LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

I'm going to skate this one. Anyone want to join me? It's about 60 miles I think with plenty of hills.

fzurro · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 796 Location: Middlesex

how does this work ? Anything organized ?

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

If this is the L2B bike ride day, then enjoy Tanners Hill Ditchling Beacon and the other one I can't remember the name of. If you don't leave very early then you will be stuck trying to skate up hills that at full of people walking bikes. Skating hills tiring enough not trying to dodge them but ti should be easier than trying to ride through them. London to Cambridge is still a better route to avoid the one day a year riders.

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

I just really fancy putting a load of cyclists to shame by dropping them. Yes, I know it won't be fair, but it'll be fun innit.

Fede, you can register but the organisers will likely not want me to skate for liability reasons. Since it's on public roads I don't imagine they will be able to stop me though.

Aye, Rick, but on your skates amongst a shed-load of cyclists works very well, at least on the Mass with 1100 in a tiny space when I did it last time. You can barely move on a bike, even for those that have near-messenger skills, but on skates it's pretty easy to nip around everyone without barging people and being a peasant.

I'm not worried about the uphills, those are what I'm looking for. The downhills and rough surfaces, on the other hand, might be a little tougher. I'm taking big wheels, gonna take as long as needed without worrying too much about speed, and maybe even a brake. Embarassed

_gj3000_ · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:06 pm Subject:

Mike, I think it sounds like a top idea. I'll do it if I am around. but I don't yet know if I will be.

sol · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 8:17 pm Subject:

Hmm..very tempting. Also have a friend who cycles it every year, could race him....

dan_b · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 2428

I'm not sure whether there's any satisfaction to be had in dropping one-day-a-year cyclists. Let's face it, if you're wearing lycra and they're not they'll pretty much expect you to be faster than them anyway - where's the crushed ego going to come from?

I have to concede that it's kind of tempting anyway. How can chasing cyclists not be?

fzurro · Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 796 Location: Middlesex

Hey Dan, If it makes u feel any better or make them feel worse (same thing ...) U can skate it on Jeans Wink

Gav · Posted: Tue Mar 28, 2006 9:24 pm Subject:

I think this is an excellent idea!

That said I'm aiming to be in Switzerland this weekend, so we'll see how things go.

The best method of going down hills I reckon is to find a friendly cyclist and asking him to brake for you. There'll be enough of them!

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

Guys dont do it,
its a great idea on paper but stupid in reality. Its not fun, the roads are cloaged with people that are never been on a bike for a loong time. They dont have any road maneurs. Allready on my bike when I did it, I was nearly knock down twice.
Like rick is saying, the hills are jamed. You can not overtake, everyone is stop. At one point It took us 30 minutes of queing to do 1km uphill!!!!!!

Go for any other charity ride. Not the L2B

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

What time did you leave Alex? I expect you left much too late, you've got to leave early to avoid the worst of the press. It's not a ride I'd cycle either.

Like I said before, it can be a bit pants when you're on a bike in a big crowd, but being on skates opens lots of spaces you couldn't use before.

Xia · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 874 Location: Geneva (Suisse)

Mikey-two-Names · Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 4108

Yeah, I thought you'd say 08.30ish, I'm not surprised you had a bad time. I think I'm gonna leave at about 06.00

Gav · Posted: Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:31 pm Subject:

even if Gav was around suddenly for no apparent reason he is less keen Wink