Rapha Hell of the North

meanredspider

The forecast is looking positive.

itboffin

Yep thankfully

I put the bike to test today, tyres work perfect on tracks and potholes and the fabric saddle seemed very comfortable in fact I didn't notice it so thats a plus.

Hopefully I've ironed out the minor set up issues with the SRAM rival groupset

meanredspider

Oh lord - just remembered I have to deal with SRAM Apex for 100k - not looking forward to that. Do you think my brother would notice if I pinched his Volagi instead?

itboffin

Its okay I just worry about the very loud down shifting of and the front mech is crap

itboffin

Did my first 100k of the year today and by jebus it hurt it really hurt, I was ready to bail at 40 miles, that's 40 miles of headwind followed by 10 more then a tailwind for 13 but by then I was so knackered it didn't help.

Fuck the wind :evil:

meanredspider

I've been in hard training This weekend I've done 80k + 80k + 55k. Already done a 160k this year and a few 100-120ks (including some hilly Scottish miles). Really looking forward to this one.

veronese68

I rode to the shop and nearly coughed up a lung. Cannot exert myself at all without having a coughing fit. I'll prepared and unwell is a fair description of my current state. Save some beer for me.

itboffin

Never

jzed

This year has been a bit of a write-off on the bike. Chest infection, bikes out of action at the same time, and most recently a back injury. Have been building back up last 3-4 weeks but not ridden anything more than 40 miles in one go, so expect to struggle with the ride, plus 15 miles each way there and back, all on Lefty with a rubbing brake.

ugo.santalucia

I've been training in the Italian alps over the past week, so all is good here... just need to get an OK from the wife, which might not come, after I left her in London... :?

roger_merriman

I had norovirus over the weekend, fun stuff just recovering now.

should be good to go by the weekend though I suspect a fairly sociable ie slow pace!

car is very new so not quite sure I'd manage to get 3 bikes in, two i'm sure. but i've not put any bikes in the back bar my wifes Hybrid with panniers/basket etc. it's a volvo V70 so fairly huge but bikes do need to be seperated etc.

silly question for folks nice bikes at the pub? how does that work, ie not end up loosing some?

ugo.santalucia

roger merriman wrote:

silly question for folks nice bikes at the pub? how does that work, ie not end up loosing some?

If you park the car around the pub, you can put the bike back in the car, which is what I did a couple of years back

roger_merriman

ugo.santalucia wrote:

roger merriman wrote:

silly question for folks nice bikes at the pub? how does that work, ie not end up loosing some?

If you park the car around the pub, you can put the bike back in the car, which is what I did a couple of years back

cheers makes sence as you where.

meanredspider

Do we know where the pub is? (Same as last year?)

itboffin

No I don't think so

meanredspider

That's what I was wondering. it's a bit of a pain that the start isn't the end. I have no idea how far apart the two will be.

In other news, the forecast for wind (too far out to be accurate) is relatively high.

itboffin

Wind won't matter and as for distance between locations remember this is London nothing is far away.

Oh and I'll have the itboffin support crew / car ;-)

meanredspider

itboffin wrote:

Wind won't matter and as for distance between locations remember this is London nothing is far away.

Oh and I'll have the itboffin support crew / car ;-)

Dunno if you were watching the Flanders race on Sunday, but I hope your support car doesn't have "Shimano" written on the side :shock:

http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/news/lat ... nts-165264

veronese68

Hmm, I'm looking increasingly unlikely. Still coughing for all I'm worth, keep telling the EPO I'll be alright but she clearly doesn't believe me. She called me all sorts of names today for saying I'd be alright by the weekend, I think she was trying to imply I'm not very bright. I have tried to placate her by agreeing to go and see the quack tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get the one that cycles and he'll tell me I'm fine. Not overly optimistic on that front. Balls!

meanredspider

Bummer, V68 - good luck with that and GWS!

itboffin

I'm going to need to see a signed sick note from the doctors countersigned by both parents :twisted:

veronese68

In the quacks waiting room now. Bumped into my mate that has just been diagnosed with what seems to be quite an aggressive cancer. Talk about perspective.
Good news is we can both drink beer so we're going to the pub later.

roger_merriman

Veronese68 wrote:

In the quacks waiting room now. Bumped into my mate that has just been diagnosed with what seems to be quite an aggressive cancer. Talk about perspective.
Good news is we can both drink beer so we're going to the pub later.

Feck that doesn't sound good re your mate, hope your able to ride Sunday and well soon, the park was lovely today though busy, lots of very fresh looking runners

itboffin

Oh dear having last minute bike doubts, steel for dampening and clearance or alu trek for comfort and speed?

veronese68

Sorry guys, I'm out. Quacks have stuck me on antibiotics, said my lungs sounded gunked up. I said I wanted to do the ride and she laughed at me, I don't think that was a good thing.
Does anybody want the place before I email the organisers to give it to someone on the waiting list?

timothyw

I'll take the place if noone else has beaten me to the post....

Do I need to come and get something from you? Wear a Veronese mask? Produce a fake ID?

FoldingJoe

itboffin wrote:

Oh dear having last minute bike doubts, steel for dampening and clearance or alu trek for comfort and speed?

Surely the steel is more comfortable than the alu?

veronese68

TimothyW wrote:

I'll take the place if noone else has beaten me to the post....

Do I need to come and get something from you? Wear a Veronese mask? Produce a fake ID?

PM me your email address and I'll forward you the emails from them. I was given the place by another user and edited to my name. It may be too late to do that and you just have to pretend to be me. No need for a mask as long as you are young and handsome. I have emailed the guy that gave me the place to check he doesn't want the place back, if not it's yours. You will have to buy everybody a beer on my behalf of course.
Boff you want a bright green bike with 32mm tyres.

meanredspider

Veronese68 wrote:

Sorry guys, I'm out. Quacks have stuck me on antibiotics, said my lungs sounded gunked up. I said I wanted to do the ride and she laughed at me, I don't think that was a good thing.
Does anybody want the place before I email the organisers to give it to someone on the waiting list?

Sorry to hear that, V68. It made me LoL when you said about the doc laughing at you - we sometimes need a reality check.

I had the reverse recently - I went to the doc with chest discomfort (thought it best to get checked out) - she asked me if I exercised. I replied that I'd done 160k on the Sunday, 60k on Wednesday and was planning 100k later that day. The look that she gave me was priceless!

Veronese68 wrote:

No need for a mask as long as you are young and handsome.

What does he have to do for you to get your place!!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

spasypaddy

new pub is the griffin in whetstone, it doesnt have much parking round there. Boots opposite has a massive car park or theres an NCP round the corner. Bit of on street parking. But its about 5 miles to the start line.

However the griffin has one of the biggest and best beer gardens in north london. so just take your bike in there.

it was my local for about 10 years and i always just took my bike into the pub (helps when you know the staff)