Night ride to Brighton - Friday 3rd July

[Jon H]

[quote="Andrew G"]please be at CSS in time to leave at 1pm,

[Andrew G]

That's a big OOPS isn't it

[Dominic]

How clear is it going to be tonight and what type of lights is everybody bringing?

I am asking because while fitting my new front dynamo light I have found that the skewer in my dynamo wheel has seized and it will not close, so no decent front light

The only other light I have is a small cateye that is alright for commuting in lit streets but is next to useless in dark conditions, hence the question about how clear it will be as I am thinking about blagging it?

[Dominic]

Having put my sensible hat on I will bow out now.

It is okay to put myself in danger not having proper lights but not everybody else.

Have a good ride everybody

[Tim Coales]

Dear all, I've had a fairly hectic week and will be working late with the youth club this evening. I agreed to look after the J4F ride tomorrow as John Cz is unavailable, so I think I'll give it a miss. Sorry

Have a good, safe, fun ride everyone!

[Robh]

Will be at the shop by 1:45am.

[Snoop Doug]

I have some SIS caffeine gels, they're £1.50 a pop (normally £2) if anyone wants one for a pre ditchling boost I'll check in here again around 11pm

Snoop the pusher

[George]

OOOOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH look everyones getting soooooooooo excited its like a naughty children's sleepover party

[EdO]

Hate to do this guys but I'm gonna have to pull out because I need to look after the kids.

Have a great one.


Wish I was there

[Andrew G]

A more sizable group than I expected at CSS at 1am brought out by the good weather, and as George says "sleepover excitement" may have come in to play with some . Marky Mark certainly had fun breaking in to song from time to time to everyone's amusement, and Ben kept us amused with his horn ( ) - an occaisional honk when he felt the mood deserved it.

Our fair sized group left CSS bang on 1am in a flood of high powered headlights, collected Andy at the top of Gatton steps, and then Ivor in Reigate. There was a split on the steps so we had a regroup at the golf course turn off and then carried on along the CR route to Rusper to meet Rob H and PVT.

We had a bit of a hiccup shortly after here as we left heading down Rusper Hill and turned left down a lane, despite left shouts some missed it and went straight on, I gather Ivor and Snoop got caught behind a car (what the hell was that doing there at that time?) and also split from those who'd missed the left turn. We, the left handers, carried on and I stopped to take a call to try and arrange a regroup at a Moorhead roundabout. We had quite a lengthy stop here of about 15 minutes as some made there way back to where we were. Unfortunately Snoop and Ivor had gone straight on at the bottom of Rusper Hill and were heading in a different direction. Via phone we couldn't sort a re-meet so arranged that we'd hook up if we saw them on the way otherwise we'd see them at the cafe in Brighton.

I have to say no splits were meant and we tried to keep it together, however at night on unlit roads you have to try and keep sight of lights or you can miss a turn and it's very difficult to rearrange a regroup due to lack of viability. There's also a limit to the ability to keep checking where people are or you'll end up stopping all the time and having a J4F pootle when the group is bigger than about 6 riders.

Anyway we then ducked and dived all over the place down lanes (not always the ones intended) which were alarmingly lumpy and a lot of it seemed to go up. Due to this we ended up nearer the approach to Devil's Dyke than Ditchling so we climbed over that instead. The delays had knocked back our arrival time but actually meant that we arrived at the top as the sun was rising with a nice orangy glow on the horizon.

Some of our group at the top of Devil's Dyke.
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/01web.jpg?t=1246727021[/img]

I'd been having a fair bit of trouble with my left foot and had to slacken the straps right off in an effort to ease pain. I've managed to cut under my little toe and the foot has swollen up a bit and is bruised so I was just trying to ignore it as much as I could and hoping I'd be able to complete the ride home.

A great descent in to Brighton passing a lovely misty bowl which I'd have liked to take a photo of but wasn't stopping, I gather a couple managed to grab a pic though.

