The music enhances the experience, particularly Mr Fowley’s screams and grunts.
As part of my plan to get fit for my next trip to France and because my workplace was on the hunt for participants I signed up for the London Nightrider, a 100km loop around London for together we can, specifically the Maudsley charity. I thought about making a plea here for funds but such was the generous nature of the people I did e-mail that I hit my target of £200 in just shy of 2 days and overall have reached £450.
Thanks to all of you who dipped into their pockets. I’ll sting the rest of you for cash a bit later on in this post…
The start point was Crystal Palace, a short ride from my domicile. I’d prepared by sleeping a lot then eating a bacon baguette and drinking tea (Chris Froome, you’ll owe me for this advice). Got there and participated in some pre-ride shots (that’s me on the right):
Got talking to another participant, Conrad, who was riding after a family member had received treatment from another hospital in the charity. There were some other clinicians riding also. Some minor trouble with my lights and a swift battery replacement and we departed Crystal Palace at 10:50pm. Conrad shot ahead on his very sexy Condor road bike. I was on “The Hack,” my 1996 Kona Cindercone, converted into a commuter.
The ride was great and I felt fit as a fiddle for the most part. I caught up with Conrad prior to the second stop near to Mile End. A big climb at Ally Pally at the 30 odd mile mark was a bit of a puff – I am not a natural climber by any means.
Foodwise we were provided with snacks around the course I ate three Tunnocks Caramels and some mini packs of Haribo. I had the following exchange at Mile End:
Snack Lady: “We have all the different types of Haribo.”
Me: “Oooooh, do you have the sour ones?”
Snack Lady: “Errr, no.”
Got to the Imperial War Museum and made the mistake of eating some Spicy Bikers – no, that’s not some sexual thing. Had curry repeaters for a few miles.
The cruise into central London was great but the last 10 miles were a slog, a chilly slightly bleak looking dawn although the birds singing was a boost. We finished at Crystal Palace at 5:30, 6.5 hours later, although I was only in the saddle 4.5 hours. Finished up with Bacon Sarnies and a muffin.
I was a bit shocked at how fit I was – I wasn’t with the carbon whippets but I kept up with the reasonably fit people on decent bikes. Just got to lose a few pounds to enhance my climbing.
Now the rub. I’ve signed up to do the London to Brighton Night Ride for the British Heart Foundation. Please sponser me!!!
A Surly Ride 