stapfam

Night ride tonight from London the Brighton. Different route to the day time ride so as to avoid Residential areas.---Or rather the "Monied" residential areas. 60 miles apparently so I should finish up in Brighton around 5am. Bit early to get the wife to come and pick me up so I will ride home from there. This will be 30 miles so depending on how I feel I may make a detour to turn it into a Century ride.

Long lie in this morning and had a snooze this afternoon and just getting the gear ready. Front lamp-Phone- Garmin and I-Pod all charged up- Snacks in the Camelback and the lightweight "Damp-Proof" is folded into its waist bag. Spare batteries for the Helmet lamp and rear lamps packed and all I have to do is fit the carrier to the back on the wife's car and wait for about 4 hours before we go. Think I'll watch some T.V. and fall asleep. Report tomorrow.

jmccain

Have fun - I'm jealous!

rck

Stap-I both admire and hate you! I've got 600 miles in this year without a ride longer than 22 miles. I know you've short miles this year and here you are doing a century. This would kill me. When I grow up I want to be you! Have a good, safe ride.

wobblyoldgeezer

[QUOTE=stapfam;14274649]Night ride tonight from London the Brighton.

Have a delightful and safe ride, Doug. Does the ride go over Ditchling Beacon at the end? That'd be quite the thing in moonlight.

Looking forward to the ride report

Phil85207

I leave at 3 AM often here in the Arizona desert to beat the heat. Lately due to a forest fire, my wilderness ride is off limits from so much smoke. I love night ridding, especially in the wilderness, so peaceful. Ride safe.

qcpmsame 

Have a great ride Stapfam, please be safe, as said. Report will be good I am sure.

Bill

miss kenton

Ride like the wind, Stapfam!

stapfam

Ride done- shattered- want my bed- Want food- Want legs to stop going up hill and it was Devils **** on this one

I'll Be Back

When i find some --------------------------ZZZZZ

Sensored Route but It was a good slope.

Retro Grouch 

Congratulations, Stap. Did you do the whole 100? You should treat yourself to a fruit-filled pastry of your choice.

NOS88

+1 get some pie, man.

stapfam

Just about waking up now but very tired.Wife dropped me off at 10pm and got the bike assembled.Nothing left at home so other than fingers getting in the way- no problems. This was a 60 mile ride at Night for the British Heart Foundation and was the first night ride on this route which was slightly different to the day time one. The mileage was 60 miles and I planned on riding home from Brighton that would bring me up to 90. Not a good number and the ride home was dependent on how I felt. I had time on my hands so did some laps round part of Clapham Common to give a few bonus miles-14 of them. Delay at the start and the gates were opened for a Free for all start. My fears of low numbers were unfounded as 5.000 riders on the event. Got away at 1.pm and I don't like riding in London. Would have been OK but a lot of idiots--and that was the cyclists. First rest stop was at 12 1/2 miles and was too soon. This was just on the outskirts of Civilisation and it was cool. The 13C temp was down to about 8 and it was cool. Roads were Good and no problems with the other riders but there were a lot of Punctures but with 5K of riders- only to be expected. Second stop at Crawley and I did rest. Extra water- a Gel and a couple of snacks. From here on things went wrong. I slowed down a lot- legs were like jelly and I wanted to go home. Near as dammit bonked but far too early for that. Got to the 3rd stop and rested for 5 minutes. Extra water- a banana- bought and ate a power bar and they are still disgusting and stretched a bit. Only 15 miles to go and The sun was just creeping up. Just before it did though it got Cold so glad I had taken a Pertex jacket as emergency. We now had to start climbing the Hill and it was Devils****.(See if the censor gets that bit.) Gradual slope for a mile at 6 to 8% and a lot of people walking. I was tired but I do not walk hills- no matter how rough or tired I feel. Flat bit then and then another climb- bit shorter but just as hard. It appeared that we were at the top and a rider remarked that iy had not been as hard as Ditchling--But a long drop and then he knew why it was not as hard. We now got to the climb. 1/2 miles of around 10%. LOTS walking now but I just turned the pedals and still did not join them. I was feeling better by now so time for the final drop into Brighton and the ride along the Seafront. Got in at 5.29 so 4 hours 29 minutes to cover 60 miles. Bit better than I expected but time for Breakfast. I was warned not to Try the one and only Burger bar so went into town for a coffee and Bacon roll.

Now Part Deux. 30 miles to home from here and was I good enough. Not really but I could always phone for a SAG from the wife and started out at 7 am. 30 mile ride at this stage of my energy and I would have expected to take a break somewhere but I daren't. I f I had stopped I would have phoned so rolled through the door at 9.25am. Absolutely shattered and just had time to post this morning and then for bed--Which is where I will be again shortly- That ride was above my fitness level and I will have to train again before another 100 miles attempted. As it was--104 miles done and the bike is still good. Pity I am not.

qcpmsame 

Good on you mate, I envy your initiative and drive. Great report, as usual.

Bill

berner

A long and exhausting ride is the perfect excuse for a full body massage. Do it! You deserve it.

Bikey Mikey

Have a good sleep. Have some PIE!

GFish

Congratulations stapfam!!

Your grit and determination early in the ride and again on the hills is inspirational. I'll use this as my motivation when I tackle a century in two weeks.

Rest and recover well, you earned it!

stapfam

I knew I was not fit enough for this ride- but I also knew that if I did not get out and do a ride that was going to push me-I would not get to the next stage of pushing myself to the limit. This ride did push me to the limit so One thing achieved. I did take the ride sensibly though- Subject to the way I felt- I did not even push myself into the "Amber" zone on exertion. Maybe on that last hill but never into the RED danger zone.

7 am on Monday morning and no aches- no pains and just washed out. Maybe a recovery ride for Pie today. If no pie- it will be a gentle 20 miles or so. Have some pics so will get them up later.