Tour de Pistonheads 2015

Tour de Pistonheads 2015

Author
Discussion

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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JustinF said:
Starting to think about what the support car needs to have on board too; as many racks as seats is a given, a fairly comprehensive tool kit, I've got various spare tyres (mostly oem stuff that came on bikes, about 6 or so), 5 litres of water per rider, a supply of bananas, malt loaf and coke/red bull, a fairly comprehensive first aid kit, usb batteries for garmin top-ups, track pump, GT85, cable ties, chain lube, duct tape, a small box for each rider to put personal items/kit in to make stops as smooth as possible.

The LBS will be stocking me with tubes and whatever else I need within reason (stuff from stock rather than special order) so I'm thinking; brake blocks, 10 speed chain, 11 speed chain, spare cable and outers, patch kits, shot blocks, gels and electrolyte tabs.

Quick links aren't a stock item for them and hangers are too frame specific but I'd assume you guys carry some anyway?

What have I missed?
All looks good, can't think of anything missed.

Just a quick note to, in advance, say thank you again...I've a feeling you will be hugely appreciated and exceptionally welcome and certain points biggrin

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
j00pY said:
How many people are attending the L2B(2L)? Looking at the route profile I am quite glad that I ordered a 32T today smile
On the 25th? Yup I'll be on that

TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

249 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
johno_78 said:
I'll be in no hurry stage 1. 14mph average would be perfectly acceptable. I've lost 2-3 weeks training through manflu and this crap weather, so am starting to get concerned with my potential fitness level.
snap smile (on all accounts!)

Gruffy

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

258 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
richardxjr said:
As suggested before, riding from That London will end up over 100m & 2000vm I expect and be quite scenic.
Sunday's route from London (Bermondsey) works out 170km and 2,700m, which is a good benchmark for Stage 1. It'll be interesting to see how I'm feeling after that. Just hope I can shift this manflu in time.

Unless the forecast changes and I need a jacket I'll be in PH colours.

https://www.strava.com/clubs/128239/group_events/3...

SixPotBelly

1,922 posts

219 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Black can man said:
I really cannot see that we will get a dozen cars or so parked together in any of these locations, Theres a huge 24 hour Tesco's in Kensington on the A4 with plenty of free parking, Cheaper beer too .


I'm not sure what sort of time we are planning to hit London but it's going to be nearer dusk than noon & the west end will be choco with cares parked for the evening.. I know it's not ideal but if we want to get together at the end i think this is the kind of location we will need

Edited by Black can man on Wednesday 1st April 09:49
Actually I was thinking of the support cars, not the participants' cars. Ideally the support cars would be at the finish with water, nutrition and warm/dry clothes if needed.

Yes of course, participants who will be driving home afterwards would be better off parking their own cars further away. Personally I'll be getting a train home so will ride on to Kings Cross afterwards. But hoping we'll have recovery food and a small beer first. smile

Edited by SixPotBelly on Wednesday 1st April 11:05

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
TonyHetherington said:
JustinF said:
Starting to think about what the support car needs to have on board too; as many racks as seats is a given, a fairly comprehensive tool kit, I've got various spare tyres (mostly oem stuff that came on bikes, about 6 or so), 5 litres of water per rider, a supply of bananas, malt loaf and coke/red bull, a fairly comprehensive first aid kit, usb batteries for garmin top-ups, track pump, GT85, cable ties, chain lube, duct tape, a small box for each rider to put personal items/kit in to make stops as smooth as possible.

The LBS will be stocking me with tubes and whatever else I need within reason (stuff from stock rather than special order) so I'm thinking; brake blocks, 10 speed chain, 11 speed chain, spare cable and outers, patch kits, shot blocks, gels and electrolyte tabs.

Quick links aren't a stock item for them and hangers are too frame specific but I'd assume you guys carry some anyway?

What have I missed?
All looks good, can't think of anything missed.

Just a quick note to, in advance, say thank you again...I've a feeling you will be hugely appreciated and exceptionally welcome and certain points biggrin
Cleat bolts and the little square washers that fit between the bolt and the cleat itself. Mine came lose on a ride and I lost one which left me with a wobbly cleat in the pedal.

Chainring bolts too, they will work loose and pop out just when you least expect it.


richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Found some London climbing for you courtesy of another PHer.

2245m in 85kms starting 3.30am!

https://www.strava.com/activities/274706780


SixPotBelly

1,922 posts

219 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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^ Hill repeats up Highgate. Yup, that'd get the ascent total up. The man must be a machine!

JustinF

6,795 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Bad news!
Got in the Saab this morning and the clutch was on the floor, slave cylinder has popped and poured fluid all over the clutch, new clutch required :/
I'm 100% not pulling out but I may now be on the scrounge as the roof bars and bike rack budget is now likely to end up on the clutch, all depends on how big the bill is.
Will be after roof mounted bike racks in the south east that could be borrowed, will start by asking my club before I take this request further, just keeping you appraised.

Edited by JustinF on Wednesday 1st April 19:25

richardxjr

7,561 posts

209 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
Got tow bar rack for 4 in Sussex, but no roof ones.

JustinF

6,795 posts

202 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
quotequote all
richardxjr said:
Got tow bar rack for 4 in Sussex, but no roof ones.
Thanks Richard, no tow bar though, also think roof mounted is essential as access to the boot will be required regularly.

It's club AGM tomorrow so I can do some begging.

johno_78

121 posts

205 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
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Good thing it happened now and not in the middle of stage 2.

If needed, we can use my car which can fit all of us, the kit and the bikes comfortably. It's a V8 P38 Range Rover though, so she's quite thirsty.

Marcellus

7,111 posts

218 months

Thursday 2nd April 2015
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For parking of support cars why not use st james square?

Quite a bit of parking and you can usually find a few spaces even on a saturday and a short walk to e finish line.

burriana

16,556 posts

253 months

Monday 6th April 2015
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Arrived in Masham before Johnny Baghdad's was open... but think I found a better one just across the Market Place smile


Gruffy

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

258 months

Monday 6th April 2015
quotequote all
That looks quite agreeable

burriana

16,556 posts

253 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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It's also a lovely final roll in to Harrogate. Only took me an hour 15 yesterday :-)

Black can man

31,816 posts

167 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
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Getting closer fella's


Any news on the Tops Gruffy ? i know you said by the end of April but i was just wondering if there has been any news since.

SixPotBelly

1,922 posts

219 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Looks most pleasant. Another reason to wish I had the legs to do stage 1!

Gruffy, are you thinking we'll have similar morning and afternoon coffee stops on stage 3 or just the one stop lunch and press on?

If we do have a morning coffee stop, the village of Finchingfield is almost exactly 1/4 of the way along the route and certainly looks a nice place to stop. There's the Bosworth Tea Rooms there where we could sit outside and keep an eye on the bikes. As long as they know how to make a decent cup of coffee I thought it could be a contender?



Not been there myself but I could take a ride up one day towards the end of the month to check it out. Even if don't stop on the day, it would be a nice 150k round trip for me and make a good final leg test.

Gruffy

Original Poster:

7,212 posts

258 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
It's definitely good to have some extra stops planned. If anybody is feeling strong and fancies riding straight through then obviously they can.

No news on the kit. It's expected at the end of the month, as you say.

SixPotBelly

1,922 posts

219 months

Tuesday 7th April 2015
quotequote all
Just realised I'll be passing through Finchingfield on the Spring Saddle sportive on Sunday week. Might take a look then. Make a nice option to the organised feed station.