SCR Trip See Page 1 for details

Kieran_Burns

Oooo that's my birthday weekend. If I turn up will you all buy me drinks and food and drinks and things? and drinks?

linsen

Kieran_Burns wrote:

Oooo that's my birthday weekend. If I turn up will you all buy me drinks and food and drinks and things? and drinks?

couldn't guarantee it but we are all lovely. I'll buy you a pint.

Aidy

Um, I'm a bit too lazy to read through 16 pages

Would/could anyone summarise for me?

roger_merriman

I'm out as i'm still waiting on job so i can't justify the cost sadly, and wife would kill me if i tried!

biondino

People intending to "turn up" do also need to be prepared to pay the bills too!

stuaff

I'd forgotten about this until the recent flurry of posts, and to be honest I wasn't sure about it either. But, now I've met some/all of you lot, and nothing else (well, apart from riding of course...) planned for w/c 24th August (which I handily had booked as leave ages ago), I'm getting interested. Getting an odd day for the Friday should not be a problem.
So,
First off: Assuming for a moment I'm welcome, I'm a non-driver. Therefore, I would need to cadge a lift off some nice kind person (for which service I will happily pay for the additional mileage incurred and a contribution for the rest of the trip). Nearest rail station is a mere 14 miles away! If someone's willing to swing by Pompey, all well and good, but as that's unlikely I'd be more than willing to get a train to somewhere mutually convenient, or not too mutually inconvenient (Guildford, Woking, Basingstoke, to name but three possibilities). Assuming I have not succumbed to the temptations of road bike loveliness in the meantime (I'm going to have to work on the householder first methinks for that!) I would be on one folder or the other, so stowing it (bagged, of course) in aforementioned kind person's car should not be a problem. The Jetstream (more likely option on account of weight and low-end gearing) folds down to 11"x23"x33". And here's a pic of one in the back of a modest little Italian runabout to show how small:
I will obviously have to pack a bit light if I'm getting a train (bike in one back, big holdall and rucksack), but I assume someone will be in charge of procuring food, equipment, etc.....?
Other thing: Route(s). I have been in the area many moons ago (A-level Geography field trip, last century...), and as I remember, and as is obvious from any map, it's rather hilly. IP's maps are a bit of a giveaway as well! I'm definitely more of a Lanterne Rouge than a Contador/Schleck up hills (gradient is the thing that gets me), so I assume that the mountain goats will show a little patience for the old weedy folk (I'm a bid scrawny even for a climber...)? I couldn't live with the pace most of you lot showed on Saturday....But as long as you let me catch up from time to time, that'll be fine. I can get up Ditchling just fine (managed it with no problem a couple of weeks back), so anything as bad, I should be OK. Worse, I'll probably be quicker walking, even with 22" bottom gears....

Edit: woo hoo! 200th post....:)

lost_in_thought

Stu, I'm totally sure you're welcome! Ask Il Principe to message you about the cost...

I'd offer you space in my car, but others have beaten you to it!

However, if you can train it to somewhere nearby I'd be more than happy to come and pick you up... IP - do you know the postcode of the place where we're staying to get details of nearest stations, etc?

stuaff

lost_in_thought wrote:

Stu, I'm totally sure you're welcome! Ask Il Principe to message you about the cost...

I'd offer you space in my car, but others have beaten you to it!

However, if you can train it to somewhere nearby I'd be more than happy to come and pick you up... IP - do you know the postcode of the place where we're staying to get details of nearest stations, etc?

Thanks. Nearest station is Cilmeri, 14 miles or so from the digs. Journey time (via Newport and Swansea) from Portsmouth is a mere 6 1/2 hours or so, and at least £60. First leg is three hours on the smallest, dirtiest, most uncomfortable train I have ever used. Yes, worse than some of the Tube trains.....So any assistance avoiding all that expense (and of course saving the driver some) would be much appreciated.

roger_merriman

lost_in_thought wrote:

Stu, I'm totally sure you're welcome! Ask Il Principe to message you about the cost...

I'd offer you space in my car, but others have beaten you to it!

However, if you can train it to somewhere nearby I'd be more than happy to come and pick you up... IP - do you know the postcode of the place where we're staying to get details of nearest stations, etc?

closest station is abergavenny linked from newport there is also Ebbw Vale though you'd need to get to cardiff.

abergavenny is a better choice being closer and on the way to talgarth, and the station is easier to find and much better place to wait. and if driving from london you'll pass abergavenny.

the other option is taxi while it's only 20 miles so wouldn't be too bad, rember this isn't london prices....

stuaff

roger merriman wrote:

closest station is abergavenny linked from newport there is also Ebbw Vale though you'd need to get to cardiff.

abergavenny is a better choice being closer and on the way to talgarth, and the station is easier to find and much better place to wait.

the other option is taxi while it's only 20 miles so wouldn't be too bad, rember this isn't london prices....

Roger, thanks. Multimap said Cilmeri, but Abergavenny would be a much better option for the train section. Have just checked on National Rail website, just over 4 hours tops via Newport (same nasty train, but never mind) and fares as low as £32 (advance...you know what that means!). Which is much better.

roger_merriman

StuAff wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

closest station is abergavenny linked from newport there is also Ebbw Vale though you'd need to get to cardiff.

abergavenny is a better choice being closer and on the way to talgarth, and the station is easier to find and much better place to wait.

the other option is taxi while it's only 20 miles so wouldn't be too bad, rember this isn't london prices....

