LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

Matt and I are meeting at The Vic at 6pm to head over to Liverpool Street.

I am about to go and get my train so any late messages by text please. See you all later Very Happy

BigSteev · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 282 Location: London

Ouch...zzzzzzzz. That is all.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

Well, that was fun. Quads a little sore today, but knees absolutely fine - which is better than last year, where I had to walk home from Liverpool St because remounting the bike was too painful.

First half at a reasonable pace with Andy and Christophe, then after the half time spot decided to tag along with Ray and Matt, who were pushing a bit harder. Sadly, only lasted about 15-20 miles on their tail before getting the bonk, or something closely related to it, shortly after Matt and I realised we'd taken a wrong turning. Back, slowly, to the path of righteousness, and limped through the dawn on my own for a bit until meeting Andy at the side of the road with 20 miles to go, who generously gave me his last energy bar. Andy and I did the last bit together, rocking up at the beach ~6:10am (I think, I'm a bit vague on that. Definitely earlier than last year, though, by a margin of about three puncture repairs). Breakfast, short doze on beach, then 23 miles back to Andy's house near Ipswich and beer. Rain started as we set off on the return leg, but had dried up about 20 minutes later and the rest of the ride was quite pleasant

I am sure there is a fuelling strategy which will enable me to do FNRttC and Dun Run on the same weekend at pace and without blowing up, but depending on the Dunwich halftime food is not it. Perhaps if I'd been able to find my second soreen that would probably have done the trick.

Great fun anyway. Especially noteworthy performances from Ray and Matt, and from Big Steev who did the whole thing on fixed so didn't even get the benefit on downhills of working on the uphills ....

Approximate totals for weekend: 10 miles on music bike, 60 miles to Brighton, 120 miles to Dunwich + 25 back to Andy's. Today is a rest day, I reckon

Christophe · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 1650

andyman · Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 1945 Location: Suffolk

For the second week in succession I am delighted with the way this old body has performed.

Like Le Mans, whilst I may have lost some of my outright fitness of last year (as well as carrying approx 8 extra Kilos Embarassed

) I still managed to perform way above expectation and although I have never had such a painful ass from riding a bike. No question about it, thats simply because I just having spent enough time in the saddle recently. I can honestly say, ass excepted, today I do not have an ache anywhere on my body, which is great news (....goes off to try and persuade Ed and Tanya to come to Zug this weekend...)

It was great to ride with everyone and especially nice as through circumstance I ended up riding more or less the whole event for the second year with Dan. (Particularly as he has upgraded and did not suffer any punctures!)

Was really nice to be able to offer everyone a beer and relax back at my new bolt hole in Ipswich and to that end will plan on the same next year albeit with prearranged transport from Finish Razz

And one final thing.... yet again it looked so good that the majority of us were wearing LSST Blue; just a nice feeling to have an identity amongst so many Laughing

BigSteev · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 282 Location: London

Yeah, sorry about that, I wanted a long sleeve top so I had to wear my Lampre one. I'm starting to get concerned that I'm still lacking feeling in two fingers on my left hand.

Doing the ride fixed wasn't that bad but it might have been nice to have not been the only one, as then I wouldn't have felt compelled to try and keep up (or at least not get too far behind) all of you geared types.

That said, including the ride to Andy's, that's actually the furthest I've cycled in one go (fixed or geared) so I'm pretty happy about things.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

Ray · Joined: 30 Mar 2004 Posts: 806 Location: Dagenham

Yeah, an amazing night:

Seeing the line of red light stretching up the hill to Epping.

Spring rolls from the Chinese at Dunmow.

Hearing the dawn chorus gradually swelling at about 3.

Impressed by Steve's 130+ miles on his fixie - at least I was faster than him this time!

Hammering along at a lung busting pace with danb and Matt.

Having the hi-tech routing abilities of my gps vindicated - must learn to shout louder though!

Wonderful mild weather

Tremendous camaraderie of the LSST linked riders.

Then to counter-balance it vicious rain and a puncture on the way back to Andy's.

Thanks for being the perfect host Andy - beer, coffee fruit and recovery drink in that order - just what I needed

ed! · Posted: Mon Jul 06, 2009 10:37 pm Subject:

michelle · Joined: 06 Jul 2009 Posts: 1

Thank you to all of you for allowing me to tag along and making me feel welcome. I had the time of my life. A pitty I couldn't quite keep up with you lot but there is always next year Wink

Only trouble I had was getting lost but we soon found some other lost souls and managed to find the way with a proper map, written directions and a compass...

Andy, after the 120miles there was no way I was going anywhere, but the invite to crash at yours was greatly appreciated.

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

How did you get back in the end?