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Official CL weekend Lycra warriors thread (cycling)
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Hope you enjoyed it. My mates are already back in Brockley getting pissed 😂randy andy said:Once again up at stupid o'clock to head to Clapham for a 6am start. Anybody else taking part, see you in Brighton at 11!0 -
Didn't really do enough training, so was very challenging and uncomfortable, made worse by the heat
On the plus my time moving was significantly quicker than last year (3h52 Vs 4h15), however my total elapsed time with significantly longer at 5h45 Vs 5h05. Nearly all of that can be accounted for by the fact I might have fallen asleep in a deck chair at one of the rest stops 😂😴1 -
Well done! Looked bloody hot down there todayrandy andy said:Didn't really do enough training, so was very challenging and uncomfortable, made worse by the heat
On the plus my time moving was significantly quicker than last year (3h52 Vs 4h15), however my total elapsed time with significantly longer at 5h45 Vs 5h05. Nearly all of that can be accounted for by the fact I might have fallen asleep in a deck chair at one of the rest stops 😂😴1 -
After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂10 -
Have struggled to really 'get back into' cycling since having both hips replaced a few years back.... I put events in the diary and then wonder why I struggle round them (lack of any training is probably the answer....right?)...Did a UCI sportive down in south east France in April....100km of brutal heat in the foothills of the Pyrenees and then approx 40km of brutal headwind on the way back down into Perpignan.... Bloomin' nearly killed me that ride did.... Then did the Gralloch gravel event in Scotland last month (or was it end of April, dunno).... Another brutal event ...115k (I think) of some of the roughest terrain I've ever encountered... Great fun, didn't p*ss down, and 10 of us sharing a big manor house with plenty of social rides and beer made the whole thing bloomin' awesome... Now back to my East Greenwich - London Bridge commuting as the longest rides I'll be doing for the time being....3
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Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hill
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(PS) Using the word brutal doesn't sound apt after reading about Charlton Charlie's recent exploits <facepalm>1
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I don’t suppose you have the Strava link for the Eltham > Toys Hill route by any chance?JohnBoyUK said:
Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hillQuite fancy giving that a go when I’m back in the UK in the summer0 -
Ten times up Toys is fucking sadistic 😂JohnBoyUK said:
Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hill
We've got a lot worse hills up here, but Toys is still a bastard and ten times up it is egregious folly0 -
JohnBoyUK said:(PS) Using the word brutal doesn't sound apt after reading about Charlton Charlie's recent exploits <facepalm>
Ten times up Toys definitely counts as brutal!0 -
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Toys is hard. My nemesis was Brasted on the north side of the A25. The first 3-4 times I tried to ride it, I ended up getting off and doing the walk of shame. The first time I managed to get up without stopping, I went absolutely bonkers.Leroy Ambrose said:
Ten times up Toys is fucking sadistic 😂JohnBoyUK said:
Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hill
We've got a lot worse hills up here, but Toys is still a bastard and ten times up it is egregious folly
Its only now I live over this way, I realise I totally missed off Titsey when I used to plan all my rides. That looks an utter bastard, when I've driven up, praying god speed on all those I pass, blowing out their backsides.
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I've probably got it on Garmin connect somewhere.jamescafc said:
I don’t suppose you have the Strava link for the Eltham > Toys Hill route by any chance?JohnBoyUK said:
Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hillQuite fancy giving that a go when I’m back in the UK in the summer
From Eltham, Green Lane towards Chislehurst up to the common, past the The Bull, into Petts Wood (straight over the Poverest roundabout) and following the road down into Orpington High St. Straight up Green St Green to the A21, up Cudham Lane North/South into the Nower, right then drop down Hogtrough Hill and you're into Brasted and Toys is just across the road.
Thats the direct, straight line route. I used to turn left at Poverest and go the back lanes via Chelsfield then cut across Court Road, come down either Chelsfield Hill or World Ends Lane to get back to the A21. If you want a gentler climb instead of Cudham, Rushmore Hill is a lot shorter.