Roger, thanks. Multimap said Cilmeri, but Abergavenny would be a much better option for the train section. Have just checked on National Rail website, just over 4 hours tops via Newport (same nasty train, but never mind) and fares as low as £32 (advance...you know what that means!). Which is much better.

if you can jiggle times might get better, sometimes can get under £20 though i tend to take the car as it's a lot faster and cheaper, i'm up this weekend to see my folks sort out some stuff on and do the tour of the black mountains....nice quiet weekend?

stuaff

roger merriman wrote:

if you can jiggle times might get better, sometimes can get under £20 though i tend to take the car as it's a lot faster and cheaper, i'm up this weekend to see my folks sort out some stuff on and do the tour of the black mountains....nice quiet weekend?

Just rechecked- £32 is as good as it gets for those dates at least. Fastest trains from Pompey are 3 1/2 hours to Abergavenny, Google Maps reckons 3 hrs 16 mins driving time from my place to Talgarth (well, if I could drive...).

il_principe

An update on those attending:

James
Mark - Blondie
Olivia
Lewis
Lindsey
Ian
Mark - Base
Attica
Jon

If I've missed anyone out please let me know.

For all those considering coming, you are very welcome, but please read the following first:

Costs currently stand at £88.89 each (£800/9 people)
If you want to come please commit soon.
Once you have confirmed with me that you are coming (PM please) then you're booked. At this stage if you cancel then you'll still need to cough up, otherwise it becomes unfair on everyone else. This applies to everyone, otherwise I run the risk of being lumbered with an £800 bill. :shock:

There are no firm plans as to rides and people are of course free to do whatever they like. I'm hoping to get in around two long rides (70 - 100 miles or so with stops for lunch/cake/etc) and 1 or 2 gentle pootles. I'd suggest that if you want to come on the long rides that you have at least ridden that distance before and aren't afraid of a few hills. No one will be left behind, but we're not gonna be averaging 10mph either...

Thanks,

IP

lost_in_thought

Is Jen now not coming?

il_principe

lost_in_thought wrote:

Is Jen now not coming?

No Jen I'm afraid.

Kieran_Burns

While it's non of my business :oops: could I just add that there may be people who have never tried a 70-100 mile ride but would like to and this may be an ideal time to attempt it.


Just a thought.

Aidy

Where, and when?

linsen

Kieran_Burns wrote:

While it's non of my business :oops: could I just add that there may be people who have never tried a 70-100 mile ride but would like to and this may be an ideal time to attempt it.


Just a thought.

Good point, but if you haven't then you won't keep up with those boys!

I am planning to do some longer rides but will be captain slow, so as long as someone else is willing to read the map then I will happily be some company.

il_principe

Kieran_Burns wrote:

While it's non of my business :oops: could I just add that there may be people who have never tried a 70-100 mile ride but would like to and this may be an ideal time to attempt it.


Just a thought.

I'm not sure it is the best time to attempt it tbh. Whilst we won't leave anyone behind I don't really want to have to keep stopping to wait every 5 minutes either. But as I said people are free to do whatever rides they like.

I originally wanted to go to Wales for a few days for a bit of a break but also to get 1 or 2 good, reasonably paced rides in.

il_principe

linsen wrote:

Good point, but if you haven't then you won't keep up with those boys!

I am planning to do some longer rides but will be captain slow, so as long as someone else is willing to read the map (except Attica) then I will happily be some company.

Fixed that for you!

il_principe

Adopts 1950's british holiday camp accent:

I should add that ultimately the aim is for us all to have a jolly good time.

Kieran_Burns

I'll turn up for the day and map read for Linsen then

Lbaguley

Aidy wrote:

Where, and when?

Hi Aidy

We're off to Wales for a couple of days cycling (some people more gently than others!) on the 21st August returning on 25th August. I believe IP has booked the barn already, which is a fixed cost, so if you're up for it too, it makes it cheaper for everyone else. I think this is the place booked http://www.joeslodge.co.uk

Linsen - I'm up for slower paced longer rides too (not sure I'm up to the pace of IP) as this is basically my only 'summer' holiday.

stuaff

Judging by Saturday, me and Lindsey will be in a peloton of two (will see about sorting the time off later). The rest of you will be responsible for getting the refreshments in .
Edit: Make that peloton of three (or four, or more...all slowcoaches welcome)

Lbaguley

I know L_i_T's kind offer of a lift is fully filled now, so is there anyone else of a London persuasion driving there who has space for one more?

Aidy

Hmm, are mountain bikes featuring at all?

il_principe

Aidy wrote:

Hmm, are mountain bikes featuring at all?

NO

I cannot stress this enough.



Of course they are, but so far I think it's all roadies - you know, proper bikes. :P

stuaff

Il Principe wrote:

Aidy wrote:

Hmm, are mountain bikes featuring at all?

NO

I cannot stress this enough.



Of course they are, but so far I think it's all roadies - you know, proper bikes. :P

Well, I'll sort that out

Bassjunkieuk

Well I've just added the dates into my calender so I remember which Friday to load my gear in the car and set off heading west :-) As I think I've mentioned before I'll be travelling down Friday evening and coming back Sunday evening as I can't get a day off either side but I might double check that when I can collar my line manager :-D

I'm liking the idea of a longer ride as I'd be quite interested in seeing what I can do but I'd probably stick in the slower group to be on the safe side for the first ride. My longest ride at present is about 60ish miles and I know I was experiencing cramps towards the end of that if I put in a big effort although these disappeared once the finish line was in sight and i had someone to race......also if I do come along with Linsen's group I'll have my poor-mans 705 in the form of my phone with Nokia maps and a GPS receiver so we shouldn't get lost (famous last words......)

il_principe

Just to give you an idea of how great the riding is around the Black Mountains here's a shot looking down from near the top of Gospel pass. Gospel is 100% in my plans and is a lovely ride:



And here's me and the fellas at the top back in Feb 08:



Shock:Horror! I'm wearing a helmet!