Who's going out for a ride today and how far

Measure distance in miles, kilometres or pubs

 

mamos 

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carpe scrotum

Well I did about 12 miles 1 pub 2 pints of betty stoggs

Huge hill that I never thought I would get up on a single speed but the smokers outside the pub said "you'll never get up that bloody hill on that thing" so it had to be done really

Narrowly  avoided getting wiped out by some idiot  who hadn't got the hang of driving and indicating  at the same time.

all in all a good day

mamos
 

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carpe scrotum

Oh yes!

Our cycling club, Fareham Wheelers (www.fareham-wheelers.org.uk), did a special '100 mile club run' today in the South Downs and Hampshire Downs. The club's Sunday morning training rides are normally 40-70 miles, so this was a bit different to the usual format. There were about a dozen of us at the start. I was the only one on SS - as usual. We included some big climbs, and there were plenty of fast, flat sections.  It went well, and I managed to be in the first two on all the climbs. Having lost over 30lbs recently helped with that! On some of the fast, flat sections we were sometimes rolling along at 26mph or more. Spin - rest - spin - rest - spin - rest - spin - rest. High cadence drafting!

Total distance for me today was 110 miles, including getting to and from the start/finish, and we averaged 17mph for the ride. I did it on my Principia custom singlespeed audax bike (in the gallery), with the usual 42 x 17 (approx. 65") gear. Around half of the starters completed the whole route, start to finish.

There's nothing quite like 'getting the miles in'!

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STEAL WON!

I have been wondering about longer distances on the single speed

I have done quite a few centuries on my geared bike and I am finding it easier every ride to go further.

 Anyone fancy doing a single speed end 2 end?

mamos
 

 

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carpe scrotum

I'd be up for that. You've got an advantage, what with being rather close to one end already.

Charlie The Bikemonger, a hero of mine and occasional contributor to this forum, rode an SS mtb from Swanage to Scotland for the Champs last year. I think I'd choose a road bike for a long journey on the road.

I actually find any distance easier on SS, short or long, on-road or off-road. I commented to someone the other day that gears and suspenion are simply devices to compensate for rider deficiencies, and the actual, physical amount of work done is less on SS for a given distance - which is all true.

 It's necessary to be strong and supple to ride singlespeed with confidence. Singlespeed has made me strong and supple. I'm a confident singlespeeder!

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STEAL WON!

I amaze myself everyday at how far or how easily I get around hilly Cornwall on my single. I started off just doing a couple of commutes a week on the single and then taking the geared bike the rest of the time but now I jump on the ss to go anywhere at the drop of a hat. I haven't ridden my geared bike for weeks now and today I drove my car for the first time in about three weeks. In fact, after i moved it this morning I had to get the mower out and mow the patch of grass that had grown under it Poor car, I really should drive it more, It's over 35 years old now and it seizes up a bit if I don't use it. mamos

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carpe scrotum

That'll be 'tax exempt' then. I like old cars. What kind is it?

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STEAL WON!

It is a 1973 Baja Bug Unfortunately it is just outside the tax exemptedness period I have a 72 VW Camper as well. That is tax exempt but it is undergoing rustoration at the moment mamos

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carpe scrotum

Hmmm... Subtle.

I didn't have the benefit of a classical education, unfortunately. What exactly does 'carpe scrotum' mean?

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STEAL WON!

"It is a 1973 Baja Bug"

 

Ooooh. I like that! and the micro bus is tasty too.  

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"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live." Mark Twain.


The follower of singlespeeding
is at one with his bike.

devoid_punk:

Hmmm... Subtle.

I didn't have the benefit of a classical education, unfortunately. What exactly does 'carpe scrotum' mean?

Carpe Scrotum 'seize the balls' or grab life by the balls It is a parody on the saying 'carpe diem' meaning seize the day and made popular by the 1989 film Dead Poets Society It's a joke mamos

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carpe scrotum

So long as you're not going to try and seize my balls!

I had a feeling it might mean that, but thought I'd better check.

Anyhow, back to the original subject. I did the FWCC club run today. It was 48 miles and visited the South Downs (again!) and so was rather lumpy (again!). I did it on the SS Principia audax bike (again!). I wore a UCI World Champion jersey (which I was given by someone who bought it and was then too embarassed to wear it) and everyone took the pi55 before the start.  I was the only singlespeeder (as usual!) out of the dozen or so riders. Variety is the spice of life!!!

I'll probably go mountain biking next Sunday.

What about you lot? Did anyone do a ride today?

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STEAL WON!

I cycled about 20 miles over the weekend

Went down  to the Helford river to watch the Gig rowing back to budock for a pint at the trelly then back to mylor

Bloody hot day but a lovely ride

Only one hill I couldn't ride and that was the one out of the ferryboat inn. No run up and steep  and long. Didn't even try, I think I would have broken something on the bike if I did.

Although there was another hill out of Meanporth  that I really thought I would have to walk and I got up it no worries

Fantastic

 

mamos 

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carpe scrotum

That's all rather picturesque round there, isn't it? Why not take a camera next time and let us have a look?

There should be no shame in walking occasionally. We all have that 24" gear for when we need it - two feet! Sometimes I go faster walking than the gearies on their silly spin-and-bob-and-wheelie granny gears. They just look plain silly riding like that. It's not at all elegant, and should definitely be outlawed.

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STEAL WON!

24" gear

 

I like that

 

Mamos 

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carpe scrotum

Hey Mamos.

Yesterday I did an eighty mile ride on the 1948 Fleming road-path. It runs a 66" single freewheel. Despite a couple of one-in-five climbs, and a decidedly lumpy route overall, I never once reverted to the 24" gear.

My pleasant day-tour was in the typical Olde England of Robin Hood, Sherlock Holmes and Miss Marple. The England that all English people know and love. I've put some pictures in My Gallery to show our American friends that Merrie Olde England is all exactly the way they see it in films and on the television. For my next trip I will head for Tower Bridge through the fog.

Did you get out this weekend?

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STEAL WON!

Not much really

Saturday was a complete wash out with flooding and the like

Did manage to get about 20 miles in on sunday and went out for a lovely row in the morning.

Going out tonight to see Bill Bailey at the Eden Project and the weather is set fair for the whole weekend so I will try and get some miles in

I will try to remember to take my camera and get some nice pics for the galley

Dooo DoDoDoDo  DoDoDoDoooDoDo

 

mamos 

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carpe scrotum

Quite a big weekend coming up. A good 80+ miles with the CTC tomorrow (Saturday) and then the same kind of mileage again on Sunday with the V-CC. All singlespeed and on the road.The actual rides are quite a bit shorter, but they both start some way off and I ride out. I don't ever like to put a bike in a motor vehicle if I can possibly help it.

 It's all a bit too muddy for mountain biking at the moment. Heavy rain again today, so I'll stick to the road until Tuesday when it's our regular 20 miles off-road.

 I'm looking forward to seeing some pictures of the wonderful West Country.

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STEAL WON!

 Bill Bailey. He's one of my favourite stand ups. was he good?

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"Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live." Mark Twain.


The follower of singlespeeding
is at one with his bike.

He was fantastic

Much better than I thought he was in fact as I thought he would do a lot of his old stuff but it was pretty much all new material

Beautiful setting at the eden project as well and very well organized

Great evening out

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bill+bailey+eden&search_type=&aq=f 

mamos 

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carpe scrotum