SWSteve
Guru
- Location
- Bristol...ish
@BrianEvesham @Supersuperleeds or a flip/flop fixie/single speed? This could be great fun.
Show us your.......newbie progress! [4 Sep 2012 - 4 Oct 2014]
- Thread starter Typhon
- Start date
- Status
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PhunkyPhil
Regular
- Location
- Colchester
I have thought about trying a fixie but am pretty sure i would just fall off but ti would make a better bike for comuting in the winter as less to maintain.
Claud Roubaix
Regular
Did my longest solo ride this morning through the rolling countryside around Market Drayton Shropshire. 26 miles with some; for me, , quite tricky lumps.
Good fun though!
Good fun though!
BrianEvesham
Mask is gone!
- Location
- South Littleton, Evesham.
That's already gone, to be replaced with some equally retro brown PVC bar tape.electric tape on the handlebars, now that's retro
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281104812821?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1497.l2649
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Haven't posted about RideLondon-Surrey 100 prior because, as I said in a previous post, I had a bit of a mare with the GPS info. Basically had a low battery warning at Box Hill with 30 miles still to go, and realised then my brightness was set to max (from an earlier night ride). With it turned right down managed another 15 odd miles or so before the Garmin packed in. The only fortunate thing about it was it packed in as I stopped at a feeding station in Kingston so I noticed it straight away.
The rest of the info is from my phone's Strava app, so the HR and Cadence info only goes to Kingston (I didn't really flatline!) but the info was there regarding time and speed.
So planned and hoped for a sub 8 hour time, ended with an official time of 6 hours 31 minutes, and Strava reports a moving time of 6 hrs 10 minutes. 15.4mph / 16.6mph averages. Extremely happy with the result, especially as I didnt quite find a good group to ride with (plenty of good people out, just not quite right speed for me) so did a lot of it on my todd, with the occasional sneaky drafting saddle sniffing moment when I could get away with it!
People who were online last night might have seen my ride appear and dissapear but that was me and Nigel trying to sort out the gpx lol. This is the final one!
http://app.strava.com/activities/72485576#
So day started very early (4.45am for me) and having some porridge I looked out of window to see the poor souls starting even earlier cycling on the empty roads towards their coloured start areas...
As the day got lighter, the cyclists kept coming!
Made my way down to the Blue waiting area and there were a few fellow cyclists about!
Getting ready to be loaded into Blue Wave P...
While in loading zone P I chatted for a while with a very nice lady wearing a Marmite style cycling top (cant remember what it was exactly but it was a play on Marmite ads), and had to endure a very recurring short script from a man mistakenly given a microphone. Boris had a 40 minute head start on our group apparently, no-one had fallen over yet at the start, Sally Gunnell, Matt Dawson and James Cracknell had all gone too, only heard this all a dozen times at least.....
Just after being released (like cattle, except cattle on bikes) from our loading pen we drifted slowly following the tape stewards towards the start podium where the (t)annoy guy was situated. Tried to see if I could spot anyone from CC via their pictures but didn't manage to. At this point (t)annoy guy had said nobody had (yet) fallen off their bikes at the start maybe 20-25 times? Arrgh! Ex Arsenal footballer Lee Dixon was in the Black Zone starting group to my right apparently.
Finally our wave was ready and waiting at the start podium. (t)annoy guy was in sight and almost certainly being given a few cold stares at this point by some of the cyclists...
And then a countdown from 10, and then we were off! This wasn't technically the start, that was 2 miles down the A12, but the system in place meant everyone was spread out, had time to find their speed and rhythm and also consider what the heck they had let themselves in for. Too early for spectators, even if they were allowed on the A12, as it was no one was except us! Yippee!
I must say with the quietness and solitude of those early miles, it almost felt like '28 days later'. On bikes. Very eerie.
@zizou posted a brilliant youtube video of some early riders on the opening stage of the ride...
Even as far as Richmond Park there was little in the way of crowds, bar the fantastic charity volunteers who must have busted their lungs as much as the riders on the day. At Kingston people began appearing, and the charities were out in force.
Stopped at Hampton Court Palace where the first Hub was, amazing how it was set out, very open and easy to get to the tables you wanted to get to.
From then onto the hills got into a much faster pace than I usually do, the crowds were starting to appear just before Weybridge, some early risers siting with cups of tea in their dressing gowns! Families were out, children eager for high fives and lots of signage for various loved ones. Like I predicted the wind was in our face AGAIN as we passed the Thames Water reservoirs. For the record, apart from this section the weather was PERFECT! A little cloudy but warm, not much wind (apart from there) dry..ah bliss!
Newlands Corner came and went, did a PB on it! Stopped at the hub at the top thinking it would be as easy to stop and go as Hampton Court.....oooooh no! Long line of cyclists one way, having to carry on till the end, then turn and follow the long line of cyclists back the way to get to some water... Spent 10 minutes, so toilet break!
Newlands Corner descent was amazing fun, had clear roads so used as much as I could safely, sweeping downhill left and right and left again. Brilliant.
From here on in the crowds were pretty consistent, all cheering and supporting everyone, balloons and signs, lots of clapping, a lot of fun.
And then we came to Leith Hill and it all got a little messy. It wasn't London To Brighton Ditchling Beacon bottlenecked, but it was pretty busy, and lots of cyclists stopping or walking. I got up 3/4 of the way before my front wheel touched another riders rear wheel when he came to a sudden stop, which almost caused a clipless moment but multireleasecleats saved the day! Couldn't quite get started again so stopped and had a banana next to a nice resident sitting with her dog. She even took the empty skin from me to chuck in her bin so will pop a nice little message thru her letterbox next time I'm round there.
Completed the hill on the second go, got another PB and really went for it on the descent. Had a great time until a girl who had been switching in front and behind me shouted "watch out" and braked REALLY hard. Coming round the corner there was a really bad accident with a cyclist on the floor being helped by 4 other cyclists, he was conscious but was talking very incoherently, more like noises than words, seemed very serious.
Unperturbed I hit the rolling hills before Dorking, and recorded my top speed of 45mph at the very same place I had a scary 40mph wobbly moment some months ago, this time being able to use a nicer line round the bend meant I could really go for it!
Carried on thru to Dorking where the crowds were AMAZING! It was packed and everyone was making loads of noise.
Went up Box Hill at a canter, getting another PB.
Although I had felt fine till here, and Box Hill was straightforward, my legs got VERY heavy at the top, to the point where I was the slowest cyclist on that stretch, doing maybe 9 mph on the flattish part. Got a little concerned I had hit the wall suddenly. Ate another gel, and then met up with @themosquitoking, and my friends Tonia & her husband Matt, and my fried Keith who was diagnosed with brain cancer a few short months ago.
The way I was feeling at the time, the excitement, my Garmin telling me its battery was low (NOOOOOO!), the fact someone shouted Boris was only 5 minutes up the road, I don't know what it was but I didn't stop as long as intended, even forgot the photographs I was going to take, I stopped for maybe a minute then pushed on up the hill. Great seeing them, though all the way up the hill I felt guilty not stopping longer for their efforts.
They DID give me a massive lift though, I suddenly gained about 5 gears, my lethargy had gone. I bounded up the hill like a mountain goat (on a bike) and hit the hammer at the top and on the decline towards the big rise at Headley Heath, momentum for the win!
At some point between Leatherhead and Cobham I apparently went from being a minute behind to being in front of Boris (maybe coincided with the Mayors puncture) - Yes! Out of shape politician taken!
(BTW the guy behind me there was behind me in a couple of pics, think I was providing a free drafting service here!)
Really felt I was already on the home straight, knowing this route so well having done it many times, the rises before Esher proved no hassle, the downwards after Esher was great with no traffic lights to worry about.
At Kingston as I was about to tackle the hill there I got a bit of a shock as I heard a very loud "Damon!" coming from the road, then I saw @themosquitoking chilling out with his bike at a bus stop! He had made his way from Box Hill via other roads and met up again. Awesome!!
