U.K. and Ireland - London to Oxford by bike!

Completed it today on a fold up Brompton bike; 7hrs 10mins. Great fun!!!! :D

Well done - that's a pretty decent time!

But we'll move it over to the UK & Ireland board where it's a bit more appropriate

Jenbel
Co-moderator, Communitybuzz!

Completed it today on a fold up Brompton bike

Just curious. Why ? :confused:;):p

Didn't see any Bromptons hoofing it down the hard shoulder of the M40 today, which route did you take ?

They aren't just for commuting, it was mainly for charity but also a challenge. Someone did ask me if we were going down the M40, but that would be too easy.

Very scenic route though: Start at Warpole Park in Ealing - West Drayton - Iver -Burnham Beaches - Bourne End - Cookham - Cookham Dean - Marlow - Fingest - Christmas Common - Chalgrove - Finish in Oxpen Meadows

(pretty much all uphill from Marlow to Chalgrove as we conquer the Chilterns)

Well done....sounds like a nice route you took. ^

Just for the hell of it I did John O'Groats to Lands End about twenty years ago. I just dilly-dallied along the way.....it ended up taking me weeks but I loved every minute of it.

That sounds a lot more of a challenge than what I did; but agree would love to be able to do that. :)

Just curious. Why ? :confused:;):p

Didn't see any Bromptons hoofing it down the hard shoulder of the M40 today, which route did you take ?
Bikes aren't allowed on motorways AFAIK.

That sounds a lot more of a challenge than what I did; but agree would love to be able to do that. :)

My challenge was in finding the time to be able to do it. The actual ride was easy compared to yours....how many miles did you do in that 7 hours?

It's a great way to travel....if you get the weather.
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Just over 60; included stoppage time while waiting for slower members of the team.

Just over 60; included stoppage time while waiting for slower members of the team.

Good going.

My longest day was only 62 miles although I had four panniers packed with camping gear and other junk to hold me back especially on the hilly parts. I used to have lots of picnic stops along the way which also prevented me from breaking any speed records. :D

I'm impressed!

I crossed the Chilterns once, many years ago, on a bike with normal-sized wheels - and found it quite challenging. Doing it on a Brompton is quite something!!! What model is it - single speed, three speed, five speed?

Bikes aren't allowed on motorways AFAIK. You're correct. Its actually quite a scary thought!

Well done....sounds like a nice route you took. ^

Just for the hell of it I did John O'Groats to Lands End about twenty years ago. I just dilly-dallied along the way.....it ended up taking me weeks but I loved every minute of it.

I have to say HIDDY, I'm highly impressed! I wonder how many GCHs can say the same ;)

tb

Sounds impressive. The 20 miles to Cambridge on my foldy bike was about as much battering my backside could take - I hope that Bromptons are more cushioned!

And no, bikes aren't allowed on motorways, but they are allowed on most dual carriageways (in fact, it's quite common to see the Cambridge section of the A11 used for time trials on weekend early mornings). I have had occasion to cycle down the Beeston section of the A1, and I wouldn't recommend it to all but the most confident cyclists... There's a reason why the GB cycling teams train in Belgium.

I'm impressed!

I crossed the Chilterns once, many years ago, on a bike with normal-sized wheels - and found it quite challenging. Doing it on a Brompton is quite something!!! What model is it - single speed, three speed, five speed?
Its six speed (3 on the hub and two rear heel sprockets). The chain ring is huge which gives very good acceleration. Its not great on steep hills due to the lack of gears, but I have learnt that going very slow is the key to not killing yourself (3-5mph max on a steep hill). Cruising speeds on flats is (15-18mph) which more than makes up for the slow speed on hills.

Good going.

My longest day was only 62 miles although I had four panniers packed with camping gear and other junk to hold me back especially on the hilly parts. I used to have lots of picnic stops along the way which also prevented me from breaking any speed records. :D
I rode to Portsmouth (from Slough) once with a weeks worth of clothes. The south downs were a pretty unpleasant experience. I am not sure I could tackle some of those monsters in Scotland. Your perseverance is commendable ;)

Sounds impressive. The 20 miles to Cambridge on my foldy bike was about as much battering my backside could take - I hope that Bromptons are more cushioned!

And no, bikes aren't allowed on motorways, but they are allowed on most dual carriageways (in fact, it's quite common to see the Cambridge section of the A11 used for time trials on weekend early mornings). I have had occasion to cycle down the Beeston section of the A1, and I wouldn't recommend it to all but the most confident cyclists... There's a reason why the GB cycling teams train in Belgium.
The A3 between Liss and Havant was quite a scary experience.

Goob job, have your legs recovered yet?