Coming back, I'd head down to Sundridge and turn left and head back up to Polhil direction via Chievening. I'd drop down to Otford and either keep to the main road back via Shoreham and Eynsford to Dartford. Or to make it longer, I'd go Pilgrims way and up either Row Dow, Old Terry's Lodge or Exmouth before dropping back via Knatts Valley, a lovely long downhill sprint, just what you want after all the climbing.0 -
If you did that would be great. Or if you can add me on Strava, I can flick through activities and find it. Been living overseas for 10+ years now so even with Garmin maps, suspect I’ll still get lost!JohnBoyUK said:
I've probably got it on Garmin connect somewhere.jamescafc said:
I don’t suppose you have the Strava link for the Eltham > Toys Hill route by any chance?JohnBoyUK said:
Ha I remember the Toys Hill reps ride I used to do 12-13 years ago. Eltham to Toys Hill via Cudham Lane North, down Brasted, then 10 times up Toys both sides then back up Brasted and home. Absolutely brutal.NorthStandDan said:After a ten year break from cycling due to various health issues I’ve been back in the saddle for the last 6 months training for a work charity ride. Completed the ride le Semnoz last week. 18km at 7.5% really hurt but got to the top in less than 2 hours with no stops!Riding up Toys Hill this weekend will feel like a walk in the park! 😂
13 years later, I live almost at the top of Westerham Hill, cursing all the bloody cyclists riding up the hillQuite fancy giving that a go when I’m back in the UK in the summer
From Eltham, Green Lane towards Chislehurst up to the common, past the The Bull, into Petts Wood (straight over the Poverest roundabout) and following the road down into Orpington High St. Straight up Green St Green to the A21, up Cudham Lane North/South into the Nower, right then drop down Hogtrough Hill and you're into Brasted and Toys is just across the road.
Thats the direct, straight line route. I used to turn left at Poverest and go the back lanes via Chelsfield then cut across Court Road, come down either Chelsfield Hill or World Ends Lane to get back to the A21. If you want a gentler climb instead of Cudham, Rushmore Hill is a lot shorter.
Coming back, I'd head down to Sundridge and turn left and head back up to Polhil direction via Chievening. I'd drop down to Otford and either keep to the main road back via Shoreham and Eynsford to Dartford. Or to make it longer, I'd go Pilgrims way and up either Row Dow, Old Terry's Lodge or Exmouth before dropping back via Knatts Valley, a lovely long downhill sprint, just what you want after all the climbing.0 -
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Well done!randy andy said:1 -
Really want to get back into cycling and seeing this thread inspiration..
I was always a good cyclist, albeit not a touch on Leroy.
The main thing is safety, I've had one too many near misses (none my fault, but whose fault it is doesn't matter when you're dead). The road quality and standard of driving are both just so low in this country.
I have a nice 12 mile cycle into work (Chislehurst to Cannon Street) but just wouldn't feel safe doing it.1 -
I cycled into the west end for 25 years, first from Greenwich then Mottingham and only had two car related accidents and a couple of wet drain cover falls.Huskaris said:Really want to get back into cycling and seeing this thread inspiration..
I was always a good cyclist, albeit not a touch on Leroy.
The main thing is safety, I've had one too many near misses (none my fault, but whose fault it is doesn't matter when you're dead). The road quality and standard of driving are both just so low in this country.
I have a nice 12 mile cycle into work (Chislehurst to Cannon Street) but just wouldn't feel safe doing it.
Just assume every car and van driver is a c*nt and ride accordingly.4 -
The main reason I don't ride now. I had two very near misses (back in late 2014) and I haven't ridden since.Huskaris said:Really want to get back into cycling and seeing this thread inspiration..
I was always a good cyclist, albeit not a touch on Leroy.
