London to Brighton Bike Ride

May 12, 2009 Rohan People & Places 4 comments

bike_ride

The London to Brighton Bike Ride 21st June 2009

Rohan is gearing up for the London to Brighton bike ride. There are 12 of us taking part in the ride. 33 days to go, but hey who’s counting? As the days disappear, the fear is setting in (for me anyway), saddle sore here we come. 54 miles seems like a very long way.

We went for our first training session a few weeks ago, approximately 15 miles around the city of Milton Keynes. We managed to take in many sights along the red way*; Willen Lake, Campbell Park, Furzton Lake to name but a few. Cycling around Milton Keynes you can’t help but be reminded about how ahead of its time it was when it was designed. How many cities can you cycle around so easily barely crossing the path of a car? We’re now planning for our second ride. This time it looks like the stakes are being upped, there has been mention of 20 miles!

Back in June 2008, when I first started cycling to work there was only my bike stored in the warehouse leaning against the overflowing shelves, no friends to keep it company. Now, I have to battle my way through the bikes in order to find somewhere to lean mine. There has been a cycling revolution it would appear. What with Rohan taking part in the bike to work scheme and the imminent London to Brighton bike ride the warehouse is busier than ever with bikes.

On the 5 mile trip to work my bike hasn’t really been put through its paces so I’m crossing my fingers it’ll be taking me across the finishing line in Brighton not the other way around. Note to self, must learn to fix a puncture.

Forward planning isn’t normally a forte of mine but I am already thinking of what I am going to wear on the day in question. The new Leeway Capris are looking like a strong favourite, the fabric is stretchy enough on the knees to allow flexibility and they’re very comfy. Can we trust the British weather in June? My guess is no, so I’m hoping that the new Goa Top will provide me with enough protection from the elements, whatever weather is thrown our way.

I wonder if any Rohanists will be taking part in the London to Brighton bike ride? Any cycling anecdotes, humorous, painful or otherwise in preparation for the big day? We’d love to hear from you.

* Red Way is the name given to the cycle paths in Milton Keynes. If you’ve ever visited, you’ll see that they are actually red.

Laura Whinyates (from the marketing team at Rohan)

4 Comments

smudge says:

14/06/2009 at 09:10

Hi Diania, he can register at http://www.bhf.org.uk I think the on line registration for the L2B starts about March, but tell him to keep an eye on it as it fills up very fast.
Hope he gets on for next year as it looks like a lot of fun, there are also lots of other rides to sign up for, and practice on too.
Hope that helps,

smudge Rohan Street
Diania says:

13/06/2009 at 11:55

Hi Rohan,

I’ve got a friend who would like to do the London to Brighton bike ride. Can you tell me how he can go about it! Thank you
smudge says:

12/06/2009 at 15:44

Just completed the Somerset Levels ride in just under 4 hours, perfect training as only 4 miles less. Hopefully being north to south its all downhill………

smudge Rohan Street
Tim Jasper says:

13/05/2009 at 09:18

I’m in Asia at the moment and missing my bike! (Not to mention my family).
We’re all really looking forward to the L2B.
Years ago Rohan did a whole series of these charity bike rides. How many of us remember the infamous Birmingham to Oxford? (It rained torrentially and the halfway point saw the Red Cross handing out binbags as temporary waterproofs for hypothermia victims… they should have worn Rohan).
Here’s an interesting thing about the wonderful MK redways. The original planner was looking for a way of differentiating the pedestrian ways (or pedways as they were called) from the car routes. His secretary (those were the days…) one day mistyped “pedway” as “redway” Eureka!
Nice when good things happen by mistake.