At the top, the feeding station, and saw my Garmin flash its last coursepoint before switching off. I had a few blond moments including leaving my saddle bag open as I was about to set off again, and nearly falling off while walking (!), was just annoyed about myself leaving the Garmin on full brightness!
Very FAST downhill towards Raynes Park, and then we hit Wimbledon which was absolutely packed with supporters and well wishers. Wimbledon had a street party going on with lots of local business offering free samples and services on the streets which helped get the numbers out. Good job to, because at 90 miles many cyclists would have gotten a shock of their ride. A nice 0.4 mile 5.3% average grade climb that for a good portion hits over 8%. Plenty of people to shout and cheer riders up it though.
From there to the finish it was a little surreal, lots of people, going through Putney, Chelsea, Kings Road, down Chelsea Embankment, Millbank and Whitehall. No cars, no buses, no lights, just cheers and swishing of tyres and gears changing. many were getting ready for a sprint, I just went as fast as my legs could take me, think I averaged 20mph in the last 9 miles, except for when I picked up a gel from a marshall and stopped to pop the packet in the bin.
Annoyed me a little, the amount of litter, especially when these gels were being handed out on the street, I know riders want the best time, but really? Backpockets?
Seeing Big Ben looming from the distance spurred me on, Westminster Abbey to my left, Westminster Palace to my right, ahead, Nelsons Column! I don't really remember much about the corner, just took it as quick as I could and went under the Arch onto The Mall where it was just a wall of noise, people banging on the boards, clapping charity balloons together...if I could bottle that moment, I would die a happy, happy man. I had to look out for my family and friends waiting with their banner so headed to the right side, slowed and saw them with some glee!!
Big hugs and kisses
then I went onto finish giving a little fistpump like a proper little rocker...on a bike.
And then it was over the line, my first century, the best ride of my life in every sense. Although if you had asked me after the race, the response was the bike was going on ebay Monday.
To Be Continued....
The rest of the info is from my phone's Strava app, so the HR and Cadence info only goes to Kingston (I didn't really flatline!) but the info was there regarding time and speed.
So planned and hoped for a sub 8 hour time, ended with an official time of 6 hours 31 minutes, and Strava reports a moving time of 6 hrs 10 minutes. 15.4mph / 16.6mph averages. Extremely happy with the result, especially as I didnt quite find a good group to ride with (plenty of good people out, just not quite right speed for me) so did a lot of it on my todd, with the occasional sneaky drafting saddle sniffing moment when I could get away with it!
People who were online last night might have seen my ride appear and dissapear but that was me and Nigel trying to sort out the gpx lol. This is the final one!
http://app.strava.com/activities/72485576#
So day started very early (4.45am for me) and having some porridge I looked out of window to see the poor souls starting even earlier cycling on the empty roads towards their coloured start areas...
As the day got lighter, the cyclists kept coming!
Made my way down to the Blue waiting area and there were a few fellow cyclists about!
Getting ready to be loaded into Blue Wave P...
While in loading zone P I chatted for a while with a very nice lady wearing a Marmite style cycling top (cant remember what it was exactly but it was a play on Marmite ads), and had to endure a very recurring short script from a man mistakenly given a microphone. Boris had a 40 minute head start on our group apparently, no-one had fallen over yet at the start, Sally Gunnell, Matt Dawson and James Cracknell had all gone too, only heard this all a dozen times at least.....
Just after being released (like cattle, except cattle on bikes) from our loading pen we drifted slowly following the tape stewards towards the start podium where the (t)annoy guy was situated. Tried to see if I could spot anyone from CC via their pictures but didn't manage to. At this point (t)annoy guy had said nobody had (yet) fallen off their bikes at the start maybe 20-25 times? Arrgh! Ex Arsenal footballer Lee Dixon was in the Black Zone starting group to my right apparently.
Finally our wave was ready and waiting at the start podium. (t)annoy guy was in sight and almost certainly being given a few cold stares at this point by some of the cyclists...
