FNRttC - Felpham

See how dark it is in that picture? It's what you should expect isn't it, when you cycle through the night? But I found it very dark. It's as if I was in one of my tunnel phases on the third night of a 1200. This Friday night was long. We were in Pulborough and it was still dark, very dark. I was waiting, urging on dawn.

I'd been struggling to stay awake. I was dozing off. I was going backwards and sideways, on the hills.

When Simon announced Pulborough train station being 5 minutes away, I didn't have much hesitation. Be bold, I thought, dare to take the train. “I'll take the train, Simon”. He double checked and looked closely to make sure it was me.

Miranda joined me – there is no shame in taking the train with a PBP ancienne was her reasoning. We got to the train station and bought tickets. On the screen we could see that we had just missed a train to Bognor, on the platform we could see that the train was delayed. That got us into euphorics. Within a couple of minutes were were on the train, and the lights were on! Bright light like daylight!

Photo by
The 5 Mile Cyclist

Whilst cycling one of my sideways I had been dreaming of sleeping in a corner of the Lobster Pot Cafe, and nothing was going to wake me up. Now, I was dreaming of dancing on the tables of the Lobster Pot Cafe, and nothing was going to get me down. When we got to the Lobster Pot cafe, they were just setting up. I quite enjoyed the cafe experience from the other side of the fence.

Somebody asked: 'Are you cyclists'? 'Yes', said Miranda. We looked at each other: 'No, we're trainers!'

It was nice to see everybody. I wanted to be on the last ride (I can't make Southend). I enjoyed The Cabin and the Lobster Pot Cafe breakfast, as well as the company on the train back to London.

Thanks to riders, tecs, waymarkers and Simon and Susie for a wonderful era of night cycling.

Photos: MyPhotos

FNRttC Bognor

The first ride in the FNRttC season is not one to be missed.  It has elevated levels of anticipation and anxiety.  Do we still know how to do this?  'Haven't put enough miles in this winter'.  One never does, and especially not this winter, which was dominated by 'easterly winds from Siberia'.  

You gather at Hyde Park Corner, and the natural thing to say is 'Happy New Year'!  From then on, it's business as usual.  Simon does his, what I call, B&B routine.  It's a demonstration, with audience participation, of the hand signals and calls used on the ride.  But it's the finale of the bollards and bungalows signals that leads to the rapturous applause!

Full moon at Hyde Park Corner

At midnight, we're on our way to the coast.

The ride had a great flow and rhythm about it.   Everybody was keen to keep going without standing around too much.  There were some long stretches of road for stretching the legs.  It was great.  The windchill wasn't too bad either.   I noted how the coldest part of my body were my legs.   I had used double gloves and double socks and layered up warm generally.  I still had knee warmers which I could have put on, but the stove in the Cabin warmed me up enough that I forgot about it.

We stopped at Pulborough by the bridge.  It was a lovely spot with a sunrise moment to treasure.  I was totally surprised though that I couldn't drink from my water bottle.  I knew that the water has become a frozen slush, but not that the mouth piece was completely frozen solid.

Pulborough

Breakfast at the Lobster Pot Cafe was fantastic.  Both service and food were top notch.  Nice to see Titus and Miranda joining the group.

The train journey back home was busy but trouble free.   Once home, my afternoon kip was longer than usual after a night ride.  And this morning my legs were telling me that there must have been some hills along the route.

Thanks to Simon, TECs and riders for all the effort that goes into making it another memorable night.

Just a few photos: MyPhotos