Why do you R on FN ttC?

[anothersam]

I'm looking for material for the FNRttC exhibition on my oddly named blog. If you'd like to share the reasons why you feel the urge to go to the middle of a busy roundabout in the middle of the night (for some) then get thee to a coast, and don't mind if I copy from here to paste there (giving full credit, of course), please tell your story.

edit: link changed to new home on old site

 

[Mr Haematocrit]

You see a busy roundabout and I get the impression that you associate that with danger, the roundabout in question has traffic signals which permits the safe flow of all types of traffic including horses which frequent this roundabout.
I personally view the meeting point as being a national and beautiful landmark which was present long before the motorcar dominated London's landscape and that particular roundabout. More people should stop and view this impressive monument rather just pass it by imho

The ride to the coast is without doubt one of the most exceptionally well organized group rides I have ever been on, there is safey in numbers alone but it is the extensive knowledge of the routes by the organizer, not to mention the simple but clear rules which make it effective.
Everyone gets involved from the way markers to the tail end Charlie's fixing the punctures and broken bikes, to the people kind enough to get out of bed at god forsaken times of the morning to offer refreshments.

You can be on a single speed, an old brompton, a bso, a carbon rocketship.. It makes no difference as at a fnrtcc ride we all belong. The fnrttc is so much more than just a bike ride for when the morning sun comes up I see the dawn of a new day and relish the night spent with people helping one another, befriending new people, l have new friends and enjoyed socialising with them and old friends alike.
The fnrtcc is a very pure simple and uncomplicated experience in what for me remains a complicated and stressfull life. I for one am very thankful for them... Describing them as a bike ride, is like describing a national monument as nothing more than a roundabout.
It is only when you stop and look around at either that you notice how amazing they are.

 

[User10571]

You really need to ask?
I wrote this a long time ago. In another place. Chances are you probably still have it, Sam


Night rides. Why?

The lack of traffic.
The ability to ride four abreast.
The silence.
The night time noises.
The smells.
The temperature changes.
The white line and the silhouettes flashing past.
The camaraderie.
The feeling that at that time the world is yours.


Love it.

 

[anothersam]

You see a busy roundabout and I get the impression that you associate that with danger

Not at all; I love roundabouts. I'm reasonably fond of that one. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Flying Dodo]

Speaking as another long serving individual, the reasons have altered over the years.

My first FNRttC was in 2005. In the 10 years prior to that, I'd mainly been an occasional commuter, but probably since about 2003 I'd started going out more often, doing longer rides, then in 2004 I got a "proper" road bike, and realised that much as I enjoyed heading off to somewhere new, it could be a bit boring. And then on a forum a long, long way from here, I read tales of night time escapes from London, and an early morning secret rendezvous at Gatwick, followed by a fry up by the sea. The quirkiness of the concept of a night ride appealed to me, and I saw it as a way of building up my endurance, and becoming a better, more confident rider. Bear in mind, at the time, I'd never ridden in London, so I wasn't even sure about how to get to HPC! But someone (Arthur) volunteered to chaperone me from the station and that was the start of the FNRttC experience for me.

Back then, I think there was only about 15 people on the ride, so there was no roll-call, no pre-ride speech, not even a "We're on our way!" It was however a complete revelation to me to be riding through the centre of London, with traffic all around, following the wheel in front. I think I really appreciated the essence of the night ride concept once we got out into the countryside, even though at the time I was flagging a bit. The fact that you can be alone and yet be with a group of similar individuals who all have a common aim, both at the same time. I can still remember the feeling of tired elation when we rolled out along the sea front at Brighton, and then posing for a photo shoot. I realised that I wanted to carry on experiencing these things. Later on, I also had other reasons for being out and about, as sadly home wasn't what it used to be, so for a few years until 2011, I viewed the FNRttC as my bit of escapism from somewhere much darker.

Other motivations to carry on doing a night ride, especially in recent years when the ride can have 100+ participants, are helping out at the back, seeing weird sights (Romford nightlife) but also the ability just to have a general chat with friends, about nothing important. All the things User10571 put above, and more.

So as to why a FNRttC, well my explanation is all a bit rambling really, just like the ride itself.

 

[User10571]

Who remembers Pascal?
He'd only gone out onna BSO to pick up a take-away pizza in Battersea, and was still with us when we reached Brighton sea front.
I don't think I'll forget his euphoria atop the beacon.
Or Morag, with her tent. Distributing cake and summer fruit to all within reach.

 

[dellzeqq]

I can't remember the date of my first one, which does sadden me a little. We went to Brighton. An impecunious student with knackered tyres had three punctures before we reached Tooting. When we got to Gatwick we had lost a rider and people spent ages looking for him. When we came out of the airport it was chucking it down and half the field decided to quit and go home on the train. The missing rider, who had gone home, turned up at breakfast time. All in all a shambles.
I wonder how much of the above really is from that ride and how much is mixed up from other ones. You don't by any chance have all the old threads archived somewhere do you Sam?

September 28th 2007 If you recall the missing rider had just turned right, without a word to us, or, indeed, his wife. He made handsome recompense, though

 

[AKA Bob]

As others have stated riding overnight from London to some seaside Town for a greasy spoon breakfast is not the normal thing todo.

I think I have been involved with the rides since my first FNRttC in June 2008 when I joined the 'Genteal Ride to Brighton'. I had emailed Dellzeqq after seeing an article in one of cycling magazines asking if I and my Brompton could join him for the ride. He replied in very polite terms saying I was very welcome but maybe the Brompton should be left at home. Needless to say I turned up on the Brompton.

So that was the start of some very enjoyable adventures around the Southeast, North West and North East along with two magical FNRttC touring holidays.

There is something magical about cycling along deserted roads awaiting the sunrise with friends and strangers. Sometimes you are all alone in your thoughts and quietness and others you are talking about everything and nothing to others.

The brilliance of these rides is the diverse group of people but the main factor which makes them so enjoyable and popular is Dellzeqq himeself who puts in huge amounts of his own time carrying out recces, keeping us all informed of whats going on and finding those people willing to get up in the middle of the night to offer us refreshments and guiding us in total confidence on the night.

 

[slowmotion]

I enjoy the company and the sheer mad improbability of it all. Here is the early morning drinks party to celebrate Simon's birthday on top of Ditchling Beacon ( year unknown ).

 

[velovoice]

You really need to ask?
I wrote this a long time ago. In another place. Chances are you probably still have it, Sam


Night rides. Why?

The lack of traffic.
The ability to ride four abreast.
The silence.
The night time noises.
The smells.
The temperature changes.
The white line and the silhouettes flashing past.
The camaraderie.
The feeling that at that time the world is yours.


Love it.

Something almost Barry-esque about that, User10571. Thank you.

I pondered my own answer to the "why the FNRttC?" question almost a year as I waited impatiently for the 2013 "season" to begin:
http://velovoice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-allure-of-night-ride.html

The Dunwich Dynamo 2010 was the catalyst and it created high expectations. My first FNRttC followed just a few weeks later and those expectations were met and exceeded. (Otherwise, I'd never have come back... and oh, how different my life would be today!)

 

[User10571]

Something almost Barry-esque about that, User10571. Thank you.

I pondered my own answer to the "why the FNRttC?" question almost a year as I waited impatiently for the 2013 "season" to begin:
http://velovoice.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/the-allure-of-night-ride.html

It's no small coincidence. I am , however, very flattered that you should make such a remark.
It was stumbling across Barry's Dun Run FAQs which caused me to buy a bike in 2006.
Some 8 years and ~ 49,000 miles ago.
Words eh? - less is more.
©MvdR

Your blog's a nice read, BTW

 

[theclaud]

View attachment 36892 View attachment 36891 I enjoy the company and the sheer mad improbability of it all. Here is the early morning drinks party to celebrate Simon's birthday on top of Ditchling Beacon ( year unknown ).

2010! That was your first, wasn't it, Slowmo?

 

[Kies]

You see a busy roundabout and I get the impression that you associate that with danger, the roundabout in question has traffic signals which permits the safe flow of all types of traffic including horses which frequent this roundabout.
I personally view the meeting point as being a national and beautiful landmark which was present long before the motorcar dominated London's landscape and that particular roundabout. More people should stop and view this impressive monument rather just pass it by imho

The ride to the coast is without doubt one of the most exceptionally well organized group rides I have ever been on, there is safey in numbers alone but it is the extensive knowledge of the routes by the organizer, not to mention the simple but clear rules which make it effective.
Everyone gets involved from the way markers to the tail end Charlie's fixing the punctures and broken bikes, to the people kind enough to get out of bed at god forsaken times of the morning to offer refreshments.

