The Beacon Message Board

Date for the diary..Sat 1 July. I will be leading a special club run, the Midsummer Night's Dream. We will meet up and leave from Becketts farm shop at midnight then ride the 100km route to Tamworth Services for some scoff, then back home to meet the rest of the Beacon crew at the BH around 9am. We last did this back in 2014 and I thought it was time to resurrect it. It's something special to ride during the night, very quiet and amazing to have the roads to ourselves, plus coming back into Birmingham as the sun is coming up and birds start to sing is magical. This will obviously be instead of the regular run on Sunday...but if you're feeling mad you could do that after (if you can stay awake). The course is below, so sign up if you're interested.

Obviously you will need lights (preferably multiples), some money and spare batteries, but we can discuss this closer to the date. It will be a comfortable B pace...

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18791371

I'm in James - sounds ace.

Doing it on full moon would be better maybe, but the next most suitable one would Friday 9th June? I was also thinking of doing a similar night run but a different destination, namely Gaydon Services on the M40.

Along these lines, but starting from Becketts Island - https://ridewithgps.com/routes/10449052

Al I chose that weekend as all others I'm busy racing...so it's that or nowt. I doubt a full moon will make much difference once we get shenton's nuclear fusion lamp on the case.

Count me in, more time on the bike is always a bonus

This sounds a cracker James providing I keep losing weight and the fitness keeps improving I'm in.

Simmo wrote:This sounds a cracker James providing I keep losing weight and the fitness keeps improving I'm in.

Si - I'm doing it, and you're faster than I am, so you'll be fine.

Holiday plans aren't clear yet but I wonder if there are any takers for doing this at steady C run pace? I'll be pushing a dynamo excellent light but a tad heavier! It's one of those bucket list things and time's running out.

James
great idea.
The 2014 ride was blessed with a balmy, cloud free night. fantastic to be riding as night turns into dawn on what are almost traffic free roads. Loved it.
Some strange characters at Tamworth services at 2am in the morning if i remember and some night time activities in Kingsbury water park.
I'm in

JD

Hi Dave. I am working hard at the moment trying to get a bit of speed back|
IF successful I may well be interested.
The last all nighter was round about 1957, and I well remember sitting at the top of the Malverns eating our sandwiches and watching the sunrise.

Count me in if i'm here, the last one was great fun. I remember car drivers wondering what the hell was going on as they approached a large group of cyclists lit up like a Christmas tree.
The parts where you drift off a bit then remember where you are are an experiance
Plus i want to see the look on the face of the Costa's staff when we walk in again, that was priceless

bobg wrote:The last all nighter was round about 1957, and I well remember sitting at the top of the Malverns eating our sandwiches and watching the sunrise.

Sunrise at the Malverns, possibly followed by a train ride home, sounds like fun.

Great to see so many are up for this. I'm happy for someone to lead a C group if there are numbers, you could set off slightly earlier if needed. Hopefully the weather gods will bless us with a repeat performance of 2014...fingers crossed.

count me in and two friends. The only issue i have is illness at the moment if all goes well i'll be back on the bike in april.

I probably can't join this appealingly madcap scheme, but I'm nevertheless interested to know: given that the route will probably involve something over 4 hours' riding at B pace, what happens in the other <5 hours between midnight and 9am? Eating, obviously, and a bit of time to get back from Wythall to the BH. But surely that doesn't add up to <5hours?

Also, does everyone ride between Beckett's and the BH, or can you leave your car at Becketts overnight?

Last time we got back in about 7am...we can always leave a touch later or stay longer at the cafe...or I can extend the distance