And then a countdown from 10, and then we were off! This wasn't technically the start, that was 2 miles down the A12, but the system in place meant everyone was spread out, had time to find their speed and rhythm and also consider what the heck they had let themselves in for. Too early for spectators, even if they were allowed on the A12, as it was no one was except us! Yippee!
I must say with the quietness and solitude of those early miles, it almost felt like '28 days later'. On bikes. Very eerie.
@zizou posted a brilliant youtube video of some early riders on the opening stage of the ride...
Even as far as Richmond Park there was little in the way of crowds, bar the fantastic charity volunteers who must have busted their lungs as much as the riders on the day. At Kingston people began appearing, and the charities were out in force.
Stopped at Hampton Court Palace where the first Hub was, amazing how it was set out, very open and easy to get to the tables you wanted to get to.
From then onto the hills got into a much faster pace than I usually do, the crowds were starting to appear just before Weybridge, some early risers siting with cups of tea in their dressing gowns! Families were out, children eager for high fives and lots of signage for various loved ones. Like I predicted the wind was in our face AGAIN as we passed the Thames Water reservoirs. For the record, apart from this section the weather was PERFECT! A little cloudy but warm, not much wind (apart from there) dry..ah bliss!
Newlands Corner came and went, did a PB on it! Stopped at the hub at the top thinking it would be as easy to stop and go as Hampton Court.....oooooh no! Long line of cyclists one way, having to carry on till the end, then turn and follow the long line of cyclists back the way to get to some water... Spent 10 minutes, so toilet break!
Newlands Corner descent was amazing fun, had clear roads so used as much as I could safely, sweeping downhill left and right and left again. Brilliant.
From here on in the crowds were pretty consistent, all cheering and supporting everyone, balloons and signs, lots of clapping, a lot of fun.
And then we came to Leith Hill and it all got a little messy. It wasn't London To Brighton Ditchling Beacon bottlenecked, but it was pretty busy, and lots of cyclists stopping or walking. I got up 3/4 of the way before my front wheel touched another riders rear wheel when he came to a sudden stop, which almost caused a clipless moment but multireleasecleats saved the day! Couldn't quite get started again so stopped and had a banana next to a nice resident sitting with her dog. She even took the empty skin from me to chuck in her bin so will pop a nice little message thru her letterbox next time I'm round there.
Completed the hill on the second go, got another PB and really went for it on the descent. Had a great time until a girl who had been switching in front and behind me shouted "watch out" and braked REALLY hard. Coming round the corner there was a really bad accident with a cyclist on the floor being helped by 4 other cyclists, he was conscious but was talking very incoherently, more like noises than words, seemed very serious.
Unperturbed I hit the rolling hills before Dorking, and recorded my top speed of 45mph at the very same place I had a scary 40mph wobbly moment some months ago, this time being able to use a nicer line round the bend meant I could really go for it!
Carried on thru to Dorking where the crowds were AMAZING! It was packed and everyone was making loads of noise.
Went up Box Hill at a canter, getting another PB.
Although I had felt fine till here, and Box Hill was straightforward, my legs got VERY heavy at the top, to the point where I was the slowest cyclist on that stretch, doing maybe 9 mph on the flattish part. Got a little concerned I had hit the wall suddenly. Ate another gel, and then met up with @themosquitoking, and my friends Tonia & her husband Matt, and my fried Keith who was diagnosed with brain cancer a few short months ago.
The way I was feeling at the time, the excitement, my Garmin telling me its battery was low (NOOOOOO!), the fact someone shouted Boris was only 5 minutes up the road, I don't know what it was but I didn't stop as long as intended, even forgot the photographs I was going to take, I stopped for maybe a minute then pushed on up the hill. Great seeing them, though all the way up the hill I felt guilty not stopping longer for their efforts.
They DID give me a massive lift though, I suddenly gained about 5 gears, my lethargy had gone. I bounded up the hill like a mountain goat (on a bike) and hit the hammer at the top and on the decline towards the big rise at Headley Heath, momentum for the win!
At some point between Leatherhead and Cobham I apparently went from being a minute behind to being in front of Boris (maybe coincided with the Mayors puncture) - Yes! Out of shape politician taken!
