What do you call a dinosaur that does lots of cycling...

[HeyWayne]

Would love a pic of the padded pants

Your wish madame, is my command...

[Glutton4...]

Don't blame ya mate! I've a padded gel seat on my bike, but it still bites!

[HayleyB]

And a pic of them modelled by our own Zen master please.....

[HeyWayne]

And a pic of them modelled by our own Zen master please.....

I'm out for a ride tonight with a pal. I'll see if I can get LadyWayne to snap me before I go.

In other news...

My rider number arrived last night along with my start time (06:30) and all the other gubbins (ID card, photo sticker and so on). Exciting times!!!

[miffy]

My cousin does a lot of long distance rides and his advice is to make sure you are well oiled in certain parts so you don't get chaffing, I think he uses some sort of vaseline. Sorry I don't really know how else to say this without being too personal. But he said if you don't you will suffer! Good luck, think what you are doing is brill.

[HeyWayne]

My cousin does a lot of long distance rides and his advice is to make sure you are well oiled in certain parts so you don't get chaffing, I think he uses some sort of vaseline. Sorry I don't really know how else to say this without being too personal. But he said if you don't you will suffer! Good luck, think what you are doing is brill.

Chamois cream I think it's called. I'm thinking Sudocrem - we have plenty.

Well, pal and I ventured out last night, he on his sparkly new road bike, and me on my ruddy great tractor of a thing (though I swapped the tyres last night - what a difference!).

We attacked 'the hill' just outside the village and I had to stop twice, he made it in two goes. We then covered 14 miles in total and had a pretty good time. We cycled down another steep hill and my speedo read 38.5mph at one point. Pal tucked in behind me and had to brake a couple of times "pooed mesen back there!" He said as we reached the bottom. "Thought my brake blocks were going to melt" I replied.

Both of us had the same thought - if we come off now, it's going to hurt. Lots.

Next target - 40mph.

[Two_Sheds]

Next target - 40mph.

you speed freak!

you're feathering the brakes aren't you? on-off-on-off-on-off. My brother took his chin off on a pickup truck the first time he rode a fast bike: braked hard, went straight over the handlebars face first.

[StephenH]

Good luck - I did it in 2005 and 2006, and it's great fun. I challenge you to pedal all the way up Ditchling Beacon, without getting off to push!
I'll sponsor you tomorrow, when I've got some dosh on my card. Must do it again myself some time.

[StephenH]

You laugh, but I have struggled to find on that doesn't just perch atop my head. There are only one or two suppliers (that I can afford) who make lids big enough.

Don't bother - they're a waste of money. On-road cycling is not particularly dangerous, and head injuries are very rare. It's much more common to injure your leg or arm, or both, because in a crash you usually come off sideways. Don't believe all the anecdotes of the "my helmet saved my life" variety. Firstly, helmets can cause injuries; secondly, people who think they're safer because of some measure such as wearing a helmet tend to take more risks, thus tending to cancel out any advantage, so if the person hadn't been wearing the helmet the accident might not have happened; thirdly, anecdotal evidence is worthless, as any fule kno; and fourthly, if we're dealing in anecdotes, here's mine: I've been cycling for nigh-on 50 years, and in the last 16 years especially have put in a very big annual mileage, and I have never suffered a head injury on roads.

[Nicos]

This time in 4 weeks I will be mostly walking like John Wayne.

urmmm....hopefully not!!!...isn't he errrmmm ...'horizontal'


OMG....just thought...take it gently in the garden/office for the next few days matey- we're almost there!!!!

you getting a wee bit excited now???

[HeyWayne]

Don't bother - they're a waste of money. On-road cycling is not particularly dangerous, and head injuries are very rare. It's much more common to injure your leg or arm, or both, because in a crash you usually come off sideways. Don't believe all the anecdotes of the "my helmet saved my life" variety. Firstly, helmets can cause injuries; secondly, people who think they're safer because of some measure such as wearing a helmet tend to take more risks, thus tending to cancel out any advantage, so if the person hadn't been wearing the helmet the accident might not have happened; thirdly, anecdotal evidence is worthless, as any fule kno; and fourthly, if we're dealing in anecdotes, here's mine: I've been cycling for nigh-on 50 years, and in the last 16 years especially have put in a very big annual mileage, and I have never suffered a head injury on roads.

When I'm perched up on my bike, my head is nearly 7ft off the ground. I'm wearing mine, but thanks anyway.

If I break my arm or leg, I use the other one. I don't have that option with my head.

I think if you ask any paramedic - they'd rather find a cyclist with an arm or leg injury that one with a head injury.

Helmets can't cause injuries - only people do that.

[HeyWayne]

you getting a wee bit excited now???

Just a bit!

And thank you!

[Nicos]

I like to do my bit too Waynie....I'll sit in the garden this afternoon and conserve some energy esp for you!

Gawd- I hope it's not too hot on the 20th!!!....what is the ideal weather?
And what is your expected time??

[HeyWayne]

you speed freak!

you're feathering the brakes aren't you? on-off-on-off-on-off. My brother took his chin off on a pickup truck the first time he rode a fast bike: braked hard, went straight over the handlebars face first.

Oh of course - and always back brake first.

[HeyWayne]

I like to do my bit too Waynie....I'll sit in the garden this afternoon and conserve some energy esp for you!

Gawd- I hope it's not too hot on the 20th!!!....what is the ideal weather?
And what is your expected time??

To be honest with you the ideal weather for me will be as it was last night - warm, but not hot - with a cooling breeze. About 20-21 degrees C.

Time. Hmm, this is tricky. I have a 06:30 start time - which should mean that we get ahead of most of the riders and makes it easier to keep up momentum. By all accounts there are several 'bottle neck's where you are just forced to get off and walk due to the sheer volume of cyclists/participants.

If I can keep up a 12 mph average theoretically I should be done by around lunchtime - but we'll see.