LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Tim · Joined: 26 Jul 2004 Posts: 381 Location: leytonstone E11

Ok going to book this tour tomorrow. Forgot my passport number Embarassed

sol · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 9:56 am Subject:

So who else is going? I'm tempted now. And how are you getting there? And even where are we supposed to be getting for the start?

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4107

Wish I could afford the time and the money needed for this. I wouldn't be popular with the family if I did go, that's for sure.

sol · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 10:12 am Subject:

Yeah, a bit like that for me too. I just have to be a good girl for a while to earn it. Does help that sprog is 7 and goes to school though. that means I'll only have to worry about booking after school care.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

I am going, others from London are Steve Hill, Philippe & Dorotha, Tim I think and Kim has booked.

To get there I am driving via Dusseldorf marathon on the previous Sunday then cruising the Rhine path on Monday and then driving up to the start for Tuesday afternoon. All camping. Plenty of room in the car at the moment for anyone that can manage that sort of itinerary. If I am not full then I can save people a bit on the return airfare by them hoping a ride with me on the way back.

sol · Posted: Fri Mar 03, 2006 12:14 pm Subject:

I'll probably fly to Ams and take a train to Delft. Cheaper for me this way, hubby works for BA.

Eric · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 48 Location: Paris

I have also booked that week in Holland.

A collegue was in Amsterdam last week end and it was rather cold. So it seems that we need to be prepared !! but I hope to get more sun....

see you there
Eric

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Order has been out some time. I hope they don't turn up while I am away as they may not be kept at the depot and get returned. I don't think they will. I am not expecting them until the end of the month at the earliest. Gav may have a little more info.

Anne-Jelmer · Posted: Mon May 08, 2006 7:56 am Subject:

Just canceled my participation for the Skatefresh Sad

I had a pretty unfortunate fall and anded on my tailbone last weekend. I am skating again but nut wich much fun.
I hope to see you guys during he Amsterdam Nightskate though.

ps. anyone interested in buying my skatefresh ticket?

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Well that was interesting. Went in group 2 all week. We were a much better unit than group 1 who we managed to overtake 3 times yesterday. Also beat them to the campsite by an hour on the first day. After that we took some long coffee breaks (and got lost a bit) to make sure we didn't unload the truck every day. No problems with keeping with the pack. Only got seperated once when the person in fornt of me had a gap opened up in front on an open windy section. I didn't notice I was at the back to get past to close the distance until it was too late. Eric was looking very strong.

Plenty of sillyness all week. Thumper One that I was piloting on the FNS had a flat tyre after about 40 mins and I had to take it back to the truck after a failed attempt to repair the puncture.

My speed skates are getting rather tired now. The heel of the left one has gone quite soft and now rocks against my achililles when I change edges. I stopped using the top eyelets and that seems to have cured the problem fortunately it is my strong ankle and so I could cope easily. The tongue position of my right skate that I have adopted to ease the pressure on my extra bump has caused me to pinch my right ankle on the other side resulting in some lost skin. This weas cured by a compeed covered with Sports take and a bit of sponge. This helped the lace bite I have been experiencing there too. The sponge is a hot tip from Hans that I overheard him telling Fred in Duisberg. Nice one.

Surfaces as before were variable from the ultra smooth better than serpentine road to bad brick cobbles which really hurt in the last two days. Stuck with the 100s all the way round though.

Stripped two brand new frame bolts on the last day that they actually fell out of my skates. Spares greatfully received from Wout and Yukio and so did not impair my ability to keep going.

Nice boat trip back tot he campsite from the FNS. All the organisation moved up a gear this year. It was well organised last year but this year it was even better. Some of the route notes were "interesting" though.

Big up to Glenn who only took his speed skates, left his wallet at Heathrow on the way out and did the extra 4km to the bank on day 1 morning then joined group 3a after lunch to experience Bart's 12km in the wrong direction turning a 62km first day into a monster 92km. Arriving at the campsite about 4 hours after group 2. The joke of taking a 3a route may live on for quite some time.

The suprise route turned out to be a nice surprise. We were taking a coach trip to the start but we didn't know that the start would be all the way across the country south-east to Germany. We skated all the way from one side to the other in a considerably bendy line. Again great organisation and a well kept secret. We had a police escort out of Germany (about 2km) which was arranged.

Weather was amazing. Right up to the day it was forecast rain on Monday-Wednesday. We had a light shower on Saturday and the rest of the time was mostly blazing sunshine.

Will see if my photos are any good before posting them somewhere.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Some photos Here

Anne-Jelmer · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:25 pm Subject:

Rick... That's rubbish!

Fred_Paris · Posted: Mon May 22, 2006 12:30 pm Subject: