L2B(2L) - Saturday April 25th

[richardxjr]

^ They were too pro to say hello that's for sure.

Agree £10's an absolute piss take for a tube. Can get 5 in Halfrauds for that. I noticed they had a basket of them in Velo Cafe, didn't see how much they were there though.

I took 2 tubes and 2 s/a patches, 2 CO2's and a pump. Used both patches and one CO2 in the first 60k, then it dried out and the fairy stayed away.

[Gruffy]

2 CO2, patches and just a single tube (should've been 2 for a 200km ride but pockets were stuffed with food/cape). We just got unlucky/naive in sending the group on while Eric and I fixed punctures, before realising that we were the two who were already low on supplies.

Naturally, once it dried up we didn't have any more problems and the posh new tubes are now safely tucked away in my vault, waiting for the assessor to come and value them for insurance purposes.

[tobinen]

£10 for a tube is taking the piss. I had to buy an extra one in Cambridge before the Spring sportive and the LBS to my mother's house wanted £6.50, which ok is a lot but I had little choice.

[Black can man]

More annoyingly for me was that we must of spent well north of a bullseye at the "Haywards heath cycle centre" shop between us & the when Tony asked if he could use the toilet he was told we don't have one.

That really was taking the piss or not it would seem.

[richardxjr]

For future reference (!) the unlikely setting of Tates Garden Centre in Hassocks (on the route back) has a fantastic bike dept & workshop, cafe & loos too.

[j00pY]

Maybe we can do a PH B2L before the summer is out as the roads and scenery coming back to London were much nicer in my opinion than on the way out. Maybe it was the warmer and dryer weather though

I have forgotten the name of the person who gave me the coffee & caffeine gel, but I want to say thanks for that, as I took it when my Garmin was down to 9% to go as fast as I could and get as close to somewhere I could navigate manually back from. I'm going to order a box full as they were so good.

[Cos18]

Looked to be an eventful but cracking day nonetheless. Shame I couldn't make it in the end, I'm definitely up for next time!

[Jorrocks]

I just wanted to say what an eye-opening experience the day was, great fun in spite of the seemingly incessant punctures!
Never having been on a group ride before, I was SO grateful for you guys stopping and helping each time, even though I was horribly conscious of delaying everyone! (Note to self: Carry at least three tubes, a pump and half a dozen co2 cylinders on Stage three...).

[BPC7]

Sounds and looks like you all had a great day apart from the fairy visits, might be interested in joining you for a B2L and back one day