London Fixed-gear and Single-speed SJS Cycles

on my desk by noon, please, Mr. English.

@jonny - what ratio were you running?

1:618

Notes from reconnaissance - Wednesday 4 June

1. It's a good ride. Won't go through highlights as don't want to spoil it. But by and large small quiet country lanes once we are out of london - at about the 10k point.

2. It was a hot day and I hope it is like that on the 14th, though knocks it out of you a little bit. Hydration people - v. important. Plenty of shops/garages/pubs along the way, though not so many once you get to within 20 miles of oxford. Will make sure I point out possible refreshment points on the ride.

3. The thing you really want to know about - Hills. There is nothing to speak of either side of the Chilterns. But the Chilterns throws up about three climbs, and only one that might have some of you swearing at your choice of gearing. Seriously, there is nothing to compare to Ditchling Beacon. I took directions from a guy in Hedsor. He was a roady and knew the local hills well, he has also done L2B a few times. He reckoned the rise out of Turville up to Christmas Common was tougher than Ditchling Beacon. He is way out.

3.a Little rise out of Cookham. Nothing really just a bit of a drag, followed by a beautiful hairpinned descent down in to Marlow.

3.b Oxford Road out of Marlow - this really did drag on a bit but the gradient was only slight.

3.c Turville up to Christmas Common - the hardest climb of the day but really no tougher than going up Highgate Hill West.

The last 15 miles are pancake territory.

4. Time. Well getting lost once (so we don't have to on the day), a puncture, a stop for a pint at a fine hostelry, the ride took me five and a half hours. Would say four and a bit of those were on the bike. Remember, I had to spend a lot of time checking directions. We will run smoother on the day as a result.

5. So, suggested Time for the ride.

10:00 Meet up outside Richmond Rail Station
09:00 Meet up point for feeder rides (if there are any) at Hyde Park Corner
08:30 Meet up at Brick Lane Polo Court for East End feeder ride

6. Toying with the idea of throwing in some intermediate sprints and hillclimbs in to the day to satisfy the fast and the furious. Just an idea. There were a couple of roads and climbs that would be conducive to this and would be an extra laugh. Thoughts l's and g's?

It's an extra 15 miles if riding in from Brick Lane to Richmond. Anyone truly worried about the distance might want to silverlink it Richmond. though you will of course have to weather a few HTFU comments you might be grateful for it come those last 15 miles in to Oxford.

Jonny

ps - We will be riding through that midday sun so protection for skin and eyes folks.

pps - GTFB

i got a 19 minute extension from the Principal ;)

the trusty all rounder - 48 x18 - turned out to be just about right

nice report, Johnson.

sounds good, i know those three hills, the descent into marlow would be great on gears.

i have never ridden up turville hill, it has a windmill on top, right? i'm a bit nervous about that...

i thought oxford road migh tbe a bit of a drag, i guess there's no alternative?

Sounds great Jonny, gutted I'm missing out!

Excellent report, sounds great. Fingers crossed the weather is nice.

This ride is going to kick ass.

Great report Johnny, very much appreciated.
I can't wait for this one. Really hope the weather is like it was on the Cambridge ride.

48x18 sounds good for me too

yeah, this is gonna be a great one! 46:17 for me. And some sunblock this time!

48:18 here too, if that doesn't compromise my individuality too much

47*17. In your face ;]

If I do it fixed, it'll be 46x17. Object, you're ridiculously over-geared.

Don't think I can do this now. When you've done can you stick a link up to the route on Bikely please Jonny. I have a stag do to goto the following weekend and would like to ride there.

Do you think I should go for a more spinny gear?

polo bike 42:20???

Don't be stupid.

My polo gear is 44*22

you know how stupid that sounded?!?

tommy, i am following one off of bikely.com - it's in the original post. have made a cheat sheet which i need to refine after yesterday. will stick that up dude when it is ready.

I might try it on the speedway, 22 20?

I don't know what I'll be riding, but I will be there.
Hopefully Robbie, we'll be up in time to trash the fsck out of you!

Thanks Jonny

Dammit. Awesome ride report.

I'm at a stag do, but would rather do this! :(

Nothing I want more than to have flour eggs and baked beans thrown at me. I finish at 12.30, so unless you HTFU you ain't gonna get here in time.

I would have loved to ride this. Damn exams.

yeah.

I wanna stick with my 44/17 69GI

was going to put the 46 ring back on, but It's not meant to be a TT..

I'm hoping I won't struggle to keep up on the flats

why would you struggle on 69? lots of us are on 70 ( 48:18), and there's no real difference

well one gear chart says it's 68 vs the 70.1 of 48/18.

aaaanyway, it's all about 20mph @ 100rpm

it's a lovely cruising gear for enjoying the tits, ahem. weather.

You just enjoy the tits from a different angle with a 69.

I'm more of a missionary man

I won't mess with you then.

I'm about to go the other way today. Just cos i can.
If you see this jonny any chance of a cheat sheet?

i heard you like it from the other direction

nice report jonny. gonna be riding 44/16...this okay you reckon?
Also got this annoying clicking noise going on somewhere in my crankset.
cant figure it out. Its not my chain...i can feel it in my foot once every turn of the crank. Would prefer to get that ironed out before coming along to this. Anyone got any ideas?

peterd might be your pedals, had huge metal on metal grinding noise which I thought was bottom bracket turned out to be one of me pedals was fucked....

hmmm, i might even be free for this :)

peterd - 44/16 will be fine, there is nothing that steep, more like long drags.

31trum - would be good to have you out there dude. hope you had a good hols mate

eyebrows - just seen this - you set off yet? could e-mail you something. need to prep it a bit better before putting it up on here

yeah, i had a good, relaxing time jonny




......................wot no list???

Thats quite possible, im gonna take everything off this week at somepoint anyway so hopefully ill find out one way or the other. Better now than going down some steep hill!

I'm in for a change. Got the fixed switched over from track to road mode for the Rollapaluza clubrun yesterday, and it's all systems go. Looking forward to the one alleged climb... (46x17)

good on ya bumpf

Man. The wife is getting annoyed about all this cycling. Shes making noises about me not going on this. Christ, I had better sort something out fast. Some sort of present might make her change her mind

A sterling performance in the sack usually helps, proving the benefits of cycling-related performance enhancement.

yeah, mike give her something to smile about as you pedal off in the morning.

Yeah, me and murtle are going - we're just telling it like it is ;)

Just what I was going to stay.

Orgasm -> sleepy girl -> you're free!

I'm glad those first 2 parts of the equation weren't reversed - it might sound a bit Rohypnol.

haha