Blatant non boaty plug for your hard earned

Jamie has his Just Giving page up and running now but rather than cheekily (I'd need more front than Brighton if I did) ask for more contributions here to get him above the £100 entry target, I thought it better to post a request to assist him on Scuttlebutt http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...ty-plug-for-your-hard-earned-for-my-Son-Jamie Thought I'd best let you know in case it's mentioned :)

cheers Gary

Jamie's in now, no backing out. Well done you guys!:encouragement:
RR
 
Thanks again Paul :encouragement:

Howard, just been reading up and that's what alot of people do apparently so may just go that route as I am familiar with straight handbars rather than getting used to a road bike again.

this chap got me worried though, a quote from one of the threads I was reading on a forum all about the ride from London to Brighton. as said, lots about putting road tyres on the MTB, this fella was the last post :eek:

sounds like a tall story to me! its not that dangerous! everyone says that Ditchling beacon is a killer but in reality, its just bloody hard work! especially with lots of other bikes around breaking your rhythm.

having road tyres on my usual bike made a massive difference! worth the £40 quid i spend on them for sure!
 
Its not the amount, its the fact you have donated! great cause Gary and as you know, one very close to our hearts.

Donation made, if you want to do some training rides around the forest im sure we could fire up the BBQ and provide some water to keep you going!

Best wishes,
Howard & Gwen.
 
Right then Gary. Good news and bad news. Mostly bad news.

Spoke to the cycling chap at work who's initial reaction was, "Piece of p1ss". Which surely has to be good news wouldn't you say?

I happened to have the computer on, he saw a picture of you and started laughing. At you, not with you. I won't lie Gary I really felt for you at this point, you're a good friend and I was hurt. But he's from Glasgow so I laughed along so as not to upset him.

"No feckin' chance".

I don't think he meant quite that. He is a man of few words and what I think he was trying to say was that he believed deep down inside you could do it but it would need a little bit of training first. He could see the look of determination and the purposeful stance in the lycra shorts.

"I bet he's got a mountain bike"

Yes I said enthusiastically thinking that at least you've got the right kit.

He laughed out loud. Properly this time, it transpires the previous laughter was only a chuckle by comparison. "Far to squidgy".

Now at this point I was really feeling for you mate. Granted you are no Greek god but to call you squidgy is just not fair. Once again I nodded in agreement. But here's the good news, he wasn't talking about you, he was referring to your tyres. More positives.

It transpires that mountain bike tyres will sap what little energy you have to the point where he suggested you break down the journey over a couple of days. You need very thin smooth tyres apparently.

More positive vibes he started spouting off some bike mumbo jumbo jargon. Size 700 wheels, carbon, shedding weight, geometric fitting, yadda yadda yadda. Probably all vital stuff but as I'm not the one doing the bike ride I didn't really pay too much attention. In fact he spouted off the whole nine yards as to what you must do in order to make your journey fast and friendly. I can't remember a damn thing - oh, other than the fact you mustn't wear underpants and you need chamois gusseted cycling shorts. Good luck finding them, I'm buggered if I'm putting stuff like that in my browser's search memory. When the police come round I'll be locked up and they'll throw away the key.

405px-Cycling_Bibshorts.jpg



The general gist of the conversation seemed to hint at the fact we would be getting sterling value for money from our sponsorship funds. Sitting in a bath full of baked beans is all well and good but having every fibre of your being crying out in pain whilst your lungs burn trying to ingest life giving oxygen and at the same time a tiny bike seat (although I'll wager you don't use the word tiny as it goes in) tries to work it's way past your anus on it's way to meeting your intestines.

Do make sure to take some photos. No too bothered about the first 50 miles, just the last 10 ;)









On a serious note you do at least need to change your wheels & tyres. Possibly borrow as light a road bike as possible but still use straight handlebars.

Henry :)
 
Hi Gary

I have an old road/racing bike that I'm happy to lend..Kellogs Pro Tour Rayleigh model.. its not great hence why I don't mind at all loaning it out for however many months it will be, for old times sake I would like it back at some point but its a geniune offer. Having done a few rides for charities over the years and had fitter friends accompany me on mountain bikes honestly a road bike will take half the effort of a mountain bike on the same course...
 
