Tour de Pistonheads 2015

[Gruffy]

Not insured yet, but tackling that as a priority and it won't leave my sight until I have. Any recommendations? The home insurance jokers wanted £600pa.

Good job on the Surrey Hills today chaps. I didn't realise I had local PHers. A London/Surrey PH ride must surely be on the cards. 150km and 2,000m later this month, anyone? Anyone?

[Black can man]

https://www.strava.com/activities/266527645

I struggled today but have not slept for 28 hours now.

The Cafe at the Redhill Aerodrome was really nice.

Always up for a ride but i think you'd be too sharp for me.

[j00pY]

Black can man said:

Ohhh ouch ! they are not nice are they ?

They really kicked my ass today! I haven't had a mental battle like that on the bike before!

Gruffy said:

Not insured yet, but tackling that as a priority and it won't leave my sight until I have. Any recommendations? The home insurance jokers wanted £600pa.

Good job on the Surrey Hills today chaps. I didn't realise I had local PHers. A London/Surrey PH ride must surely be on the cards. 150km and 2,000m later this month, anyone? Anyone?

I went with Velosure, but really they are all pretty much the same which is roughly 10% of the value of your bike.

I'd be up for tackling the hills again later this month for sure. Ideally a Sunday if possible though please as I am losing most of my Saturdays house hunting still. Will be moving to Godalming so had better get used to all these hills

[Gruffy]

This Sunday is the only one I can do in March, at a relaxed pace.

Black can man, I could go out for a proper beasting on Saturday and then I wouldn't be worried about a slower, more social ride on Sunday. Or we could meet in Richmond Park and I'll just bang in some hot laps beforehand to empty the tanks. Probably not bad practice for Stage 2!

[Black can man]

Gruffy said:

This Sunday is the only one I can do in March, at a relaxed pace.

Black can man, I could go out for a proper beasting on Saturday and then I wouldn't be worried about a slower, more social ride on Sunday. Or we could meet in Richmond Park and I'll just bang in some hot laps beforehand to empty the tanks. Probably not bad practice for Stage 2!

I'd love to but sadly i'm working all weekend, another time maybe ?

[Gruffy]

Absolutely. Failing that you'll often see a few of us lapping Richmond Park on Saturday/Sunday morning in PH kit. I prefer longer rides to somewhere but RP is the default option when I can't organise a longer pass.

[j00pY]

I don't think I can do more than a couple of hours this Sunday I'm afraid. If you do end up popping to the park in the morning let me know and I could pop along but otherwise it will have to be another time for a proper ride out.

Also, I don't know if this is helpful, or if anyone has any other training info, but I found this:

http://www.landsend-to-johnogroats.co.uk/home/midd...

[Marcellus]

j00pY said:

I

Also, I don't know if this is helpful, or if anyone has any other training info, but I found this:

http://www.landsend-to-johnogroats.co.uk/home/midd...

That's me stuffed then!

[j00pY]

Yesterdays ride scared me a bit to be honest. I did another 60k today and felt better about things but I need a training plan of some sort just for the mental side of knowing I am as prepared as I can be. I would be absolutely happy to complete the stages bimbling around, but I think the climbs no matter will kick my ass unless I prepare properly.

[Gruffy]

The climbs are the element that loom largest in my mind. I'm trying to add extra climbs into my routes to simulate them but there's nothing on quite the same scale in London. Has to be hill repeats, I think, or long rides around the Surrey Hills doing longer hill intervals. I'll give it a few weeks but Wiggle may be getting some more money in return for a 32T cassette and a compatible derailleur.

[Marcellus]

Are we allowed to use two bikes.... an MTB with silly high gears for the climbs spin away all the way to the top and then the road bike for the descents?

[richardxjr]

I think some Rule 5 is needed on this thread


Right, done a route that may be of interest to Londoners. Add on from Ditchling Beacon summit, 100 scenic kms and 1600m of climbing to Eastbourne. Train back to London from Polegate. Riding to Ditchling plus this should total 200kms and 2000m I think.

The last climb is my favourite local bugger, it reaches >25% and will finish you off. But there's 2 good pubs right at the foot (It's a dead end climb) where you can contemplate doing twice that day's climbing the next day, soon.

Happy to meet you at Ditchling and guide you. Regroup at the top of each climb.

https://www.strava.com/routes/1561583

Edited by richardxjr on Friday 13th March 13:25

[tobinen]

You are quite mad but I am impressed

[richardxjr]

I like how the climbs get progressively harder

I'm thinking next Sunday 22nd. Ditchling Beacon car park at midday.

Ditchling on a Sunday is horrible (volume of traffic), but the rest of it will be pleasant in a helpful Northwesterly.

Edited by richardxjr on Friday 13th March 10:56

[JustinF]

You cruel cruel bd, Firle and Bo-peep I know, whats the last one?

[richardxjr]

Butts Lane Willingdon, or Butts Brow it's sometimes called. 1.1km @ 13% with a flat bit in the middle

If you scroll down the Strava page it lists all the segments with a quick view of vital statistics.

https://goo.gl/maps/7mML8

Edited by richardxjr on Friday 13th March 12:40

[Gruffy]

Loving that. Unfortunately I've got to be elsewhere at 2pm next Sunday (honest) but if this happens again in early April (Easter anyone?), I'm down for that.

[richardxjr]

I can do any day, as long as there's some West in the wind. Trains can be a bit iffy on Sundays too.

[Gruffy]

I can do Saturday 21st March if that's better for trains? Or anything over Easter. Or Saturday 11th or Sunday 12th.

Edited by Gruffy on Friday 13th March 15:51

[burriana]

Looks like a nice route that Richard - 1000 feet of ascent every ten miles, bit like our usual rides around here