Public transport sucks

[Pinches]

I prefer cycling...

http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~craigm/challenge.shtml

[bedders]

Anyone actually come up with some new challenges for this guy?

Would it be possible to beat a train from Manchester to London for example, given a fast enough car and plenty of blind eyes from the police, surely...but could it really be done? I'd love to see someone try!

[paddy]

traverse all Irelands 3000 footers within a twenty-four hour period, running up the mountains, cycling between the mountains.

237 miles cycling over 7 hours fell running

http://www.nimra.org.uk/articles.asp?arcID=6

thats a challenge and a half.

[rocky]

crazy urban cycling: http://www.digave.com/videos/

crazy long distance challenges: http://www.shr.uk.com/long_distance_running_records.php

[Peter B]

That man is a legend.

Would it be possible to beat a train from Manchester to London for example, given a fast enough car and plenty of blind eyes from the police, surely...but could it really be done? I'd love to see someone try!

In a word, no. An Aston Martin DB9 only just beats off a TGV, so I doubt Manchester to London in a car on the congested motorway would beat a 125mph train. I would like to see somebody beat it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/downloads/ ... adband.ram

edit: lucas brunelle is similarly a legend.

[Nails]

I've been considering the cuillin ridge for quite some time now. It is a serious undertaking requiring some exposed climbing above some very big drops. From what i've heard about it, you need to spend many days recceing and rereccing the route -there are so many possible ways to go -many ledges ending with a massive vertical drop in front of you. Also there is Inaccessible Pinacle -which beleive it or not has no path -instead an exposed climb up and down (you need to be an experienced rock climber to do this at speed!). As you can see it's gonna take practice to get right, and the current record holder Andy Hislop has certainly got the route 'wired.' Hmmm -maybe a couple of weeks this summer? Who knows?
Cheers for the link rocky -bit more info for me to mull over.

[brooner]

I prefer cycling...

http://www.dcs.gla.ac.uk/~craigm/challenge.shtml

hehe, forgot about this. quality stuff. i got sent it from chief rat mr tompsett, maybe something to watch out for in future rat races....

[Patrick]

Maybe someone should reactivate this event...

http://www.scottish4000.co.uk/

Patrick

[Neil M35]

That man is a legend.

Would it be possible to beat a train from Manchester to London for example, given a fast enough car and plenty of blind eyes from the police, surely...but could it really be done? I'd love to see someone try!

In a word, no. An Aston Martin DB9 only just beats off a TGV, so I doubt Manchester to London in a car on the congested motorway would beat a 125mph train. I would like to see somebody beat it.

The AA says Piccadilly to Euston by road is 199 miles. The next train takes 2 hrs 11 minutes, so to beat that you would have to average 91mph in the car. The train after that takes 2:22, so you would only have to average 84 mph. Doesn't sound impossible, although keeping the average up at either end might be tricky.

Of course you would have to be a complete tosser to try it.

And public transport is great. I love trains and buses. Fantastic.

[DesignatedDriver]

average 84mph?

i travel south from edinburgh quite a lot, and have made it from Edinburgh (roughly Murrayfield stadium) to the angel of the north in newcastle in 100 minutes. thats about 120 miles. that averages as 72 mph.

and believe me, i don't hang about on that road.

averaging 84mph is a lot harder than it sounds.

[Copepod]

Best way I reckon to travel between London and Edinburgh or Glasgow is on Caledonian Sleeper train, if you can book a bargain berth on the FirstScotRail website - as cheap as £19, which includes the fare and a bed for the night, then the "host" brings you tea or coffee (as requested the night before) and a breakfast boox, about 30 mins before arriving - great value, comfortable & convenient. Journey takes about 7 1/2 hrs. In fact it would be less convenient if it were too much faster, although you can get on board about an hour before departure and don't have to leave immediately after arrival.

[Neil M35]

average 84mph?

i travel south from edinburgh quite a lot, and have made it from Edinburgh (roughly Murrayfield stadium) to the angel of the north in newcastle in 100 minutes. thats about 120 miles. that averages as 72 mph.

and believe me, i don't hang about on that road.

averaging 84mph is a lot harder than it sounds.

I agree - I'm not going to try it.

However, going back to the AA, Murrayfield to Angel of the North via Coldstream is 118 miles and they say will take you 3hrs and 11 minutes - so you drive at almost twice the speed of the AA. The Manchester to London time on the AA is 4 hrs 27 minutes. You just have to drive at twice the speed of the AA again and you have beaten the train.

(I am guessing which way you drive - these days I usually stick to the A1 (the AA says 136 miles, 2hrs 48 ). Via Jedburgh is 118 miles, 3:11.

Of course the AA times are bollocks.

Sorry I have edited this because I realise my sums aren't very good.

[Peter B]

Given that you would have to average 84 mph, I don't think London to Manchester could be faster by car than by train. 2hrs 24mins is only the average time. It can take just over 2 hours.

From the route planner, the amount the motorway alone is 172 miles. If you average 80mph on the motorway then it's already 2 hours 9 minutes. Plus roughly 10 or 15 miles at either end on slower roads. Do the maths, trains are better.

Public transport is better than private transport in most instances.

Flying, trains, trams, buses, it's all good.

edit: with reference to the video, notice that the tube was only just beaten by absolutely caining it. Otherwise, you can't beat the tube. So why does public transport suck?

[rocky]

So why does public transport suck?

its cramped, smells, is full of middle aged women shouting into their mobile phones, is slow, dirty, full of neds and they charge you for the privilege.

there arn't many places round here that its quicker to get the bus to than i can cycle. and to get home its quicker for me to cycle than get the train (32 mins cycling vs 7 mins to station + buying ticket +14 mins on train + 8 mins cycle station to house +risk of delays)

[Kitch]

WKD

I like

took part in the Scottish 4000s race in 2001 as preparation for Greenland and the ATC. It was a great day out until I accepted a dose of John Coyle's home made energy drink (!!!! how could I be so stupid ??) This I took half way out of the Lairig Grhu, By the top of McDuie I was puking, spinning and basically incapacitated.
Stick to the Isostar kids.