London to Brighton 2009 - Anyone doing it?
Cube-Acid-Will
Posts: 5
Sooo anyone here doing it this year!?
Is anyone aware of how I can get my bike back from brighton as I know no train service running for those with bikes! Bikist or what!
Is anyone aware of how I can get my bike back from brighton as I know no train service running for those with bikes! Bikist or what!
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I'm doing it. I know the event organisers have a service which goes back to London although at a cost.
My partner is going to drive down there and then pick me up and drag me home!
Hows your training going?0 -
Fair enough.
Yeh I have just learned about the £21 service they are offering back up to clapham every half an hour from 12:30 to 19:30. I may have had a couple of beers by 19:30 so £21 so by then it might not sound so bad!
Training is going really well - (I lost my driving license! so ride to work.) I did the somerset levels (50 miles) on Sunday in just over 3 hours which I was pleased with.
Road tyres really helped, almost slid out on a few wet patch's though.
How's yours going?0 -
Training isn't going to bad to be honest, I too have just purchased a set of slick road tyres which I am going tofit tonight or tomorrow depending.
You have done loads more miles than me the most I have done in one stint was 32miles but I'm been out every day for the last week for at least 2 hours so I'm sure I'll be ok!
So did you loose your licence driving the 106 GTI in your pic <<<0 -
I found they made a lot of difference, I have Continentals - a 2.1 slick on the front and a 1.6 on the back, both pumped up veryy hard. Very slippy in the wet so watch out but I was one of the first finishing on a hard tail on the ride I just did.
Regular riding has really helped build my leg muscles, but I have done 45 - 50 miles over each of the last 4 weekends which is helping my stamina. Riding to work is just managing to burn off weekend pints and the like!
Yeh the gti wasn't solely to blame, a problem involving a monkey bike I used to own also helped me get the ban. Only for six months but am off travelling in september so I have sold the gti
will miss it. So am I right in presuming you have a VTS! 0 -
Indeed own a VTS have done for the last five and a half years! It has been the best car I have ever owned, its done 142,000 miles now but still going strong even quicker than a FQ330 at Lydden Hill the other weekend! Shame about the licence but I assume you have learnt your lesson.
I doubt I will be at your pass on the L2B your time seems very goos IMO. I would like to ride my bike to work every day but I am so busy at present I'm involved in three new companies and driving to work only takes 15 mins where as a bike ride would be a good 45 mins!
Having said that I have been out every day this week so far for at least 2 hours.
I haven't fitted my slick tyres yet I'm planning to do so this weekend. I assume the whole L2B is on tarmac theres no off road is there?0 -
I bought my first gti in 2003 and have been driving them ever since and agree they are superb little cars. Put a smile on my face everyday I drove it. Here's some pics:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2 ... 1e399fa236
- sad I know.
My time will undoubtedly be longer for the L2B as the somerset levels was 95% flat! Plus I will probably stop at turners hill for some refreshment.
If you haven't seen it already, here is a rough gradient map:
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/17/20463 ... 19f64f.jpg
The first hill at point B is a bit annoying as riders are still closely bunched together. The earlier your start time though, the quiter it should be. - what time slot have you got?
Yeh it's all tarmac and they shut the roads off from london. If it's wet I will seriously contemplate putting some semi slick tyres on though.0 -
The BHF are organising a London to Brighton Off road event. You could always do that instead?Why use brakes? Falling off is a much quicker way to stop0
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When are they arranging that for Bossangel?
Cube-Acid-Will - Very nice 106, they also seem to hold there money pretty well.
Cheers for the Gradient map not seen that before, make it look scary! Although I'm really looking forward to it. I'm starting at 8.30 IIRC although I did ask for 7.30! Well as said I've still got my "normal" tyres on at present but I really wanted to use my slicks for the event, I wish I purchased the semi-slick tyres now.
I may wait until next Wednesday and see what the forcast is like and if it looks bad or there is a chance of rain I may just buy some semi-slicks.0 -
I'm doing it on my old Brompton, wearing a three piece suit. And then the Capital to Coast the weekend after...
Alex0 -
alexclaber wrote:I'm doing it on my old Brompton, wearing a three piece suit. And then the Capital to Coast the weekend after...
Alex
will hang out the window of my flat to see you in the 3 piece
are you really doing the Capital to Coast the next weekend? will see you there...
Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”
Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 080 -
I am doing the L2B this Sunday. It's my first one so not sure what to expect. Have an 8 am start 0
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I'll starting at 8.30am.
I too am really looking forward to it, I think it will be a really good day.0 -
Well not good news for me I was playing my normal Monday night 5-a-side and was taking it easy as I knew I have the ride this weekend and I went over on my ankle. Think its only a sprain so fingers crossed I will be ok by Sunday.
If not its going to be a painful 54 miles!0 -
I'm riding back too if anyone's around for company ...........
:roll:0 -
Yeah I'm doing it this year but on a road bike.0
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Well my ankle is much better although I will have it strapped up just to make sure, plus need to make sure my cold doesnt get any worse!
Really looking forward to it now I just want to get on with it!0 -
Good Luck to all of you!Ned Flanders: “You were bicycling two abreast?”
Homer Simpson: “I wish. We were bicycling to a lake.”
Specialized Rockhopper Pro Disc 080 -
Good luck to everyone doing the ride tomorrow. Just about to head to bed ready for a 4:am alarm call :shock:
Be safe.0 -
So how did ever one get on?
I started at 8.30am but didn't cross the Start line until 9.10am and from start to finish it took me 6hrs 15mins.
I got stuck in really bad traffic for the first 2-3 hours then it was ok. Saw some really nasty accidents including some poor guy who must have broke his wrist due to some fool going to quick. Apart from that I'm going to do it next year and complete Ditchling Beacon! I got to about 400 yards from the top before I had to get off due to some one stopping in front of me and I couldn't get going again!
Hope every one is well.0 -
was a great day out ! ! 1st time for me and loved it ! All told taking out stoppages it was about 5 hrs start to finish ! ! well pleased.
I saw Mr Brompton/3 piece suit man a couple of times ! ! great work mate ! i was the fat guy smoking Bensons at the offical stops ! nothing like a benson to get the lungs going !
Will defo go again next year and see if i can beat my top speed of 50 mph ! !0 -
5 hours is a good time IMO, I'm not sure what my time was excluding all the stops, at one time i wasn't moving for around 15-25mins I even sat on the road for a break! I too shall be giving it a go next year to see how I can better my time although my GF says she wants to give it a go!
I think i too saw a guy in a 3 Piece suit! he was mega quick although I think he kept stopping a lot. IIRC he was on his mobile just outside Brighton.0 -
Started 6am ish after a good hours warmup cycling from North London
got to Brighton @ 10:30.
Stopped off in Woodmansterne ( I think ) and definitely Turners Hill for an Energy Drink , cake, banana and a sandwich. None of that energy gel rubbish.
Highlight
Just finishing! I must have totalled 70-ish miles in the day.
Climbing Ditchling beacon.
Getting my free water bottle at the finish.
Watching the “Devere” riders train go by.
Passing a guy on an all black carbon machine which looked as if cost more than my car
Low light
Getting passed by a guy on an all black carbon machine which looked as if cost more than may car
Getting up at 4 am
Some guy spontaneously crashing uphill (!) near Carshalton just ahead of me. Didn’t get a good look but looks as if his frame snapped in half behind the headtube
Some guy making a telephone call whilst cycling up ditchling beacon
Some guy crashing on his black boardman
1 ambulance near wivelsfield with bloodied rider on the verge
Any number of ”numbnuts” texting whilst cycling.
In conclusion. A Great day out with the good, bad and the ugly of us all0 -
Good time again, I for sure will start nice and easrly next year get ahead of all the crowds. I couldn't beleive how busy it was. It is my goal next year to climb Ditchling Beacon.0
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a17vts - my GF wants to do it next year too! I've told her she's gonna have to actually use her bike for a bit first, and perhaps try out those geary type levers that are so clean and unloved!
I started at 9. The first 15miles took 2 hours!! :shock: When I finally got going I didn't stop until the end. Thought I'd probably crash at the top of Ditchling but the view of sea and thought of a beer helped me to push on with a stupid grin on my face all the way down.
Be great to do it next year but start before all the walkers... :evil:0 -
You have to start really early if you want to avoid the selfish people walking all across the road. I did a 7am start before and still had to walk the first two hills which was really annoying. Did the ride in 3.5 hours so aiming for 3 if I start at 6 next year, not done it for the last two0
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I feel like I need to go and do a 54 mile ride to get it out of my system.0
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David-Witts wrote:Started 6am ish after a good hours warmup cycling from North London
got to Brighton @ 10:30.
Stopped off in Woodmansterne ( I think ) and definitely Turners Hill for an Energy Drink , cake, banana and a sandwich. None of that energy gel rubbish.
Highlight
Just finishing! I must have totalled 70-ish miles in the day.
Climbing Ditchling beacon.
Getting my free water bottle at the finish.
Watching the “Devere” riders train go by.
Passing a guy on an all black carbon machine which looked as if cost more than my car
Low light
Getting passed by a guy on an all black carbon machine which looked as if cost more than may car
Getting up at 4 am
Some guy spontaneously crashing uphill (!) near Carshalton just ahead of me. Didn’t get a good look but looks as if his frame snapped in half behind the headtube
Some guy making a telephone call whilst cycling up ditchling beacon
Some guy crashing on his black boardman
1 ambulance near wivelsfield with bloodied rider on the verge
Any number of ”numbnuts” texting whilst cycling.
In conclusion. A Great day out with the good, bad and the ugly of us all
I was on a black all carbon bike Not impossible it was me ... Oriental guy wearing baggies and an Adidas tennis shirt? 0
