LondonSkaters Speed Team - Speed Skating & Rollerblading Club in London

xsfred · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Paris

Here is what is planned for the following months by Alain from PUC :

Dimanche 23 janvier St Nom la Brétèche - Mantes - St Nom la Brétèche 80 km
Dimanche 13 février Paris-Melun Route des châteaux 55 km
Dimanche 20 mars Paris-Beauvais 80 km
Avril Paris-Vernon Route des peintres 80 km

Complete file is there :

http://www.pucroller.com/breve.php3?id_breve=282

You will see that, while Alain is planning to take us to London on our little wheels, we do have a problem for the Dover-London reconnaissance. Any of you would have experience of the little roads there ?

And then there is Planetroller's agenda :

30 Janvier 2005 : Annulé
27 Février 2005 : la Vallée de la Bièvre
13 Mars 2005 : La TransvaldeMarne
17 Avril 2005 : Paris-Provins
mai-juin : saison des marathons FIC mais peut-être....
17 Juillet 2005 : Paris-Moret sur Loing avec pique-nique
septembre : marathons FIC mais peut-être...
9 Octobre 2005 : Paris- Orléans

Complete file is there :

http://www.planetroller.com/article.php3?id_article=185

Organization

Reconnaissance is necessary ; it allows to discover which roads have high motor traffic, which crossroads make problems, which direction changes are easy to miss ; it especially allows the leader of each peloton to keep skating at each crossroad and never stop. We make use of small roads exclusively, which means many direction changes on the way.

Skating in peloton is very necessary : while you need two or three seasoned skaters to lead, the rest of the skaters can happily tuck in the draft, watch the scenery and enjoy. It does include pushing each other in the downhills, which may be very impressive - precautions needed.

Speed is 22 kmh ; this is a speed easily achieved by both the experienced leader, and the younger followers ; it generally leads to an actual 20 kmh average, which allows for impressive distances covered, like 80 km in the morning.

Stopovers and pauses : none if possible. Every pause breaks the rythm and the morale ; normally one pause every 40 km. Still another reason for the leaders to master the course.

Food and beverage : no, no beer. Every skater must be autonomous on this account, which means a small backpack and actual water stock ; food really is necessary only if you plan more than 40 km.

Bail-out car really is useful : it allows a much better safety against incoming traffic, it is useful in case of skater incident/fatigue, it can carry packs. We do take relays at the wheel. Reconnaissances are achieved without a car, with a very small number of seasoned skaters.

Randonnées (excursions ?) are great for the seasoned skater, who can work on his double push and his endurance ; they are even greater for the younger skater who discovers the pleasure of skating long distance, and the fact that he/she is capable of it.

Duracell · Posted: Thu Feb 03, 2005 1:03 pm Subject: Re: More about randonnées

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

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Or vice versa Very Happy

xsfred · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Paris

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

roger · Joined: 26 Feb 2004 Posts: 531

I know the roads a bit because we cycle down that way quite often.

I would suggest heading East from Dover, south of Ashford; then Tonbridge, and on into London. You could put together a relatively flat, and fairly lightly-trafficked route going that way. Not sure about quality of road surfaces though?

My initial impression is that if you wanted to skate the whole lot, then you'd probably best allow two days. given that its at least 80 miles, poor to average road surfaces, and a few hills.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Nice info, Roger. I may check it out on a bike.

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

I could be up for a weekday ride with you, Rick.

Rick · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 5914

Will have to be after April 1st then as I am working every weekday until then except for my ski hol.

xsfred · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 125 Location: Paris

Could the Moderators please edit this topic into the non-Member area please ? Alain, who is the organizer of the Paris-London, would like to take part in it.

Or I can merely start a new topic in the "event" section ?

Thanks

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

xFred, I would say, creating a new thread would actually make more sense as the title of that one is not about Paris - London but about parisian randone.
Alex