(BTW the guy behind me there was behind me in a couple of pics, think I was providing a free drafting service here!)
Really felt I was already on the home straight, knowing this route so well having done it many times, the rises before Esher proved no hassle, the downwards after Esher was great with no traffic lights to worry about.
At Kingston as I was about to tackle the hill there I got a bit of a shock as I heard a very loud "Damon!" coming from the road, then I saw @themosquitoking chilling out with his bike at a bus stop! He had made his way from Box Hill via other roads and met up again. Awesome!!
At the top, the feeding station, and saw my Garmin flash its last coursepoint before switching off. I had a few blond moments including leaving my saddle bag open as I was about to set off again, and nearly falling off while walking (!), was just annoyed about myself leaving the Garmin on full brightness!
Very FAST downhill towards Raynes Park, and then we hit Wimbledon which was absolutely packed with supporters and well wishers. Wimbledon had a street party going on with lots of local business offering free samples and services on the streets which helped get the numbers out. Good job to, because at 90 miles many cyclists would have gotten a shock of their ride. A nice 0.4 mile 5.3% average grade climb that for a good portion hits over 8%. Plenty of people to shout and cheer riders up it though.
From there to the finish it was a little surreal, lots of people, going through Putney, Chelsea, Kings Road, down Chelsea Embankment, Millbank and Whitehall. No cars, no buses, no lights, just cheers and swishing of tyres and gears changing. many were getting ready for a sprint, I just went as fast as my legs could take me, think I averaged 20mph in the last 9 miles, except for when I picked up a gel from a marshall and stopped to pop the packet in the bin.
Annoyed me a little, the amount of litter, especially when these gels were being handed out on the street, I know riders want the best time, but really? Backpockets?
Seeing Big Ben looming from the distance spurred me on, Westminster Abbey to my left, Westminster Palace to my right, ahead, Nelsons Column! I don't really remember much about the corner, just took it as quick as I could and went under the Arch onto The Mall where it was just a wall of noise, people banging on the boards, clapping charity balloons together...if I could bottle that moment, I would die a happy, happy man. I had to look out for my family and friends waiting with their banner so headed to the right side, slowed and saw them with some glee!!
Big hugs and kisses
then I went onto finish giving a little fistpump like a proper little rocker...on a bike.
And then it was over the line, my first century, the best ride of my life in every sense. Although if you had asked me after the race, the response was the bike was going on ebay Monday.
To Be Continued....
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
The medal is awesome, not some lightweight affair, this thing is pretty darn heavy!
A few shots from my family taken of random happy campers (on bikes)
(BTW it appears to be quiet, but the side the photos were being taken are, it was 2 or 3 people deep all the way up).
Shuffled our way up to collect various bits like our drop off bags we'd left some hours earlier in Stratford...
Picked up my goody bag including such delights as SALAD CREAM and what I can only describe as a portable personal waste disposal system (tbf it could also be described as a collapsible water bottle which is what it is!). Packed my bike away in the TNT cardboard box, with no assistance whatsoever from TNT...And then off to the park for pic-a-nic and beer.
Eventually headed over the Cancer Research reception where i had a much welcomed massage, a shower and met up with @Phoenix Lincs again, who had also done the course in spectacular style!
Had a much needed steak..
(Yes, Id forgotten to pack my normal shorts so still had to keep the bib on!)
And then a few cheeky beers, and went back to the hotel to look at my shiny precious.
So endeth the day. A very unique experience, something Ive built up to for a year, and it didn't disappoint. Would very much encourage everyone reading this to get on the ballot when it opens next week, limited to the first 80k applicants, 26k places available for next years event. Hopefully the TV coverage will actually cover the RideLondon 100 next year instead of focusing everything on the pros and the saturday events!
Now all that is needed is for me to unpack the TNT box and see what state the bike is in. Its here looking at me funny.
A few shots from my family taken of random happy campers (on bikes)
(BTW it appears to be quiet, but the side the photos were being taken are, it was 2 or 3 people deep all the way up).
