Start Time
We will gather from 8.30pm on Broad Street, Oxford, outside
Balliol College (Oxford OX1 3BJ) and we'll leave at 9pm. Previously, we have
arrived at the beach between 7 and 9 on Sunday morning.
Fitness
The ride undulates but there are no mountains. People have completed on
recumbents, fixies, commuting, mountain and road bikes. The ride is not fast
but
you do need to be comfortable riding a bike for long periods. You must be
able to ride your bike for at least 100 miles. Riding through the night puts a
strain on the mind and body that daylight riding doesn’t, please be considerate
to your fellow riders and prepare well. 3AM is not the time to find out you’re
not up to the challenge. Get yourself a buddy for the ride, we try to stay
together as much as possible but the ride will go at the average group pace,
not the slowest rider.
Kit
Virtually any kind of bike will do but good lights are
essential. A cycle computer measuring in miles will help too. Bring warm
clothes and lots of food and water (the photo of the naked woman opposite was
taken at the top of a hill. We made sure she put her Buffalo on before heading
back down). There is a kebab shop open in Marlborough at 40 miles and after
that the whole world goes to sleep. It's also bedtime for bike shops, so make
sure your bike is in tip-top shape and bring inner tubes and small tools to
make running repairs.
Weather
The ride will happen whatever the weather. 2008 started on a rainy
Saturday and finished in a blaze of Sunday sun on the beach. In 2010 the temp.
dipped so low frost was seen on parked cars. There will be lots of hanging
around and re-grouping so whatever the forecast gloves, waterproofs and
spare warm layers for certain-sure!
Getting Back
The nearest mainline stations are Bournemouth and Brockenhurst
which have direct trains running to Oxford and London (the ride to
B.hurst. is far more pleasant). Bike spaces are limited so do book your ticket well
beforehand and make sure you also get a bike reservation. Bournemouth is 10
miles, Brockenhurst 18.
No comments:
Post a Comment