Slightly Off Topic - London Brighton Bike Ride

Did it yesterday on a push bike - it's a bit like a motor bike but without an engine....and slower.

25 000 riders & most of them didn't know how to ride a bike. Overtaking other cyclist without doing a shoulder check, Lube-free chains/sprockets and too much lycra.

Mentioning the ride as I saw an accident yesterday - a lady face planted due to a cyclist panicking & swerving when a car when (slowly) past. She was wearing one of those cycle helmets & it didn't save her. There was a 1/2 metre blood streak on the road & she was at the side wailing like an injured water buffalo. Really horrible sounds. Nose & chin all mashed in.

Seeing that made me re-affirm that I'll always wear full face on my bike even in the height of summer.

A lesson for us all, methinks.

D.

Yeah I did it as well mate. It was a good day wasn't it? Thank gawd it didn't get sunnier eh?

I'm well chuffed that I cycled up Ditchling Beacon

I saw some big pile ups as well. Some were doing well at taking each other out.

Thing that struck me about it was the state of the machinery many people were doing it on. How do they figure that a bike that is barely capable of going to the shops will do 60 miles! LOL

How about you - you got legs today!!

Legs are pretty good condition today. I went to the massage tent afterwards (the free one that only asked for contributions).

There was a "large" girl on a bike going up one of the hills & I weas thinking how the hell can she be doing that speed she doesn't look like she's been to the gym in years.

As soon as I got level I saw the tandem & the skinny whippet bloke on the fron sweating like Gary Glitter on a school bus.

Good day out & I beat my "proper"-cyclist work colleagues to the finish. )

did you jump any red traffic lights

Have done this a couple of times - suberb day out!

Yet to make it to the top of Ditchling Beacon on me bicycle though!

wouldn't recommend it Helen - believe me

Helen - I think you're on your bike back to front ;o)

Or did you buy one with 6 reverse gears?

That hill at the end was a nightmare - I was less than 100 metres from the top & gave up & walked it remainder of it(

Still the next 7 miles to Brighton down hill were *dead* easy!

That Kinvig is the joyous Ditchling Beacon hill!

The only reason I went up it is that:

1. I am stubborn

2. I am local and cycle up it quite a bit

3. I am stupid

Cracking view of the Weald from the top eh?! Never ceases to impress me.

ps missed out on that (free) massage mate.

must admint I didn't see much of the views as I was fairly tanknig it the entire time. No time for sight seeing!!!

There were a number ladeez in Brighton that looked like men in drag!! Bizarre, eh?

Stay away from those bushes above the beach Kinvig. This area is most aptly named the 'King's Mound' (puns on a postcard pls)

Lots of men and 'ladies' seem to disappear in here and come out with very 'relaxed' expressions??