Here is the video I shot of my heat at the Jupiter London Nocturne Folding Bike Race.
till the next ride, bee safe.....
Monday, 15 June 2015
Thursday, 11 June 2015
3rd year of the #NightriderLDN2015
Hot on the heels of the Jupiter London Nocturne race in Smithfield's we managed to get a few hours sleep before the all Nightrider London ride.
This is a great charity night ride all around London for a charity of your choice. This time though I didn't get a chance to name a charity but was going for myself.
My 3rd year running doing this great ride but this time though my starting point had changed to the Olympic Park Velodrome which isn't to far away from me.
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| Legend arriving at the Olympic Park, Velodrome |
Signing up for the ride was abit different to last year, You could txt your name to a number so they knew you was attending the ride, only thing was that you still had to line up to get your rider number and hi-vis tops. As always a few people recognized the Legend and a few of the marshals remembered me doing the same ride for the last 2 yrs, this was our 3rd year.
I arrived first and got signed up and waited for the rest of the Bee Team to arrive and sign up.
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| The Bee Team |
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| and so it beings... |
and off we went for the Classic Nightrider 2015. This year there was 2 courses, the classic 100km (60miles) & the shorter 60km (32miles) route.
We would be of course be doing the 100km route. I got abit confused at the point where the 2 routes parted but my Bee Team got me back on track.
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| Daniel abit too cheerful |
Our first big landmark was Crystal Palace. There was an event that looked like it was just finishing so we had lots of traffic and people coming out. Seeing us on our bikes people had to do a little double take at times esp when we was staying we was just starting out to do a 60mile night ride.
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| Crystal Palace over looking London |
Onwards we went powering though the night, it was pretty quiet by now so we had the roads to ourselves for the most part, other than other riders coming the opposite direction as they started at Crystal Palace.
As the sun started to rise we passed quiet a few famous London Land marks.
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| Passing Big Ben |
We finally hit Alexander Palace which was a major snack break stop for us and boy did we need those bacon sandwiches and hot drinks.
Now it was time to really put the speed on, time was getting away from us a little and some of the check points where packing up getting ready to close down.
Finally we had the Olympic Park, with the Velodrome in view, Our goal was just ahead now, would anyone still be there? would there be anymore snacks left behind? would we get our hard earns medals?
Our goal was so close, we just had to get onto the Road circuit and that was it job done.
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| On the road track |
WOOHOO we had made it, it was abit of a slog but we got there in the end.
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| Finish line of the Nightrider London 2015 |
It was a lovely morning so we sat for a little while in the sun for a little rest before heading our separate ways home. I wasn't to bad as I only lived a few miles down the road so the Legend and I cycled back slowly.
Big thanks to all the other riders, marshals and everyone involved with the Nightrider London. Once home we did nap for a little while and woke up to find we could watch Sir Wiggins epic 1 Hour ride which was taking place at the same Velodrome we had just been to. So there had been 2 legends there at the same time. :D
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| Another medal to add to my collection |
Our ride data as always....
Jupiter London Nocturne 2015, the legend returns....
June is always a fun month for the Legend and I. This is when we have 2 events on the same day/weekend, namely the Jupiter Nocturne & Nightrider London.
Firstly the Jupiter London Nocturne. The registration format had changed little this year in that the riders had to register on the 5th June & the event itself was the next day. Registration was held at Oakley In Residence Workshop in Exmouth Market between 12 pm till 10 pm.
A few of the LBC was riding in the folding bike race so we decided to register at the same time and have a little look at the track in Smithfield's Market afterwards because the course had been reversed compared to previous years.
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| The LBC gathering |
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| The legend has arrived |
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| Where to place your rider numbers |
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| Virtual racing with Zwift |
Haven’t seen Mark W’s new addition of a Charge Saddle. Looks VERY familiar to Bromptons standard saddle but with green stitching. I had a look and there was a yellow version but very expensive and I’m not really in need of a new saddle just yet.
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| Mark W new “Charge”saddle |
This is what was in the riders pack, very impressed with the little spanner/tool bottom middle. Beer opener, 15mm spanner & even a spoke tool too.
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The rider pack
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As I thought the road / track’s surface hadn't really changed much at all. VERY rough surface and potholes all over. It’s a well used bit of road due to the market but also not a major road so the surface isn't as well looked after. We couldn't really go all the way round as the roads where still open to traffic and we was going around the wrong way round.
This time round I was going to be filming the race. A good friend of mine, Daniel lent me his Garmin VIRB Elite so i could get front and rear views, video to be posted later.
RACE DAY
Woke up bright and early and excited as it was finally RACE day. Met up with my cycling partner Mr Orange & John M & others soon followed at a little coffee place just down the road from the event & fuelled up. This was going to be a long and busy day for the legend and I but we was ready. It was finally time to get down there as we was the first race on the cards so good not to be late.
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| London Brompton Club gang |
BBB is all set up and ready to go racing
As part of the event there where Masseuse on hand to give riders a good rub down before and after the races. I couldn’t say no :D
Damn its tough being a legend I can tell you.
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| Massage services provided by the University of Bedfordshire |
I was in Heat 1 which I later figured out was one of the fastest heats & most of the LBC riders where in. But as always I'm not there for the racing and winning etc, I was there to have fun and to just take part.
The tension was building as we rode to the start line, we picked numbers from a hat and that was where we had to fully fold out machines in readiness to be rode like never been rode before.
As always its safety first at these kinds of events so we had to wait a little while longer to make sure the track was cleared and marshals where ready for the racers. The chief race official quickly did a circuit in the iconic London Taxi.
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| Jupiter Taxi checking the course is "locked down" |
Every rider has their own way of preparing themselves in those last few minutes before the flag drops. But before I knew it we was off. Seeing all these rider's scrambling towards there bikes, trying to unfold and get a good start on the straight
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| Job Brown (BWC 2014 Champ) |
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| My cycling partner Mr Orange just missing Mark W |
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| Graham Parks making a good escape |
After about 30 mins of hard pedalling the race was over. I knew I hadn't did much I already knew I was pretty close to last place but that didn't matter at all to me it was the taking part that counted.
In heat 2 though as far as I'm aware it was the first time ladies had taken part in this race and was looking forward to seeing 2 of the LBC ladies lighting up the track. Ann Marshal & Chris Bridge where in lightening form.
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| Anne Marshall |
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| Chris Bridge |
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| Heat 2 |
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| Heat 2 |
Like me a few of the riders where there to have alot of fun, here is Yavor Mitev of Brompton Junction cheering up the crowd.
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| Yavor giving it the big cheer |
I couldn't stay long as I needed to get home and prepare for the Nightrider London ride later that evening. It was a great day and I very much enjoyed it. I especially loved that a few people that I have ridden with where around the track cheering me on as I went round. That made my day even better and I thank you guys for all the support.
As always my ride data from my Garmin and there is a video which will be online soon
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