The Beacon Message Board

Just trying to gauge interest if we were to run a proper night ride again this year? Paul Deanne organised the last one back in July 2011.

In summary, we would start at midnight from Becketts Island and then ride up to the 24 hour services on the island of junction 10 of the M42/A5 via the lanes. A distance of 64 miles near enough I think

It goes without saying that good and trustworthy lights are required!!

On a Friday evening in July maybe, thoughts for a date?

Yes please, Alan

It felt like a real adventure and was great fun. I slept through most of the Tour de France on the Saturday though.

I think that its also fair to add that the pace will be relaxed, Hi Viz clothing is highly recommended and that high intensity flashing rear lights are discouraged or at the very least need to be switched to low or peloton mode. The reason being that they are very distracting/blinding to the other riders behind you.

Also, if its raining then the ride will be rescheduled for another date, only because night riding in a group is dangerous enough, without having to contend with wet and slippery roads as well!

Well, if I have to.

Hmmm...

I think this is an absolutely daft idea. So I'll see whether I can fit it in. However, I'll be in Yorkshire on the night of the 4th and suspect that a few others may be as well.

George wrote:Hmmm...

I think this is an absolutely daft idea. So I'll see whether I can fit it in. However, I'll be in Yorkshire on the night of the 4th and suspect that a few others may be as well.

Great to have you on board George. and its looking like the end of July now

AlanW wrote:... and that high intensity flashing rear lights are discouraged or at the very least need to be switched to low or peloton mode. The reason being that they are very distracting/blinding to the other riders behind you.

It took us until Earlswood to summon up the courage to plead with Alan to turn the brightest of his very bright rear lights off. We didn't complain about the fact that his front lights made ours largely superfluous though, on one occasion an owl flew alongside us enjoying moths dazzled by the beam.

I'd say it was an experience !

CakeStop wrote:

AlanW wrote:... and that high intensity flashing rear lights are discouraged or at the very least need to be switched to low or peloton mode. The reason being that they are very distracting/blinding to the other riders behind you.

It took us until Earlswood to summon up the courage to plead with Alan to turn the brightest of his very bright rear lights off.

Yes, thats what I based my request on to be honest.

Alan, register my interest just in case it changes, but if at the end of July will be away

At night I tend to dress as a woman. Will I be allowed to participate whilst wearing my floral dress?

I'm up for a night ride Alan. I might be wearing tights but I won't be dressed as a women on this occasion.

Philip Whiteman wrote:At night I tend to dress as a woman. Will I be allowed to participate whilst wearing my floral dress?

Will we notice any difference??

Good point.
I might in fact dress as a women but why stop there ?

Fancy dress, midsummer night ride anyone ?

Id be up for this depending on the date. Don't we all wear fancy dress with our silly lycra anyway?

Riding in a floral dress? It is but a Midsummer night's dream.

I'm in... if around.

Friday 11th July?

Is the 64 miles there and back or just there. the former I guess, only I notice that the pretty pig Audax 200 starts from Tamworth at 8 on the Saturday ,now that would be a challenge.

keith wrote:Is the 64 miles there and back or just there. the former I guess, only I notice that the pretty pig Audax 200 starts from Tamworth at 8 on the Saturday ,now that would be a challenge.

Round trip.

Alan, glad you've taken up this mantle as I was certainly keen to do it again but haven't had the time to organise lately. So yes, put me down. We were back pretty early when we did it in 2012 so Keith would have plenty of time to ride back to Tamworth again and still do the Pretty Pig 200. Of course he'd have to ride back to Brum again as he wouldn't have a car. A round trip of about 250 miles. You could do that Keith

If 11/7 is the definite date, I'm afraid I won't be able to join you this year.

This is my interest being registered

I'll probably wear my bib-shorts as they provide visibility in the dark.

Philip Whiteman wrote:I'll probably wear my bib-shorts as they provide visibility in the dark.

Please dont.......... One moon at night is more than enough to be honest!

Philip Whiteman wrote:I'll probably wear my bib-shorts as they provide visibility in the dark.

It's the visibility they provide in strong sunlight that's the issue, Phil.

Just popping this ride back into peoples minds. The more that join in the merrier and just to reiterate, it isnt a race. It will only be as fast as the slowest person.

As a suggestion, but start checking your batteries/lights now to make sure that they will sustain the duration. A headtorch in the back pocket is always a good idea in case of mechanical issues etc

Something Hi Viz is really recommended and please no flashing rear lights.

I'm also not to sure about parking and if it would be okay to leave cars in Becketts car park?

AlanW wrote:I'm also not to sure about parking and if it would be okay to leave cars in Becketts car park?

On the basis that any cars won't be left until late Friday night and should be picked up by about 6.00am it's doubtful that anybody at Becketts would even know they were there. You could phone and check but they'd probably say their not insured and decline. Alternatively, I'm happy to have a couple of cars on my drive ( a mile away)

Kermit wrote: On the basis that any cars won't be left until late Friday night and should be picked up by about 6.00am it's doubtful that anybody at Becketts would even know they were there. You could phone and check but they'd probably say their not insured and decline. Alternatively, I'm happy to have a couple of cars on my drive ( a mile away)

I was thinking the very same Paul, but I'll endeavour to give them a call just to see what they say. To be honest, its just as easy to get dropped of and then ride home in the morning?

Thanks for the offer of your drive.

There's a layby outside cemetary on Middle Lane beside Becketts Farm. I don't know if there are parking restrictions but doubt it would be a problem overnight.

Have you got a route for this I can download Alan? Keen to join the madness but would like to know the way just in case.

If anyone was planning on making use of the car park, you might struggle. I cycled past today and the Moscow State Circus is set up there.

martin mc wrote:Have you got a route for this I can download Alan? Keen to join the madness but would like to know the way just in case.

Yes Martin, drop me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll send it to you. If anyone else also requires the route please feel free to follow suit.

For those on Face Book, the route is in the files section on the Beacon page.

laurence_cooley wrote:If anyone was planning on making use of the car park, you might struggle. I cycled past today and the Moscow State Circus is set up there.

Yes, correct it is and I actually called in at Becketts a couple of nights ago to enquire about leaving a few cars there. But to be honest I gave up trying to speak to anyone that was prepared to make a decision, I was just been sent from one person to another.

Its all looking good weather wise......

Is it a midnight start for this ride?

martin mc wrote:Is it a midnight start for this ride?

Yes indeed.

A quick phone call to Tamworth Services, they are now expecting us in the early hours.

Could you post a link to the route ? Can't get FB at work

dweben wrote:Could you post a link to the route ? Can't get FB at work

Try THIS

AlanW wrote:A quick phone call to Tamworth Services, they are now expecting us in the early hours.

From our previous experience at the Tamworth Services there is very little on offer in the way of refreshment, so you may want to take your own goodies for personal consumption. It's so quiet that they certainly won't mind/notice whether you are eating your own stuff. I think we were able to get coffee from a vending machine?

It's close to a full moon tonight so be on the lookout for vampires (and cyclists in dresses)

Kermit wrote:

AlanW wrote:A quick phone call to Tamworth Services, they are now expecting us in the early hours.

From our previous experience at the Tamworth Services there is very little on offer in the way of refreshment, so you may want to take your own goodies for personal consumption. It's so quiet that they certainly won't mind/notice whether you are eating your own stuff. I think we were able to get coffee from a vending machine?

It's close to a full moon tonight so be on the lookout for vampires (and cyclists in dresses)

Good point Paul, but I dont know if things have changed since we last did it. The girl I spoke to said that Costa Coffee, the cafe and W H Smiths would all be open? But I'm still gonna take some nosh just on case!

A truly brilliant evenings ride, with 14 riders in total. Thank you to everyone that made it happen and I hope that you enjoyed it. I think that it all went okay without any major hiccups, apart from getting lost a couple of times....doh!

Alan, wow, never done that before and "a must do again" ride. Couldn't have chosen a better night with warm temperatures, no wind and full moon. Real pleasure to the ride the roads/lanes without traffic. Brilliant

Thanks to all the other riders for "lighting the road".

Bit quicker than mine and Clare's usual "c" run pace , (back at least half hour before I had expected) but pleased both of us managed to keep up

Thanks again

John D wrote:Alan, wow, never done that before and "a must do again" ride. Couldn't have chosen a better night with warm temperatures, no wind and full moon. Real pleasure to the ride the roads/lanes without traffic. Brilliant

Thanks to all the other riders for "lighting the road".

Bit quicker than mine and Clare's usual "c" run pace , (back at least half hour before I had expected) but pleased both of us managed to keep up

Thanks again

Hi John, really pleased that you both enjoyed it, even if the pace was a touch higher than you expected, sorry about that. To be honest I was trying to keep the pace as even and as smooth as possible.

Just looking at other possible venues for next years run as I type. McDonalds have a 24 hour restaurant at Banbury which could prove to be an option maybe? HERE I'll have a play around with a possible route and see what it comes up with in terms of distance and terrain, but ideally I think that last nights distance was about right?

Just having a play around and there is a 24 hour McDonalds at Blackpole, Worcester. Its not quite as long as last night but there is a little bit more climbing. So for a starter for ten - HERE

AlanW wrote:

John D wrote:Alan, wow, never done that before and "a must do again" ride. Couldn't have chosen a better night with warm temperatures, no wind and full moon. Real pleasure to the ride the roads/lanes without traffic. Brilliant

Thanks to all the other riders for "lighting the road".

Bit quicker than mine and Clare's usual "c" run pace , (back at least half hour before I had expected) but pleased both of us managed to keep up

Thanks again

Hi John, really pleased that you both enjoyed it, even if the pace was a touch higher than you expected, sorry about that. To be honest I was trying to keep the pace as even and as smooth as possible.



Just looking at other possible venues for next years run as I type. McDonalds have a 24 hour restaurant at Banbury which could prove to be an option maybe? HERE I'll have a play around with a possible route and see what it comes up with in terms of distance and terrain, but ideally I think that last nights distance was about right?

Alan, no complaint whatsoever with the pace, like I said just different to what I'm used to, the fact that we didn't get too close to be being dropped was pleasing.,as regards distance/time, that semed to work really well (for me at least!). Also good to head to a not previously seen (during my brief membership) destination/direction for club runs.

Looking forward to next years already

So... next Friday then Alan? Just a thought, some 24 hours McDonalds only have drive through which we might have to check.

John wrote:So... next Friday then Alan?

Once a year is enough thanks!