mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 14, 2013 21:24:27 GMT
Looking good, MLH. I was thinking of doing one of the Friday Night Ride to the Coast events. They're mostly from London, which is good for me, but there are some other routes. They leave at midnight, arrange a refreshment stop along the way at about 2.30 and have cafe open early at the destination so that everyone can have breakfast. They ride as one group. fnrttc.blogspot.co.uk/Looks quite interesting except that starting from London is a ball-ache for me as mentioned earlier. A conversational pace almost sounds more tiring than just giving it some
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mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
Posts: 119
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 14, 2013 21:28:25 GMT
There were people riding on Friday that had mudguards, rucksacks, panniers, all sorts. No doubt there was cake too...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 14, 2013 21:33:04 GMT
Well that's a relief, what's a marathon bike ride without cake!?
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mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
Posts: 119
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 15, 2013 13:32:46 GMT
The lowest pointLeaving the meal stop I could feel the temperature had dropped - I thought it was just having been inside for a while but when I got to my bicycle it was covered in dew... I had arrived at more or less the same time as other riders but I left on my own. This became a bit of a theme for the rest of the night. Shortly after leaving, the route passed the rather oppressive looking gates of a big Scientologist place. It was a bit freaky looking, frankly. The time of night meant it was a little misty round the lights and all that was really needed was some Hammer Films stylee ominous organ music or similar for the full creep out Not much further on I caught up with a pair of riders but they were either much more hill fit than me or they had recovered from the stop quicker than me - or both. Either way at the next proper hill they were able to keep a much higher pace, which was rather disappointing. Still, on I went. West Hoathley Rd and Grinstead Lane led up to Top Road. Another bloomin' set of slopes without much in the way of street lighting. About here I realised that my GPS hadn't started recording since the meal stop - despite auto-start being enabled, it had either decided that I wasn't moving fast enough to start itself off{i} or it had just not bothered. Either way a tap on the right button got things going again. The route then turned onto Highbrook Lane, a rather less than perfectly surfaced, slightly gravelly, unlit country lane. It also undulated nicely, including some pretty good fun, high speed downhills. Fun until your light fails, that is. Mind you, I think it was there - I was slightly too busy not-quite-but-very-nearly crashing to check. Going down a bit of hill at a fair pace, I thought it might be a good idea to up illumination from low power to high. To do this you have to turn the light off and then back on again as the button works on a High / Medium / Low / Off cycle. I'd got quite practised at flicking from low to high by then so thought nothing of it. Looking back I think I must have gone over a lump or into a pothole just as my finger hit the button meaning that it got a bit more than a double-press. Whatever, the front of the bike went a bit wobbly while the light went out and stayed out. I was left with two flickering LED position markers - never designed to illuminate anything, they went ahead and failed to let me see anything. That was OK though because my mind's eye had a very clear image of the gravel & hedges to either side of the road, the approaching bend and the speed at which I was moving (not slow). After a few hasty stabs at the button which did nothing, I jammed both brakes on as hard as I could. Pretty quickly I could feel the back wheel lock up (upgraded pads) and start to get decidedly squirrelly. I let the rear brake off a bit and continued to slow. When I thought I'd come to a stop I pulled my left foot out of the cleats and put it down. Oops, still going slightly. I didn't fall off but I did make an undignified wobble over the front and then get both feet down sort of exit. Straight onto the gravel - which reminded me that if I had come off it would not have been pretty at all - and might have been quite a wait for anyone else if I'd not been able to call for help myself. Disconnecting & reconnecting the Cree headlight's power supply seemed to fix things and light returned. All I needed then was 2 mins to let my heart rate return to something approaching normal... A few B roads later and I was passing Wivelsfield and seeing my first sign ominously showing 'Ditchling'... Just on the entrance to Ditchling itself the route turned right down to a recreation field to the last stopping point before the end. As I turned towards the stop I thought I saw the distinctive green long sleeved tops the Weymouth chaps had been wearing when they started at 10:00. I had another strong coffee and some flapjack, filled my bottles and then headed straight back out. Staying for too long would have made me get cold - despite the faint trace of light in the sky it was still pretty cool. Next: Beacon and beach-front {i} which I find insulting, frankly
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mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
Posts: 119
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 15, 2013 14:11:25 GMT