Howard (Zippy) Gwen (Mrs Zippy to be), PeteM, Jimmy the Builder, James (Firefly) and LJS. A massive thank you for your donations to take the total up to a gobsmacking £1300.. it's just unfathomable that the fundraising would reach such an amount in such a short space of time so again, my sincere thanks for you guys helping to get it there :encouragement:
 
I have so many offers of cycles now that we're spoilt for choice. If I may, I'll ponder it over the weekend. head's in work mode during the week apart from coming on here to ensure I say take time to say thanks to you all so little time to plan out the options. I will do though so please don;t think I am ignoring your kind offers :)
 
I have so many offers of cycles now that we're spoilt for choice. If I may, I'll ponder it over the weekend. head's in work mode during the week apart from coming on here to ensure I say take time to say thanks to you all so little time to plan out the options. I will do though so please don;t think I am ignoring your kind offers :)

Gary, Henry's feedback from McCycle while creating a good giggle, is best taken as meant in jest. Stick to the mountain bike and big fat tyres. A road racer takes some serious time on the saddle to go through the genitalia (can I say that on here?) pain threshold. The tiny tyres will puncture as soon as the wheels see a Croydon road, and you won't have a small enough front cog to get up Ditchling Beacon, which is 90 km into your 100 km, your having hit the wall at about 80km!
 
Right then Gary. Good news and bad news. Mostly bad news.

Spoke to the cycling chap at work who's initial reaction was, "Piece of p1ss". Which surely has to be good news wouldn't you say?

I happened to have the computer on, he saw a picture of you and started laughing. At you, not with you. I won't lie Gary I really felt for you at this point, you're a good friend and I was hurt. But he's from Glasgow so I laughed along so as not to upset him.

"No feckin' chance".

I don't think he meant quite that. He is a man of few words and what I think he was trying to say was that he believed deep down inside you could do it but it would need a little bit of training first. He could see the look of determination and the purposeful stance in the lycra shorts.

"I bet he's got a mountain bike"

Yes I said enthusiastically thinking that at least you've got the right kit.

He laughed out loud. Properly this time, it transpires the previous laughter was only a chuckle by comparison. "Far to squidgy".

Now at this point I was really feeling for you mate. Granted you are no Greek god but to call you squidgy is just not fair. Once again I nodded in agreement. But here's the good news, he wasn't talking about you, he was referring to your tyres. More positives.

It transpires that mountain bike tyres will sap what little energy you have to the point where he suggested you break down the journey over a couple of days. You need very thin smooth tyres apparently.

More positive vibes he started spouting off some bike mumbo jumbo jargon. Size 700 wheels, carbon, shedding weight, geometric fitting, yadda yadda yadda. Probably all vital stuff but as I'm not the one doing the bike ride I didn't really pay too much attention. In fact he spouted off the whole nine yards as to what you must do in order to make your journey fast and friendly. I can't remember a damn thing - oh, other than the fact you mustn't wear underpants and you need chamois gusseted cycling shorts. Good luck finding them, I'm buggered if I'm putting stuff like that in my browser's search memory. When the police come round I'll be locked up and they'll throw away the key.

405px-Cycling_Bibshorts.jpg



The general gist of the conversation seemed to hint at the fact we would be getting sterling value for money from our sponsorship funds. Sitting in a bath full of baked beans is all well and good but having every fibre of your being crying out in pain whilst your lungs burn trying to ingest life giving oxygen and at the same time a tiny bike seat (although I'll wager you don't use the word tiny as it goes in) tries to work it's way past your anus on it's way to meeting your intestines.

Do make sure to take some photos. No too bothered about the first 50 miles, just the last 10 ;)









On a serious note you do at least need to change your wheels & tyres. Possibly borrow as light a road bike as possible but still use straight handlebars.

