including a few first-timers, forty or so in all. Some faces I hadn't seen in years (literally!). A few riders had to catch us up after train issues. Jim was ride leader again, with Mark as his able deputy, and the one and only Tim D as all-upper. We were slightly late away, but we weren't exactly rushing, as ever- the Port Kitchen (ahem, near Shoreham, for geography pedants) wasn't opening until 8am (well…more on that later). Thankfully, there was little or nothing for Tim to do in the way of mechanicals. No rear derailleurs were harmed in the making of this ride
Exit from the Great Wen was via a tried-and-tested route: the wiggle past the Old Vic, Kennington, Stockwell, alongside Clapham Common,Tooting Bec Common, Mitcham. From there, onto Hackbridge, Carshalton (where a waymark was enlivened by two noisy but harmless drunk blokes loudly conversing on…well, they were drunk, probably had about as much of a clue as I did). Then Chipstead, via a climb that is somewhat different from our old friend Portnalls Road, though still nicely warming on a rather parky night. On via Smallfield to Redehall Road (where no-one had a long wait this year, because no exploding derailleurs) and the fine folk at the scout hut, who yet again did a sterling job (though one of them had to learn about not invoking the ******* fairy). The thought occurred that not only was it now sixteen years (all but a month) since the first visit, I was the only rider there on that night and this. Blimey! I had erred on the side of caution in terms of clothing (memories of marking that corner in near-freezing temperatures are somewhat vivid), and it was time for the jumper, Sealskinz socks and extra buff. Easier and better to feel too warm and remove layers than be unable to add what you haven't brought.
And then, off into the coldest part of the night and the first light. Oh, and West Sussex (the border being a few minutes down the road). More climbing, with a couple of short steep climbs that required walking in my case and others- the same ones that caught me out before, I think). And Turners Hill (nope, managed that one just fine, as usual). After Turners Hill we swung SW, to Handcross, Lower Beeding, Littleworth, Partridge Green (thanks, bike's mums and dads!), and Steyning. For the stretch into Shoreham, a few tweaks worked out perfectly. Instead of a hairy and apparently now even more awkward crossing of the A27, an off-road path that proved absoutely peachy (for the most part, gravel, but of the very mild kind). Then the last stretch along the 259, which I could of course do metaphorically blindfold, into an increasingly gusty headwind- but it was only a couple of miles, so no problem. First 62.2 miles, done.
The Port Kitchen was supposed to open at 8. We (well, front of ride, tail not far behind of course) were there at 8.10 or so. Nice manager said the kitchen wouldn't be ready for breakfasts until nine, but they could do drinks and cakes. Some went in search of sustinence elsewhere (Carats was open, the Hummingbird at the airport, our previous stop, might have been an option as well, and quite a few options in the neighbourhood), but I decided I was OK waiting, the food last year was superb. So when did I get my breakfast? 8.30. Kitchen team clearly decided to accept the challenge and more than delivered. Excellent breakfast, again. By nine or so, thinking about the journey west. I had intended to ride to Brighton a few weeks ago- the headwind was as strong as it was this morning, and I was so knackered by the time I got to Worthing that I aborted going further west, and despite a restorative pie and mash from the excellent Turners Pies, the trip home was as much of a slog as the way there. But this time, the wind was definitely in my favour, I felt in better shape (despite being awake for twenty-five hours, work…), so it was looking good for a ride home.
Off about 9.10. Early signs, very positive. Last year, I gave up at Worthing after slogging along for 45 minutes. This time, passed the town sign after twenty minutes, into the centre of town in twenty-five, and Goring (eight miles along) within 40. That pace I managed to maintain pretty much all the way home. Unsurprisingly, I wasn't hammering, but 11-12 overall average was more than acceptable, and a few short stops were all that I needed. Back, without troubling any of my Strava PRs but without difficulty, at 1310, 105.35 miles done since the NT. The afternoon nap resembled Christian Bale at the end of 'The Machinist' (in the out-like-a-light sense, not the gaunt underweight one).
Thanks everyone, and yes, booked in for Southend!
PS: the day got better. Football result. Norwich 3, Portsmouth 5.
OP
OP
LucretiaMyReflection
Über Member
- Location
- The Flatlands
For those not on FB, I've set up a Fridays photo album for the Shoreham ride. Please add any you're happy for the group to share on social media. The link and a couple of pics will also be in the next newsletter.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i3rprJNBwCETV6cU9
https://photos.app.goo.gl/i3rprJNBwCETV6cU9