Shuffled our way up to collect various bits like our drop off bags we'd left some hours earlier in Stratford...
Picked up my goody bag including such delights as SALAD CREAM and what I can only describe as a portable personal waste disposal system (tbf it could also be described as a collapsible water bottle which is what it is!). Packed my bike away in the TNT cardboard box, with no assistance whatsoever from TNT...And then off to the park for pic-a-nic and beer.
Eventually headed over the Cancer Research reception where i had a much welcomed massage, a shower and met up with @Phoenix Lincs again, who had also done the course in spectacular style!
Had a much needed steak..
(Yes, Id forgotten to pack my normal shorts so still had to keep the bib on!)
And then a few cheeky beers, and went back to the hotel to look at my shiny precious.
So endeth the day. A very unique experience, something Ive built up to for a year, and it didn't disappoint. Would very much encourage everyone reading this to get on the ballot when it opens next week, limited to the first 80k applicants, 26k places available for next years event. Hopefully the TV coverage will actually cover the RideLondon 100 next year instead of focusing everything on the pros and the saturday events!
Now all that is needed is for me to unpack the TNT box and see what state the bike is in. Its here looking at me funny.
Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Goonerobes
Its okay to be white
- Location
- Wiltshire
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
I did forget the most important thing, have raised a ton of money for Cancer Research UK with a stack more to come as Ive just heard the company are donating half the charity money boxes they have been filling for a month to CRUK for me.
CRUK told me they have raised £100,000 before the days ride, and that doesn't include online or offline gift aid so it was a perfect day really!
CRUK told me they have raised £100,000 before the days ride, and that doesn't include online or offline gift aid so it was a perfect day really!
Nomadski
I Like Bikes
- Location
- LBS, Usually
Someone has just said the url of the manufacturer of the medal is the same manufacturer who makes the medals for Le Tour. How freaking awesome is that!!
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
I'll echo what @Mo1959 says, a good read & some excellent photos, the whole day looks & sounds superb, well done.
Ditto.
Great day and a very interesting report. Enjoyed both the read and the pic's.
Well done to you + that is a really nice medal.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
- Location
- Somewhere wet & hilly in NW England.
My piddly little write-up as I cannot compete with what's gone before!
13.27 miles @ 15.12 mph av' - my first ride for 8 days.
First 4 miles were hard going as I have not really gotten over being 'bugged' at the weekend. Quite happy with my average speed too.
Roads were less than confidence inspiring in places as they are still very wet in the shade and quite slippery.
Lot's of good stuff in previous posts esp' some of the Newbie Newbies!
Take it easy everyone.
13.27 miles @ 15.12 mph av' - my first ride for 8 days.
First 4 miles were hard going as I have not really gotten over being 'bugged' at the weekend. Quite happy with my average speed too.
Roads were less than confidence inspiring in places as they are still very wet in the shade and quite slippery.
Lot's of good stuff in previous posts esp' some of the Newbie Newbies!
Take it easy everyone.
Nigelnaturist
Guru
- Location
- Pontefract
@SpokeyDokey It's all relative, as I said to Brian once, not everyone can or has the time to put the miles in.
@Nomadski, like I said last night fantastic ride. Glad you mentioned the waste thing, the ride in York had zero tolerance on any waste, only 118 riders mind so a different scale.
I did not want to say anything earlier, but I just passed 8,000 (thats a 1/3 of the way round the world) miles since I started in June last year with a 37.4 mile ride in 2:19:37 16.07mph with 1895ft of elevation (50ft/miles)9 p.b.'s
http://app.strava.com/activities/72637711#
@Nomadski, like I said last night fantastic ride. Glad you mentioned the waste thing, the ride in York had zero tolerance on any waste, only 118 riders mind so a different scale.
I did not want to say anything earlier, but I just passed 8,000 (thats a 1/3 of the way round the world) miles since I started in June last year with a 37.4 mile ride in 2:19:37 16.07mph with 1895ft of elevation (50ft/miles)9 p.b.'s
http://app.strava.com/activities/72637711#
- Status