Henry :)

what can I say H.. Sterling research that I'll take on the chin(s) :) road bike it is then along with a good few spare inner tubes taken with me in case of punctures. I see he mentioned padded pants and no under crackers, would wearing a skirt help as I'd imagine that would help air flow in that area? did he make reference to padded bras to fend off nipple friction? and whilst I'm at it, did he say it's ok to wear a blonde wig on a bike as part of a 'now you see me' blonde is better than black elf n safety regime?

thanks again buddy, good work and look forward to further guidance from you and your bike bloke.
 
Gary, Henry's feedback from McCycle while creating a good giggle, is best taken as meant in jest. Stick to the mountain bike and big fat tyres. A road racer takes some serious time on the saddle to go through the genitalia (can I say that on here?) pain threshold. The tiny tyres will puncture as soon as the wheels see a Croydon road, and you won't have a small enough front cog to get up Ditchling Beacon, which is 90 km into your 100 km, your having hit the wall at about 80km!

understood buddy but you know what, I'm going to try both during training and see what occurs. I fully intend to be cycling at least 3 times a week from April onwards and ad hoc before then so should have plenty of opportunity to develop a leather ass in that time ;) the body isn;t what it used to be but I am pretty sure I can whip it into shape in the 7 months I have one last time before relaxing it again over Xmas and New Year 2014 ;)
 
understood buddy but you know what, I'm going to try both during training and see what occurs. I fully intend to be cycling at least 3 times a week from April onwards and ad hoc before then so should have plenty of opportunity to develop a leather ass in that time ;) the body isn;t what it used to be but I am pretty sure I can whip it into shape in the 7 months I have one last time before relaxing it again over Xmas and New Year 2014 ;)

Chamois lined lycra is a good idea, but not a good look in anyone over 18. Does ease the pain in the trouser area though :D
 
I'd be massively in favour of road tyres, because the energy burn of flexing those mountain bike tyres over this distance is a lot. (Ought to be able to calculate it, but I'm not sure how)

Sure they'll puncture, but that's a good thing isn't it? A chance to get off the bike, fiddle with some spanners, and let the bollox pain ease off a bit? Rather like a fag break in the office. And I think you can legitimately subtract the puncture fix time from your overall time, surely? You would if I were on the scrutineering committee

Getting back to the bollox pain thing, of course a serious rider is constantly peddling so hard that the upward force from his legs pushing against the pedals means he only has a few kg of effective weight on his bollox. So that must be the secret - pedal hard the whole way.

Very easily said from a key board of course.

Anyway Henryf your research was fascinating - ROTFL here :)

Best of luck Gary + Jamie
 
I'd be massively in favour of road tyres, because the energy burn of flexing those mountain bike tyres over this distance is a lot. (Ought to be able to calculate it, but I'm not sure how)

Sure they'll puncture, but that's a good thing isn't it? A chance to get off the bike, fiddle with some spanners, and let the bollox pain ease off a bit? Rather like a fag break in the office. And I think you can legitimately subtract the puncture fix time from your overall time, surely? You would if I were on the scrutineering committee

Getting back to the bollox pain thing, of course a serious rider is constantly peddling so hard that the upward force from his legs pushing against the pedals means he only has a few kg of effective weight on his bollox. So that must be the secret - pedal hard the whole way.

Very easily said from a key board of course.

Anyway Henryf your research was fascinating - ROTFL here :)

Best of luck Gary + Jamie

my thoughts entirely John regarding the puncture breaks.. wasn't going to mention this but I'll be taking a few packets of tacks with me.. get a bit out of puff, throw a few in front of me, 'pop'.. hang on lads, give me 10 mins, got to fix another ruddy puncture!! ;)
 
I've been pondering this finish as quickly as possible thing and it's come down to morals with one massive assumption, that I'll be quicker than little Deb.. as I said, it's a MASSIVE assumption that.

option one: be a hero and strive for the fastest time and wait at the finish line to cheer on Little Deb as she crosses the line.

option two: sod the time and strive to ensure little Deb gets across the finish line and experience the event with her every inch of every mile.

option three: my assumption is wrong and cheer her ass on as it disappears into the distance ;)

decisions decisions
 
Top