Good luck getting a P7 under 25lbs unless its rigid or seriously bling.

5'10" Short legs, long arms.

18" BMC offroad, Used to have 16" on one 456, Medium long Lynskey on road with 120mm stem (bike measuring programme in shop calculated i needed a 54cm seat tube and 58cm top tube as i have monkey arms)

I think Annas main problem was lack of speed. She was at walking pace when it happened. I'll put the video up if i can work out how to.

Yep, like it

Don't get too near their donkeys, they might be bears in disguise!

Have fun.

I got an Avensis hatchback with under 50k miles inside your budget. Get a bike in with both wheels on easily. 1000s of taxi drivers cant be wrong.

Or an old transit or hiace.

Purbecks yesterday

Did you find somewhere nice to stay? and ride today?

Skillz by Annabanana 😳

The Germinator, what were you riding? i couldn't work out which one was you.

c_g showing us how it's done

What 'footage' Anna?

'what more could you want' – my gears not too balls up 10 miles from home and a shorter queue in the pub 🙂

Anyone else home yet?

'ampshire 'og!

with the amount of hot air likely to be heard tomorrow, we could probably fly across the water.

'looks silly fast' – it would be if it didn't have a fat biffer piloting it. 😳

now sporting a longer blacker stem.

Roll call time.

definites:

me and Dr P, Mulletus Maximus, mmb, c_g, oldfart +2, P Poddy & Mrs, Simwit, psychle +1, RichPenny, Slogo, DezB, Daryl, singletrackmind

Probables:

lexiekay, qwerty, lovell, annabanana, harveyStedham, piha, the Germinator +1, GreatWhyte

Possibles:

ghengispod, thisisnotaspoon, aP, dobo, strangelove, XC_PK, mboy

Any more confirmations or cancellations?

The hills i can see out of the office window – Purbecks. SUN SUN SUN!

Dr, i think she might come along to meet up. Mulletus' missus is coming down too, so they might all be able to go together.

I'm having a few mechanical issues at the moment so might make a last minute dash to yours for assistance if i can't sort them out.

I'll call you tonight Dr, to arrange pick ups etc. Gonna be a scorcher by the look of it.

If the weather is looking that tasty, better leave yourself a bit of extra time for the journey as the roads could be full of posers heading to the beach.

If the overwhelming feedback is 'blimey thats a bit long and i'm not fit enough!' then alternative routes are available, although this may lead to groups splits which would be nice to avoid if possible.

The inclusion of a pub stop at the Square and Compass is the stumbling block as this is the furthest point from the ferry and there aren't any real shortcuts to get there, so a super slow group would have to give up on a pub stop to seriously alter the route.

It can be shortened towards the end by cutting out either the Franks tank section or the Old Harry/obelisk section.
Alternatively the start could be changed to a more familiar to locals river crossing/Golf course/Franks start which would knock out the need for a return to Franks after the Old Harry descent. This would mean climbing either Rempstone or the radio mast instead of 5 spoke as originally shown on the map though.

Dr P – Are we planning on a picnic stop somewhere between Corfe and the pub stop?

Yep, get a fitting. I just got something shiny and new and got computer measured and fitted in a good shop. Turns out ideally i would have a 54 seat tube and 58 top tube as i've got very long arms and short legs (5'10").
The position i have now is miles different from what i thought was right on my old bike. I got a medium long Lynskey in the end with a 120mm stem, as there was no way i could stretch to my perfect position with my current level of flexibility.
I had a trek previously, and although a 54 would have been good for seat height, i had to get a 56 as the reach was nowhere near enough on the 54. Turns out this would still not be long enough without a long stem.

Complicated these bike things aren't they?

That was my thinking this weekend with the Purbecks ride Anna. Can't see the point of all meeting up, shaking hands and disappearing for the day. You can go fast on your normal rides, these are supposed to be about meeting people and riding new places aren't they?

Leaving the car park at 10.30. Meet at 10.00. Any later and we'll be out all evening.

Although we will stop for a pint, a cafe stop is not planned. A flying visit to the bakery in Corfe Castle an hour into the ride is scheduled, otherwise bring some grubbage.

Ferry is £1.80 return. Car park was £2 all day last week but summer prices kick in soon so bring a bit extra just in case.

Please be self sufficient, remember this is a group of people meeting to go for a bike ride, not an organised event. So if you think you will need some spare parts, food and drink, suntan lotion or a first aid kit, please bring them along.

P.S. to any northern visitors, please beware, the sun may be out.

Time to pack the bucket and spade and head off to the beach for the stw Purbecks Punch and Judy extravaganza ride on Saturday then :-).

I'm as slack as it can be c_g. 😛 If the numbers are big we'll run 2 groups, if it's not too bad we can run 1 big one (there's always a bit of flexibility to splinter off if needed).

Would be good to avoid the old 'handshakes and hellos then not see you again all day' scenario that could occur by splitting into fast and slow.

I would like to see one group for social reasons, but we'll have to see who turns up and how fit they are feeling and how far they want to ride.

The pub stop is at the far end of the ride, so shortening the ride for a slow group would mean missing out on that. The loop including Old Harry and the obelisk climb could be skipped to shorten at the end if necessary for people out of steam or needing to get home.

Could try http://www.m-photo.co.uk/index.htm in Reading, i'm sure he'd travel if free.

And your suntan lotion and ice-cream money. Kiss me quick hats are optional.

Well, i enjoyed that. Observations
– I'm not as fit as my mate Chris
– The New Forest could do with some fences (it may be lovely to see the animals roaming free, but not at 30mph on a downhill bit of road)
– Too many roadies think they are pro and discard their gel wrappers as litter. I know they are sticky, but you could wash your jersey when you get home.

I like the 2.3s, especially on the front.

I'll be mincing about slowly on the short route on a Lynskey Cooper.

It was £2 all day last weekend, but i don't know when it changes to summer rates. Alu Chine was £1 an hour yesterday. Free on street parking on the peninsula if it's too dear.

"rearing"? should that say raring?

Boing!! It's still sunny.