Good Friday ACME events from Manningtree or Buntingford

[αdαmsκι]

Again I'm organising the Essex & Suffolk Borders 200 and Essex and Suffolk Estuaries 100 starting from Manningtree train station in Essex. This year it'll be 29 March, Good Friday. If the trains are working ok it provides easy access from east London.

I'm also offering an X rated version of the 200 km ride, but starting in Buntingford and tracing the route of the 200 in the opposite direction so you get to wave at the riders, tho I will need a helper to hand out brevet cards at the start..

From Manningtree the 200 km ride heads west, with the first control being after 85 km at Great Chishill windmill in Cambridgeshire. Don't worry, there's plenty of places other than the control to stop. The turn is made in Buntingford, Herts and the return is via different roads, with a final control in beautiful Lavenham, Suffolk.

The 100 km is made up of two 50 km loops, one out to Harwich and the other around Shotley peninsula.





Hopefully it'll won't be as flooded as the 2023 edition, the thread for which is here: https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=124920.msg2781487#msg2781487

Manningtree 200: https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10571-essex_and_suffolk_borders
Manningtree 100: https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10572-essex_and_suffolk_estuaries
Buntingford alternative start 200: https://www.audax.uk/event-details/10570-the_alternative_esb

[felstedrider]

Can possibly do the 100. There’s somewhere we need to be Friday night and I think we’re off on hols Saturday lunchtime.

Either that or I ride to Great Chishill for a chat.

[drossall]

Unfortunately on Good Friday I'll be doing, er, Good Friday. Shame as the alternative 200 was a great event last year, and I was sorry not quite to finish.

[ElyDave]

Manningtree is a long way from ely, but the 200 alternative route looks great to me. Thanks for organising.

[Owen]

Hi Mate.

Happy to sort the Brevets at the start in Buntingford. I'll drop you a WhatsApp nearer the time.

Owen

[αdαmsκι]

Cheers Owen

[αdαmsκι]

As always seems to happen with ACME events from Manningtree there's issues with the trains.

Typically there doesn't seem to be any direct services from London to Manningtree on 29 March. Anyone from London who's wanting to do the 200 could get a train to Stevenage (pick the right train from KGX or STP and it's less than 30 mins). Then from Stevenage it's about 15 km to Buntingford from where you can start the Alternative E&SB. Owen will handing out brevet cards.

[αdαmsκι]

Also, if anyone fancies a free ride at some point in the fortnight before please let me know as I could do with a route check. (My weekends seem to be vanishing before my eyes.)

You can start from either end (Buntingford or Manningtree) or even do the perm version and start somewhere in the middle.

Cheers

[αdαmsκι]

FYI route check tomorrow and I will then send out information about the rides. I've yet to order brevet cards (another job for tomorrow) and entries remain open for anyone who'd still like something to do on Good Friday.

[bobb]

I should be able to make it - just waitng on confirmation that my presence isn't expected elsewhere!

Just need to decide on 100 or 200. Leaning towards the 100 and riding to/from. Saves the hassle of driving to the start...

[αdαmsκι]

bobb: Your Surly would again be a wise choice given the state of the roads I encountered on my route check yesterday

Emails have now been sent out to riders.

[Timb]

Lovely route and a great day.  A bit breezy, showers in the morning but lovely and sunny in the afternoon. 

Managed to join the saffron Walden velo club run into saffron Walden to be towed for a few miles, I had a few funny looks about my bike and the distance I was doing!

Lunch under a windmill was awesome.

For the second half I had a bit of a tail wind and the roads flattened out.

Thanks to the organiser.

[Wycombewheeler]

For the second half I had a bit of a tail wind and the roads flattened out.

Yeah the Manningtree start was definitely the way to go, had a headwind for the final 70km of the Buntingford start, which was tough. This helpfully coincided with no shop open between 140km (Long Melford) and 183km (Newport) as the petrol station at Steeple Bumstead had long since closed due to good Friday opening hours (1pm). I did find a pub at 170km.

Nice ride and the only significant rain I saw occurred when I was at Manningtree Station under cover. (only got caught trying to get to the men's toilets). E-brevet was welcome, even if it does mean stopping for a minute at each info.