SCR Trip See Page 1 for details

lost_in_thought

linsen wrote:

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.

I certainly ain't in the same category as these speedy boys, and I have an edge that I know how to use (now)... problem solved!

linsen

Dear LiT

You are SO much faster than me.

Dear IP

Do you mean to say that if I bring my sparkly new full-susser (£50 from Asda) then I won't be welcome?

Dear Attica

Have you learned to read a map yet?

Aidy

Wales is blatantly mountain bike territory

roger_merriman

Aidy wrote:

Wales is blatantly mountain bike territory

yes i mean my first love is mtb's and thats where i grew up.

but it also has some lovely 3 or 4 mile long 1000ft climbs and some very dumb graded lanes for the can you turn the cranks sillyness. so plenty for thin blades to do, though with regards to the black mountains not that many roads cut though them so for that reason you can only ride on little bits of them on a road bike.

linsen

IP

I feel very silly. I looked at the pic of you and your mates and didn't scroll right. I have been incredulous at how different you look with a helmet on, then realised that neither of the blokes on the laft was you.

My only excuse is that my brain has officially gone on annual leave. I hope it returns come 4th Sept.

As for getting lost - I don't care if we do, I just don't want it to be my responsibility.

Note to self - get back on the bike at some point in the next month.....

Rich158

linsen wrote:

IP

I feel very silly. I looked at the pic of you and your mates and didn't scroll right. I have been incredulous at how different you look with a helmet on, then realised that neither of the blokes on the laft was you.

I'm glad it wasn't just me then :oops: :oops: :oops:

il_principe

linsen wrote:

IP

I feel very silly. I looked at the pic of you and your mates and didn't scroll right. I have been incredulous at how different you look with a helmet on, then realised that neither of the blokes on the laft was you.

My only excuse is that my brain has officially gone on annual leave. I hope it returns come 4th Sept.

As for getting lost - I don't care if we do, I just don't want it to be my responsibility.

Note to self - get back on the bike at some point in the next month.....

:shock:

linsen

it's not that bl**dy funny


ok, it is actually

Bassjunkieuk

linsen wrote:

it's not that bl**dy funny


ok, it is actually

Well at least it's not as bad as the last "Scroll right" picture from World Naked Bike Ride Day - I still have horrid memories from that......as for IP's pics I see you still manage to sneak the lil' bike cappie underneath :-)

il_principe

Bassjunkieuk wrote:

linsen wrote:

it's not that bl**dy funny


ok, it is actually

Well at least it's not as bad as the last "Scroll right" picture from World Naked Bike Ride Day - I still have horrid memories from that......as for IP's pics I see you still manage to sneak the lil' bike cappie underneath :-)

Little caps are my secret weapon. Can't go wrong with a little cap.

Can't wait to get on the road tonight!

lost_in_thought

Gospel Pass looks lovely! I may well keep you waiting, but I'd love to go through there... You can always drop me - I am avec GPS after all...

DonDaddyD

How much, where, when, is there any spaces left and is there a 'fat man slow' ride?

linsen

around 90 quid, Wales, 21st - 24th August, I believe there are, and who are you calling a fat man?

roger_merriman

lost_in_thought wrote:

Gospel Pass looks lovely! I may well keep you waiting, but I'd love to go through there... You can always drop me - I am avec GPS after all...

you can't get lost, at least once into the valley proper as there is only one road. good luck if you do though! oh and lovely pub here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanthony_Priory which you'll pass on way to or from depending which way you go.

stuaff

lost_in_thought wrote:

Gospel Pass looks lovely! I may well keep you waiting, but I'd love to go through there... You can always drop me - I am avec GPS after all...

Notwithstanding my lack of muscle, I still fancy a crack at that.....And LiT, we know better, you are not slow. It just ain't so!!

stuaff

DonDaddyD wrote:

How much, where, when, is there any spaces left and is there a 'fat man slow' ride?

There is a thin man slow

stuaff

Il Principe wrote:

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:

"Ooh that's lovely, that, isn't it?"

itboffin

and your not taking CX bikes, shame!

roger_merriman

itboffin wrote:

and your not taking CX bikes, shame!

probably been wise at least for the way to Gospel Pass as the lanes where very muddy and wet, i ended up removing (with a handy stick) mud that was trying to jam the rear wheel...

and since it's you the punture fairy was very clearly in the area as every turn seem to have some one in lycra changing a inner tube....

Kieran_Burns

roger merriman wrote:

itboffin wrote:

and your not taking CX bikes, shame!

probably been wise at least for the way to Gospel Pass as the lanes where very muddy and wet, i ended up removing (with a handy stick) mud that was trying to jam the rear wheel...

and since it's you the punture fairy was very clearly in the area as every turn seem to have some one in lycra changing a inner tube....

If anyone would like to hire mine - for a reaonable fee of course

il_principe

roger merriman wrote:

itboffin wrote:

and your not taking CX bikes, shame!

probably been wise at least for the way to Gospel Pass as the lanes where very muddy and wet, i ended up removing (with a handy stick) mud that was trying to jam the rear wheel...

and since it's you the punture fairy was very clearly in the area as every turn seem to have some one in lycra changing a inner tube....

I went up Gospel pass in Feb and had no problems with the lanes, I reckon we'll be fine in August.

roger_merriman

Il Principe wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

itboffin wrote:

and your not taking CX bikes, shame!

probably been wise at least for the way to Gospel Pass as the lanes where very muddy and wet, i ended up removing (with a handy stick) mud that was trying to jam the rear wheel...

and since it's you the punture fairy was very clearly in the area as every turn seem to have some one in lycra changing a inner tube....

I went up Gospel pass in Feb and had no problems with the lanes, I reckon we'll be fine in August.

sure it will dry out it was very wet last week my folks said so the lanes there had a fair bit of wash from that.

def recoomend going down from the beaufort road to crick, fast and smooth one cattle grid, i wouldn't be suprised if my speed touched the 60mph down there.

stuaff

Since throwing my name in the hat, I've had a bit of a think regarding the logisitics of the trip- i.e. stuff people will need to bring, stuff we will need to buy, and how we work all that out. Apologies if any of this is stating the obvious, but I can't be the only one who's gone on a long trip and forgotten something.....

First off, safety related stuff. Setting out early to make the most of the day, or getting back a bit late, lights could be very handy if not essential, particularly in view of the nights beginning to draw in (and some of us might fancy a nocturnal pootle!). Assuming you've got something powerful enough for proper, rural, darkness (many lights that are fine in urban areas simply won't cut it) .... My Hope Vision 1 should be up to the job, I think...
Also, might I suggest that IP makes sure everyone gets everyone else's mobile numbers- that way, if someone goes off on their own/ in a small group, they are contactable & can get in touch in the event of a problem, either using their own phone or someone else's (don't have a clue what the network coverage is like....)

Next: food. I assume that we won't need any cutlery, pots and pans etc, but even if we're eating out for breakfast, lunch and dinner (which would of course prove more expensive!) that means tea, coffee, milk, sugar, washing up liquid, whatever people want for ride food & drink...Having checked the major supermarket chains' websites, none of them have branches in the area, and local shops are going to be pricier and not necessarily stock what we want, or enough of it (for example, energy powder, lots of bananas, malt loaves...). Also: Washing powder/liquid for the kit. Unless you want to leave it all till you get home.....
Maintenance/spares: Spare tyres and tubes plus puncture kits are obviously a must (I have all those, particularly important with my funny little bike!), but also lubes- I know how picky people can be about those- degreaser, rags, shampoo, etc (I'm not a real neat freak about mine, but it'll need a wash after these rides!). Tool kits, etc obviously also handy. I don't have the mechanical knowledge, but I do have the books.....

BTW: Have booked my trains, into Abergavenny 1528 on the Thursday, out 1205 on Tuesday. £38, but that was the best option- £10 fare back was much later departure. I'll happily chuck the tickets if anyone's able to give me a lift.......

linsen

Stuaff I am overwhelmed by your organisational prowess.

I was thinking "bike, knickers, toothbrush"

Bassjunkieuk

linsen wrote:

Stuaff I am overwhelmed by your organisational prowess.

I was thinking "bike, knickers, toothbrush"

Are the latter 2 for cleaning the first? ;-)

In all honesty the thought of food had crossed my mind, as where doing riding we could just keep it simple - porridge for breakfast, pub/cafe for lunch and then tons of pasta for dinner :-D

roger_merriman

You'll find there are shops though not supermarkets, in talgarth, there is a supermarket in Breacon so only a few miles to the west, can't rember which one. there is also supermarkets in abergavenny and Ebbw Vale to the south.

il_principe

linsen wrote:

Stuaff I am overwhelmed by your organisational prowess.

I was thinking "bike, knickers, toothbrush"

Me too, although I'm not saying whose knickers...

Stu, chill out fella! We've got plenty of time! I'm not bothering with a lot of stuff, certainly not bike cleaning palaver and mucho tools. I don't plan on heading off road so I'm sure tubes/minitool/pump will suffice.

I'm sure we can pick up most of what we need in Talgarth. To be honest I'd rather buy stuff locally - there looks to be a good butchers etc and buying local beats popping to bloody Tesco etc.

stuaff

Il Principe wrote:

linsen wrote:

Stuaff I am overwhelmed by your organisational prowess.

I was thinking "bike, knickers, toothbrush"

Me too, although I'm not saying whose knickers...

Stu, chill out fella! We've got plenty of time! I'm not bothering with a lot of stuff, certainly not bike cleaning palaver and mucho tools. I don't plan on heading off road so I'm sure tubes/minitool/pump will suffice.

I'm sure we can pick up most of what we need in Talgarth. To be honest I'd rather buy stuff locally - there looks to be a good butchers etc and buying local beats popping to bloody Tesco etc.

Perfectly chilled, honest I'm certainly happy to pack light, particularly if I'm on the train. I'd agree that if we get pretty much everything local, beats going miles. That butcher's looks like quality...I'd agree with BJUK, pretty much what I was thinking RE food. And if everyone else is happy to go easy on the bike cleaning etc, so am I. I had you down as a cleaning fanatic IP...but then I remember seeing the state of your bar tape!

il_principe

Don't get me wrong Stu, the Prince will receive a thorough clean when I'm back in London!

jonginge

StuAff wrote:

BTW: Have booked my trains, into Abergavenny 1528 on the Thursday, out 1205 on Tuesday. £38, but that was the best option- £10 fare back was much later departure. I'll happily chuck the tickets if anyone's able to give me a lift.......

Do we have the thursday night? Page 1 says 4 nights 21st-25th...