Fat Boab

You make some good points, and I think from chatting to some of the guys in the pen, we were all aware that things on-the-ground would be very different from the intent, as noble as it was. Pooks Hill reinforced this and much improvisation followed as described by others. Now, I'm a bit of an old curmudgeon and prone, on occasion (!), to pragmatism, or cynicism if you prefer, and as much as I was 'proven correct' that we'd have some of the problems that we did, the day taught me something, namely sometimes supporting noble intents pay off! I easily saved 5-10 mins from riding with the Patch/Sheriff group to the end of the M1. I met some very cool okes, of both sexes, many of whom gave their time and energy openly (thanks Patch's bum for the pull back to group on the M1). And I learned some new stuff whilst on the road. If I hadn't joined up with the team, none of this would have happened, so for me the I-team was hugely successful. I quite like the idea of differing buses, or riding at the speed of the slowest person. The latter is probably easier to arrange and manage, if a committed and skilled bus driver can be found of course. But as someone said several days ago, maybe we're over-thinking this and we should just ride our bikes and have a jol, however it works out?

OK, you can have a pass....

Likewise! That'll teach you to check out a couple of 'hot' chicks....

Why wait until January - plenty of base training opportunity between now and then?

One suggestion for the next time this team thing is tried, it to have the cable ties vertical, and perhaps a bigger 2-D yellow dot? I found when riding at the back, my default position, that it was easier to spot the okes with vertical, than horizontal, cable ties. As for getting split up in the pens, which led to confusion about the location of sub-groups, probably a fact of life? I suppose we could more easily stay in smaller pen groups and set rules about regrouping on Summit etc, but rules on such a fun day seem out of place.

Out of interest who was our best-placed originally seeded I group rider? ScottCM on 3:16:23 to beat?

Have to say that all the prep issued by Tombeej, and others, on riding the wind, echelons etc, really helped me y'day. Once I fell off the I-team, I was a leeward-seeking stealth missile! Rode lots of sneaky 'echelons' off of other random riders and hide against buildings etc, which helped save some energy. Thanks for the lesson, guys!

Look past the bum Hayley at the.....bike. Now that is sexy!

I miss Hayley's bum. It was there so fleetingly and then....gone. Thereafter it was Patch's glutes which distracted me...not even close in the crush-worthy stakes IMHO, but very effective at pulling me down the M1. Lost the okes at the Wilds, as I suspected I would, but then rode quite strongly - for me - for a pleasant 03:25. 15 mins better than last year - super chuffed!!! Thanks to Patch, the Sheriff, Scott CM for the tow down the M1. Thoroughly enjoyed the short time I had with them.

Wakey-wakey, I-team. Time to do this thing!

Is it Friday today? ;-)

I have a whistle - will bring tomorrow.

Tough break Tombeej, but your health comes first. Many thanks for all your work and contributions to the group so far. Now back to bed with you. PS a jol is guaranteed!

Not too late to join this year's team....

Hi Josh@89 - in case your request fell through the cracks, consider yourself on the team! I'm sure you've been keeping upto date on meeting arrangements, cable-tie on the helmet etc etc? See you Sunday!

Look on the bright side....tailwind on the uphill 1st half & headwind on the downhill return to Witkoppen. Pass me my rose-tinted specs!

Nail, head, hit! Another reason why the yellow cable-tie & modified number is such a good idea...

No need to worry Rob, we just need to make sure we wear yellow on the day..........

I feel like I'm playing The Weakest Link, and the presenter keeps looking at me......

For a sloth like me, it's exactly that, an adventure. 'Win or lose' it'll be memorable and i'm sure fun too. And.....the beer will taste so good afterwards!

I daren't ask this....aren't the GCN okes overlapping wheels around 32 secs, in echelon, which we want to avoid? Or does the lateral space between wheels due to the echelon make it safer to do so?

....whilst slowing down relative to the paceline, which you've just pulled out of, presumably? Don't worry, on the day I'm sure some sage advice, the odd bit of finger-pointing and a sorry or two (from me) will educate me....

What do I do if I want to be in the paceline but I'm too tired to rotate through? This situation happens to most riders especially as the pace picks up. It is not a bad thing to sit out (on the back) for a turn or two to catch your breath, especially if the alternative is getting dropped. Riders new to faster pacelines are welcome to sit on the back ... don't panic, we won't hate you. We know that as your fitness level increases you will soon be taking the occasional turn at the front. So how do you stay on the back without disrupting the line? Some people suggest just opening a gap in the line to make space for the person coming back, but that can lead to problems. The biggest issue is that you have to move yourself out of the draft as you make the bike length space ... and you will be tired enough already. Also, the rider coming back may not be certain that the opening gap is meant for them, they may think you are just falling off the pace. The best way is to accomplish it safely is to move off the line into the draft of the rider moving back. You should start to move in behind them when they are a couple of riders from the back. This puts you into their draft which saves a lot of energy. Continue to move back as a pair until the rider in front of you sees the end of the line. The two of you move in as one unit rejoining the line. It may be helpful to say "Up,Up!" as the rider nears the end of the line. This lets them know you will be staying on behind them. As always it is the rider rejoining the line that has the responsibility to be sure it is safe enough to move back into line. Can someone please explain the underlined bit. Sounds like 4-d geometry to my simple brain and a recipe for crashing into the back of a someone...........

That's why I'm confused. I'd have a word with your parents Geraldm24..........