The main thing is safety, I've had one too many near misses (none my fault, but whose fault it is doesn't matter when you're dead). The road quality and standard of driving are both just so low in this country.
I have a nice 12 mile cycle into work (Chislehurst to Cannon Street) but just wouldn't feel safe doing it.0 -
I feel the pain of those struggling with motivation issues. I have a mild form of MS and had an attack while riding about 18 months ago, which freaked me out and that doesn’t help with motivation.
For 5/6 years I was almost obsessive about getting out and riding, but at the moment it is a huge struggle to motivate myself and when I do go out I spend most of the ride getting angry with idiot drivers or pedestrians with death wishes.
My annual mileage goal has been 6000 since 2019. Looks like I will struggle to hit 4000 this year. I have stopped commuting as even though we have secure storage at work, bikes have been nicked.
Part of my issue is I hate group riding, I am very much a solo rider as it means I can go where I want and stop when I choose.My fitness is currently in the gutter as I rarely do more than a 25 mile loop, if I push on I get bored/knackered/uncomfortable. Wondering whether I need an event to train for as I’ve not done anything since LEJOG 5 years ago.0 -
Clem_Snide said:I feel the pain of those struggling with motivation issues. I have a mild form of MS and had an attack while riding about 18 months ago, which freaked me out and that doesn’t help with motivation.
For 5/6 years I was almost obsessive about getting out and riding, but at the moment it is a huge struggle to motivate myself and when I do go out I spend most of the ride getting angry with idiot drivers or pedestrians with death wishes.
My annual mileage goal has been 6000 since 2019. Looks like I will struggle to hit 4000 this year. I have stopped commuting as even though we have secure storage at work, bikes have been nicked.
Part of my issue is I hate group riding, I am very much a solo rider as it means I can go where I want and stop when I choose.My fitness is currently in the gutter as I rarely do more than a 25 mile loop, if I push on I get bored/knackered/uncomfortable. Wondering whether I need an event to train for as I’ve not done anything since LEJOG 5 years ago.
we need to go back to Scotland my friend....still so much more to see....0 -
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FWIW, I only ever had two actual incidents in 6-7 years of commuting to the West End from Croydon, Reigate, Woking - and both were low speed. It's just so difficult for drivers at commute time to get up enough speed to truly damage you unless you do something daft like squeeze up the inside at lights or filter without looking properly. I've had far worse crashes out training/leisure ridingHuskaris said:Really want to get back into cycling and seeing this thread inspiration..
I was always a good cyclist, albeit not a touch on Leroy.
The main thing is safety, I've had one too many near misses (none my fault, but whose fault it is doesn't matter when you're dead). The road quality and standard of driving are both just so low in this country.
I have a nice 12 mile cycle into work (Chislehurst to Cannon Street) but just wouldn't feel safe doing it.1 -
One of my coached riders has MS. Diagnosed with it last year. We've been working towards her returning to competition (she's a time trialist) and it's a learning curve for both of us. Her biggest problem with it seems to be the lack of rhyme or reason to symptoms - making it very difficult for her to stick to planned sessions.Clem_Snide said:I feel the pain of those struggling with motivation issues. I have a mild form of MS and had an attack while riding about 18 months ago, which freaked me out and that doesn’t help with motivation.
For 5/6 years I was almost obsessive about getting out and riding, but at the moment it is a huge struggle to motivate myself and when I do go out I spend most of the ride getting angry with idiot drivers or pedestrians with death wishes.
My annual mileage goal has been 6000 since 2019. Looks like I will struggle to hit 4000 this year. I have stopped commuting as even though we have secure storage at work, bikes have been nicked.
Part of my issue is I hate group riding, I am very much a solo rider as it means I can go where I want and stop when I choose.My fitness is currently in the gutter as I rarely do more than a 25 mile loop, if I push on I get bored/knackered/uncomfortable. Wondering whether I need an event to train for as I’ve not done anything since LEJOG 5 years ago.0