Beacon and beach-frontI have to be clear here - I've never done Ditchling Beacon before on a cycle, in a car or on a motorcycle. Nevertheless, everyone bangs on about what an awful ride it is, how steep and all that. You can imagine how I felt as I set off. I'd barely seen anyone in the last section and there were few riders at the last stop. Again I set out on my own. Now I'm used to riding alone - all my training had been alone - but it would have been good to have someone to pace with, or even just some people to pass. It helps the mental wossnames, I find. Anyhow, off on Beacon Road to my alleged doom. Pretty soon the sky was light enough to see the damn thing. Looking at it rising up ahead I was shocked by how tall it was. How the hell was I supposed to cycle up that?! As I started on the series of hairpins going up the hill, I passed a woman pushing her bike. Candidly I thought seriously about joining her but as I passed she called out "Well done! Keep pushing on!" It's funny how something as simple as that can give you the motivation to keep going - but it did. She was the only rider I saw between there and Brighton. So on I went, twirling the legs round and round in the lowest gearing available, feeling like I was moving very slowly indeed. The GPS lit up "heart rate over maximum". There's a surprise! Mind you it did trigger something in my head to make me think. I stopped, had a gel and got back on. I was still on a steep upward slope so nearly fell over trying to set off but did keep going. The Ditchling Beacon road is a zig-zag of bends with some very steep parts. But as the road bends there are flat bits to give a moment's respite and I took advantage of one of those for another stop to let my heart rate get back down. Again I didn't walk the bike, I got back on and rode. Phew it was hard - but I maintain the big hill in / near Coulsdon was harder, as that had no places to relax even for a moment. Anyhow, as I ploughed on I realised that there didn't appear to be any more 'up' in front of me. In fact there was quite a lot of flat and even gently downhill. I'd got to the top! Nice view - although I didn't stop to admire it. The 'down' on the other side of the Beacon isn't nearly as steep as the 'up' I'd climbed - most disappointing! I was hoping for a good long rest but actually I had to keep pedalling - especially as it wasn't entirely hill free! Crossing the A27 led to another goodly hill. Frankly I wass not amused as I'd hoped to see the last of them with the Beacon, as you can imagine! Coming down into Brighton I encountered one of the most serious hazards of the whole trip - p*ssed up student & other such yoof staggering about in the road... Following the A23 down to the beach-front, I turned right, past the pier and headed for Hove. I saw a couple of other cyclists and passed them as this was jolly flat letting me get back up close to normal flat cruising speed of 18-20 mph. I don't know where the energy came from, mind you, but it just seemed so relaxed. Until I turned right away from the sea to go the last mile or so to the finish at the Hove Recreation Ground. This road was a horrible slope up which consumed all the energy I had so glibly assumed would just be there while zooming along the front. When I got to the finish I was fair knackered, I can tell you. There were people clapping at the entrance to the Rec and they gave me a glass of champers and a medal at the finish arch. Just in front of me, still on their bicycles, were the three Weymouth lads. They had just arrived within the last minute or two themselves. There were maybe 10 other bikes on the racks. That meant I had left in the second start and finished ahead of just about everyone. I know it was a staggered start and so it doesn't mean anything much when measured against the late starters who will all have been quicker than me but by gum it felt good to me I sent Susie a text saying "Finished at 04:55" - she replied "just leaving house" bless her! I had a coffee & a bacon sarnie and spent some time applauding the people arriving between then and 06:20 when she arrived and took me home. And that's the end. I've never done anything like it before - but I'm going to be doing it next year. And next time I won't be stopping on Ditchling Beacon. ObAnd I've got my first sportive (44m) on August 10th. What have I got myself into?!
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Post by zoltansocrates on Jul 15, 2013 20:38:05 GMT
Nice wee story filling me with envy Doing it mostly on your own is admirable, great mental strength that I doubt you've given yourself credit for That woman pushing her bike, giving you encouragement, will be with you for life She is now your motivator when times are tough Really pleased for you and her indoors was right prompt
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 15, 2013 23:42:53 GMT
That was a brilliant wee read, honestly loved it!
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mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
Posts: 119
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 16, 2013 12:15:35 GMT
Engage smug mode: Just found out I was 47th out of 457 riders
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jul 16, 2013 14:14:28 GMT
what a great post - felt like I was on the ride myself hope you are justly proud of yourself - Hoofing Effort Matey
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Post by Spoakes on Jul 23, 2013 0:19:31 GMT
I now feel like I've been for a ride and my god I want to do the l2b next year I've already registered interest for it.
well done bloody good show!
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mylovelyhorse
Peloton Rider
Waiting for my next ride...
Posts: 119
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Post by mylovelyhorse on Jul 23, 2013 22:13:29 GMT
Brilliant! Team Triban
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Post by Spoakes on Jul 23, 2013 22:28:38 GMT
Brilliant! Team Triban Yep gives me a target to fit into my TOC kit! Got to get rid of this belly
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