Central London CTC blog

“Like a snail crawling along the edge of a straight razor; that’s my dream, that’s my nightmare” – so Colonel Kurtz in Apocalypse Now. My own waking nightmare is forever descending a wet chip-and-seal road, gripless front tyre affording neither braking nor steering.

So it was for me, again, as the Circuit of Kent Sportive surged forth through the lanes east of the start at Godden Green. I thought I had recovered from the psychological damage wreaked by a previous major episode of wheel wobble. Besides, that had been a different bike; there was no reason that today’s mount, a stock Cervélo, should not behave as seen on TV. more »

Down for a hilly **** in the Chilterns, we were forced to change venue at short notice after eagle eyed Richard Philpott noticed on Friday night that our train was cancelled . Other lines were closed or limited in a display of engineering works dramatic even by Bank Holiday weekend standards, so I switched to Kings Cross for Welwyn North with numerous e-mails and phone messages sent out late on Friday night.

With all that I was gratified when Mike Evans and Julia Moye joined me at Kings Cross, to be sent off by Uncle Geoff, who had arrived to do so on his town bike, attired as a gentleman should be on a Sunday morning. more »

We were a lucky 13 leaving Haywards Heath on 14 August. We began the day in West Sussex with a spin through the undulating High Weald and the less undulating Low Weald, ending the morning with a long climb to the top of the South Downs by the Devil’s Dyke. The pub on top of the hill is large and busy but the food is good and the views from the terrace are spectacular.

On the Devil's Dyke

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My son, Bradly, whom some of you first met years ago when we used to do two-star rides with a child-back tandem, has decided to mark his transition to official adulthood this year by doing a solo long distance ride.

He’s going from London to Edinburgh over six days starting on 21st August. He’s solo, unsupported and carrying his kit. He’s also paying for it (though Mum and Dad are helping with some of the accommodation costs).

He thought he’d raise some money for a worthwhile cause along the way, so if you like to make a small contribution to Cancer Research UK you can do so at his donation website.

Thank you.

After the turbulence and tension of the previous few days in London, it was back to normal at Regent’s Park on Thursday. Theatre-goers were out in numbers, so deeming the Inner Circle too hazardous, we took to the Outer Circle. It was heavily trafficked with commuters and recreational cyclists, the latter both in groups and singly.

Picking up the pace, our group, riding quickly but as an orderly squad, was infiltrated by an over-excited fixster, his loose chain thrashing up and down. He must have been on the limit at well over evens as we approached the Zoo entrance, travelling counter-clockwise. When Jon, on the front, signed to ease up for the pelican crossing, our interloper, following Charlie and Jon, abruptly sat up and he came back in a heartbeat on to Damian behind him.

I was right behind Damian who braked to the max. more »

There are many versions of the classic London to Brighton run, ranging from the annual mass charity ride to more recent overnight Friday rides. But (as far as I’m aware) until now no organised event has offered the option to ride back to the capital.

Step forward audax organiser Paul Stewart, of the Willesden club, to fill this gap in the market. The ‘Ditchling Devil’, his 203 km (127 mile) event, was staged for the first time on Sunday 24 July. About 65 riders rolled up for the start on Wimbledon Common, a good turnout considering this had been a late addition to the Audax UK calendar.

After a surprisingly speedy run down to the start from north London – enjoying a deserted West End and empty Mall – I was ready to leave for the coast at 07.50, towards the end of the rolling one-hour start period. I set off in a group of six – or to be more precise, a tandem leading out and five wheelsucking solos. more »

We met at St Pancras on 24 July ready for our Sunday ride, but unfortunately the day did not begin well.

As normal we had left our bikes in a stack while we gossiped nearby and shopped for tickets and breakfast. When we came to move on we found we were one cycle short, the top bike having disappeared, a rather rusty substitute left close by. It seemed a passer-by had decided to trade in his bike for a better model without paying the difference.

The moral is that we need to immobilise our bikes whenever stopped in London, even if in the group and only waiting a few metres away. Most of leave our bikes unlocked at the station at the start of rides, so it could have been anyone of us left without our wheels. more »

The July Little Green Ride did not have a promising start. We had to leave from Stevenage, as morning trains to Knebworth weren’t running. This cost Edward £20, as he’d only bought a ticket as far as Knebworth. Then we got lost in the cyclepaths of Stevenage, less than 50 metres from the station, thanks to the spectacular incompetence of the leader (me). Mikal came to the rescue with the map application on his iPhone so with the combination of his 21st century technology and Tom’s 20th century OS map, we managed to escape to the country. In my own defence, I will say that the Stevenage cycle network has defeated better navigators than me.  more »