You can be on a single speed, an old brompton, a bso, a carbon rocketship.. It makes no difference as at a fnrtcc ride we all belong. The fnrttc is so much more than just a bike ride for when the morning sun comes up I see the dawn of a new day and relish the night spent with people helping one another, befriending new faces, l have made new friends and enjoyed socialising with old friends alike.
The fnrtcc is a very pure simple and uncomplicated experience in what for me remains a complicated and stressfull life. I for one am very thankful for them... Describing them as a bike ride, is like describing a national monument as nothing more than a roundabout.
It is only when you stop and look around at either that you notice how amazing they are.

I tried to pencil something that would equal this, but Mr H has summed up it perfectly

 

[GrumpyGregry]

What drew me in* was riding the thought of 100km in a safe, non-competitive, way, with little motor traffic, and no need to route find. Plus the sheer and utter improbability of it all.

What kept me coming back for more, over and over, even turning up in strange places to wear a kilt and serve prosecco when I wasn't well enough to ride, was the camaraderie first shown that night in Andy's Cafe, when @Aperitif and @arallsopp invited me to join them at their table. Since then The Fridays has become the origin of fun, friendship, laughter, a few tears, a small amount of vomit, and the source of splendid opportunities to taste a delightful range of malt whiskies and other spirits. My memories of the CTC LGBT Ride to Pride, TEC on the first few days of LonJOG, and cranking down the prom in Southend on a Brompton whilst wearing a kilt in the excellent company of @redfalo will remain with me forever. Oh yeah and that @Agent Hilda and @theclaud and @velovoice and @Mice and @User13710 et al are all babes of the premier division of womanhood who probably wouldn't even speak to me in daylight off a bike.

*London - Whitstable was my first back in the days, I want to say 2008, when it went up Croom's Hill and Shooters too. I remember someone crashing on the way to Greenwich, and nearly running them over, and someone's shifter wire snapping in Greenwich and a chain breaking on Shooters.

 

[StuAff]

Very apt that Sam started this thread, as I first read of the FNRttC on his very own ACF. So thanks for hosting that, Sam. No ambivalence there This was back in early 2008. I'd been a fairly keen, though short-ranged, leisure cyclist in my teens, but had lapsed from that- never took a bike to uni, and never really got back into the habit when that was done with. I'd always commuted by bike after starting work, but apart from that short hop five days a week, my riding was nothing more than the occasional trip to the shops. My interest in cycling for fun started to re-emerge in 2007, at the end of which I got my (now long sold) Dahon Jetstream XP. When I was searching for info & tips on that bike, I came to ACF, found some threads about this Friday Night Ride thing. Hmmm....At the time, my mileage was still in the baby-steps-building-up stage, probably not much more than fifteen or twenty miles a ride, but my interest was piqued. It was something to aim for. Not then, though. I did the IOW Randonnee for the first time that year- just the 50km route, ended up doing 59 miles total that day and my legs were stiff for a few days. Oh, how that's changed....

May 8 2009. Having built up the mileage through 2008 and stepped it up again at the beginning of the year, I'd just done that year's Randonnee, the full round-the-island job this time, and I knew I was ready for an FNRttC. So there I was at HPC, with ninety or so peeps, and some idea of what to expect, but the reality proved so much more, quite rightly. At times before that night I might have wondered why I'd spent £70 or so on a Hope Vision 1. If I didn't take to this night-riding lark, that was one expensive bit of kit to stick in a cupboard....Pretty much as soon as we set off from that roundabout, the adrenalin, excitement, and grinning kicked in. At the top of Portnalls Road, when the street lights disappeared I switched that Hope on, and instantly knew why I bought it, as there was Light. Much Light. Even by that stage, I was already hooked and knew the light wouldn't be spending much time in storage. The stretch up to Reigate Hill was amazing. Then The Edifice, and Tourist Tony's splendid soup followed by Mrs Hall's splendid rock cakes. We got to the Beacon. I walked a bit of it, but that only made me determined to come back and ride it all the way up. And the thought when I got to the Madeira.....'That was brilliant, when can I do that again?'. And Other Things Like Boring Old Work permitting, I've done pretty much every one I can since. Bought five bikes (one nicked). Done something like 24,000 miles 32,000 miles (missed out a year first time) since I started keeping count at the beginning of 2010. Had the odd dabble into ride organising myself. Ridden to lots of places I'd never been before, and had a new perspective on many others. Gone from riding four or five miles a day to, in one extreme example, two hundred and twenty five miles in a day. The bikes are an essential part of my life in a way they never were a few years ago. And most importantly, I've had a lot of great experiences, with a lot of great people, and made a lot of great friends.

Some people might think we're completely nuts. We know they're talking.....bollards