A friendly greeting from the bouncers at Buddies as we stacked our bikes up and sat outside in the warm early morning as it got lighter and lighter. I really enjoyed this as it was great to sit on the coast as the day got light, with the added bonus of the odd chat to passing "ladies" who seemed to be enjoying the sight of a collection of lycra clad men to brighten the end of their night. The chap at Buddies was great and looked after us well and served us quickly. The food's never the best you'll get as due to the nature of a 24hr cafe it's pre-cooked and heated to order, but that said I think it's perfectly good for what you want - Jacket spud with cheese and beans for me. Apologies to those who's hair I parted on the way back .

Snoop and Ivor hooked up with us at the cafe and seemed to have enjoyed their run down anyway. After grub Snoop went for the train as it had been hard work on is slick shod MTB on the way down, and the rest of us headed off for Steyning via Shoreham airfield. This is a common return route and a very nice one up a great road. My foot seemed to have been neaten in to submission a bit and didn't start playing up again until we were back at Rusper.

We stopped in Steyning for a newsagent stop and emptied the fridge of Lucozde sport on a 2 for 1 deal before continuing home. Some more nice lanes and then we said goodbye to Paul and Rob H around Horsham before climbing up Rusper Hill and doing the CR in return. A few others flicked off for home on the way back (Jon did you intend to go straight on there?) and then the remaining few of us dropped in at CSS to say hello to the CR as our earlier delays had meant we were later getting back than we'd otherwise have been. Ben being a damn fool then decided to do the CR.

Back home and it was a joy to take my shoe off at last and let my foot try and come back to life. No TT tomorrow though as it's in no shape for that and I'll have to keep my fingers crossed it's okay for the Inter-Club and Beastway - although I have my doubts.

Thanks folks.

Manky foot .
[img]http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n315/andrewgreen23/03web.jpg[/img]

[Jon H]

1.30am club-run route in the dark
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3620/3688011758_b7089ff517.jpg?v=0[/img]

2.00am Rusper rendezvous
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2652/3687209383_94d3f4f698.jpg?v=0[/img]

4.15am Sunrise & mist below Devil's Dyke
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2602/3687210667_f07f992366.jpg?v=0[/img]

4.30ish Breakfast
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3554/3687215439_7704fa0167.jpg?v=0[/img]

5.30ish On the road again
[img]http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2533/3688022758_748eac24cc.jpg?v=0[/img]

6.30 Steyning refreshment stop
[img]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3659/3687220127_d97f80db96.jpg?v=0[/img]

[quote="Andrew G"]Jon did you intend to go straight on there?

[Roy Green]

[quote="Sean Hogan - 何祥"]
Amazing photos, very jealous. Awesome ride by the looks of it.

Sean

[Ivor]

b***er damn blast fudge.
after that ride I had my first good nights sleep in weeks, and I didn't manage to get up for the old ports 25 this morning.

anyway, superb night ride - less soaking and drippy to last year.
I had planned on riding down diagonally similar to last year, but decided to ride over to reigate instead on the wide, lit roads. lots of admiring glances and shouts off all the drunk kids still out and about in reigate as I waited.
started to worry when there was still no sign of them, but then... what the F**k was this coming along the road!! it looked like a scene from close encounters. and what was that strange honking sound!
oh my! what a big one, er group. and away we went!

me and snoop (on his mountain bike) got split on the way down, we came to a left turn but I was positive(ish) that I'd just seen a red light in the distance going straight on, so onwards we went.
[quote="Andrew G"]I have to say no splits were meant and we tried to keep it together,

[Marky Mark]

I'm going to tell in visual form, words just aint good enough.
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I told you I would win the Christmas tree award.
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/2pobfpl.jpg[/img]

Lack of daylight at CSS but full of fun and singing
[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/2ugjazl.jpg[/img]

Setting off into the night, what a feeling
[img]http://i40.tinypic.com/5vrkah.jpg[/img]

Believe it or not, that is the middle of the road, scary stuff
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/28j8pr4.jpg[/img]

We stopped waiting for Snoop, now where did we put him? Damn that light was the business, good call Mark
[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/122m6bn.jpg[/img]

The Guru with a backside looking like 2 cupcakes wrapped in Cling film.
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/2dm877k.jpg[/img]

Just to show you exactly how dark it was in the lanes during a pee pee break.
[img]http://i40.tinypic.com/2efrzp1.jpg[/img]

Took a pic of myself while descending at 30mph off Devils Dyke, happy days
[img]http://i42.tinypic.com/20hscoz.jpg[/img]

If your names not Dan, your NOT coming in, but you boys in tights can LOL
[img]http://i40.tinypic.com/2wq6445.jpg[/img]

If that bouncer comes over here, he's gonna get cheeeesssed
[img]http://i44.tinypic.com/am63cj.jpg[/img]
PS Robh seen out in the daylight again!

See Paul, all the planning in the world!
We didn't exactly get lost, we just done an alternative route which was great.
Thank you Paul.
[img]http://i41.tinypic.com/330bptu.jpg[/img]
PS and also the offer of us all coming back to yours for tea and bacon sarnies.

If you don't smile I'll pinch your nipples.
[img]http://i39.tinypic.com/153l5pw.jpg[/img]

That's better LOL
[img]http://i41.tinypic.com/20hn66c.jpg[/img]

Guess who's in the lead
Robh or the Guru?????
[img]http://i44.tinypic.com/2nqxfsg.jpg[/img]
NO, I am taking the bloody picture, he he he he he.





Right now then.
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I'm going to get you all with this one.
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On the way home.
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What comes after you stopped and filled your bottles up.
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And done another 5 miles or so
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You guessed it
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[img]http://i40.tinypic.com/abla4h.jpg[/img]

Massive [size=200]thank you[/size] to everybody in the dirty dozen, every one of you.

I had such a good time riding that one, the sights were to die for, the group was outstanding. The food was needed.
After getting seeing the normal CR setting off, went home to a nice shower, done a few odd jobs then had a chill in the garden.
Woke up a few hour later slightly sunburned, so I decided to turn over and do exactly the same thing on the others side .

I do have one more award to dish out.
It's the award for hanging in there, never giving up, having the balls to keep going, not moaning, really pushing himself. This can only go to one person.... Andy. Well done mate, very well done.

Oops, horney award must go to Benn the paperboy.

When anybody tells you to act your age, tell em to sod off.

Marky Mark over and out







Ps I was that close to doing the CR

But 121 miles was just enough for me.

[Snoop Doug]

My 2p's worth

Sod it, I will go I decided.

Great fun, very exciting atmosphere en route to, and at CSS. Lots of laffs. Had we ben connected to the national grid methinks it would've powered down. We had some serious lightage.

The roads were already quiet, drifting towards deserted as we swung down through Merstham (my own L2B left turns there, so I'm going to learn something bew tonight...)

Picked up Ivor @ Reigate and his chain dropped. I shouted out pretty darn loud but no one stopped. We regrouped @ the heath so I guess someone did hear, just went on to a safe spot?

We whizzed on through the lanes, I'd never done an overnighter before and everything is just so different (as well as flippin dark). We regrouped a couple of times along the way. The pace was picking up and a few miles before Rusper I was going all out just to stay with the bunch, it was really hard work on my tank. Fortunately a kind soul gave a shout and we did slow from killer pace to a more leisurely hospital pace. I'm sure it must've been much different for me given the type of bike I was on but I couldn't help but feel "what's the rush fellers, this is a rare opportunity - soak it up, enjoy it, slow down a tad."

As previously told, we unintentionally split after Rusper. Having checked the intended route, it transpired that not enough of us intended it after all. No worries, fortunately Ivor stuck with me so I wasn't all on me tod. We had a great ride down and saw, heard & smelled some cool stuff. Great misty secion on A272 all lit up from somewhere, we pedalled under the illuminated mist, whoooooh.

We arrived having got a tad lost near Brighton only minutes after the main crew. I was bushed, and boy was I hungry. 50 plus miles on an mtb, skinnies or not, is a tough ask. Being by some margin the least fit too didn't help, but pace wise it was much more manageable post Rusper. Huge thanks to Ivor for staying with me, I knew the way but it woulda been tough going solo.

Brekkie was a big laugh and then I headed off on my tod to the station. Train to Pompey was cancelled so I went back to Croydon and home for 3 hours kip before heading off for a huge beer up.

I would defo do this again if I could persuade a few folk to go a little slower and just take it all in, every little bit. Maybe we could have two groups in 2010.

Great fun, great experience, highly recommended very glad Mr G put this forward and so many stepped up to enjoy it.