Do you suffer from insomnia in summer? Try the elixia of the theraputic Rustington Rave for night owls, a pedaling potion mixed with invigorating sea air and the healing powers of a traditional breakfast. Dosage: To be taken at midnight in May. Can be enhanced with Audax supplement. Doctors don’t recommend it but what do they know?
For your health, wellbeing and enjoyment we are running a Night Ride on Friday/Saturday 24th/25th May …. A great night out, escapism whilst partying to the sound of freehubs and a flashing rear lights lightshow, you might even like to take an E (Energy Gel) or two for maximum pleasure … an all-night cycle rave to embrace and free youself from the daily grind and pressures of modern day urban life.
We ride down to the coast, starting at midnight, a couple of 24 hour garage stops to top up bottles and replenish your nosebags, culmnating with breakfast in Littlehampton. The ride continues to Brighton where we are catching the train home, however, you can get the train from Littlehampton and cut the ride down from 197km to around 160km.
Those collecting Audax points will want to do 200km so we suggest that if you can clock up 3 or 4 km before the start, then this should do the trick. We note that if you start from the White Bear in Ruislip (on the Ickenham High Road) then it makes 200km so we suggest an earlier 11.30pm rendezvous at the White Bear for Audax DIYers, who can then ride down to the Polish War Memorial for the midnight start. Remember when entering your DIY that the date is different depending on whether you start before or after midnight. Audax controls; (1) Eashing 74km (2) North Heath 108 km (3) Shoreham 140km (4) Littlehampton 165 km (5) Brighton 200km
THE RUSTINGTON RAVE ROUTE AUDAX VERSION
Please note: if you still have last year’s route on your bike computer, there has been an update just before Shoreham (at Brighton Airport) as the road junctions have been changed. Please use the latest updated versions.
A midnight flight from the Polish War Memorial departure lounge, an economy class (it’s free) 197km ride, or around 160km if you get the train home from Littlehampton.
Our view is that the train from Brighton is a better choice as it is cheaper and there are direct lines to Farringdon where we can change onto the Metropolitan or Elizabeth Lines for West London or other London Termini.
THE RUSTINGTON RAVE NIGHT RIDE FRIDAY/SATURDAY 24th / 25th MAY at Midnight from Polish War Memorial (or 11.30pm from the White Bear Ruislip)
The actual route is just under 198km, so if you start at The White Bear in Ruislip, you should be able to round it up to 200km. There is a loop at Rustington that almost passes our breakfast cafe stop and then circles back to it. You can elect to miss out this loop to cut the distance if you wish Saves about 10km). After breakfast in Rustington at Establo Lounge,we ride back to Brighton and catch a train home. However, you can quit at Rustington and get a train, again, cutting out distance (saves about 30km).
This is for experienced cyclists and you need to properly equiped. Commuter lights are inadequate for countryside night rides, especiall in respect of front lights. Bring some food and two water bottles. We stop at 73km at a 24 hour garage to stock up and at 108km too, but if you are too early the second stop may not be open. There are other options at 40km and 138km.
The temperature drops at night, you’ll almost certainly need another layer, maybe arm warmers and leg warmers. A rain jacket may be an idea here. But it may be warm in the morning, so a layer that will fit into your jersey pocket may be the ideal solution.
Whilst we appreciate that not everyone cycles at the same speed, if you race too hard then the cafe won’t be open when you arrive, so you’ll be standing around getting cold. Also, riding in groups allows for more support and light!
RANDONAX 2024 ENTRIES NOW OPEN!
Still to come in 2024; be part of the West London Cycling Scene:
