Yet Another Cycling Forum

General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Tomsk on 26 April, 2016, 07:20:13 pm

Title: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 26 April, 2016, 07:20:13 pm
So I was thinking...

A one-a-month 100km series from say, November to February: X-rated, mid-morning [10:00?] pub start to facilitate ECE-ing to 200. Ride to a good café and back via a few info controls.

I'd take this on myself, as it's not too arduous a project, but is any of the Mid-Essex Crew interested in dipping a toe into the waters of organising?? There's myself and Huggy who could mentor and help get things started.

Start of choice would for me be the 'Battisford Court' Wetherspoons in Witham. Lots of room, decent size beer garden for cycle-parking, good choice of food [and beer  ;D]. Witham has good train and road links and it's not too big a town to find reasonably quick routes out into the countryside. Chelmsford or Colchester would be less attractive. Well placed for routes out to the coast, up to Suffolk [Wally's Cafe?] and indeed all points of the Compass...

Thoughts...?
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 April, 2016, 08:16:07 pm
Good idea! 
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 26 April, 2016, 09:03:05 pm
Sounds like a grand idea Tom  :thumbsup:
 
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 26 April, 2016, 09:28:20 pm
Definitely Londoner-friendly, at least for the basic 100km. ECE'ing not quite so straightforward due to a need to steer google maps away from the A12!
Potential to be a good social gathering too with a pub start (and presumably finish).
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Ivan on 26 April, 2016, 11:36:38 pm
ECE'ing not quite so straightforward due to a need to steer google maps away from the A12!

Not in the brave new world of mandatory route ECEs!
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jsabine on 27 April, 2016, 08:35:24 am
Hmm. The location of the last two respondents sparks the idea of a group ECE as a regular addition to this new series ...
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 27 April, 2016, 10:01:48 am
Kelvedon Station and the Sun or Railway Tavern is another option.

The Sun has probably recovered from our last visit and, in particular, OD's musical extravaganza  :facepalm:

Actually, on second thoughts, maybe we should let the Sun have more time and use the Railway Tavern for the next ten years or so.

Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 27 April, 2016, 10:32:57 am
It was musical?
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 27 April, 2016, 10:35:09 am
Musical ? sums it up nicely.
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bernster on 27 April, 2016, 03:05:31 pm
Hmm. The location of the last two respondents sparks the idea of a group ECE as a regular addition to this new series ...
Tentatively expressing an interest in a group ECE (ideally from North London / South East Herts) - winter 200k rides can be a bit few and far between, so it would be nice to have some other options with company.

Nice idea Tomsk

Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 27 April, 2016, 05:48:13 pm
Approval of Londoners noted...

...Audax Club Mid-Essex...[ACME] has been mooted. This will no doubt be a hot topic tonight at the pub.
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: akin on 27 April, 2016, 06:50:43 pm
I am another London based rider who would be interested in some social ECE or 100k rides.
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 27 April, 2016, 07:28:19 pm
I've just started a double RRtY, and the idea of a mid-Essex winter series is very appealing. I'm based in Bishop's Stortford.

At some point I would put my hand up for organising, but I would prefer to become familiar with the Mid-Essex Crew set-up first.
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: arabella on 27 April, 2016, 08:58:30 pm
Ah, a successor to the Norfolk Nips: the Essex Exeats (exeat=he/she may leave).  We can then move on to some Suffolk Sorties, I have mumble 100k route from Ipswich in my back pocket.
I'm not sure the trike-and-tandem friendy trains stop at Witham, sob. (OK, slighty disingenous as I've hardly got out these last couple of years).
but thumbs up
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 27 April, 2016, 10:37:41 pm
I'm not sure the trike-and-tandem friendy trains stop at Witham, sob. (OK, slighty disingenous as I've hardly got out these last couple of years).
but thumbs up
In our experience all Anglia trains on that line are pretty tandem friendly outside peak hours (the same can't be said for the passengers when they are all trying to get to the London marathon/Westfield on a Sunday morning and the tandem is "occupying" the tip up seats)
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 27 April, 2016, 11:53:22 pm
I've just started a double RRtY, and the idea of a mid-Essex winter series is very appealing. I'm based in Bishop's Stortford.

At some point I would put my hand up for organising, but I would prefer to become familiar with the Mid-Essex Crew set-up first.

Greetings!  I'm an Elder of the mid-Essex crew. Why not join us one Wednesday evening?  Is there a pub you could comfortably get to that's between Stortford and Dunmow or Chelmsford?  We could meet you there. We're a friendly bunch!
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Cycling Redemption on 28 April, 2016, 06:57:20 am
Sounds like a good idea. ECE from North London or South East Herts is a good idea, a few rails stops to the start for me from West Herts.
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: PloddinPedro on 28 April, 2016, 07:14:53 am
Excellent idea Tom. Could even tempt me back into Audax (if I can do something about my sorry state of fitness first!)  :(
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 28 April, 2016, 07:44:19 am
Greetings!  I'm an Elder of the mid-Essex crew. Why not join us one Wednesday evening?  Is there a pub you could comfortably get to that's between Stortford and Dunmow or Chelmsford?  We could meet you there. We're a friendly bunch!

Sure, that would be good. I'll keep my eye out and get along to a Wednesday evening meet-up, or post a venue suggestion if you're not visiting places that I would be able to reasonably get to. 
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 28 April, 2016, 08:00:15 am
Greetings!  I'm an Elder of the mid-Essex crew. Why not join us one Wednesday evening?  Is there a pub you could comfortably get to that's between Stortford and Dunmow or Chelmsford?  We could meet you there. We're a friendly bunch!

Sure, that would be good. I'll keep my eye out and get along to a Wednesday evening meet-up, or post a venue suggestion if you're not visiting places that I would be able to reasonably get to.

On a Wednesday we've been as far west in Mid [or possibly North-West] Essex as the Axe and Compasses in Aythorpe Roding. The Queen Vic in Dunmow then the White Hart, Stebbing were the next nearest venues to Stortford. We ought to do somewhere north of Dunmow sometime - maybe on a fine summer evening when the Witham peloton venture further afield. We can always leave before closing time...[probably not  :facepalm:]
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 28 April, 2016, 08:03:14 am
Ah, a successor to the Norfolk Nips: the Essex Exeats (exeat=he/she may leave).  We can then move on to some Suffolk Sorties, I have mumble 100k route from Ipswich in my back pocket.
I'm not sure the trike-and-tandem friendy trains stop at Witham, sob. (OK, slighty disingenous as I've hardly got out these last couple of years).
but thumbs up

 :thumbsup: Organisers from outwith the Mid-Essex heartlands would be welcome to throw their hats in the ring. There's me and tedshred up for this so far...
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bernster on 28 April, 2016, 11:31:39 am
On a Wednesday we've been as far west in Mid [or possibly North-West] Essex as the Axe and Compasses in Aythorpe Roding.
I'll have to keep an eye out for your planned routes Tom / ACME - I'd be keen to pop out one Wednesday if you head over to the West of Essex again (think I may have mentioned this to you when we were chatting at the Horsepower arrivee)  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: inappropriate_bike on 29 April, 2016, 08:13:58 am
If I can get the time off, I'd be in for this (ECE from London) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Mid-Essex Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tonyh on 29 April, 2016, 09:38:54 am
This sounds a very good project indeed. All the best to everyone concerned.

(dreams of long ECEs from Wiltshire - probably getting too old)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 18 May, 2016, 02:23:19 pm
Looking at dates, the deadline for planning events up to the end of the year is looming [ie the first two events of the ACME series]. It's 01/07/2016.

How about the 1st Saturday of the month?: 5th November, 3rd December, 7th January, 4th February. Not many clashes to avoid at present, just Andy Terry's Santa Special on 18th Dec and the Willy Warmer on 22nd January, though there are other events further afield. I'd like to bagsy the 3rd December, as it's near my birthday.  :thumbsup:

Any takers to organise the first of the series? Bonfire Night will be a fun one for those out after dark ECE-ing/riding home.  :D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 18 May, 2016, 02:32:31 pm
Looking at dates, the deadline for planning events up to the end of the year is looming [ie the first two events of the ACME series]. It's 01/07/2016.

How about the 1st Saturday of the month?: 5th November, 3rd December, 7th January, 4th February. Not many clashes to avoid at present, just Andy Terry's Santa Special on 18th Dec and the Willy Warmer on 22nd January, though there are other events further afield. I'd like to bagsy the 3rd December, as it's near my birthday.  :thumbsup:

Any takers to organise the first of the series? Bonfire Night will be a fun one for those out after dark ECE-ing/riding home.  :D

I'm happy to suggest routes and help out with the organising.  But I don't want to have to jump through AUK shaped hoops to become an official AUK organiser.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: BlackSheep on 18 May, 2016, 03:08:42 pm
So I was thinking...

A one-a-month 100km series from say, November to February: X-rated, mid-morning [10:00?] pub start to facilitate ECE-ing to 200. Ride to a good café and back via a few info controls.

I'd take this on myself, as it's not too arduous a project, but is any of the Mid-Essex Crew interested in dipping a toe into the waters of organising?? There's myself and Huggy who could mentor and help get things started.

Start of choice would for me be the 'Battisford Court' Wetherspoons in Witham. Lots of room, decent size beer garden for cycle-parking, good choice of food [and beer  ;D]. Witham has good train and road links and it's not too big a town to find reasonably quick routes out into the countryside. Chelmsford or Colchester would be less attractive. Well placed for routes out to the coast, up to Suffolk [Wally's Cafe?] and indeed all points of the Compass...

Thoughts...?

You have PM
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 18 May, 2016, 03:13:15 pm
Looking at dates, the deadline for planning events up to the end of the year is looming [ie the first two events of the ACME series]. It's 01/07/2016.

How about the 1st Saturday of the month?: 5th November, 3rd December, 7th January, 4th February. Not many clashes to avoid at present, just Andy Terry's Santa Special on 18th Dec and the Willy Warmer on 22nd January, though there are other events further afield. I'd like to bagsy the 3rd December, as it's near my birthday.  :thumbsup:

Any takers to organise the first of the series? Bonfire Night will be a fun one for those out after dark ECE-ing/riding home.  :D

I'm happy to suggest routes and help out with the organising.  But I don't want to have to jump through AUK shaped hoops to become an official AUK organiser.
I guess it's easiest for me to take the 5th November as I'm already on the Organiser list, allows a little time for others to jump through the AUK shaped hoops if they so wish, or also able to simply continue to be a nominal Organiser.
If nothing else appears as a route I could rerun the A little Essex R&R 100k (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13792056), it should be fine for autumnal roads as well as summer ones.
Another ride of the correct distance, just needs appropriate controls to be designated and maybe a little finessing to make it a calendar/perm ride - Wallys Cafe 100k (https://ridewithgps.com/trips/9017216)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 18 May, 2016, 03:44:49 pm
I have to confess that I got as far as downloading the form and then realised that becoming an organiser was a little more involved than I had expected  :facepalm:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Delph Cyclist on 18 May, 2016, 05:18:25 pm
I don't want to have to jump through AUK shaped hoops to become an official AUK organiser.

That seems a shame
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 18 May, 2016, 06:51:11 pm
Looking at dates, the deadline for planning events up to the end of the year is looming [ie the first two events of the ACME series]. It's 01/07/2016.

How about the 1st Saturday of the month?: 5th November, 3rd December, 7th January, 4th February. Not many clashes to avoid at present, just Andy Terry's Santa Special on 18th Dec and the Willy Warmer on 22nd January, though there are other events further afield. I'd like to bagsy the 3rd December, as it's near my birthday.  :thumbsup:

Any takers to organise the first of the series? Bonfire Night will be a fun one for those out after dark ECE-ing/riding home.  :D

I'm happy to suggest routes and help out with the organising.  But I don't want to have to jump through AUK shaped hoops to become an official AUK organiser.
I guess it's easiest for me to take the 5th November as I'm already on the Organiser list, allows a little time for others to jump through the AUK shaped hoops if they so wish, or also able to simply continue to be a nominal Organiser.
If nothing else appears as a route I could rerun the A little Essex R&R 100k (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/13792056), it should be fine for autumnal roads as well as summer ones.
Another ride of the correct distance, just needs appropriate controls to be designated and maybe a little finessing to make it a calendar/perm ride - Wallys Cafe 100k (https://ridewithgps.com/trips/9017216)

Run R&R in Reverse? [The Three Rs?]

I'm working on a fun route that uses Stansted Airport as the 50km control. And a possible checkpoint on the return at the Compasses...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 18 May, 2016, 07:08:00 pm
Run R&R in Reverse? [The Three Rs?]
That could work very well  :thumbsup:
Maybe with an info at Abberton Reservoir Visitor Center. 
The Essex 3 R's  :D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 18 May, 2016, 07:13:55 pm
I don't want to have to jump through AUK shaped hoops to become an official AUK organiser.

That seems a shame

I have enough on my plate!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 23 May, 2016, 08:22:09 pm
ACME Winter Series #2, 100km 'project' in the planner...10:00 Saturday 3rd December 2016.  :thumbsup:

X-rated, Mudguards required, Toilets [at the 'spoons], 12.5-30kph, £4 entry fee.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 May, 2016, 06:58:08 am
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 24 May, 2016, 09:40:16 am
ACME Winter Series #2, 100km 'project' in the planner...10:00 Saturday 3rd December 2016.  :thumbsup:

X-rated, Mudguards required, Toilets [at the 'spoons], 12.5-30kph, £4 entry fee.
ACME Winter Series #1, 100km 'project' in the planner...10:00 Saturday 5th November 2016. 
X-rated, Mudguards required, Toilets [at the 'spoons], GPS track to be provided, 12.5-25kph, £4 entry fee.

Provisionally the reverse of the A Little Essex R&R route to be named Essex 3 R's [Rivers & Reservoirs Reversed]
I'll register it after a test ride of the 'standard' route this weekend.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 30 May, 2016, 03:42:38 pm
Another thought - should we have a subtitle for each of the series? #2 would be either: 'The Plane Spotter' or 'The Stansted Express' I think...

I have scoped out an excellent but well hidden cyclists' café on the HSBC Thremhall Park site, almost directly at the end of the runway.

January or February's might be on a Templars/Compasses theme, since we have that concept already well thrashed out. We'd like a trip to the seaside too - Mersea... ted??  :thumbsup:

I might go with a 12.5 - 30kph range to tempt the sportivistes and racing clubs out...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 May, 2016, 04:06:25 pm
Another thought - should we have a subtitle for each of the series? #2 would be either: 'The Plane Spotter' or 'The Stansted Express' I think...

I have scoped out an excellent but well hidden cyclists' café on the HSBC Thremhall Park site, almost directly at the end of the runway.

January or February's might be on a Templars/Compasses theme, since we have that concept already well thrashed out. We'd like a trip to the seaside too - Mersea... ted??  :thumbsup:

I might go with a 12.5 - 30kph range to tempt the sportivistes and racing clubs out...

Good idea!  That's marketing that is!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 30 May, 2016, 07:46:56 pm
I need to fill in some forms then...

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 30 May, 2016, 08:05:25 pm
Have you got a windmill one, that could be "The Windy Miller"?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 03 June, 2016, 09:02:04 am
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 13 June, 2016, 12:10:03 pm
The Essex 3R's (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-340/) on 5th November is in the calendar ready for your entry  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 13 June, 2016, 12:41:42 pm
The Essex 3R's (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-340/) on 5th November is in the calendar ready for your entry  :thumbsup:

Entered!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 01 September, 2016, 10:54:19 pm
I've entered the first and am expecting to enter the second. Looking forward to details of the others appearing in the calendar.

I enjoyed the Norfolk Nips series mentioned up-thread. One year, I did them all by trike. Hmmm...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: ElyDave on 01 September, 2016, 11:15:28 pm
any chance of starting any a bit further north?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 01 September, 2016, 11:26:34 pm
What, like Norfolk for example? ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: ElyDave on 02 September, 2016, 07:23:16 am
I was thinking more norf essex or sarf cambs perhaps.  Maybe even Newmarket/Bury
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 02 September, 2016, 08:03:22 am
There are events from Ugley/Henham?

Anyone know anything about trains to Witham? It seems to take an hour and a half, with a change. We can get from North Herts to London in 25 minutes. I'd have expected at least some fast trains to Chelmsford?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 02 September, 2016, 08:12:51 am
any chance of starting any a bit further north?

You need to talk to Wilkyboy [Camaudax...] otp. I'm sure he'll mentor you for your first event as an organiser  :thumbsup: :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 02 September, 2016, 08:16:06 am
Anyone know anything about trains to Witham? It seems to take an hour and a half, with a change. We can get from North Herts to London in 25 minutes. I'd have expected at least some fast trains to Chelmsford?

Witham is on the East Anglian mainline and you can get here after a luverly 45 minute train ride from Liverpool Street.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: ElyDave on 02 September, 2016, 08:55:17 am
any chance of starting any a bit further north?

You need to talk to Wilkyboy [Camaudax...] otp. I'm sure he'll mentor you for your first event as an organiser  :thumbsup: :)

 :o :o  After a grand start of 2 events in Feb and March, it's taken until last week to get to my third as rider. Chances of becoming an organiser at the moment = 0.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 02 September, 2016, 10:19:43 am
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Tedshred has picked up the baton for January (although yet to see it in the calendar)
Anyone else for taking on the February ACME Winter BP Series event or shall Tomsk and I toss for it??
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 02 September, 2016, 11:23:59 am
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Tedshred has picked up the baton for January (although yet to see it in the calendar)
Anyone else for taking on the February ACME Winter BP Series event or shall Tomsk and I toss for it??

Not I, at least not this year.  Between the monday after the Flatlands right up to the 1st Oct, it looks likely I'll be in PARTS FORRIN.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 02 September, 2016, 11:30:30 am
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Tedshred has picked up the baton for January (although yet to see it in the calendar)
Anyone else for taking on the February ACME Winter BP Series event or shall Tomsk and I toss for it??

Not I, at least not this year.  Between the monday after the Flatlands right up to the 1st Oct, it looks likely I'll be in PARTS FORRIN.

How FORRIN?  Suffolk?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 02 September, 2016, 11:33:04 am
Hong Kong/Singapore/Kuala Lumpur FORRIN
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 02 September, 2016, 11:34:30 am
Hong Kong/Singapore/Kuala Lumpur FORRIN

Ah, those places must be in Norfolk, they sound quite exotic.  Be careful up there.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 02 September, 2016, 07:02:38 pm
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Tedshred has picked up the baton for January (although yet to see it in the calendar)
Anyone else for taking on the February ACME Winter BP Series event or shall Tomsk and I toss for it??

I've never organised an event but might be up for putting together a swift 100km that would start and finish near Theydon Bois or Epping tube stations, so would be easy to get to for London-based riders too. Would I have to have the whole route and controls in place before I can put it forward for the calendar?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 02 September, 2016, 08:02:18 pm
#1 & 2 registered  :thumbsup:

Deadline for registering January and February's events is 1st October...
Tedshred has picked up the baton for January (although yet to see it in the calendar)
Anyone else for taking on the February ACME Winter BP Series event or shall Tomsk and I toss for it??

I've never organised an event but might be up for putting together a swift 100km that would start and finish near Theydon Bois or Epping tube stations, so would be easy to get to for London-based riders too. Would I have to have the whole route and controls in place before I can put it forward for the calendar?
having a rough plan is useful but not essential to have it all fleshed out straight away. However, you do need to be at least a rookie organiser to submit an event which means a few hoops to jump through.  If you have a route and a plan though an established organiser may be willing to help and submit it, officially owning it but you could do all the leg work 😉
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 02 September, 2016, 08:21:22 pm
Witham is on the East Anglian mainline and you can get here after a luverly 45 minute train ride from Liverpool Street.
Hour and a half (http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LST/WTM/051116/0900/arr) on the day of the first event.

Looking again, there's a bus service. Must be engineering planned. That would explain the time, anyway.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 02 September, 2016, 09:11:28 pm
Witham is on the East Anglian mainline and you can get here after a luverly 45 minute train ride from Liverpool Street.
Hour and a half (http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LST/WTM/051116/0900/arr) on the day of the first event.

Looking again, there's a bus service. Must be engineering planned. That would explain the time, anyway.
So that sounds like an involuntary ECE for us Londoners
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 02 September, 2016, 09:40:31 pm
Witham is on the East Anglian mainline and you can get here after a luverly 45 minute train ride from Liverpool Street.
Hour and a half (http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LST/WTM/051116/0900/arr) on the day of the first event.

Looking again, there's a bus service. Must be engineering planned. That would explain the time, anyway.
Bugger  >:(
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 03 September, 2016, 09:39:52 pm
Is the Stansted Express running that day? It's a shorter and more pleasant ride from there to Witham than riding all the way out of London.

I may be able to take a couple of people from SE London so long as you're happy to make your own way back or wait a long time for me to turn up at the Arrivee!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 03 September, 2016, 09:43:02 pm
If you have a route and a plan though an established organiser may be willing to help and submit it, officially owning it but you could do all the leg work 😉

Thanks Grant.  I've been reading all of the guidance on the AUK site.  You may hear from me by PM!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 September, 2016, 11:03:51 am
Witham is on the East Anglian mainline and you can get here after a luverly 45 minute train ride from Liverpool Street.
Hour and a half (http://ojp.nationalrail.co.uk/service/timesandfares/LST/WTM/051116/0900/arr) on the day of the first event.

Looking again, there's a bus service. Must be engineering planned. That would explain the time, anyway.
So that sounds like an involuntary ECE for us Londoners

I think there was some thought that putting a 100km event on roughly 50km from Londonshire might aid RRTY ECE options for some, so I'd say go for it.... :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 04 September, 2016, 11:11:27 am
Isn't Witham within 50 miles of London?  In fact all of mid-Essex is!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 September, 2016, 11:21:58 am
An ECE can be all about the outbound distance to the event or asymetric, key thing is it is a multiple of the standard distances, so if you get 100km in before the event, thats good, or 60/40 with the event in the middle, thats good to... (working assumption of a desire to make a 100km up to a 200km over all )  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 04 September, 2016, 03:48:30 pm
 Yes rumours of hideous engineering works. Def up for a 100k starting at the spoons as long as not working that weekend. Would also be willing to help with some organisation.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 04 September, 2016, 05:58:46 pm
Took an unexpected opportunity to test the Essex 3Rs route sheet today.  A few minor edits and additions required, nearly ready to publish.
Set out with some trepidation with the wind forecast but it's only 107km so what could go wrong apart from it feeling like more headwind than tailwind. Got to the D&B cafe just before Sunday closing time for some essential quality control of caik and coffee - they passed again!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 September, 2016, 10:31:08 pm
 :thumbsup: Great news... I also managed to plot a 100km route with 50km bang on the 'spoons in Witham, so might be an option for ECE from Chelmo as well :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Old Git on 08 September, 2016, 09:03:44 pm
Took an unexpected opportunity to test the Essex 3Rs route sheet today.  A few minor edits and additions required, nearly ready to publish.
Set out with some trepidation with the wind forecast but it's only 107km so what could go wrong apart from it feeling like more headwind than tailwind. Got to the D&B cafe just before Sunday closing time for some essential quality control of caik and coffee - they passed again!

Huggy
does that mean that the gpx will change?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 09 September, 2016, 09:21:59 am
Took an unexpected opportunity to test the Essex 3Rs route sheet today.  A few minor edits and additions required, nearly ready to publish.
Set out with some trepidation with the wind forecast but it's only 107km so what could go wrong apart from it feeling like more headwind than tailwind. Got to the D&B cafe just before Sunday closing time for some essential quality control of caik and coffee - they passed again!

Huggy
does that mean that the gpx will change?
The edits are enhancements to the route sheet. However, I am going to take a look at an alternative route between Stow Maries and Rettendon to see if it's more pleasant, safer junctions and quieter traffic.  Going out to ride that section this weekend.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 09 September, 2016, 09:53:12 am
Took an unexpected opportunity to test the Essex 3Rs route sheet today.  A few minor edits and additions required, nearly ready to publish.
Set out with some trepidation with the wind forecast but it's only 107km so what could go wrong apart from it feeling like more headwind than tailwind. Got to the D&B cafe just before Sunday closing time for some essential quality control of caik and coffee - they passed again!

Huggy
does that mean that the gpx will change?
The edits are enhancements to the route sheet. However, I am going to take a look at an alternative route between Stow Maries and Rettendon to see if it's more pleasant, safer junctions and quieter traffic.  Going out to ride that section this weekend.

Don't forget you promised to build in Hag Hill  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 09 September, 2016, 10:21:05 am
Don't forget you promised to build in Hag Hill  ;D
Maybe I could put in an optional gratuitous loop up Hagg Hill and back round to the route to be rewarded with half a pint at the Battesford Court arrivee while the organiser is in attendance to check PoP....something else to add in to the route check at the weekend...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 09 September, 2016, 10:23:42 am
Just put an info control on Hag Hill!  People will love you forever!!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 10 September, 2016, 07:13:33 pm
Witham Winter 100k Series #4 in planning stage - Knights Templar Compasses and Cross
Saturday 4th February 2017, 10am start from The Battesford Court Wetherspoons pub.
Loosely based on the Essex mystery of how pubs called The Compasses and churches have a curious geographic placing (http://vulpeculox.net/misc/mystery.htm)
First draft of route (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16480501) with points of interest related to the Knights Templar.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 11 September, 2016, 09:02:26 am
^ Interesting...well done!

I see you have some COR on the way to Ambridge Lane, Coggeshall - not been that way before! Maybe consider via Stisted to avoid the worst of the A120?

If things work out with planning for next year, ACME could have a calendar event every month!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 11 September, 2016, 01:51:08 pm
^ Interesting...well done!

I see you have some COR on the way to Ambridge Lane, Coggeshall - not been that way before! Maybe consider via Stisted to avoid the worst of the A120?

If things work out with planning for next year, ACME could have a calendar event every month!!
Lots to be finessed on the route yet I suspect and of course yet to be ridden, wanted to get something in to planning for the calendar.

ooooh, a calendar event for every month?  Possibility of a 2017/2018 season ACME RRTY if we provide a 200k option for the winter months  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 11 September, 2016, 02:01:48 pm
Took an unexpected opportunity to test the Essex 3Rs route sheet today.  A few minor edits and additions required, nearly ready to publish.
Set out with some trepidation with the wind forecast but it's only 107km so what could go wrong apart from it feeling like more headwind than tailwind. Got to the D&B cafe just before Sunday closing time for some essential quality control of caik and coffee - they passed again!

Huggy
does that mean that the gpx will change?
The edits are enhancements to the route sheet. However, I am going to take a look at an alternative route between Stow Maries and Rettendon to see if it's more pleasant, safer junctions and quieter traffic.  Going out to ride that section this weekend.
Took full advantage of a lovely morning to put in a 62km loop with OD to test out the new section of road between Stow Maries and Rettendon which is much nicer riding for lower traffic level and far less of an issue crossing a junction.  Very good alternative so that is in the route sheet; GPX to be updated and the info sheet to write up then this one's ready to go  :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 12 September, 2016, 03:00:24 pm
It looks like we are on for the Kelvedon Oyster on the 21st January.  Details are being finalised before publication but it will involve Kelvedon and real live oysters.

With Huggy's new ride for February, that should complete the series.

Maybe there should be a badge...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 12 September, 2016, 03:46:10 pm
It looks like we are on for the Kelvedon Oyster on the 21st January. 
21st January?? that only leaves 2 weeks before the Knights Templar Compasses & Cross event planned for Feb 4th.
Should we move one of them by at least a week?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 12 September, 2016, 04:01:42 pm
The Templars can't be moved forwards as the next weekend would not only clash with your valentine's extravaganza but also with the AUK AGM.

If the Oyster moves a week back then it will only be a week after the Epiphany Ride.

It's supposed to be a quiet time of year !
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 12 September, 2016, 04:18:47 pm
How about this for a 2017 Q1 schedule

ACME Epiphany - 7th January 2017
Oyster - 21st January  (clash with The Willy Warmer 200)
AUK AGM & Valentines - 11th February
Knights - 18th February  (no calendar clashes at present)
Horsepower - 11th March (Tomsk?)

p.s.
Maybe there should be a badge...
Definitely  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 12 September, 2016, 04:22:19 pm
the 18th clashes with half term

could go:

ACME Epiphany - 7th January 2017
Oyster - 14th January  (no clash with The Willy Warmer 200)
Knights - 4th February  (no calendar clashes at present)
AUK AGM & Valentines - 11th February
Horsepower - 11th March (Tomsk?)

but yours is fine too.

Tomsk, calling Tomsk.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 12 September, 2016, 04:41:54 pm
Oi, you lot are fucking up my forward planning!!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 12 September, 2016, 04:51:06 pm
Oi, you lot are fucking up my forward planning!!!
No we're not, we've given you January 7th for Epiphany!
 :P
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 12 September, 2016, 05:02:50 pm
Oi, you lot are fucking up my forward planning!!!

What did I tell you about forward planning?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 12 September, 2016, 05:14:18 pm
Oi, you lot are fucking up my forward planning!!!

What did I tell you about forward planning?

 ;D

My forward planning will not emcompass audaxing. Way too complicated.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 13 September, 2016, 10:04:28 am
Provisionally the 11th March would be ok for the Horsepower  :thumbsup: The Snetterton Circuit Calendar only goes to the end of the year, so I'll have to contact them directly before finalising a date.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 September, 2016, 11:06:09 am
Somewhat due to tide times I think we're back to this schedule, any strong objections??

How about this for a 2017 Q1 schedule

ACME Epiphany - 7th January 2017
Oyster - 21st January  (clash with The Willy Warmer 200)
AUK AGM & Valentines - 11th February
Knights - 18th February  (no calendar clashes at present)
Horsepower - 11th March (Tomsk?)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 23 September, 2016, 03:08:21 pm
Horsepower 200/100 will be on 4th March - it's the only Saturday track day in March, so we can mingle with the petrol-heads and get a good feed at Tyrrell's Restaurant, as this year.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 September, 2016, 03:27:17 pm
Horsepower 200/100 will be on 4th March - it's the only Saturday track day in March, so we can mingle with the petrol-heads and get a good feed at Tyrrell's Restaurant, as this year.
Ok, so that puts a two week gap between the KTC&C and Horsepower if I shift to Feb 18th.  If I leave it on the 4th Feb it's a two week gap from the Kelvedon Oyster.
Does the committee have a preference on which event is squeezed by the KTC&C?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 23 September, 2016, 04:41:17 pm
Horsepower 200/100 will be on 4th March - it's the only Saturday track day in March, so we can mingle with the petrol-heads and get a good feed at Tyrrell's Restaurant, as this year.

Not that it's directly relevant for ACME, but just so's you know — The Cambridge Pork Pie will therefore likely be 18th or 25th of March.  I'm favouring the 18th, but I haven't discussed it with Mrs W or anyone else yet.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 23 September, 2016, 06:21:58 pm
Horsepower 200/100 will be on 4th March - it's the only Saturday track day in March, so we can mingle with the petrol-heads and get a good feed at Tyrrell's Restaurant, as this year.

Not that it's directly relevant for ACME, but just so's you know — The Cambridge Pork Pie will therefore likely be 18th or 25th of March.  I'm favouring the 18th, but I haven't discussed it with Mrs W or anyone else yet.

I have an 80th birthday get together over the weekend  25th March. My preference would be the 18th March.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 23 September, 2016, 06:32:30 pm
I have an 80th birthday get together over the weekend  25th March. My preference would be the 18th March.

Noted  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 23 September, 2016, 07:11:55 pm
Perhaps a larger gap between the end of the winter series and the start of Tomsk's spring delights with correspondingly less time between Oyster and Templars ?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 September, 2016, 07:19:22 pm
Perhaps a larger gap between the end of the winter series and the start of Tomsk's spring delights with correspondingly less time between Oyster and Templars ?

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
Probably the best plan. If someone wants to get the Winter Series Grand Slam they'll make the effort a fortnight after your ride.
I'll leave the KTC&C listed as the 4th Feb then  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 23 September, 2016, 07:26:28 pm
No slam no shiney.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 September, 2016, 07:34:04 pm
No slam no shiney.

The shiny rulz are:
Ride 1, get the opportunity to buy a metal badge
Ride the Grand Slam and get a flash to sew on to your ACME jersey sleeve
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 04 October, 2016, 06:17:26 pm
No slam no shiney.

The shiny rulz are:
Ride 1, get the opportunity to buy a metal badge
Ride the Grand Slam and get a flash to sew on to your ACME jersey sleeve
The shiny design is finalised and order placed. There is every chance that the shinies will be available for early adopters on the inaugural ACME Winter BP Series ride on the 5th November  :thumbsup:

The sew on flash may need to be determined by how well the shinies sell
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 07 October, 2016, 05:00:57 pm
Latest Update from ACME..... new shiny is ordered as Huggy mentioned, I can do the Grand Reveal:


(http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp171/jasonburns37/acmewinterbadge_zpswo7ysrci.jpg) (http://s409.photobucket.com/user/jasonburns37/media/acmewinterbadge_zpswo7ysrci.jpg.html)

Medals will hopefully be available on the inaugural event - ride one of the series to qualify to buy, £3 each.

Plus our little helps have been busy trying to bring the route to life, a little taster of the first in the Series, "Essex 3R's" flythrough....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H32nCsZadaU

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Chris S on 07 October, 2016, 06:13:11 pm
I was considering posting "Keep working on those winter DNS opportunities, chaps!" - but then I realised just how few Norfolk Nips events we missed through weather over the years, so I had a word with myself about being a miserable bugger; hope these rides go well!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 07 October, 2016, 07:33:53 pm
"Keep working on those winter DNS opportunities, chaps!"

If we get a Snowpocalypse...

...come by train or anything that doesn't risk a falling over situation and spend a convivial morning/day/evening in the Witham 'spoons.

I've got a 50km ECE route from Dunmow to Witham ready n'all - not that much more* than the gritted roads route I'd take anyway, first thing on a winter's morning.

* Ok, 24km.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 09 October, 2016, 08:25:16 pm
I've just been looking at the route for the Stansted Express. The first control is right next to the camp site that belongs to the Scout Group in which I was a Cub as a boy. In those days, it (and therefore the control) was on the main airport entrance road. It's commemorated in the Priory Wood roundabout where you now turn off or onto the A120 for Stansted. Happy days.

I imagine that camping there would be a bit noisier now.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 09 October, 2016, 09:15:44 pm
^ Cub Plane Spotter's badge?

Apparently, there's an app [isn't there always?] to tell you what each plane type is, where it's going etc, as it takes off.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 14 October, 2016, 08:43:53 pm
I'm thinking of ECEing the November ride (Essex 3 R's). It'll be a bit uneven; 70km on the way out & 30km back to Shenfield train station. Hey ho.

I guess I should enter at some point.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 14 October, 2016, 10:11:41 pm
I'm thinking of ECEing the November ride (Essex 3 R's). It'll be a bit uneven; 70km on the way out & 30km back to Shenfield train station. Hey ho.

I guess I should enter at some point.

Top banana, it'll be good to see you again, you'll be needing an ACME jersey!  Will Pippa be coming along too?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 14 October, 2016, 10:17:59 pm
Will Pippa be coming along too?

After dragging her around the world for the past 9 months by bicycle I'm not brave enough to bring up the subject of an autumn audax.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 14 October, 2016, 10:37:48 pm
Here is an overview of the ACME Winter BP Series routes, the order is
Yellow - Essex 3R's (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-340/)
Red - The Stansted Airport Express (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-342/)
Blue - The Kelvedon Oyster (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-245/)
Green - The Knights Templar Compasses and Cross (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-204/)
(http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j462/GHuggy/ACME/ACME%20Winter%20Series_zpskm61xlvm.png)


Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 14 October, 2016, 10:45:37 pm
Four Essex audaxes and only one visit to Thaxted? That cannot be right.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 14 October, 2016, 11:39:59 pm
Four Essex audaxes and only one visit to Thaxted? That cannot be right.
What's even worse than that is that in none of them do you ascend The Mighty North Hill, you do get to go down it once though!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 15 October, 2016, 07:28:23 am
Will Pippa be coming along too?

After dragging her around the world for the past 9 months by bicycle I'm not brave enough to bring up the subject of an autumn audax.

Fair enough, shame though. She can sit at the back with some of us slower types, we'll look after her whilst you disappear into the distance! 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 15 October, 2016, 11:50:26 am
Four Essex audaxes and only one visit to Thaxted? That cannot be right.

ECE via both Thaxted and The Mighty North Hill, then all's right with the world??  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Veloman on 15 October, 2016, 11:58:37 am
Here is an overview of the ACME Winter BP Series routes ....

A great initiative and wished I lived nearer the start.

Any reason why 'green' is exempt from mudguards compared to the other three routes?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 15 October, 2016, 05:09:49 pm
Tested my ECE route this morning, got me in for 09:30 to the 'spoons so might set off a little earlier to give me more ordering and eating time (I went for a trad breckie, but would probably do the larger one on the ECE version).   :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 17 October, 2016, 01:06:31 pm
Right, I've entered the Essex 3 R's and will be riding up to the start from East London.  See you all in the 'Spoons on Saturday morning :thumbsup:.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 17 October, 2016, 01:54:44 pm
Any reason why 'green' is exempt from mudguards compared to the other three routes?
Because I forgot to include the 'M' in the event registration, however it will be recommended in the info sheet.  These are winter rides on some roads that may suffer from the consequences of inclement weather.  At the risk of opening the debate of compulsory mudguards again - for my part as the organiser of the Yellow and Green rides I would prefer that bikes have mudguards for the courtesy of pubs and cafes that may be visited; for other riders in a group, everyone is adult and can chose to ride with whom and where they like, I'll choose to not ride behind an unprotected rear wheel that is making me wetter than I'm getting from above.
I will not be enforcing compulsory mudguards at the start but would hope everyone extends the courtesy that they would wish to receive themselves. After all, it's not compulsory to sit on upholstered chairs at a commercial control, other options are available.  :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 17 October, 2016, 01:59:24 pm
Right, I've entered the Essex 3 R's and will be riding up to the start from East London.  See you all in the 'Spoons on Saturday morning :thumbsup:.
It'll be great to see you again, αdαmsκι  :thumbsup:

All,
The start time is an ECE friendly 10am, however it would be nice to know that people are intending to ride to the start so if you are delayed on the road then provision can be made to ensure you can collect your brevet.  I'll be putting that suggestion in the email due to go out with final route & info sheet, probably after next weekend.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: cgg on 17 October, 2016, 03:03:07 pm
Right, I've entered the Essex 3 R's and will be riding up to the start from East London.  See you all in the 'Spoons on Saturday morning :thumbsup:.

I've yet to enter, but plan on riding from Camden. All for teaming up if you're up for it :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bernster on 17 October, 2016, 04:57:24 pm
I've entered the 3Rs, and am looking to ECE (would be my first) up to 200k for my November RRTY.

Does anyone with better local knowledge than me have any recommendations for an ECE route from South East Hertfordshire? I'm fine with route planning out as far as Epping / North Weald, but after that I'm open to suggestions. It looks like the most direct route would involve going through Chelmsford, and parallel with (but not on) the A12 to Witham. There's also a slightly longer route through Moreton, Fyfield, Great & Little Waltham and Terling, which looks like it could be nicer to ride. Any suggestions would be appreciated  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 17 October, 2016, 05:57:30 pm
You're welcome to rob any ideas from my ride on Saturday. https://www.strava.com/activities/745171860
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 17 October, 2016, 07:00:39 pm
I'm not going to ECE it but, given the rail engineering work, could be up for a lift share from the North Herts direction.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 17 October, 2016, 08:50:57 pm
I'm thinking of ECEing the November ride (Essex 3 R's). It'll be a bit uneven; 70km on the way out & 30km back to Shenfield train station. Hey ho.

I guess I should enter at some point.
the snag is there aren't any trains from Shenfield to That London on Nov 5 due to bloody engineering works. bus replacement :-( Only trains running seem to be the one's from Bishops Strodfort, which isn't too appealing. And I think I don't fancy riding all the way back to north London.  Which most probably means I won't join but do a DIY from Highbury and back on the same day.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 17 October, 2016, 10:34:40 pm
Thanks for the heads up about the trains. Bonus 11km from Shenfield to Upminster then  :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 17 October, 2016, 10:43:01 pm
Witham to Basildon (same line I think as Upminster) is about the same distance as Witham to Shenfield.... ??

37k if you want to avoid TMNH

(35k via TMNH and 30m of extra climbing)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: TimC on 18 October, 2016, 05:46:55 am
I'm entered for the 3Rs. Fingers crossed I'm actually in UK that day!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 18 October, 2016, 09:33:06 am
If the planets are in alignment on Saturday morning I'm going to ride the Essex 3R's as a Helpers' ride as a final check of the route sheet. Happy for anyone to tag along if you fancy it; I'll have the event brevets in my possession this week.
I need to ensure I'm back in Witham by 3-ish so just to allow time for taking notes if necessary and chats with control proprietors I'm likely to be leaving sometime between 8:30 and 9am.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: TimC on 18 October, 2016, 12:52:43 pm
Definitely not in the UK for Saturday; on the way home from Miami.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 21 October, 2016, 04:39:10 pm
Basildon is it for the return leg to That London.

We'll be a group of 3 or 4 riders leaving Highbury 6am sharp for a genteel ride to Witham, which hopefully will leave some time for brekki at the 'spoons. It's 73 km on the way out, plus 37 from Witham to Basildon.

If anyone wants to join the ride to the start, give me a shout.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: cgg on 22 October, 2016, 08:24:53 pm
^ Definitely in for this!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 October, 2016, 12:50:22 pm
Rode the Essex 3Rs route yesterday as a helpers' and final route sheet check ride.  The AUK page is to be updated with slightly amended documents soon, postal and email to be sent shortly.
This is the as-ridden track (https://ridewithgps.com/trips/11612497) from yesterday.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 23 October, 2016, 12:58:32 pm
Due to the fact that my stable of bikes is in a state of flux at the moment I shall be riding sans mudguards but avec chunky tyres weekend after next  :o
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 23 October, 2016, 01:57:21 pm
^ Definitely in for this!

you have PM
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 23 October, 2016, 09:46:43 pm
Due to the fact that my stable of bikes is in a state of flux at the moment I shall be riding sans mudguards but avec chunky tyres weekend after next  :o
Wanna borrow a bike with some mudguards if it is pissing wet? I'll even take the Tubeless tyres off and put the Durano's back on.....unless of course you want to try them out as well  ;D

edit: It would give you a chance to try out the Eleven Speed as well.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 October, 2016, 09:52:31 am
Due to the fact that my stable of bikes is in a state of flux at the moment I shall be riding sans mudguards but avec chunky tyres weekend after next  :o
Wanna borrow a bike with some mudguards if it is pissing wet? I'll even take the Tubeless tyres off and put the Durano's back on.....unless of course you want to try them out as well  ;D

edit: It would give you a chance to try out the Eleven Speed as well.

No thanks, but the kind offer is appreciated.  I'll just ride behind everyone else and stand up at all the cafes  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 24 October, 2016, 10:09:22 am
Subject to Acorn#1's training, and the weather on the day, there may be two Oakys riding on the RRR.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 October, 2016, 10:38:25 am
Subject to Acorn#1's training, and the weather on the day, there may be two Oakys riding on the RRR.

On Tina the Tandem?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 24 October, 2016, 10:51:41 am
On solos.  We thought about Tina, but she wants the full sense of achievement (assuming she finishes, that is).
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 October, 2016, 10:54:14 am
On solos.  We thought about Tina, but she wants the full sense of achievement (assuming she finishes, that is).

Top banana!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 24 October, 2016, 11:08:58 am
Subject to Acorn#1's training, and the weather on the day, there may be two Oakys riding on the RRR.
:thumbsup:
EoL is available, but don't tell everyone that  :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 October, 2016, 11:11:26 am
Subject to Acorn#1's training, and the weather on the day, there may be two Oakys riding on the RRR.
:thumbsup:
EoL is available, but don't everyone that  :)

What does EoL mean?  Or am I being thick?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 24 October, 2016, 11:15:58 am
You're being thick!
Entry on the Line.  Not something that is normally encouraged but it helps if the organiser is aware of how many are expected to just turn up on the day and want to ride.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 October, 2016, 11:22:50 am
You're being thick!

 ;D  As a whale omelette!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 27 October, 2016, 11:20:12 pm
Just considering the ECE options for this from East London, looks like 62km from the Isle of Dogs directly to Witham, and should be OK with no intermediate control (McDs between Shenfield and Mountnessing for emergency coffee/loo stop). Return to Upminster station makes it 103km on Google Maps following the outbound route most of the way. BUT don't think C2C are going to be tandem friendly so another option is head westwards to finish at Sawbridgeworth or Harlow which do have a train service that day, potentially nicer roads too. Comes in around 106km.

Anyone for meeting up for an East London ride out? Our route is very unexciting and involves Ilford, Romford and Brentwood, so more inspired suggestions welcome!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 28 October, 2016, 10:49:03 am
Our route is very unexciting and involves Ilford, Romford and Brentwood, so more inspired suggestions welcome!

Something like this https://goo.gl/maps/ryVnKeADQN82 ?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 29 October, 2016, 08:24:10 pm
Anyone for meeting up for an East London ride out? Our route is very unexciting and involves Ilford, Romford and Brentwood, so more inspired suggestions welcome!

This is my route from Highbury: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=glbdawztrkuyizkf

We'll be a group of 4 or 5, leaving 6am sharp. We could try to arrange meeting en route if you want.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 31 October, 2016, 01:30:41 pm
ACME caps, by 'Blackmore' are here! £13 each: I'll bring some along on Saturday for the 3Rs.

(http://i1272.photobucket.com/albums/y387/Tomskinessex/ACME%20Hat%20020_zpszxovlvnd.jpg) (http://s1272.photobucket.com/user/Tomskinessex/media/ACME%20Hat%20020_zpszxovlvnd.jpg.html)

I have a new order of jerseys too. If you're going to be there would like one, pm/email me and I'll bring one along. I now have a full range from XS to L. £45 each.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 31 October, 2016, 01:40:02 pm
Caps, jerseys & badges - we'll need to set up a shop!
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 31 October, 2016, 02:06:48 pm
Caps, jerseys & badges - we'll need to set up a shop!
 :thumbsup:

I'll need a cap for bike park duties. I will ensure I have £13 about my person.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 31 October, 2016, 07:44:32 pm
Caps, jerseys & badges - we'll need to set up a shop!
 :thumbsup:

I'll need a cap for bike park duties. I will ensure I have £13 about my person.

 :thumbsup: I will accept part-payment in BEER, at least at the arrivee...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 31 October, 2016, 07:49:27 pm
I'm sure I can arrange proper money!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: TimC on 31 October, 2016, 07:51:46 pm
I guess I'll need one too - and a jersey, Tomsk, if poss (usually an XL). OD, I may take you up on your parking offer - thanks! As I've done not much riding recently, I'll probably be very full value!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 31 October, 2016, 09:03:04 pm
I guess I'll need one too - and a jersey, Tomsk, if poss (usually an XL). OD, I may take you up on your parking offer - thanks! As I've done not much riding recently, I'll probably be very full value!

The jerseys come up fairly generous in size: I'll bring a selection, but L may do it for you?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 02 November, 2016, 06:14:45 pm
Is it true: "ride all four and earn a shiny"?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 02 November, 2016, 06:18:37 pm
Ignore me. Big Saxon pointed me to page four. I might travel to Essex a bit more this year now!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 02 November, 2016, 07:14:27 pm
Horsepower 200/100 will be on 4th March - it's the only Saturday track day in March, so we can mingle with the petrol-heads and get a good feed at Tyrrell's Restaurant, as this year.

Not that it's directly relevant for ACME, but just so's you know — The Cambridge Pork Pie will therefore likely be 18th or 25th of March.  I'm favouring the 18th, but I haven't discussed it with Mrs W or anyone else yet.

[ I just thought I'd mention that another slice of the Pork Pie is on 18 March 2017.  Nigel and I rode an alternative route last weekend — I'd forgotten how hilly it was on fixed, and I'd also forgotten just how much I enjoyed it  ;) ]
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: TimC on 05 November, 2016, 06:59:39 am
I'm a DNS this morning; full of cold and staying in bed!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 November, 2016, 07:07:48 am
I'm a DNS this morning; full of cold and staying in bed!
The Current Mrs H said man up! She was looking forward to stamping your card later  :o
GWS, hopefully see you on the next ride.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 05 November, 2016, 08:06:23 am
I forgot the only time I cycled to Witham it was 79 miles. A bit too long a day in the saddle with a sore neck. Might do a much shorter Team MK ride and try out my new rear camera light instead. I'll tick that 'spoons off my list another time. Hope everyone enjoys the day!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 November, 2016, 11:31:23 am
And they're off on the first of the Winter BP series rides.  A flurry of on the line entries boosted the total to 101 for the event!  About 90 out on the road today, hope everyone is enjoying the countryside, I'll be in the pub waiting for your return
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 05 November, 2016, 03:08:53 pm
Great numbers. Glad I didn't enter though. I had a three mile ride to the club ride start into the same headwind I'd have had for around 80 miles tonight. Maybe the December one!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 05 November, 2016, 03:49:00 pm
From my point of view that worked really well. A decent 70 km ride out, a nice 100km ride around Essex on some new roads, followed by a 35km hop to Basildon and the train home. Sorry about being a bit unsociable but my audax wife needed to be home in time for fireworks!

Edit: Home before 4.30pm after a autumn 200 #win
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: iddu on 05 November, 2016, 08:15:27 pm
I enjoyed that...

New area & mainly quiet(*) lanes, with non-taxing scenery for those of gear=1; might even consider the rest ;)

(*) Apols for the mudguard, some fettling required.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 05 November, 2016, 08:43:34 pm
Chapeau Huggy! Impressive turnout bodes well for the rest of the series: a little taste of winter today, but could get a lot tougher...

The R&R route works well in reverse  :thumbsup: The new tweak via Woodham Ferrers to avoid the dicey Edwin's Hall Lane crossroads was great, especially the bit through the avenue of trees.

Lotsa fireworks on the way back, almost a 360 spread across the horizon somewhere near Wethersfield. Just got back in time to catch the last few minutes and grand finale of the Dunmow display as I came down the Broadway from Stebbing and up through Churchend.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 06 November, 2016, 12:15:12 am
Quite a tough bash across to Stock, I thought. Nice route though. Looking forward to December.

Good to see a few Mercians out. Three of us spent much of the ride within a few minutes of each other. I gather there was a fourth, but I didn't see it. Here are the three at Stock:

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21716908/three-Mercians.jpg)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 06 November, 2016, 08:47:03 am
I had been in two minds about joining the Winter Brevet for a long time: A DIY starting at ending at my doorstep would surely be an hour or two quicker, would it not? Or should  I do the Upper Thames , a proper 200k without the ECE faff? The bloody engineering works on the railway line added some extra complexity...

All bollocks! I'm really glad I came on the ride after all. There are not many more civilised ways of doing a 200 in November. Service at the pub was surprisingly efficient, the route was lovely, and the controls well chosen. Thanks to Eddie, Michael, @alotronic and @cgg and a number of riders I chatted with on the road  for sterling company, and particularly to ACME for stetting this up.

Already looking forward to December!

As for the Mercian - the purple one is mine, and it's just a week old.  Here's a picture of the Mercian's proud owners.

(https://s5.postimg.org/cvzqw3px3/20161105_IMG_4727.jpg) (https://postimg.org/image/xg4kul5o3/)

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 06 November, 2016, 10:20:54 am
Good heavens, whatever is that on my head? :o
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 06 November, 2016, 10:57:57 am
And they're off on the first of the Winter BP series rides.  A flurry of on the line entries boosted the total to 101 for the event!  About 90 out on the road today, hope everyone is enjoying the countryside, I'll be in the pub waiting for your return
 :thumbsup:

You did a top job there hugster!  I can't think of a single element that could have been done better and the sheer number of riders says it all. Well done that man and well done ACME!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: JenM on 06 November, 2016, 12:11:47 pm
Well that was an absolutely splendid day out. Huggy and his team were brilliant. Go ACME!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 06 November, 2016, 01:43:27 pm
Any problems, DNFs reported? I heard on the grapevine that Acorn #1 got round - chapeau to her and Oaky - a well earned actual hat/badge/medal etc...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 06 November, 2016, 01:50:47 pm
Tomsk, see report on the ACME Miscellany thread.  Acorn #1 flew round like it was a ride to the shops on a summers day.  Not bad for someone who didn't turn 12 until today  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 06 November, 2016, 01:58:22 pm
^  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Flatlander on 06 November, 2016, 02:26:29 pm
Good route on mostly new rodes to me. Dessed for s 7:15 start from Cambridge and found myself a bit warm. Got to the start with 10 mins to spare. Geed start time for a 100, very friendly to ECE'ers. Really enjoyed the ride on som good surfaces, I'm used to seeing a different standard of Essex Lane which I did experience on the trip down befoe Braintree so I didn't feel done. Excellent views accross the reservoirs, especially Abberton.
Stopped at Stock for Coffee and cake. Unexpectedly I got good service, possible because I made the order when the waitress brought the menu. These sit down order cafe's can be a it lagard sometimes, ideal for a casual brunch but no so good mid Audax. I also had the advantage the place wasn't overflowing with cyclist when I arrived - there was 3 of us. Got a stamp then jumped the Danbury control. Its the first time I've done that and I felt a bit gulty, but it was close to the finshed, they looked busy and I'd just stopped at Stock. Must find an event that uses it as a mid event stop so I cam make amends.
Got to the finsh just before 3. Time for a beer then the last leg ofthe ECE back to Cambridge. Really must remember my Weatherspoon tokens for these events. Had to write off a second beer due to needing to be in Cambridge to the fireworks. This turned out to be the hardest part of the trip. There was a persistant headwind and I was knackered and cold so it took three and a half hours to get back.
Good event and a handy RRTY, thanks to Huggy and team.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 06 November, 2016, 02:27:32 pm
The answer to this is probably somewhere within this thread but is there a date for the December issue?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: JenM on 06 November, 2016, 02:41:04 pm
3 December

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-342/ (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/16-342/)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 06 November, 2016, 04:33:07 pm
Ta.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GavinC on 06 November, 2016, 04:59:14 pm
Really enjoyed the ride on som good surfaces, I'm used to seeing a different standard of Essex Lane
+1. Being used to the torn up lanes around Saffron Walden, I couldn't believe I was in the same county. Now I know where Essex Highways spend their money  ;D

It was a great ride yesterday. I wasn't looking forward to it when I woke up to a drizzly morning yesterday, but it turned into a nice, albeit cold, Autumn day. My first run of any distance on my fixed wheel Moulton, which scored in the comfort stakes. I picked up another rider (not otp) just after Abberton who asked if he could get a tow from me, which was a novel experience for someone as slow as me :) He stuck with me for the rest of the ride. Good company and he bought me lunch in Stock, which was nice  :)

All in all, a good day out. Thanks to Huggy and the ACME team.

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 06 November, 2016, 05:12:02 pm
A cold start and a fine rain marked the exit from Chelmsford and around the first 50km of my ECE to our inaugural ACME Winter Brevet ride.

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/OVNSM_qtKMPcYiXK7cMt4LEv8GQQBIxXVX8U_Vogf_cPO8YfipomzzcLt3D36bayAUKbZ5w4_eokCjnjbPobfeqLyhhUMXVuwJH_wY4eUJNiG0iEgMeCG_SZa3MNAmvv5LTpZuwvBQsR4SSg--wdwUnHmE4OEV10i-EeFJlhj0TjSfOPEvKPpZv4GcQOpGQ8TEDAb4UyZtVi48OBZIDcSMdrDH_qgw6-K2LE2iYKo96o0uKd5f2KIo2nmy024FMpt3TlutHRJ2oEue-tXGNlmqUlpJTaGnld8mCpqsx4FreBPdzzZ_jbkmUbL26YxXNJzNA5Na-7JMDjAhsAn-HLlLiipTXvGOJfB6Nj2oluUnvE0ylxTTs5w3a5H3NMi7cqxND6uIksz59m2oMZq1Igxaeuyb_8Obfh8c6RBeD8f4cxTjS0jWbthz_K2dPPdjK54JLT6gCQ8WVupsgYB4UIJiveNI9wXrwHzHtiF8ieix7dgXB7p3P25WK1JE-H4VtVI-Axq3jhUkb0bGSc57GdhukiUUzyEweeivolEooxiRpVEztHoALDXRTaxYZmrDr502ZZGZYLkMs7ruZbrjYRBAxk1-SbliDmx_2GCot08fFOOMEk-A=w1352-h1014-no)

A field of over 80 rides took part and I was expecting it to be chaos getting breakfast in our starting pub of choice in Witham, but they were fast and efficient, which was just as well as even though I set of at 06:50 ish I still struggled to convert that early start in to an early arrival… I just couldn’t get on song!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/bo88YouzzxPVu99IlTron4Z0xpntqN_FqAbJmUDjxMfGopgpjt3GYxmmx3u7rkQ3RoOxuHuvB2WJrrLo0Ww5AZeBltgM7Xvyuxx6wBL3VvphRNpmXidOZsl6y0pr3h4m5z8T_Yz2hwNntfivvYipxYG0cFBtNn-iBbZ0uPEXEDsZKPR2IpzBYe4ZoG4GBtFYRRDLO-CU4tbnuMUzn9hI24PF8avSkGLpXDplxFG0UQVuAYswEvnvpaZOP2MmTGUi-ZXHrfM2WCAmHT-Nb4ZN_UdmJW7cjjP0o7RDFSOA-TKLVi3Qnp_lCgICnoJ2NaGKRGuwEchW-z6u7jgaEWio9d_2eSkd4CBRAL5tdtq9TwaMcacstJO1jLjLFBHRrnwukuiy_Gk_h8gfQruJEwgzzw9qVKzsy9G21BPcWTSmt_Kwq7lJw7ELwdPPhy62-82TOLaOwyaPydyJi2bc1hJ4MWuLt26uoPTmlpkpe6cca-R2LAWu8xNEsZqjelQCJbjyNEoeQ5ziNHTzg1hPfjIMwZD0JB0r1aOs6UsATCMXV5Jaqzf1k9L_LkE45P8WIsf3pDvHOVyfSii60QYm94_6V1aD_W4x8BVnv-qdSsQSpP3yeeLL-Q=w1352-h1014-no)(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-cYqr2rgTecM_Vv0tCV1qMprkZXForPfv_OsgWXQVGdPVRm2oXQxSenOZnMJCso9FuYpNqa9lh9AdSFU0vPP2mnU3MLc3G1rSYDiv5LYHneZA8StrXdx-h-njV8UtQAgR6LwpHaWbUtMnyza3H3GkRO9ykUN6753QlWE8Bnd0hVXf48nsDBSDx20UFaflr6olDvCXe3oy9PXCXbbI_aNelzsNGsAJwKmnIVxtKJWXYUA1W-ilpwrq6aPFc1j6xV3HMIweQyGdEZHDkWUsaE5fy8KK-EaQZhnQ5aIHktGaldui3o-StaP6W2wQz4DIxvCEhN1Kj9qyGY0fhitt8Tnnk7QE2TacooCI-MY3Pp9b2w_bCPyOluo-U6gfL0XH5H8lBWd18WySYRPMOdYkakuYQPbDcrTFO8BYBhuOebu1XigFN6GLn6uwkrJLEJddWNjQMtFo2t9CjP9_u5bImGXMzX-RAy6lXpxKzZUQ_E2ir7Sg-d69PU3pdPmBHW_NDoAnuR-2c-2y9SMRes8ZlnNlH5RugefFDCRNdaI8Ltuf6z_qx46olSpGvxgm1sGLCspwdR244Wx16fDSZ_mVn5XjPlzbFVvy-xKraEuL14ePX7uZiL_5Q=w1352-h1014-no)

The ride itself was great, that yellow round thing eventually made an appearance and the wind made hard going but also fast going in equal measure around the route. Annoyingly I had a visitation just as I left Rettingdon and decided to try to pump it up just before I climbed the hill and make the 8km to the next control… this gave up as I was back riding on the rim with 20m of climbing still left to do… I managed to get to the top of the hill by standing up and putting my weight over the front…. I then managed to find the hole, fit a new tube and get it pumped up only to manage to unscrew the tube valve core… so had to spend time pumping it back up again!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/MqXOT5XbreVEjdaYvDdN6reCE-YBj03L-7USxymZ-m7BVPH933_3g9XX3QeBMa9dVY8RmHjs_-AhCDL5EC7wb3ZlaNZwa9Xac99SEDA4HBrAx56ik50sFZZQHeqvcmzKem2B3_vKP-q4QughcizHMDZv-WCAYK8VVnZZxHz--Tu5PXH2GfvMEOBJyv44jrESVVgnwSB3IGOUCDdRnQzCQ5I1jIH4sdnF6j1t3jT6c7-aPuBTEyuPulw1HqhRAjaKjKwP-2geF29F4pM675W0kCFzkfovQn0ebDoA5AG_FROjBEEhhmO8nTI6GSfBisOSRAnt0Wv0Vw_Hzl_PLemRYG05TJz-4O92SouBGemwgl5lH2i7nh_pOlb77cpyIKNQ9JrW-PMRVMORdgxISUivbwkEx9Rw_vn-Jzr-sElt-v5-V8_0o21S5jFzj0OEbwhKgb10A5D1NlrF5Xkvk39g7lHPMnDBA-EKIjSWiWhbzP5dRTGcGkYMTgws_9bCd6XfHPtJI-nYGy99V6ESlScNe04BpJwfu4NOtxDK76vLAUEJhaYQcp-p5QjhKRCB0dj9D2fx7Jf4w_Z-KB-jJLcdoRYNmJ1ijdoBeIFHrky-X4NyfQMTFw=w1352-h1014-no)
(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/BNz5vxpeVB2TtzIUvJ3CWKJLZDJrqkUDZhdO1AKariquoA3OlLJZyReaAX2EMtzeXNEW90Skbz2O0v-n7Umo3aegNuEdL_k1bKxAW6LI34WlyMGBO5Q0PA9ajTbo0hL3ed257kBZL0ppg3pNYmHCEuCvkTkhttx7CkLbdg34cODF2rQhGQjNvU2ReGoc7mANJmiM2Bm80dQVcFTN8qS5r0MnLt9my48prSzx7HNflkK-750ifOzCh56NuTwBgEEkg3Qnz29UN3uf1vNo90ppZjcg5hwDvrzBecR1SKh0vncbMZXmoqTYmP0etAfrgX95WxUHOYSNxlTyDrgfPYJe96vIDD1y5okK_WDfTJRVWqhMKvrAeIthk1rsmW-Q2gDzU8oJQSiCcfljIbdDOBZP4Pg6iBxy3ebv3L_E7Jr0oMx6aUwy58TGCMlhiyELxHUWhubW9gdSgThfgVxh__hftm9Y8wzoyuU7riQcBK5T8FGCDy52CJicm-DEHYy2M3c99xXjFM5v54L0ccnMUCFdGavKZygmDqtz92mA07JcaaGG8UbcrYDPB22AZft75sOf955gVnvoVMwa34wFT4_BZ1_JBMjOV_DNqDVnrKHCfDVxmGVdug=w761-h1014-no)

A great route and well done Grant for organising and for various Team ACME for assisting in the running!

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/P-vPuXoCAZURkltAXlxdvwdF_1YPaGFjgk1xFUsOGPlOKV_EDUWyJZI7m-brVbl4RZOfYla25SMQaKXotcrDZaKdyaRM70D-p6YsdGqpq80NKPX52FbpyoBIlbhKQpyHlQIRfyN-Mb2x9MENl5XbMhX45mkCaYgS_0OC-nwhrIOUpKAOZ1PRleaYWKw1d7wg7qwXMW6zj5dxs6XZjCSk5C_ncnWUD7KANCBpc6ExvOPwjEXX0D8ykiCtU0b-vfoHckxzsvxEgOyI2SK6gYPIMxYkEfVIisvrduSJ_UDvimPz8Rz9p-03LAw89_-uI6_TaTdk85pxrh1xof5HMdyn7DWQtk_CxJfI60a_Y2QZl7BMSTyyX65ZhFJ8zNz-2zuTqc8so-8XkkItLdexxRIxsCFy7nDGcijI_RwQy9mANPDieWp_sP5YeQiaCO882zD4xXTHr-uKoZzA5wkZjI1-yPCVh7x6pCrVzIEBiwttdDH2RKpctxtpEuL2vhms9-4lZshy_J2aVyZGbBkl6k26dMP18K-czMRsxdZVZiZklRihSbJI4Yog0atCbvms0TdkIM-Y5Y6okwpy5aIRvob03wmwLQZAogGIvncvz4dWIw5cOzp11w=w1352-h1014-no)

Overall I managed about 20mins ahead of schedule, and enjoyed a pint to celebrate… before I set off in to the dark for the final 50km home to complete the ECE… this was hard going and I was struggling in to the wind and perhaps suffering from a lack of food. I managed to make it through Danbury before the fireworks kicked off and thence onwards home though my 22kph average had dropped to 18kph and I was suffering! A track stand combined with toe overlap saw me having a clipless moment at some roadworks in Danbury which probably didn't help!

On the plus side, this ride marks the completion of my first Round The Year Randonneur!


https://goo.gl/photos/x4tFj4Aa3J4BBnJZA
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 06 November, 2016, 07:27:05 pm
Congrats, straight into RRTY 2 or a break in between?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 06 November, 2016, 08:53:12 pm
It would appear I might have 2 on the go already since May  :facepalm:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: cgg on 06 November, 2016, 11:02:36 pm
Well that was a nice day out, thank you very much Grant & ACME for making this happen. Also thanks redfalo & al. for the great ride out :thumbsup:

Now looking forward to the December one which I will hopefully also ECE, hopefully with a longer night before ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 07 November, 2016, 10:39:43 pm
Anyone got a GPX for the Stansted Airport event?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 08 November, 2016, 12:49:27 am
Top ride (just like everyone else has already said!). We ECE'ed it and a bit more, the only trains running in the vague direction of Witham (ie to Basildon) not being tandem friendly. Had a decent run up in the morning although our arrival was a bit tardier than ideal, so only time for a quick tea and toast before the depart. Seemed like a fast ride to Abberton and then on to Latchingdon, where most of us practised our long audax ride petrol station technique.
The leg to Stock was harder, the wind had got up and the ride was up....We very nearly popped into Hyde Hall cafe as we went past the entrance on Buckhatch Lane, but decided to try out the D&B at Stock instead. After detaching ourselves from locomotive duties, we managed to grab a table and had tea and cake as that was reasonably quick. On to Danbury where we opted for the Coop as our control, only to discover a grid-locked car park. I suspect many of the car-borne shoppers live within easy cycling distance. I think it was somewhere on the last section that the sun finally came out, giving us a very pleasant final few miles to Witham.
Our ECE was only back as far as Upminster, but we knew we had the full distance to East London in front of us. We reached Chelmsford around 17.30 and are both scarred from the experience, the traffic was truly horrible........ a different ECE plan for December I think (hopefully the trains will be running to give more options). On the plus side we did see lots of fireworks, ranging from rather wimpy back garden affairs to large official displays. 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 08 November, 2016, 06:27:27 am
Anyone got a GPX for the Stansted Airport event?
This is ONLY AN INITIAL PLOT of the route from Tomsk's draft route sheet so in no way guaranteed at all
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16841421
It may well get you round but has not been road checked for any RWGPS COR vagaries.  No doubt I will participate in a helpers ride and be able to provide an as-ridden GPX track closer the time.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 08 November, 2016, 07:49:36 am
Thanks, yes, I'll pick up an official one later if it becomes available, as it probably will. I just like to take an advance look and I haven't got around to doing one yet.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 08 November, 2016, 07:58:02 am
Anyone got a GPX for the Stansted Airport event?
This is ONLY AN INITIAL PLOT of the route from Tomsk's draft route sheet so in no way guaranteed at all
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16841421
It may well get you round but has not been road checked for any RWGPS COR vagaries.  No doubt I will participate in a helpers ride and be able to provide an as-ridden GPX track closer the time.

I've had a few requests for gps and this has been my standard response ^ Perhaps a helpers' ride at the earliest opportunity? I'm tied up with other stuffs the two weekends before, so may have to do the ride during the week. Feel free to ride whenever suits you and any others of the ACME peloton. I'll put something to that effect on the ACME Miscellany thread too...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 08 November, 2016, 08:58:30 am
Chapeau Huggy! Impressive turnout bodes well for the rest of the series: a little taste of winter today, but could get a lot tougher...
Thanks to all that turned out to the inaugural ACME Winter BP Series ride, the numbers more than vindicate the concept and usual workload that goes in to organising these types of events with a new route  :thumbsup:
All comments I received were positive and the venues were very happy to see the cyclists passing through, even if the cafes were busy at times and may not have been able to serve as quickly as everyone would have liked the proprietors were doing their best to support the event for which I am grateful.  In fact, the Battesford Court Wetherspoons in Witham were more than happy to see you all and are very much looking forward to the future events using them as HQ.  They were also very helpful towards me with handing over the check-in/arrivee space.
The final figures are that there were 82 validated brevets for the Essex 3R's clearly showing a pent up demand for such events in the region.  I don't know how many ECE's there were but I'm sure Martin will be kept busy this week with validating them.

The rulz for the special badge to earn for riding the whole series are finalised:
Ride all four in the series in the same Audax year
     or
In a 2 year rolling period you must ride each of the calendar rides

Look forward to seeing you in December  :)

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 08 November, 2016, 12:46:36 pm
We reached Chelmsford around 17.30 and are both scarred from the experience, the traffic was truly horrible........ a different ECE plan for December I think (hopefully the trains will be running to give more options).

Chelmsford is on the return leg of my default DIY route from London, and I can confirm it's really horrible to ride through. It took me almost half a dozen rides to get it right. From my point of view, circumventing it via Great Baddow is the best option (see here, for instande: http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=jznriegteaokiikb)

National Rail currently says trains on the Norwich line will be running on Dec 3 BTW.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 08 November, 2016, 01:20:37 pm
Anyone got a GPX for the Stansted Airport event?
This is ONLY AN INITIAL PLOT of the route from Tomsk's draft route sheet so in no way guaranteed at all
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16841421
It may well get you round but has not been road checked for any RWGPS COR vagaries.  No doubt I will participate in a helpers ride and be able to provide an as-ridden GPX track closer the time.

Pickpocket Lane (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8596306,0.5340121,3a,75y,111.78h,87.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxfp1TPgSveFmvcDHr4HOOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4?hl=en) between Great Notley and Baker's lane is one piece of RwGPS-OD-ism.

ETA: on the OS map it's a Byway open to all traffic, but I wouldn't fancy getting a car into/out of the end pictured in the streetmap link :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 08 November, 2016, 01:35:09 pm
Pickpocket Lane (https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.8596306,0.5340121,3a,75y,111.78h,87.97t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sxfp1TPgSveFmvcDHr4HOOA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!5m1!1e4?hl=en) between Great Notley and Baker's lane is one piece of RwGPS-OD-ism.
RWGPS track at original link (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16841421) amended to go the looong way round down London Road.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 08 November, 2016, 01:48:36 pm
The Bakers Lane end of Pickpocket Lane is properly muddy so not audax friendly.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 08 November, 2016, 07:33:32 pm
Thanks again all. I like my maps, and the GPX has allowed me, minor mudbaths notwithstanding, to look where we are going more easily (without the minor trouble of setting one up myself). I'm looking forward to it - the ride connects up areas I know from Ugley and other events, whereas Witham itself is just outside what I'd regard as my normal stomping grounds.

And I promise, promise, promise to pick up a new routesheet and GPX before the ride ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 08 November, 2016, 08:02:50 pm
Hooray, normal order is restored, we will be going to Thaxted! Also good to see the route goes very close to Rayne Booking Hall cafe at the old station, one of my favourites, known also to a few others OTP I believe.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 09 November, 2016, 09:01:39 am
Hooray, normal order is restored, we will be going to Thaxted! Also good to see the route goes very close to Rayne Booking Hall cafe at the old station, one of my favourites, known also to a few others OTP I believe.

Thaxted, indeed  :thumbsup:

If anyone wants COR and a quieter, slightly shorter way through from Rayne to Black Notley, there's a bridleway way through to the country park & Great Notley, that avoids the A131 roundabout, but it also involves wiggly cyclepaths, chicanes/ barriers...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 09 November, 2016, 10:57:25 pm
RWGPS, BTW and OTP I understand. COR and OD are escaping me :(
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jsabine on 09 November, 2016, 11:42:24 pm
Comedy Off Road, being excursions, planned or unplanned, onto unmetalled surfaces (possibly including thigh-high mud), generally on entirely inappropriate machines.

Oscar's Dad, being a poster OTP and a leading exponent of COR.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 09 November, 2016, 11:59:11 pm
Of course. I have come across both before :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oaky on 10 November, 2016, 12:26:13 am
The Bakers Lane end of Pickpocket Lane is properly muddy so not audax friendly.

 :o

Who are you and what have you done with the real Oscar's dad?


Do we need to pay a ransom?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 10 November, 2016, 08:31:55 am
The Bakers Lane end of Pickpocket Lane is properly muddy so not audax friendly.

 :o

Who are you and what have you done with the real Oscar's dad?


Do we need to pay a ransom?

We drove down Bakers Lane yesterday and reminded me I've never actually ridden Pickpocket Lane.  Wanna come with me?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 30 November, 2016, 11:51:31 am
So who's in for the Stansted Express on Saturday?

Getting up at some ungodly hour to ride 50 freezing miles to the start doesn't appeal - but I've just looked at the train fares from London  :o :o.  It's gonna be an expensive day out.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 30 November, 2016, 12:02:33 pm
So who's in for the Stansted Express on Saturday?

Getting up at some ungodly hour to ride 50 freezing miles to the start doesn't appeal - but I've just looked at the train fares from London  :o :o.  It's gonna be an expensive day out.
Get yourself a Network Rail Card, it'll pay itself back over the remaining 3 Winter Series rides  ;D

ETA: or find 2 others doing the same thing and get a Group Save
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 30 November, 2016, 12:14:33 pm
I've just looked at the train fares from London  :o :o.  It's gonna be an expensive day out.

Interestingly, I had been looking at the National Rail site, which was quoting about £43 return.  Decided to shop around a bit and got the same ticket for £17.70 on the Trainline, which is much more realistic.

The system really is broken.  good point on the railcard - we have a family and friends one which has saved us a lot over the year, but I've never thought of corralling a few others and using it when travelling solo.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 November, 2016, 12:26:09 pm
... good point on the railcard - we have a family and friends one which has saved us a lot over the year, but I've never thought of corralling a few others and using it when travelling solo.

Quote from a forthcoming story on BBC News ...

Quote
Police report that a middle aged man was arrested earlier today at London's Liverpool Street Station, he has been charged with kidnap and false imprisonment.

The police statement said the man claims to be a long distance cyclist and was trying to gather together enough people to qualify for a Group Saver ticket so he could travel more cheaply to Witham in Essex to the start of a bicycle ride.

Several people have contacted the BBC saying they witnessed the incident.  One woman said she had only entered the station to visit the public toilet when the man who was subsequently arrested grabbed her and pushed her towards platform 13.  The woman consequently did not make it to the lavatory in time and wet herself.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 30 November, 2016, 12:45:52 pm
There are worse ways to meet people and make new friends - sharing a bus shelter in Lincolnshire at 3 in the morning, for example
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 30 November, 2016, 12:50:18 pm
There are worse ways to meet people and make new friends - sharing a bus shelter in Lincolnshire at 3 in the morning, for example

True. My "I regularly meet men on the internet and occasionally spend the night with them" gag is a favourite of mine.  Just to be clear, I met huggy in a park.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 30 November, 2016, 01:11:20 pm
There are worse ways to meet people and make new friends - sharing a bus shelter in Lincolnshire at 3 in the morning, for example
Also spending 3 days straight in something resembling a soup kitchen serving hollow eyed cyclists with a strong resemblance to vagrants  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 30 November, 2016, 07:37:01 pm
Interestingly, I had been looking at the National Rail site, which was quoting about £43 return.
I'm getting £21.10 from National Rail - but that's only from Liverpool Street of course.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 30 November, 2016, 09:42:05 pm
We'll be a group of three leaving Highbury/ Stoke Newington 6am sharp and will ride to Withammat relaxed pace. ETA is 9-9.15, which will give more than enough time for relaxed breakfast. (riding back to Shenfielf will turn it into 200)  Anyone interested in joining us? Drop me PM.
Really looking forward to the ride.
Cheers
Olaf
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 01 December, 2016, 10:50:14 am
Looking forward to the second edition. After my rushed departures to make it home in good time I have this time made the 12km from Tiptree to Witham a 100 km loop so I can stay and chat for as long as I like at the end and will not need to remind everyone I only have 14km left to ride  ;D

Hope it warms up a bit, I don't fancy being out at 4am with the chance of ice....I'm sure I will make a sensible decision to suit the conditions though.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 01 December, 2016, 12:22:21 pm
I have this time made the 12km from Tiptree to Witham a 100 km loop
... I don't fancy being out at 4am with the chance of ice....I'm sure I will make a sensible decision to suit the conditions though.

I am beginning to be sure you need your head examined!

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 01 December, 2016, 12:31:36 pm
I have this time made the 12km from Tiptree to Witham a 100 km loop
... I don't fancy being out at 4am with the chance of ice....I'm sure I will make a sensible decision to suit the conditions though.

I am beginning to be sure you need your head examined!
My wife might well agree with you, I think I have it all in hand and to me my plan makes perfect sense....not sure that helps much though.

See you on Saturday!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 01 December, 2016, 01:06:33 pm
I will act as your sensible chaperone and make sure you tow me as far as Tiptree at a sensible hour  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 01 December, 2016, 02:17:29 pm
I'm looking forward to the ride, especially as it'll give me a chance to hear from other riders what they think of the roads and vista on my doorstep.

My direct route back afterwards is 48km, so my 'loopy' route to the start is a slightly longer 56km to make the full 200km by a little margin. Funnily enough, as I live near to the halfway cafe my route to the start follows the second half of the Stansted Airport Express route. It's a nice route, so I thought why not!

I'm aiming to be in Witham for 8:30-ish, to enjoy a second breakfast before the earlier 9:30 start time.

It's going to be cold, but not sub-zero. So dress well.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 02 December, 2016, 06:22:05 pm
I'm looking forward to the ride, especially as it'll give me a chance to hear from other riders what they think of the roads and vista on my doorstep.

It'll be a bit of nostalgia trip for me. I lived in Woodford for about 10 years and used to do most of my cycling around Essex, with the occasional drift in the neighbouring counties.  Looking forward to it, even if it is a bit nippy.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 02 December, 2016, 10:28:30 pm
I've just seen that cycle reservations are required. Is that right?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 02 December, 2016, 11:06:40 pm
Unless it's an intercity Norwich train then no reservations needed on Anglia.... and even on the intercity trains it's often possible to get on anyway. But I think most/all Witham stoppers are the "local" trains (London to Ipswich, Colchester, Harwich, Clacton etc) so there shouldn't be any issues.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 03 December, 2016, 08:45:50 pm
True. My "I regularly meet men on the internet and occasionally spend the night with them" gag is a favourite of mine.  Just to be clear, I met huggy in a park.

An underground car park...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 03 December, 2016, 10:02:15 pm
Unless it's an intercity Norwich train then no reservations needed on Anglia.... and even on the intercity trains it's often possible to get on anyway. But I think most/all Witham stoppers are the "local" trains (London to Ipswich, Colchester, Harwich, Clacton etc) so there shouldn't be any issues.
That was what I assumed, because I don't think reservations are normal on local services.

However, the timetable services were popping up "Cycle reservation required" notices, so I checked Abellio's information (https://www.greateranglia.co.uk/travel-information/your-journey/cycling/bikes-on-trains). That's clear and well-written, but they don't seem to have noticed that they run local services in Essex. So, it's fine in Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire; this rather implies that Essex might be different. And without local knowledge, it's hard to be certain which services might be inter-city.

Never mind. It was fine. Which is more than I can say for the return leg. The Abellio train was OK. Liverpool Street to Kings Cross was difficult, because there was no backlight on my new Garmin Touring Edge Plus GPS, so I couldnt' see my pre-planned route. Once I got to KX, I found the setting to turn the backlight on. However, without a backlight, I couldn't find the backlight setting ::-)

And then Great Northern cancelled several trains in succession. I failed to get on a slow train because the ones before that were cancelled. Then two more were cancelled and I had to wait for the next one, which was packed as well for the same reason. People nearly ended up sitting on my bike :-[
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 04 December, 2016, 08:49:06 am
Another great edition of the winter series yesterday  :thumbsup: Tomsk and Huggy and their respective other halves have created a very smooth event.  A civilised breakfast before the start, good winter riding and a chance to catch up with people over a beer afterwards works for me.  Add in the potential for those of an ECE persuasion and you have a winning format.

No pressure on me for the Kelvedon Oyster next month then  :facepalm:

The ride itself was a mix of familiar roads and typically Tomsk hidden lanes.  It felt more like a summer event with all the riders out and about.  One of the highlights for me was shamelessly tucking in behind Tippers as he led a fixed paceline to Thremhall.  It was a pleasure to be able to ride at fixed pace with all its quirks rather than try to keep pace with the freewheelers.

The Hustler and I then had the rare honour of driving the ACME train from Thaxted back to Witham. We were riding at a comfortable pace and having one of our usual wide-ranging discourses when we realised we were pulling half a dozen others along.  It is probably fair to say that this coincided with both of us wishing we had eaten something and looking for a stopping point to grab something.  However ACME prides itself on its train service so we had no choice but to continue all the way to Arrivee before collapsing quietly.  Tomsk and Huggy are welcome to take back that job  ;D

Roll on the 21st of January and the next edition.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 December, 2016, 10:16:06 am
Sounds like it was a great success, what was the final tally of starters and finishers?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 04 December, 2016, 03:58:41 pm
Indeed, a lovely ride, made even better by the enthusiastic staff (and helper) at the cafe stop.  One that could be ridden in either direction too.  I think there were 94 down to start. It didn't feel like that many on the road, but there was a bunch that went hurtling off on their carbon fibre, tri-barred Condors at the beginning that I didn't see again.

Thanks to Tomsk, Huggy and spouses.  Not sure yet if I'll be there on Jan 21st bit I'm sure the ACME jersey will see some action again soon.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 05 December, 2016, 11:31:21 pm
That was a good day out, many thanks to the org crew. The cafe at Thremhall Park was great - I never knew about it before but I am sure we'll be visiting again. The chicken and veg soup was especially hearty and just what we needed.  Good route, including some new sections for me (surely I must be running out of Essex roads that I haven't ridden.....) and plenty of tandem friendly flatness. Did anyone else experience a strong smell of lavender as we came into Rayne village? I don't think I was hallucinating at that point.
Like many others we were ECE'ing, and with trains running we were able to make our return ride a dog leg via Maldon to Shenfield station which avoided Chelmsford after last month's horror story.
Looking forward to January's installment.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 06 December, 2016, 11:42:16 pm
I thought it was a really sociable ride. Usually I get dropped at some point, often quite early. Here, a large group formed and rode along chatting, at times breaking into smaller groups, and then reforming. It was good to be part of it. There were indeed at least three of us on fixed at times. I recognised one or two Mercians from last time too :thumbsup:

Somewhere after Matching Green (I think), we came across a rider on his first event. His chain was off and jammed. That didn't take long to sort out and, happily, a couple of miles up the road my group was waiting, although I never quite figured out whether that was for me or for some other reason :)

We drifted in ones and twos into Thremhall Park, where the service was just amazing, and all done with a smile. Sad to see my old Scout Group's site looking a bit dilapidated, just across the road from where we were sat. I suppose that's what happens when someone sticks a runway on your camping ground.

I left the cafe on my own, and rode like that for a bit, seeing other riders from time to time. I was now on familiar roads until Great Bardfield, which I've been through many times, but never towards Braintree. This ride was very much about connecting up bits I know (including this section, and the road through the Notleys, which I've crossed but not ridden all the way along).

Approaching Rayne, a neat club group of six came by, and I caught them again on the other side of the village, when they had a Haribo stop. They flattered me by sitting on me all the way until after White Notley, where a rise did for me and I sat on them for a short distance, and then drifted off, the domestique having been burned up and discarded. Think Team Sky, but in slow motion and with no gradient to speak of. Good fun though, as no-one's thought it worth doing that to me for some years now.

Witham appeared suddenly as we crested a slight bend in the road, and it was downhill and back to the finish. The weather had been really mild in the morning, and somewhat cooler later, but a really pleasant day out.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: RecumbentMan on 20 December, 2016, 11:58:20 am
Make Little Bromley Great again!  :P
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 20 December, 2016, 12:02:33 pm
Make Little Bromley Great again!  :P

 ;D  :thumbsup: Joke of teh day! :D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bus Shelter Bertie on 20 December, 2016, 12:37:22 pm
Make Little Bromley Great again!  :P

 ;D  :thumbsup: Joke of teh day! :D

I thought so, but I tried it at work and absolutely no one one laughed.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 31 December, 2016, 04:01:37 pm
The Knights Templar Compasses & Cross route (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/16480501) has been slightly finessed to avoid private roads  ::-) .  The first hour or two of the ride will be on winter friendly, if not entirely quiet and traffic free, roads.  It gets a bit more rural after Margaretting.
The route sheet is drafted and just needs to be ridden now....maybe on Monday....
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 31 December, 2016, 04:10:10 pm
 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 01 January, 2017, 05:52:52 pm
Following a good drive round today and barring an attack of CBA overnight I will be cycling round the KTC&C on a route check tomorrow.  Probably leaving the Battesford about 10am.
Looks to be a bright and chilly day.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 01 January, 2017, 07:38:39 pm
First things first Mr Huggy, let's not forget the penultimate ride of the series on the 21st January, the Kelvedon Oyster.  Subject to my glamorous assistant, Fandango, checking it, the route has been finalised.

Arrangements are in hand so that we will be starting and finishing in a pub - the Tavern in Kelvedon  :thumbsup:  The oysters are on order for the half way control and it's all systems go.

The ride itself takes you from the majestic Essex highlands around Pebmarsh, through Britain's oldest recorded town and its modern garrison and on to the eerie marshes of the Essex estuaries.  The route sheet and final gps should be available shortly.  In the event that the weather turns a bit more seasonal, I have an alternative route available that sticks to gritted roads almost exclusively.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 07 January, 2017, 09:21:51 pm
as the AUK entry for the Kelvedon Oyster doesn't give the org's email address, I post the following here.

As part of a DIY 200 (sadly, I cannot to the Oyster, as the weekend does not work for me) a few friends of me and I today rode parts the route - the bit between Colchester and Maldon. It's a really lovely route, but there is one short bit which is a bit unimpressive. Approaching Tolleshunt D'arcy, the track leaves the main road and goes on a path/bridleway which is either unpaved or full of gravel. Really not ideal at this point of the year. We stuck to the main road, which adds maybe 500 meters but is much nicer to ride. 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 08 January, 2017, 02:11:37 pm
The Knights Templar Compasses & Cross route (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18415107) has been slightly finessed to avoid private roads  ::-) .  The first hour or two of the ride will be on winter friendly, if not entirely quiet and traffic free, roads.  It gets a bit more rural after Margaretting.
The route sheet is drafted and just needs to be ridden now....maybe on Monday....
The route was indeed ridden on Monday 2nd January following the route sheet and was found to be good (with minor updates).  The link in the quote has been updated to point to the as-ridden route on RwGPS also CLICKY HERE (https://ridewithgps.com/routes/18415107) and it's now downloadable from the AUKweb calendar page (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-204/) too. The route sheet will be uploaded to AUKweb soon.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 08 January, 2017, 02:15:01 pm
Thanks Redfalo.

Yes, it looks like there is a glitch on the GPX at Tolleshunt D'Arcy which I will sort, probably by replacing it with an as-ridden track next weekend. 

Info sheet, fresh GPX and route sheet should be available during the week leading up to the event.  Postal entrants should receive their packs by the 17th.

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 01:03:14 pm
I am perhaps being exceedingly dim but I am struggling to find a gpx for Saturday's Oyster ride.  And exactly where in Kelvedon does it start?

Thanking you in advance.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 01:14:23 pm
I am perhaps being exceedingly dim but I am struggling to find a gpx for Saturday's Oyster ride.  And exactly where in Kelvedon does it start?

Thanking you in advance.
The key word here is - patience!
Depart & Arrivee is The Tavern pub.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 16 January, 2017, 01:20:56 pm
Depart & Arrivee is The Tavern pub.

Thanks Huggy, that's the info I needed to get the ECE planned, but was being patient :-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 01:50:01 pm
I am perhaps being exceedingly dim but I am struggling to find a gpx for Saturday's Oyster ride.  And exactly where in Kelvedon does it start?

Thanking you in advance.
The key word here is - patience!
Depart & Arrivee is The Tavern pub.

Sorry, patience isn't one of my strong points  :-*
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 01:52:26 pm
I am perhaps being exceedingly dim but I am struggling to find a gpx for Saturday's Oyster ride.  And exactly where in Kelvedon does it start?

Thanking you in advance.
The key word here is - patience!
Depart & Arrivee is The Tavern pub.
Sorry, patience isn't one of my strong points  :-*

And another fing, when you say The Tavern, do you mean The Railway Tavern???
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 02:49:12 pm
I am perhaps being exceedingly dim but I am struggling to find a gpx for Saturday's Oyster ride.  And exactly where in Kelvedon does it start?

Thanking you in advance.
The key word here is - patience!
Depart & Arrivee is The Tavern pub.
Sorry, patience isn't one of my strong points  :-*

And another fing, when you say The Tavern, do you mean The Railway Tavern???
I mean The Tavern (http://www.thetavernkelvedon.co.uk), formally known as the Railway Tavern  :P
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 16 January, 2017, 02:58:48 pm
Will they be doing breakfasts ?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 03:06:39 pm
Will they be doing breakfasts ?
Paging Ted, Ted please pick up the red phone, paging Ted
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 03:57:02 pm
Will they be doing breakfasts ?
Paging Ted, Ted please pick up the red phone, paging Ted

You told the chappie you emailed earlier today they were doing breakfast!

The chap I just referred to is the same one you sent a gpx to that included a scenic tour of Witham  ;D  Are there bonus points available?  Perhaps it's a treasure hunt?  Maybe AAA points are available for ascending Chipping Hill and Powershall End.  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 04:08:23 pm
Will they be doing breakfasts ?
Paging Ted, Ted please pick up the red phone, paging Ted

You told the chappie you emailed earlier today they were doing breakfast!

The chap I just referred to is the same one you sent a gpx to that included a scenic tour of Witham  ;D  Are there bonus points available?  Perhaps it's a treasure hunt?  Maybe AAA points are available for ascending Chipping Hill and Powershall End.  ;D
sssshhhhh!  You're not supposed to talk about stuff you've been bcc'd on, that could get me in to trouble with the Organiser for spreading gossip, besides on a public forum the info should come from the horse's mouth  :P  like answering the next question about enforcing mudguards.
Talking of horses you might get bonus points for using the horse bridge over the railway line in Witham.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 04:12:54 pm
What?  You make it sound like I won't get bonus points for taking the train to and from Witham to Kelvedon  >:(
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 04:17:24 pm
What?  You make it sound like I won't get bonus points for taking the train to and from Witham to Kelvedon  >:(
As is usually the case in these things, the bike will be quicker than faffing around with the train for one stop journeys to/from Witham.  Just think of it as a 20 minute warm up, you'll need it for a January ride  :D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 04:23:51 pm
 But in my youth Jimmy Saville just to tell us to "Let the train take the strain" cos it was the "age of the train".
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 16 January, 2017, 04:43:28 pm
Everything you wanted to know about The Kelvedon Oyster but were too afraid to ask:

The route check was done yesterday and the route rode well (even the section along the canal at Heybridge), despite the torrential rain yesterday and the bad weather of the last few days.  I rode it on 25s and Tippers on fixed without any issues.  The weather looks much more settled this week so hopefully it will be dry on Saturday.  We have also resolved the "Redfalo Diversion" and the route now sticks to the road.

The route sheet, information sheet and GPX are all available on the event page.

The Railway Tavern are opening at 8.30am for us and will be serving a limited breakfast menu (bacon rolls, sausage rolls, beans on toast etc) and tea and coffee.  You can claim your oyster at The West Mersea Oyster Bar at about 62km.

It looks likely that there will be a 9.30 start available as well.

The ACME shop will be open at Arrivee for those must have ACME accessories.


Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Nim on 16 January, 2017, 04:50:20 pm
I rode it on 25s and Tippers on fixed without any issues.

Cheers for this very specific info - I'll be riding fixed on 25s! :thumbsup:

Looking forward to trying a native oyster having only had rock oysters before. See you Saturday.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 16 January, 2017, 05:19:42 pm
Everything you wanted to know about The Kelvedon Oyster but were too afraid to ask:

The route check was done yesterday and the route rode well (even the section along the canal at Heybridge), despite the torrential rain yesterday and the bad weather of the last few days.  I rode it on 25s and Tippers on fixed without any issues.  The weather looks much more settled this week so hopefully it will be dry on Saturday.  We have also resolved the "Redfalo Diversion" and the route now sticks to the road.

The route sheet, information sheet and GPX are all available on the event page.

The Railway Tavern are opening at 8.30am for us and will be serving a limited breakfast menu (bacon rolls, sausage rolls, beans on toast etc) and tea and coffee.  You can claim your oyster at The West Mersea Oyster Bar at about 62km.

It looks likely that there will be a 9.30 start available as well.

The ACME shop will be open at Arrivee for those must have ACME accessories.

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 05:35:58 pm
Oh deary me  :'(  I haven't checked ted's gpx yet but an unofficial version I have seen misses out a nice bit of COR (http://streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?X=589880&Y=233800&A=Y&Z=120) just before Bures.  The ACME Pathfinder Division clearly needs some retraining - I will do my best to sort the matter out  :thumbsup:

Although, praise where praise is due, they have included a canal towpath - well done chaps.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 16 January, 2017, 05:40:22 pm
The canal towpath is actually part of NCN1 and looked a lot worse than it rode.  Routes need variety  :thumbsup:

The original route near Pebmarsh had gone from being a bit skoggy but ok before Xmas to beyond COR by Saturday.  The route we rode yesterday was after some last minute changes on Saturday night.  The route is now a bit over distance as a result but you can save the distance by not going to the Oyster Bar at West Mersea and controlling at Spar - which would be a silly thing to do as there is plenty of time and I am promoting oysters as a new audax snack.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 16 January, 2017, 05:41:37 pm
The canal towpath is actually part of NCN1 and looked a lot worse than it rode.  Routes need variety :thumbsup:

You're leaning against an open door with that sentiment ^^^  :thumbsup: :-*
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 16 January, 2017, 06:47:02 pm
>:(  ARRRRGGHHH!!  -  heads up  >:(


The weekend of the Knights Templar Compasses & Cross ride is blighted by a rail replacement bus service running between London and Ingatestone so the travel from London option is somewhat reduced.  I must have done something bad in a previous Audax life to be hit with rail engineering works again for one of my rides!
Get those ECE plans out again  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 16 January, 2017, 06:51:36 pm
Whereas this week's Kelvedon Oyster should be free of engineering works  O:-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 16 January, 2017, 10:22:51 pm
My conflicting event has been cancelled, so I'm in for the Oyster :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 17 January, 2017, 09:07:51 am
If anyone is interested in doing a Knights Templar Compasses & Cross Helpers' ride anytime from the 21st Jan, particularly to check the route sheet instructions, then express your interest and we'll see if we can coordinate a small group.  Some assistance on the day would be helpful too, duties TBD.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 17 January, 2017, 09:17:49 am
If anyone is interested in doing a Knights Templar Compasses & Cross Helpers' ride anytime from the 21st Jan, particularly to check the route sheet instructions, then express your interest and we'll see if we can coordinate a small group.  Some assistance on the day would be helpful too, duties TBD.

I'm doing the ride (can't do the helpers ride) but am happy to help on the day.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 17 January, 2017, 12:38:06 pm
Whereas this week's Kelvedon Oyster should be free of engineering works  O:-)

Anyone else taking the train out of London for this?  I'm planning to pick up the 08.45 from Stratford.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 17 January, 2017, 02:04:40 pm
Yes I should be on that too, with a green Pompino fixed, assuming it's from Liverpool Street.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: BFC on 17 January, 2017, 05:42:07 pm
If anyone is interested in doing a Knights Templar Compasses & Cross Helpers' ride anytime from the 21st Jan, particularly to check the route sheet instructions, then express your interest and we'll see if we can coordinate a small group.  Some assistance on the day would be helpful too, duties TBD.

I should be able to do a ride to check the route sheets - nothing planned yet for the next weekends.

I am hoping to get to the railway on Saturday morning, that depends on waking up in time after a week of late shifts.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 19 January, 2017, 04:28:27 pm
Regarding Saturday ...

Please can I ask anyone riding with me when we get to Rowhedge to remind me to pay a visit to the Olde Albion as its an unvisited Good Beer Guide pub (*).  I will buy you a pint or whatever else takes your fancy   :thumbsup:

(*)  for those who don't know, I am on a quest to ride my bike to all the Essex pubs listed in the 2013 Good Beer Guide.  So far I have ticked off 67 of the 110 entries.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 19 January, 2017, 06:41:12 pm
The last time I was there the Olde Albion did not serve food but they were happy for you to bring some in from the Co-op.

Save a bit of room for your oyster remember.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 20 January, 2017, 09:46:48 am
The last time I was there the Olde Albion did not serve food but they were happy for you to bring some in from the Co-op.

The self imposed rulz of my quest say I just need to buy and drink a pint in each Essex GBG pub to qualify for the all important tick.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 20 January, 2017, 09:17:01 pm
The last time I was there the Olde Albion did not serve food but they were happy for you to bring some in from the Co-op.

The self imposed rulz of my quest say I just need to buy and drink a pint in each Essex GBG pub to qualify for the all important tick.

Don't forget to get a receipt as well!

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 22 January, 2017, 08:46:18 am
Really enjoyed the Kelvedon Oyster yesterday. The visits to the coast were a great feature, and the short off-road sections added to what was a largely picturesque and quiet route.

Thanks to Graeme for organising his first event, and for those who were helping out ... Huggy, Carl, Graeme's daughter, and the lad helping out at the finish who was presumably Huggy's son.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 22 January, 2017, 08:59:32 am
Yep, an excellent day was had.  The vouchers for the oyster (not that I partook) were an excellent idea and I think we struck lucky with the sun being out all day.

Well done guys!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 22 January, 2017, 09:25:53 am
A top day out awheel!  Loved the COR including the bit into Bures which I added, the Olde Albion in Rowhedge, the oysters (thanks for yours psyclist) and the cream tea with bobb in Heybridge.

Well done to ted and his team.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 22 January, 2017, 04:56:17 pm
A day bathed in lukewarm sunshine (we seemed to spend the whole day riding into the sun, should have taken a hat with a brim). I think many riders were aware of the chance of ice, so few were pushing it, but in fact most roads had been warmed by that gentle sun, and long stretches were completely dry.

It seemed to take ages to get to the Pebmarsh control. I don't know the area and was beginning to think I'd missed it, or maybe the guy on the corner with the camera on the way into the village was doing some kind of new-fangled photographic control!

In the second half, I recognised some familiar village names, and one stretch of road, from the first event in the series. The canal towpath made a nice change, and pedestrians were cheerfully accommodating. I got back just in time to avoid the need for lights.

Oh, and thanks to John, who kindly provided a couple of zip ties when I realised, before the start, that I forgotten to replace the mudguard that broke last time out ::-)

Next time there's engineering work, I think. Anyone travelling from the north/mid-Herts direction?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 22 January, 2017, 11:26:59 pm
Folks, I have uploaded the photos I took of you on the hill our of White Colne on the way over to Pebmarsh. The conditions were a bit tricky with all the light and shadow for my limited photographic knowledge.

Kelvedon Oyster Pics (https://goo.gl/photos/GEMVkXz95mjZMiyA8)

Feel free to download and do as you wish with the pics.

edit: and apologies to those of you who I missed. I signed off a little early as I had to get back to get some jobs done. I know I missed the Orange Tandem, The Stragler and a handful of others, I'll get you next time when I find the top of another hill or maybe I will find a nice spot on the flat next time!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: JenM on 23 January, 2017, 10:42:41 am
Another splendid day out - thank you to all who made the organisation so smooth. Also chapeau to all those that then cycled home - once the sun went down it became VERY cold.

PS Good photos Tippers
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: alotronic on 23 January, 2017, 10:47:57 am
Nice route and very amenable to fixies :-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 23 January, 2017, 06:28:42 pm
As others have already said, thanks for a great ride. For me probably the hardest day out for a long time because of the cold weather and an ECE! We broke our 70km leg to the start at MacDonalds before Mountnessing due to very cold feet, and subsequently arrived at the start just as everyone was setting off, resulting in a 15 minute late departure (Tippers - that's why you missed us, not because we were being slow at that point!). Fhoot had a "lack of energy" phase between Pebmarsh which resulted in us slowing a lot - fortunately the closed level crossing allowed a quick chance to shovel some food down him. We enjoyed the ride around Colchester as we have never been on those paths before. We tried the Jam Jar at Rowhedge for lunch and had very nice soup and panini, accompanied by lashings of tea which really set us up for the afternoon and the speed picked up a bit. We decided to try the canal towpath section which was (as predicted) absolutely fine - a bit of slowing down and being nice to pedestrians but going on a charm offensive is half the fun. We were a bit surprised to see so many people come in behind us - but I think sensibly they had stopped at pubs and/or tea rooms for extra refreshment and that's how we overtook.
The worst ice was on the final section of lane back into Kelvedon, but it was at least visible and so caution was applied. The lowest temperature we recorded all day was -3 deg C cycling near Great Baddow on the way to the start. Brrrr....



Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 23 January, 2017, 09:37:54 pm
Echoing other comments, hats off to Graeme and his crew for getting so many out on a first time event in such freezing conditions and for little touches such as the free oyster.  It was a lovely ride, visiting parts of Essex I was barely aware existed.

I rode from Pebmarsh onwards with Jsabine, who was excellent company and seemed happy with my pedestrian pace.  Lunch at the Anchor in Rowhedge was superb - in fact, Jsabine and I were quite tempted to stay even longer than we did when the blackboard with puddings listed suddenly made an appearance - and the pub at Kelvedon was a good choice for start and finish. 

The only downer was a self-entitled wanker in a Porsche between West Mersea and Tollesbury who threatened to "run us off the f-ing road" for daring to ride side by side on a fairly empty two lane road, but that wasn't enough to spoil the fun.

Yes, it was damn cold, especially once the sun started to get low in the sky.  By the time we finished - around 4pm, I think - my feet had already issued a UDI from my circulatory system, despite thermal socks, and my fingers were starting to follow suit. But winter kilometres count for double, don't they?

I imagine it would also be a good route in summer, but possibly a bit too busy in stretches to be as enjoyable. As a winter warmer, though, it's ideal. Long may it run.  :thumbsup:



Kelvedon Oyster Pics (https://goo.gl/photos/GEMVkXz95mjZMiyA8)

Feel free to download and do as you wish with the pics.

How much are you charging for them not to be passed on to Arrivee?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 24 January, 2017, 09:06:33 am


Kelvedon Oyster Pics (https://goo.gl/photos/GEMVkXz95mjZMiyA8)

Feel free to download and do as you wish with the pics.

How much are you charging for them not to be passed on to Arrivee?
I post them on the internet with no watermarks, they could end up ANYWHERE  :o
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 24 January, 2017, 09:33:22 am
Looks like fun was had by all on Saturday which is gratifying after the Helpers' ride sacrifice to the weather gods 6 days earlier  :)
So, anyone want to join me on a Knights Templar Compasses + Cross helpers' ride this coming weekend?  Saturday 28th 10am departure from the 'spoons is probably favourite, maybe even meet for breakfast first.
The GPX track is nailed having rode the route a couple of weeks ago, other pairs of eyes following the route sheet would be appreciated to filter out any gremlins although I'm pretty confident it's good.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Nim on 24 January, 2017, 10:29:45 am
Kelvedon Oyster Pics (https://goo.gl/photos/GEMVkXz95mjZMiyA8)
edit: and apologies to those of you who I missed. I signed off a little early as I had to get back to get some jobs done. I know I missed the Orange Tandem, The Stragler and a handful of others, I'll get you next time when I find the top of another hill or maybe I will find a nice spot on the flat next time!

Thanks for the photos Tippers, my wife wants to get one of these (er... of me) printed and framed!  :thumbsup:

That was a hard day out but a useful learning experience for the cold and to test some new kit - wore liner gloves inside lobster gloves and didn't get cold hands at all.

I ECE'd the ride with a 70 km / 30 km split which worked well, and psychologically easier to have a shorter leg after sunset. The sunrise in deserted, Essex lanes sparkling with frost was very beautiful, but I can easily believe it was -3 C as my water bottles froze.

The organisation was great so many thanks to all. The free oyster at West Mersea was a really nice touch and the ACME camaraderie as good as ever - see you all for the Knights Templar ride.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 24 January, 2017, 11:49:23 am

Thanks for the photos Tippers, my wife wants to get one of these (er... of me) printed and framed!  :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 24 January, 2017, 09:01:36 pm
Thanks for the photos Tippers, my wife wants to get one of these (er... of me) printed and framed!  :thumbsup:
I can't see my wife doing that with mine, but it is a good one and I'll keep it :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 26 January, 2017, 02:15:04 pm
Looks like fun was had by all on Saturday which is gratifying after the Helpers' ride sacrifice to the weather gods 6 days earlier  :)
So, anyone want to join me on a Knights Templar Compasses + Cross helpers' ride this coming weekend?  Saturday 28th 10am departure from the 'spoons is probably favourite, maybe even meet for breakfast first.
The GPX track is nailed having rode the route a couple of weeks ago, other pairs of eyes following the route sheet would be appreciated to filter out any gremlins although I'm pretty confident it's good.

Subject to weather and other commitments, I might meet you as last time and trundle along getting in some fixed wheel practise......
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 27 January, 2017, 01:15:34 pm
Be still my beating heart!!!

I'm at work in London and I get a message from The Current Mrs R (who is ill in bed with the flu) telling me I have received a solicitor's letter  :o  Said correspondence induces a feeling of mild panic so I ask TCMR to open the letter, in the meantime I'm trying to think what I have done wrong!  Then the message comes back ...

Quote
Its a brevet card  ::-)


Nice one ted!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 27 January, 2017, 01:20:29 pm
OD, I had exactly the same reaction 2 minutes ago as I went to collect the post that had just been delivered. What was this bad news that was coming my way?

It was a nicely worded letter inside, and the validated brevet card. A nice surprise :-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 27 January, 2017, 01:51:47 pm
I too have had similar deliveries and initial feelings of dread recently when receiving postal correspondence from the good Mr Ted, only to be outstripped today by what appeared to be a legal bundle going thud on the door mat  :o
Happily it was an ACME Organiser related bundle  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Redlight on 27 January, 2017, 02:16:34 pm
OD, I had exactly the same reaction 2 minutes ago as I went to collect the post that had just been delivered. What was this bad news that was coming my way?

It was a nicely worded letter inside, and the validated brevet card. A nice surprise :-)

Same here - I thought I was about to get sued by someone I had insulted on Twitter. (Then I realised that Chump would just tweet about how over-rated I am for an hour or two until his medication kicked in)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 27 January, 2017, 03:45:59 pm
OD, I had exactly the same reaction 2 minutes ago as I went to collect the post that had just been delivered. What was this bad news that was coming my way?

It was a nicely worded letter inside, and the validated brevet card. A nice surprise :-)

Same here - I thought I was about to get sued by someone I had insulted on Twitter. (Then I realised that Chump would just tweet about how over-rated I am for an hour or two until his medication kicked in)
Could have been the prat in the Porsche suing you for using a WHOLE lane of the road!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 29 January, 2017, 04:36:33 pm
@huggy - I'm ECE-ing on Saturday for the Knights Templar, but expect to be in Witham in plenty of time for some nosh prior to a 9:30 or 10am start
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 30 January, 2017, 06:52:58 pm
100th entry for the KTC+C received  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 30 January, 2017, 07:06:34 pm
Woohooo...what a success you guys have made of this series! Huggy, I might be interested in the 9:30 start on Saturday. Happy to be flexible though.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 31 January, 2017, 07:28:18 am
100th entry for the KTC+C received  :thumbsup:

Right that's it, I'm off to buy shares in Wetherspoons!

Like what tippers says, you chaps have done a terrific job. I rode with a Witham cyclist I met on the road on Sunday morning and was telling him all about it. Don't be surprised if a bloke called Alan tries to enter on the line, if he does point him in my direction.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 01 February, 2017, 12:23:54 pm
100th entry for the KTC+C received  :thumbsup:

Right that's it, I'm off to buy shares in Wetherspoons!


Given the current weather forecast for Saturday, I'd rather short Wetherspoons.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 01 February, 2017, 12:37:00 pm
100th entry for the KTC+C received  :thumbsup:

Right that's it, I'm off to buy shares in Wetherspoons!

Given the current weather forecast for Saturday, I'd rather short Wetherspoons.
We had a very similar forecast for the Helpers' ride last Saturday, we ended up wishing we'd taken the sunblock and dark glasses   8)
Whatever it turns out to be it'll be character building  :D

Up to an ACME Winter BP Series record of 105 entries so far!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tippers_kiwi on 01 February, 2017, 03:51:27 pm
 :thumbsup: Looking forward to this one...no ECE so a late start although I might ride home the long way just to do some miles. It will depend on

1. Exactly how bad the weather is/has been during the day
2. How much beer I feel like dirnking after the event  :facepalm:

See y'all there on Saturday.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 01 February, 2017, 04:58:48 pm
After initially thinking of doing the series, I'm only doing this last one. Do I ECE it to 300 or 400 though (or 200 with a lift)?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 01 February, 2017, 06:30:34 pm
The wind does look all over the place for Saturday doesn't it?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 01 February, 2017, 07:31:37 pm
The wind does look all over the place for Saturday doesn't it?

Something to do with the title of the ride? Yes, wrong Compasses, we know ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 02 February, 2017, 07:37:30 am
The wind does look all over the place for Saturday doesn't it?
Something to do with the title of the ride? Yes, wrong Compasses, we know ;D

Great Totham and Pattiswick - shocking  ::-) :o
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 02 February, 2017, 12:21:31 pm
The forecast for Saturday is now looking much better. In the space of 24 hours, the wind and rain seem to have disappeared from the forecast. Hopefully that bodes well for another great turnout.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 02 February, 2017, 05:32:40 pm
Well that's my ECE booked in, 100km to the start means an early set off  :facepalm:  however finish the day of riding at the Arrivee means  :thumbsup:

Should see you all around 09:30...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Christophe on 03 February, 2017, 12:11:58 pm
Also ECE'ing. Early start and hoping to be there for 9sih for a leisurely breakfast before the 10.00 start.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: freeflow on 04 February, 2017, 06:07:25 pm
Another excellent ride today with some very welcome early spring sunshine throughout the afternoon. ACME Audax have done us proud. Please accept my congratulations for the excellent organisation, venues, routes and general sociability of these ride. Stand tall you chaps and chapesses.  Already looking forward to next year's series.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: gerwinium on 04 February, 2017, 08:50:37 pm
That was lovely, thanks for organising :) I ended up doing a Laindon to Ingatestone train replacement bicycle service to get around the engineering works which just about worked.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: the straggler on 04 February, 2017, 10:17:04 pm
6 words to sum up the successful Acme quadruple events - The Only Way Is Acme WBPS.

It took 55km to catch up with with my riding buddy Big Saxon and we rode the 2nd half together just like the good old days. Great to see him on the bike so soon after his recent stint insertion surgery.

Just like to say a big thanks for paying for my ham sandwich and drink at the Cressing Temple Barns Tea Room. I owe you one.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 05 February, 2017, 08:49:41 am
Left home at 3:50am (planned for 3:30). Felt good the first two hours, then found the hills a struggle, which I put down to giving blood on Thursday as a ride to the shops on Friday was hard work, but the rubbing brakes and mudguard (after a service while replacing the rear sti shifter) played their part. Decided I wouldn't have time for my usual coffee stop at the Buntingford garage. Found the police had closed the road I use out of Braughing, so had to ride down to Standon and spend more time on the A120 (and add on a few miles). Knew I wouldn't make the start for my planned 9am for the 'spoons full value veggie brekky, so new eta's came and went. 9:45 I arrived, after 80 miles.

I heard Big Saxon had left at 9:30 (if I'd left home on time I'd have seen him). 15 minute wait for breakfast. Do I eat and leave later (I eat slow and like the food to settle). I opted for just a coffee and a quick chat. All I'd done so far since Oct were lonely DIY's, and had looked forward to riding with my teammate. The Straggler left while I was still drinking, and I hoped to catch him or BS on the ride. I left at 10:10, and found even the smallest inclines a struggle (had to use the 30t chainring for that unannounced steep climb in that town). Felt spent at 20k, and wondered if I'd make it round. Downed an old gel (didn't feel it kick in). saw on or two to say hello around the info controls, but rode on my own to the Compasses. Finally ate (tasty roasted veg sarnie). All I'd had so far were Belvita brekky biscuits before leaving home (my usual), 3/4 of a flapjack, and energy drink. I knew I was paying the price. The Compasses was packed, but no BS. I thought about a quick stop at the Cressing tea room as I went by, and would have had I known BS and the Straggler were there). Rode a bit with a bloke with a winter hat on, which broke the loneliness. Extremely glad to see the finish. Had a very welcome veg burger, chips and a pint, charging my garmin, while pondering whether to endure a slower, lonely 80 mile ride home, or beg BS for a lift and company.

Chapeau to BS for finishing too. His first Audax since the op (he's sure to tell you more). I enjoyed the lift home, with accompanying chat. That's three times you've brought me home now, so about time we did an audax together so you don't have to get your wallet out!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 05 February, 2017, 09:03:24 am
That was lovely, thanks for organising :) I ended up doing a Laindon to Ingatestone train replacement bicycle service to get around the engineering works which just about worked.

Good to meet you at The Compasses!

Yesterday was a top day out which I really enjoyed. A smashing route which was carefully chosen to cope with icy conditions that we thankfully didn't have to endure. It's always a pleasure to ride with my mates but I love the opportunity to meet new folks, many of which were full of praise for our ACME rides so chapeau to Grant, ted, Tomsk and their team of helpers.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 05 February, 2017, 09:25:31 am
I forgot to say the scenery and route (though hard for me in places) were lovely. Followed the routesheet throughout. Grant's become a top class organiser. Heading over to ACME events is becoming more and more appealing.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 05 February, 2017, 09:33:56 am
This was, again, ace by ACME. Thanks a lot to Tom, Huggy and everyone else involved in setting up the Winter Series.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Slimline Saxon on 05 February, 2017, 10:52:52 am
The Big Saxon is back, when I had the heart attack one week before the first ACME Winter Series ride Grant kindly switched my entry to this one, so my target was always to make it in some capacity, just to meet old friends and start getting back to normal.

Raymond said to me he thought I was finished cycling when he heard about my illness, i reminded him that I am the Big Saxon and it takes more than a silly heart attack to take me down! Thanks to Raymond for being my domestique and bringing the Brevet card I left on the table, I thought he would catch me at the Littley Green control and so it proved, almost to the minute. From there it was business as usual for the two of us, stopping at Cressing Barns for lunch, a nice chat with Jane, Chris and A N Other. I provided lunch for Raymond to celebrate his 112 points last season, we always look at each other to see what can be achieved by lowly Lanterne Rouge riders. Only the last 10k of lumpy stuff caused my thighs to ask for oxygen, but otherwise pretty standard for us two. i finished in 7:10, grateful for the lower speed allowance for my first one, but not far off the 15kph anyway.   

The journey home with Bikeabilityman was enjoyable, I thought i might be tired but now I have two arteries working I have a lot more energy, so hyped p I hardly slept last night. It may only be a little badge for the ACME ride but it means a whole lot more than that. I can now move on, hopefully complete the Essex Grandslam at the fourth time of asking, LEL was too much to aspire to in such a short time. Looking forward my bodyweight should be down about 23kg from my heaviest, but still keeping the muscle mass, so anything is possible.

Final thanks to all my Audax friends who have sent their best wishes and spoke to me yesterday, to Grant for putting on such great events and letting me switch rides. Got my ACME and ACH caps this week, in tribute to Richard and Lars, I was the lucky one.

See you on the Horsepower in four weeks.     

 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 05 February, 2017, 11:49:27 am
Chapeau to Huggy, Ted and Tomsk for running such a great series of rides through the winter. How you managed to pick perfect weather each time was additionally appreciated.

The route from Margaretting through to the finish was great. Small quiet lanes in the most part, the best of Essex scenery, and some pleasant places to stop off and refuel. Quiet lanes are so much better for passing the miles in deep conversation, which was gratefully provided by Alan and Tippers (when he wasn't taking a crafty break on the pretext of having a flattening tyre).

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 05 February, 2017, 02:13:11 pm
Good to meet you at The Compasses!
I know that wasn't addressed to me, but good to meet you too ;D

I was actually introduced first to huffers (the edible kind) and then, when he came over and said hello, to Oscar's dad, so the Compasses was a doubly good stop.

I really feel as though I'm getting to know that part of Essex now. I may have said up-thread that Coggeshall and region were previously the boundary of my knowledge, so this series of rides has extended my parish a bit. The route and the weather improved steadily throughout the day, and this was another good ride to finish the set. Thanks to all involved.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 05 February, 2017, 06:09:41 pm
Seems ACME stands for awesome cycling mid Essex. Looks like you've got a great series there and sure I'll manage a few over the coming years. Now how about a summer series to fill in the missing Essex gaps?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 05 February, 2017, 06:51:23 pm
...Now how about a summer series to fill in the missing Essex gaps?

Looks like there will be a new organiser [I'm proud to announce he has asked me to be mentor], putting on a summer event from South Essex...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Phil W on 05 February, 2017, 07:29:19 pm
 
...Now how about a summer series to fill in the missing Essex gaps?

Looks like there will be a new organiser [I'm proud to announce he has asked me to be mentor], putting on a summer event from South Essex...

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 09 February, 2017, 07:25:38 pm
The numbers are in - across the four ACME Winter BP Series rides we have had 333 validated brevets  :thumbsup:  :thumbsup:

So much for us hoping for 20 to 30 riders on each event to make it worthwhile putting on!  We have clearly filled a hole and satisfied a need with this series so it looks like we will just have to make it a fixture in the calendar.  I'm sure Martin has appreciated the extra work of all the ECEs we've encouraged  ;D

Now I just need to work out who is entitled to an ACME Winter BP Series Grand Slam badge and get on with designing & ordering it.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 10 February, 2017, 03:47:35 pm
333 is a fantastic number. How many entries did you have across the 4 rides?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 10 February, 2017, 04:47:47 pm
Now I just need to work out who is entitled to an ACME Winter BP Series Grand Slam badge and get on with designing & ordering it.
Me me me....  :)

Congratulations all round on a great series, about the only thing that could be improved next time is alignment (or lack of) with engineering works on the railway, but we can't hold you responsible for that.  Probably the most fun we've had riding in the winter.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 03 June, 2017, 05:52:42 am
The next deadline for events before 01-12-2017 is 1st July

At least two of the next Winter Series ought to get in the planner soon, if not all 4. Are we going to repeat the routes and running order, or try new routes, mix the order up? Perhaps a fourth organiser to join Huggy, ted and myself? Something to talk about next Wednesday???
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 23 June, 2017, 09:34:17 am
The Kelvedon Oyster - the only AUK event with its own currency - is in the diary for 13th January 2018  :thumbsup: 

This is a week earlier than last year as the tide is unsuitable the next week.

The route has been tweaked slightly to avoid the lane near the end that hadn't caught the sun but is basically the same mix of soaring peaks, estuary views and a bit of NCN1 canal path.

In keeping with the other events on the ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series, the ride starts and finishes in a pub.  The opportunity to socialise with other riders at the Arrivee was one of the best features of last year's series and led to many ECE entrants trying to get their kms in before the start so that they could take advantage - it also led to a couple of them (yes, Tippers and Jiber I am looking at you) having to ride their last few kms a bit quicker than expected  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 June, 2017, 10:00:52 am
The Essex 3Rs has been duplicated for 4th November (also for 3rd November 2018 due to a double click, super advanced planning by accident but may as well leave it there now!).
Nothing to change for this route, it will be the same event that kicked off last year's series  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 23 June, 2017, 10:16:23 am
The Kelvedon Oyster - the only AUK event with its own currency - is in the diary for 13th January 2018  :thumbsup: 

This is a week earlier than last year as the tide is unsuitable the next week.

The route has been tweaked slightly to avoid the lane near the end that hadn't caught the sun but is basically the same mix of soaring peaks, estuary views and a bit of NCN1 canal path.

In keeping with the other events on the ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series, the ride starts and finishes in a pub.  The opportunity to socialise with other riders at the Arrivee was one of the best features of last year's series and led to many ECE entrants trying to get their kms in before the start so that they could take advantage - it also led to a couple of them (yes, Tippers and Jiber I am looking at you) having to ride their last few kms a bit quicker than expected  ;D

Entered!

And I'm attempting to enter huggy's on 4th November but it doesn't appear to be on AUK's website yet.  Said huggy said just messaged me to say to be patience.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 23 June, 2017, 10:24:02 am
Congratulations caller, you are entry number 1.

Claim your prize at the start.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 23 June, 2017, 10:28:50 am
Congratulations caller, you are entry number 1.

Claim your prize at the start.

I take we will still get an oyster?  If so, can you only allow folks who don't like oysters to enter then I can eat theirs ...

(http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l160/stevenr_01/Mobile%20Uploads/6E567B34-9E67-4F56-85F0-CC592B94D95C_zpswif3plbm.jpg)

I might even try to the whole series on fixed  :smug:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 23 June, 2017, 03:44:22 pm
Summer has just started and you're touting the Winter Brevet Series. This is so depressing.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 23 June, 2017, 03:47:28 pm
Summer has just started and you're touting the Winter Brevet Series. This is so depressing.

FORWARD PLANNING innit?  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 23 June, 2017, 03:56:46 pm
Actually, we waited until the nights started drawing in again.  Winter's coming.

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 23 June, 2017, 04:04:03 pm
don't blame us, it's AUK!!  Something to do with old communication technology on printed paper and deadlines for publication  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 23 June, 2017, 11:01:28 pm
I might even try to the whole series on fixed  :smug:
I believe I did that last winter  :smug: :smug: :smug:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 24 June, 2017, 08:20:59 am
I might even try to the whole series on fixed  :smug:
I believe I did that last winter  :smug: :smug: :smug:

Ah but did you win Hypocrite of the Year as a consequence?  I surely will for being so rude about fixed machines and their riders so many years   ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 26 June, 2017, 09:06:46 am
The Kelvedon Oyster - the only AUK event with its own currency - is in the diary for 13th January 2018  :thumbsup: 

This is a week earlier than last year as the tide is unsuitable the next week.

The route has been tweaked slightly to avoid the lane near the end that hadn't caught the sun but is basically the same mix of soaring peaks, estuary views and a bit of NCN1 canal path.

In keeping with the other events on the ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series, the ride starts and finishes in a pub.  The opportunity to socialise with other riders at the Arrivee was one of the best features of last year's series and led to many ECE entrants trying to get their kms in before the start so that they could take advantage - it also led to a couple of them (yes, Tippers and Jiber I am looking at you) having to ride their last few kms a bit quicker than expected  ;D

Entered!

And I'm attempting to enter huggy's on 4th November but it doesn't appear to be on AUK's website yet.  Said huggy said just messaged me to say to be patience.
http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-340/
Go!!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 June, 2017, 09:55:37 am
Gone!!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: telstarbox on 26 June, 2017, 10:04:44 am
Entered, looking forward to this after the Stansted Airport one last winter.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 28 June, 2017, 04:37:22 pm
Stansted Airport Express on again: Saturday 2nd December 2017  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 June, 2017, 04:49:20 pm
Stansted Airport Express on again: Saturday 2nd December 2017  :thumbsup:

Another ride which isn't on the AUK calendar yet.  I'm not sure I have the patience for this audaxing lark.

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 28 June, 2017, 05:21:19 pm
Imagine how we feel having to put up with you.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 28 June, 2017, 05:55:18 pm
Imagine how we feel having to put up with you.

 ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: redfalo on 29 June, 2017, 12:21:53 am
BTW can you clarify the rules about the shiny. Assume you rode 3 out of 4 ACME winter fun brevets this season, with the Oyster being the missing link. If you ride it next season, what kind of silverware could you expect? (Asking for a friend.)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 21 September, 2017, 06:55:44 pm
BUMP!

The first ride, the Essex 3Rs 100k, is on 4th November so getting close.  Time to get your winter bike out and give it a polish, and enter all our rides:

4th November - Essex 3Rs
2nd December - The Stansted Express
13 January - The Kelvedon Oyster
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 21 September, 2017, 07:08:40 pm
3rd February - Knights Templar Compasses and Cross
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 21 September, 2017, 07:53:09 pm
BTW can you clarify the rules about the shiny. Assume you rode 3 out of 4 ACME winter fun brevets this season, with the Oyster being the missing link. If you ride it next season, what kind of silverware could you expect? (Asking for a friend.)
If you ride all 4 calendar rides over a 2 year rolling period you will qualify for the ACME Winter Series Grand Slam badge (of the fabric patch variety), when *someone* gets his arse in gear to order them so they can be awarded.
For example, if you rode all except the Kelvedon Oyster in January last season you need to ride that one this season to qualify for the Grand Slam badge.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 21 September, 2017, 07:58:26 pm
My work colleague volunteered at Pocklington on LEL, but he hasn't actually ridden an audax before and so I'm looking at getting up to do Essex 3 R's. Unsurprisingly he didn't seem inclined to ECE it from east London.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 21 September, 2017, 08:01:57 pm
My work colleague volunteered at Pocklington on LEL, but he hasn't actually ridden an audax before and so I'm looking at getting up to do Essex 3 R's. Unsurprisingly he didn't seem inclined to ECE it from east London.
Does he know how quickly you get round a 100k??
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 21 September, 2017, 08:04:17 pm
I'll be on my best behaviour and go slow.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 21 September, 2017, 08:05:40 pm
 ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 21 September, 2017, 08:56:04 pm
BUMP!
[/b][/u]

The first ride, the Essex 3Rs 100k, is on 4th November so getting close.  Time to get your winter bike out and give it a polish, and enter all our rides:

4th November - Essex 3Rs
2nd December - The Stansted Express
13 January - The Kelvedon Oyster


Hopefully many people will already have polished their winter bikes for The Richard Ellis Memorial Rides (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/17-388/) on 7 October and The Cambridge Autumnals (http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-46/) on 21 October.  I'm just saying ;)

"Wintuz comin, John Snuur!"
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: alotronic on 21 September, 2017, 09:24:58 pm
My work colleague volunteered at Pocklington on LEL, but he hasn't actually ridden an audax before and so I'm looking at getting up to do Essex 3 R's. Unsurprisingly he didn't seem inclined to ECE it from east London.

Well there was a lot of us going up from East London for these last year. From hazy memory 7am for 65 km up to Witham, do the 100 then back to Basildon for the train, seemed to work ok, though route into Basildon needs some work. https://www.strava.com/activities/767275675
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 21 September, 2017, 10:03:04 pm
...do Essex 3 R's. Unsurprisingly he didn't seem inclined to ECE it from east London.
ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!   >:(
You may want to revise thoughts of not ECE'ing and get your colleague tuned in to the idea - there is a bus replacement service on that weekend, again!!!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 21 September, 2017, 10:11:50 pm
These are all brilliant rides, but I've got meetings that clash with the Essex 3Rs and the Cambridge Autumnals >:(
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: αdαmsκι on 21 September, 2017, 10:18:38 pm
ARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!   >:(
Again?! :facepalm:
He was going to drive to the start so actually not an issue.

I guess I'll be ending my ECE in Upminster & jumping on the District Line.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: bhoot on 21 September, 2017, 10:43:53 pm
I guess I'll be ending my ECE in Upminster & jumping on the District Line.
Oh no not again.... One of our ECEs finished in Upminster, although we did then actually ride home but not under AUK rules (and after a coffee stop at Costas, they were obligingly staying open late because of the local firework display)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: RichForrest on 22 September, 2017, 08:10:26 am
Probably coming over and riding these as Dawn wants to do 10 x 100s for a brevet 1000 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: telstarbox on 08 January, 2018, 08:38:00 am
I'm sure someone wrote a poem about the Stansted Airport Express but I can't find the post anywhere - can anyone point me towards it?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 08 January, 2018, 09:28:57 am
I'm sure someone wrote a poem about the Stansted Airport Express but I can't find the post anywhere - can anyone point me towards it?

You'll find it in the following thread ... https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=105891.0 (https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=105891.0)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 08 January, 2018, 09:30:19 am
I'm sure someone wrote a poem about the Stansted Airport Express but I can't find the post anywhere - can anyone point me towards it?

 Alotronic penned these words:

Let me take you on a woeful journey
   though 'tis not very far
That goes past lovely airport yonder
   via the three compasses bar.

Some will complete a geared one hundred
   within five rounds of sixty
While others will self-flagellate
   atop a rusty fixie.

Even more will dawdle and fill with beer
   a tun or two of fond delay
And thus will struggle to complete
   while still it reigns as day.

The sad completeists will do the required
   and ride to it to and fro
While others will simply take fond hope
   the trails be free of snow.

Sad, it's not even the day of Christmas
   or even very near it yet
It's barely the beginning of the month
   in which that day is set.

At one hundred clicks or thereabouts
   'tis not even worth a solitary point
for that would severely put the audax committee's
   noses out of joint.

So why oh why do we bother
   to make this journey short
When all around us in slumbers
   our partners snore and snort?

For high! 'Twill be fun (type two)
   and good cheer without bound
That doth accompany us upon
   our drear and pointless round.

So see you there good riding friends!
   See you in the 'spoons
You merry band of gentlefolk
   You craz'ed cycling loons. 

From this thread:  https://yacf.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=105891.0 [Edit, psyclist also should be at work  ;D]
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: telstarbox on 08 January, 2018, 10:07:42 am
Wonderful, thanks. I had some of the lines in my head while out riding yesterday!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: citoyen on 11 September, 2018, 11:37:43 am
Now I've sussed how easy it is to get to Mid-Essex by train from East Kent, I'll try to get over for some of these rides this winter. Just had a quick look at the calendar and can see the 3 R's, Stansted Express and Kelvedon Oyster listed, but not the Knights Templar - is that not running again? Are there any other additions to the series?

Kelvedon Oyster is top of my must-do list - even if they are Essex oysters rather than the superior Kentish ones. ;)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 11 September, 2018, 12:53:26 pm
Just had a quick look at the calendar and can see the 3 R's, Stansted Express and Kelvedon Oyster listed, but not the Knights Templar - is that not running again? Are there any other additions to the series?
The Knights Templar Compasses will most certainly make up the quartet of ACME Anvil Winter Brevets again this season (just need to chase up the promotion to calendar with iddu).  As usual it will be the first Saturday of February - 2nd Feb 2019 @ 10am from the Witham Wetherspoons (Battesford Court).
Be good(y) to see you up this way, citoyen  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: citoyen on 11 September, 2018, 12:56:10 pm
 :thumbsup:

Can't promise I'll make it for all of them, but I'll try!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 11 September, 2018, 01:43:52 pm
and as if by magic with a bit of ruffling under the covers, the Knights Templar Compasses ride is on the calendar  :D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 11 September, 2018, 01:51:02 pm
Can't see the 3Rs on there and Acme.bike needs updating
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: citoyen on 11 September, 2018, 02:07:44 pm
Can't see the 3Rs on there

http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-340/

Annoyingly, there are engineering works between Liverpool Street and Ingatestone/Billericay/Barking that weekend.  >:(
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 11 September, 2018, 02:14:42 pm

Kelvedon Oyster is top of my must-do list - even if they are Essex oysters rather than the superior Kentish ones. ;)

It should be top of everyone's to do list and Colchester Natives are clearly superior to anything found in lesser counties of England.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 11 September, 2018, 02:24:32 pm
Ah three appear if filter set for east Anglia that one is south east.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 16 September, 2020, 09:22:21 am
I started this series before lockdown hoping to complete this winter with Essex 3Rs and the Kelvedon Oyster. Are either going to run? If not do I get a chance next year?  :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 16 September, 2020, 04:53:06 pm
I started this series before lockdown hoping to complete this winter with Essex 3Rs and the Kelvedon Oyster. Are either going to run? If not do I get a chance next year?  :)

My 2020 Stansted Airport Express 100km is in the AUK planner and the other three may be too by now. There have been a lot of Covid-Proofing hoops to jump through of late, but I'm getting there ... We can run them as very x-rated events with town centre car-park start (with public toilets), if the Labour Club aren't hiring out theirs. Free controls (please don't all descend on the Wetherspoons as usual!*) and a postal finish. Limit of 50 entries, groups of 6 or fewer etc, but you'll see folks on the road or at controls/feeds - mine will be infos all the way round, but lots of shop/cafe/pub feeding opportunities.

* Witham has several of the usual chains: Greggs, Subway etc and also lots of cafes that will be open well before a 10:00 start.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: telstarbox on 16 September, 2020, 08:08:35 pm
I'm aware that another organiser is offering GPX validation for their calendar rides (and free control towns otherwise), if that's something you wanted to consider for ACME?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 17 September, 2020, 02:53:27 pm
I can't see the express on the auk calendar?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 17 September, 2020, 03:01:10 pm
I can't see the express on the auk calendar?

I can't see any of the ACME Winter Series on the Audax UK website.  I have emailed an enquiry...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 17 September, 2020, 03:03:07 pm
Thought it was just me.... It normally is
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 17 September, 2020, 03:08:29 pm
The planner is where we work on events before they are approved and published. Once an event is published it appears in the audax UK “public” calendar
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 17 September, 2020, 03:12:30 pm
The planner is where we work on events before they are approved and published. Once an event is published it appears in the audax UK “public” calendar

So it's a secret at the moment???
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 17 September, 2020, 03:18:26 pm
The planner is where we work on events before they are approved and published. Once an event is published it appears in the audax UK “public” calendar

So it's a secret at the moment???

Ssssh
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 17 September, 2020, 04:01:22 pm
The planner is where we work on events before they are approved and published. Once an event is published it appears in the audax UK “public” calendar

Bugger; just checked Planner; it looks like 3R is on the same day as a 200 I've entered  :(

Shiny badge takes preference!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 18 September, 2020, 10:07:03 am
The dates in the currently unpublished calendar are:
7th November - Essex 3Rs
5th December - Stansted Express
16th January  - Kelvedon Oyster
13th February - Knights Templar Compasses

Usual 10am start, probably from a car park.

I'm aware that another organiser is offering GPX validation for their calendar rides (and free control towns otherwise), if that's something you wanted to consider for ACME?
That will be Organiser choice to offer per event.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 October, 2020, 10:27:59 am
If anyone is disappointed to have missed out on the first of the ACME Winter Anvil Series calendar ride in November due to the field cap of 30 riders be uplifted in the knowledge that the Essex 3R's (and therefore A Little Essex R&R when ridden anticlockwise) route is now available as a perm (https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8874).  If you ride it within the 2 weeks before or 1 week after the 7th November I'll credit your Winter Anvil Series record 🙂
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 05 October, 2020, 10:29:12 am
If anyone is disappointed to have missed out on the first of the ACME Winter Anvil Series calendar ride in November due to the field cap of 30 riders be uplifted in the knowledge that the Essex 3R's (and therefore A Little Essex R&R when ridden anticlockwise) route is now available as a perm (https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8874).  If you ride it within the 2 weeks before or 1 week after the 7th November I'll credit your Winter Anvil Series record 🙂

Tell me about the prizes, what's in it for me?  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 October, 2020, 10:37:37 am
If anyone is disappointed to have missed out on the first of the ACME Winter Anvil Series calendar ride in November due to the field cap of 30 riders be uplifted in the knowledge that the Essex 3R's (and therefore A Little Essex R&R when ridden anticlockwise) route is now available as a perm (https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8874).  If you ride it within the 2 weeks before or 1 week after the 7th November I'll credit your Winter Anvil Series record 🙂

Tell me about the prizes, what's in it for me?  ;D
A nice warm feeling of achievement, rather than the nice warm feeling of failure when your incontinance pants leak  :facepalm:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 05 October, 2020, 01:45:19 pm
Blimey, they went quick, I was waiting for this thread to be updated to say that the events had been published >:(

Looks like a permanent it is then...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 25 October, 2020, 06:40:34 pm
Not sure if Graeme is OTP but does anyone know when Kelvedon Oyster is open for business? happy to do it as a perm if that's an option * :)

* even more so if the perm doesn't include an oyster!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 26 October, 2020, 08:48:30 am
I'm not seeing any events beyond the 5th December in the AUK calendar currently. I suspect the additional checks re Covid-19 procedures are holding back the publication of events.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 26 October, 2020, 10:58:09 am
The Oyster is in Event Planner. If you increase your days ahead search to 250 it shows events in March but nothing in between
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 26 October, 2020, 11:31:33 am
The Oyster will almost certainly appear on the calendar but with a likely limit of 30 riders, there does not seem to be too much of a hurry to open up for entries.  The delay also provides an opportunity to see where we are likely to be with tiered restrictions by then...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: freeflow on 03 November, 2020, 12:21:56 pm
Is the 3R still running or not?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 03 November, 2020, 06:51:57 pm
I intend to send out an email to all entrants this evening with respective start times, files, etc., in the full expectation of calendar rides being cancelled for at least the rest of November.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 04 November, 2020, 07:48:39 am
I intend to send out an email to all entrants this evening with respective start times, files, etc., in the full expectation of calendar rides being cancelled for at least the rest of November.

You have my sympathy Huggy. A prompt decision by The Powers That Be would be helpful. I'm getting enquiries about permanent validation after tomorrow, as well as for the Stansted Airport Express 100km on 5th December ...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 04 November, 2020, 08:02:29 am
I intend to send out an email to all entrants this evening with respective start times, files, etc., in the full expectation of calendar rides being cancelled for at least the rest of November.

You have my sympathy Huggy. A prompt decision by The Powers That Be would be helpful. I'm getting enquiries about permanent validation after tomorrow, as well as for the Stansted Airport Express 100km on 5th December ...
I’m guessing they’re waiting to see how the MP’s vote today, before making an announcement.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 04 November, 2020, 08:14:10 am
I intend to send out an email to all entrants this evening with respective start times, files, etc., in the full expectation of calendar rides being cancelled for at least the rest of November.

You have my sympathy Huggy. A prompt decision by The Powers That Be would be helpful. I'm getting enquiries about permanent validation after tomorrow, as well as for the Stansted Airport Express 100km on 5th December ...
I’m guessing they’re waiting to see how the MP’s vote today, before making an announcement.

That's my thinking too ... but a holding statement to let everybody know would be normal good practice. Avoids a whole heap of angst ... especially for organisers.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 04 November, 2020, 08:23:19 am
Based on past performance, I was halfway around a Perm when AUK decided to let people know, via the website, that events were cancelled and the previous 12 hours they had sent an email saying they could continue.

The whole communications have been lacking from the official body, for the whole duration of the pandemic.

I hope they allow solo DIYs to continue as, when speaking to others, it is viable and would provide motivation for many.

If there is another suspension of events, that could mean another 5 months to start an RRtY

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 November, 2020, 01:35:33 pm
...in the full expectation of calendar rides being cancelled for at least the rest of November.
Not the most difficult prediction to make - the Essex 3R's 100km event on 7th November is duly cancelled.
Full AUK Board announcement available to read here (https://audax.uk/news/covid-19-update-4-nov-2020/).

Now taking enquiries about the perm versions of the 3R's (A Little Essex R&R when ridden in the opposite direction) and the Essex R&R 200km
Essex 3Rs 100km - https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8874
Essex R&R 200km - https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=7445
Be aware that only 2 rides of each perm on any given day are permitted so please 'book' your ride date with me before committing to riding.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 05 November, 2020, 05:44:23 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Despuech on 06 November, 2020, 02:19:56 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.

Shall set off around the route backwards :-) maybe see you on the way?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 06 November, 2020, 03:35:20 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.

Shall set off around the route backwards :-) maybe see you on the way?

In future weeks I will try to align on others' planned routes, especially given that I wont be traveling afar during lockdown, but this weekend I've already planned to ride on Sunday instead of the Saturday, once I knew 3Rs was looking unlikely.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 06 November, 2020, 03:43:28 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.

Shall set off around the route backwards :-) maybe see you on the way?

Impressive circus skillz  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 06 November, 2020, 06:25:01 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.

Shall set off around the route backwards :-) maybe see you on the way?

Impressive circus skillz  :thumbsup:
Guessing Despuech will be riding fixed to be cycling backwards, Tomsk will approve!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 06 November, 2020, 07:16:56 pm
Think I might ride round the Oyster route on Saturday. There are some good picnic spots for lunch along the coast, which will make a nice change from the garage forecourt last Sunday.

Shall set off around the route backwards :-) maybe see you on the way?

Change of plan - Deniece says she may be up for a ride round the Oyster on Sunday 15th, thus I'll be continuing in my role as Kindly Uncle/Audax Husband.

I'll do a 200km permanent tomorrow, Boudicca probably, then that's my November RRtY ride done.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 06 November, 2020, 09:17:00 pm
If doing Boudiccas revenge what’s your rough timing through Buntingford?  I suspect you’ll be passing earlier than I’ll be out that way but I’m heading east then north tomorrow morning.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 06 November, 2020, 09:40:34 pm
If doing Boudiccas revenge what’s your rough timing through Buntingford?  I suspect you’ll be passing earlier than I’ll be out that way but I’m heading east then north tomorrow morning.
The A507 to Bunt?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 06 November, 2020, 09:51:28 pm
If doing Boudiccas revenge what’s your rough timing through Buntingford?  I suspect you’ll be passing earlier than I’ll be out that way but I’m heading east then north tomorrow morning.
The A507 to Bunt?

Nah probably via Westmill
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 08 November, 2020, 05:42:05 pm
Any more ACME member wanting a pre-entry to the Stansted Airport Express? In theory online entries open up to all at midnight tonight. Please email me with a request and you'll get on the list ahead of the rush.

If anyone is wondering whether it will actually happen on 5th December - please don't bombard me with questions, I am even more clueless about the progress of the pandemic situation than the government. Ok, I've had a few perfectly reasonable enquiries!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: rob on 08 November, 2020, 07:36:57 pm
Any more ACME member wanting a pre-entry to the Stansted Airport Express? In theory online entries open up to all at midnight tonight. Please email me with a request and you'll get on the list ahead of the rush.

If anyone is wondering whether it will actually happen on 5th December - please don't bombard me with questions, I am even more clueless about the progress of the pandemic situation than the government. Ok, I've had a few perfectly reasonable enquiries!

If you’re on the pre entry list do you still enter on line or should I drop an entry and payment round at some point ?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 08 November, 2020, 07:51:42 pm
If you’re on the pre entry list do you still enter on line or should I drop an entry and payment round at some point ?

Pre-entries are on the start sheet already and I'll collect payment at the start: cash or cheque in a sealed envelope, with a paper entry form, which of course will be needed for insurance purposes. I'll be contacting pre-entered riders separately from the online entrants.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: rob on 08 November, 2020, 08:01:45 pm
If you’re on the pre entry list do you still enter on line or should I drop an entry and payment round at some point ?

Pre-entries are on the start sheet already and I'll collect payment at the start: cash or cheque in a sealed envelope, with a paper entry form, which of course will be needed for insurance purposes. I'll be contacting pre-entered riders separately from the online entrants.

Thank you
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 09 November, 2020, 12:34:21 pm
The Kelvedon Oyster is now available as a Perm  :thumbsup:

Hopefully, GPS validation will be an option very shortly.

Edit:  validation by GPS now available
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 09 November, 2020, 07:04:28 pm
The Kelvedon Oyster is now available as a Perm  :thumbsup:

Hopefully, GPS validation will be an option very shortly.

Edit:  validation by GPS now available

Thanks! bagged an entry for the week before the calendar event; shiny awaits!  8)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 16 November, 2020, 07:23:37 pm
I'm going to check the route for the Stansted Airport Express soon, but can't do it as a 'Helpers' Ride', as the lockdown (theoretically) ends on 2nd December, only a few days before the event. I would be up for a Helpers' Ride: going the weekend after is possible of course, to keep up my unblemished Winter Series record, but I really do need to ride round first, check the infos etc. Either day this coming weekend would be ok, so rule of two on the road applies - several mini-groups spread out a lot should be ok? Starting from Witham at 09:00 probably, watch the forecast ... and this space.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 18 November, 2020, 08:59:09 am
This Sunday's forecast is looking sunnier, with lighter winds, so that's the preferred option for an SAE route check at this point in time.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 18 November, 2020, 10:59:21 am
If the Kelvedon Oyster calendar ride does go ahead, it will take place on Saturday 23rd January (not the 16th as in the planner).  There is a lunchtime high tide on the 16th.

Meanwhile, the Oyster is now available as a permanent by old fashioned PoP or with validation by GPS - HERE (https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=8935)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 18 November, 2020, 06:32:35 pm
This Sunday's forecast is looking sunnier, with lighter winds, so that's the preferred option for an SAE route check at this point in time.
Hi Tomsk

I'd like to join you for ride on Sunday if a space is available.

Cheers

Grey Sheep

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 21 November, 2020, 10:16:41 am
This Sunday's forecast is looking sunnier, with lighter winds, so that's the preferred option for an SAE route check at this point in time.
Hi Tomsk

I'd like to join you for ride on Sunday if a space is available.

Cheers

Grey Sheep

Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

The plan is that Deniece will be joining me, but if you'd like to start a bit before, or after, 09:00 then it'd be good to see you (briefly and socially distant of course  ::-)) ...

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 21 November, 2020, 10:20:38 am
Also - there are still 15 places left for 5th December (assuming the current Lockdown-Lite ends as planned and Rule of 6 applies again for riding events). Entries close in a week's time - no entries on the line! I'll be allocating groups and emailing everyone next week.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 21 November, 2020, 01:09:09 pm
I've entered in hope, now I've regained access to my PayPal account (they were being funny about verification).

Also took the chance to read about the new app for validating (some) permanents. I love the idea of a control in the middle of a Derbyshire lake (on the test route)!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 21 November, 2020, 05:51:51 pm
I'd like to join you for ride on Sunday if a space is available.

It looks like I can't ride on the 5th — student-kicking-out day, I hadn't realised  ::-)

I'd be up to ride SAE tomorrow, Grey Sheep, if you're still heading out — at least until my legs give up and you disappear off into the distance #ineedtoridemybikemore #fatnotfit #lockdowniskillingme
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 21 November, 2020, 06:47:41 pm
I'd be up to ride SAE tomorrow, Grey Sheep, if you're still heading out — at least until my legs give up and you disappear off into the distance #ineedtoridemybikemore #fatnotfit #lockdowniskillingme

 :thumbsup: Ok! I'll aim to ride a 'legitimate' Helpers' Ride on either the day after (Sun 6th) or the following Saturday (12th).
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 21 November, 2020, 06:58:30 pm
I presume the Rendezvous Point is "near 'spoons" - in the alley to the side?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 22 November, 2020, 06:23:17 pm
A lovely day for a ride: sunny, light winds, though on the cool side. Met up with Deniece at the Labour Hall and saw Wilkyboy and Grey Sheep at the 'Snug' in HIgh Easter for a coffee break. Just after we re-started Despeuch came by and had a chat too. Lots of riders out and about, in fact quite busy everywhere, with folk enjoying the good weather after a couple of iffy weekends. D & I had another break with a takeaway hot drink from 'Parrishes' in Thaxted, enjoyed in the sun on the front steps of the Guildhall - beats the garage up the road!

A few changes to the route sheet needed, missing signs and extra information here and there.

101 miles on 68" fixed for me and home by deep twilight. Smashing day out!

I have a feeling that with 5th December being only a couple of days after lockdown ends (if it actually does) then the roads are going to be mad, with eveyone out shopping and panic buying for Christmas ...  ::-)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 22 November, 2020, 06:51:13 pm
It was great to bump into you and D, Tomsk  :thumbsup:

Grey Sheep and I started a bit behind, as I had had to ride down to Witham.  A lovely day, starting cold and becoming really unexpectedly warm, and then very cold on the return leg home, just above freezing according to Gamrin.

After quite a lot of weeks of not enough exercise, this felt like my legs were going to drop off, especially once GS got into his rhythm and beasted me up all the hills chuckling "gears! gears!"  ::-) ;D

The café at Thremhall Park was open for take out, which was a welcome surprise.

The final leg home was lonely and slow in the dark-dark, although as always the pace increased once I was within the last 10K.  If only I could've maintained that pace all the way around and kept GS honest  ;)

It was great to ride with you, Grey Sheep  :thumbsup:

209km on 72-inch fixed, home in full-dark.  November RRTY ride done.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2020, 05:01:42 pm
For the first time in I don't know how long I have entered an audax event and might even finish it   ;D

See you all in a socially distanced kind of stylee on the start line of the Stansted Express  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 26 November, 2020, 05:26:17 pm
For the first time in I don't know how long I have entered an audax event and might even finish it   ;D

Excellent news. As part of your targets for next year I suggest we add a 200km Audax to the list, give you a stretch goal to aim for :-) ... for the benefit of others reading this, this relates back to a question OD misheard in a beer garden about 18 months ago.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2020, 05:28:25 pm
For the first time in I don't know how long I have entered an audax event and might even finish it   ;D

Excellent news. As part of your targets for next year I suggest we add a 200km Audax to the list, give you a stretch goal to aim for :-) ... for the benefit of others reading this, this relates back to a question OD misheard in a beer garden about 18 months ago.

You best remind me of the question I misheard.  And if you're tempted to start suggesting i committed myself to something daft it could well be the case that you'll have to fook off  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 26 November, 2020, 05:33:35 pm
For the first time in I don't know how long I have entered an audax event and might even finish it   ;D

Excellent news. As part of your targets for next year I suggest we add a 200km Audax to the list, give you a stretch goal to aim for :-) ... for the benefit of others reading this, this relates back to a question OD misheard in a beer garden about 18 months ago.

You best remind me of the question I misheard.  And if you're tempted to start suggesting i committed myself to something daft it could well be the case that you'll have to fook off  ;D

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D LOL
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 26 November, 2020, 05:34:39 pm
See you all in a socially distanced kind of stylee on the start line of the Stansted Express  :thumbsup:

You’re going to wave everyone off, then go back to bed?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Oscar's dad on 26 November, 2020, 05:39:39 pm
See you all in a socially distanced kind of stylee on the start line of the Stansted Express  :thumbsup:

You’re going to wave everyone off, then go back to bed?

Who knows!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 30 November, 2020, 12:10:51 pm
Emailing gone out this morning to all entrants for the Stansted Airport Express on Saturday. Any issues, omissions etc, let me know. We should have pretty much a full field of 50 riders, starting between 09:00 and 10:20. I'll check facilities at as many cafes and pubs en-route as possible, later in the week once lockdown ends.

Forecast: cold, possible a bit damp ...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 30 November, 2020, 09:42:59 pm
Ploughing a lonely furrow for an EPE of 3Rs this Saturday, doubt I'll see any of you but I'll raise 3 swords (or are they kukris?) to any other riders I see
 :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 01 December, 2020, 08:38:15 am
Ploughing a lonely furrow for an EPE of 3Rs this Saturday, doubt I'll see any of you but I'll raise 3 swords (or are they kukris?) to any other riders I see
 :)

Sceaxes - Saxon swords and supposedly a knock-off of a Roman Legionary's short sword, stylised  for heraldic purposes. I read somewhere the three sceaxes symbolise the Essex men that formed the Royal bodyguard on three crusades. Middlesex has the same coat-of-arms for the same reason. Like much of our history, nasty, brutish and short ( - the sceax, though the Essex Geezers themselves were presumably nasty, brutish and tall).

Cheers, and have a good ride!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 04 December, 2020, 04:00:19 pm
I've managed to drive out to inspect the flooding at some of the most likely locations this afternoon. There's quite a bit of deep-ish floods (8-10 inches) after Terling (the mini-ford, normally dry, currently fast flowing, though the footbridge might just be reachable), after High Easter, and later on,  back towards Witham either side of Ranks Green.

The Pincey Brook ford, after Hatfield Broad Oak is very deep, with the footbridge and its approaches under a lot of water. It might have subsided a bit to be useable tomorrow (it takes run-off from the airport which causes rapid rises in level) but the B road alternative described on the route sheet might be a wise move: essentially continue from HBO up to L @ the Four Ashes X at Takeley, follow the B1256 to Thremhall.

The gritters are out this evening, which doesn't look very promising. Plan B might be to reverse the route, taking the B road (Faulkbourne road) to Braintree, then the Dunmow B1256 to Rayne to pick up the Great Saling lane. With any luck the frost should have lifted by then ...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: rob on 04 December, 2020, 04:33:04 pm
I've managed to drive out to inspect the flooding at some of the most likely locations this afternoon. There's quite a bit of deep-ish floods (8-10 inches) after Terling (the mini-ford, normally dry, currently fast flowing, though the footbridge might just be reachable), after High Easter, and later on,  back towards Witham either side of Ranks Green.

The Pincey Brook ford, after Hatfield Broad Oak is very deep, with the footbridge and its approaches under a lot of water. It might have subsided a bit to be useable tomorrow (it takes run-off from the airport which causes rapid rises in level) but the B road alternative described on the route sheet might be a wise move: essentially continue from HBO up to L @ the Four Ashes X at Takeley, follow the B1256 to Thremhall.

The gritters are out this evening, which doesn't look very promising. Plan B might be to reverse the route, taking the B road (Faulkbourne road) to Braintree, then the Dunmow B1256 to Rayne to pick up the Great Saling lane. With any luck the frost should have lifted by then ...

Provided I set off then I'll ride via the outward route Great Leighs and Terling.   I can let you know what it's like.

If it looks bad out there is a chance I won't set off as I'm a little concerned about icey conditions.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 December, 2020, 04:42:51 pm
Yep - same here, I've no reason to risk Ice this year, it's not like we're chasing keeping fitness for another big year,  so if it's icy when I get up tomorrow, I'll probably be a no show... (motivation is still quite low as I type  ::-) )

(though might mean I need to ride the perm/diy in order to keep up my "ridden them all" )
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 04 December, 2020, 05:09:58 pm
I'll aim to leave a bit early so I can drive in from Gt Leighs to have a look at the first few lanes. Having ridden in to starts that way many times I have a good recollection of where there have been icy patches before. And I can have another splash through the log-flume at the mini-ford near Terling.

I reckon some spare socks (or waterproof ones) and poly bags for sodden feet would be a good idea tomorrow. Along with a lifejacket and distress flares. I'll be needing the big coat for my vigil at the Labour Hall ... but at least the forecast is drier now, at least in terms of what falls from the sky!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GavinC on 04 December, 2020, 05:20:15 pm

The Pincey Brook ford, after Hatfield Broad Oak is very deep, with the footbridge and its approaches under a lot of water.

Blimey, I rode through there earlier a couple of days ago and the water was well down below road level...

I think I’m also going to be in the “see what it’s like in the morning” camp. I was planning on riding the recumbent tomorrow and I’m shaky enough on it when conditions are fine, though on the plus side at least I can get through a moderate amount of flooding without getting my feet wet  ;D
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 04 December, 2020, 05:38:28 pm
Good luck tomorrow. Hopefully not too icy ❄️ and everyone stays upright. Think I’ll wait till tomorrow afternoon for my non audax outing.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 04 December, 2020, 05:41:00 pm
I've got a fully gritted ECE route sorted for the morning. Return ECE will be a tad more picturesque.

I'm happy to ride the SAE in reverse if it's still looking potentially icy at the start. Will take that as it comes, so appreciate any updates you might have on conditions at the start Tomsk  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 04 December, 2020, 05:45:09 pm
I've got a fully gritted ECE route sorted for the morning. Return ECE will be a tad more picturesque.

I'm happy to ride the SAE in reverse if it's still looking potentially icy at the start. Will take that as it comes, so appreciate any updates you might have on conditions at the start Tomsk  :thumbsup:

Haven't had an entry for the ECE from you yet but got 2 others (unless you are not who I think you are)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: wilkyboy on 04 December, 2020, 05:47:16 pm
UPDATED GPS FILES FOR FLOODS AND ICE

I have updated the GPS files on tomsk.co.uk, here, (https://www.tomsk.co.uk/stansted-airport-express/2020/) to include both the flood-free route (well, biggest-flood-avoidance route) Tomsk described, as well as the probably-ice-free reverse route.

https://www.tomsk.co.uk/stansted-airport-express/2020/ (https://www.tomsk.co.uk/stansted-airport-express/2020/)

You should be able to load all three onto a GPS at the same time — take care to note the names you'll see on-screen, as there's only a character's difference.

There's also a minor tweak to the proper route to account for the first info-control relocating back to its usual position after a hiatus down the road last year.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 04 December, 2020, 05:50:44 pm
I have just driven the back way from Terling to Great Leighs and I could have sailed most of it.

There is a lot of debris around as well.

If I wake up tomorrow morning and it's snowing like it was this morning, I will be returning to bed.  If it continues to rain, I will be thinking hard as well. 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 04 December, 2020, 06:08:21 pm
I've got a fully gritted ECE route sorted for the morning. Return ECE will be a tad more picturesque.

I'm happy to ride the SAE in reverse if it's still looking potentially icy at the start. Will take that as it comes, so appreciate any updates you might have on conditions at the start Tomsk  :thumbsup:

Haven't had an entry for the ECE from you yet but got 2 others (unless you are not who I think you are)

It'll be on its way shortly ... I had to liaise with Bernster
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 04 December, 2020, 06:13:34 pm
got it!  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 04 December, 2020, 06:38:38 pm
UPDATED GPS FILES FOR FLOODS AND ICE

Thank you  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 04 December, 2020, 06:41:28 pm
I'm watching this with a bit of concern as it's a fair way over (by car, sorry, no ECE for me), and if both floods and ice are a worry and people with more local knowledge are opting out, that's giving me cause for concern. I did need a rowing boat on my last event (the Robert Boyle tribute from Reading to Oxford and back, which was on the wettest day of year so far or something).

I'll watch for any updates.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 04 December, 2020, 07:12:01 pm
I've managed to drive out to inspect the flooding at some of the most likely locations this afternoon. There's quite a bit of deep-ish floods (8-10 inches) after Terling (the mini-ford, normally dry, currently fast flowing, though the footbridge might just be reachable), after High Easter, and later on,  back towards Witham either side of Ranks Green.

The Pincey Brook ford, after Hatfield Broad Oak is very deep, with the footbridge and its approaches under a lot of water. It might have subsided a bit to be useable tomorrow (it takes run-off from the airport which causes rapid rises in level) but the B road alternative described on the route sheet might be a wise move: essentially continue from HBO up to L @ the Four Ashes X at Takeley, follow the B1256 to Thremhall.

The gritters are out this evening, which doesn't look very promising. Plan B might be to reverse the route, taking the B road (Faulkbourne road) to Braintree, then the Dunmow B1256 to Rayne to pick up the Great Saling lane. With any luck the frost should have lifted by then ...

I'd already optomised my route to miss out the B road but was going to use Bush End which is a bridge over the brook.  Any thoughts on what that will be like?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: rob on 04 December, 2020, 07:29:29 pm
You can’t get into Rayne from my direction.  It’s flooded just after the roundabout for the dual carriageway.  If you go anti clockwise and into Braintree before heading towards Bardfield I suspect it will be OK.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 04 December, 2020, 07:38:08 pm
You can’t get into Rayne from my direction.  It’s flooded just after the roundabout for the dual carriageway.  If you go anti clockwise and into Braintree before heading towards Bardfield I suspect it will be OK.

I drove through that flood to get onto the route - about the same depth as elsewhere, 8-10 inches. The deepest was after High Easter, quite a bow-wave at very low speed, scariest at Terling, as the water is very fast flowing, though not quite as deep I think ...

Be tempted to ride my tourer/commuter with wellies, on flat pedals, if I was actually riding tomorrow. I think the Straggler did that on the Burford Bumble 200 a few years ago in similar Biblical rain & floods.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 04 December, 2020, 08:50:36 pm
I'm out for the 3R perm this weekend  :( There must be a better weekend this month (hopes)

Best wishes to those on the SAE it's a great route  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 04 December, 2020, 09:43:16 pm
Sorry, but I think that, on balance, I'm out. It's too far to come and see what the local roads are like, and deep water with possible pot-holes below doesn't sound attractive. Hope it goes well for those who ride. Sorry to be missing another after the year we've had, but there's always another day.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: The Family Cyclist on 05 December, 2020, 07:32:46 am
Tomsk not sure if it's on the route but Guithavon Valley is currently shut but looks like you'll be able to get by on a bike at the Guithavon Street end
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Lightning Phil on 05 December, 2020, 12:54:21 pm
Well it didn’t ice up here over in Hertfordshire, so hopefully ok out your way. Sun 🌞 as clouds broke apart and now blue skies. Enjoy.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: rob on 05 December, 2020, 02:38:39 pm
I talked myself out of riding and got up late.  I rode over to Witham seeing the small groups heading out.  I got there as the last group was about to set off.  Technically I could have ridden but I had already promised to be back for lunch.

The weather is, of course, fine.  Some of the lanes are a bit wet and there was have been the odd detour at the Western end of the route.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: drossall on 05 December, 2020, 03:41:29 pm
Mistake to have dropped out then. Sorry all, especially Tomsk.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Deano4 on 05 December, 2020, 03:59:07 pm
I did see some snow on the grass by the side of the road in the fields from Sudbury to Braintree on my DIY today but the roads were fine if a bit wet!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: jiberjaber on 05 December, 2020, 04:42:35 pm
We had ice here in Chelmsford when I got up at 06:30 - but given that was only 2 hours of sleep I didn't need too much persuasion to drop Tomsk a text saying I wasn't coming over. 

I opted for a ride in to the alpine section South of Chelmsford to avoid the most of the flooding, still had to wade a few sections of high up field run off.  River Chelmer is well onto the flood plains at the moment...   https://www.facebook.com/simon.d.wells/videos/10218748136637669

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: freeflow on 05 December, 2020, 05:57:47 pm
What a glorious day for a ride.  Despite the predictions of doom and gloom the weather turned out nice and sunny and from 9am onwards warm enough to be ice free.  Most of the flooding had subsided. The biggest challenges were the road into Takeley using the original route.  Pincey Brook looked daunting but was actually quite doable.  The Railway bridge just before Takeley proved much more challenging.  I arrived to see on rider on the far side, still knee deep (off his bike) having avoided the deepest part.  Fortunately I noticed a Bridleway sign just before the bridge (Flitch Way Country Park) so was able to avoid getting my feet wet by riding up the old railway line (slightly muddy in places) to the Takeley control point.


 I took just under 6 hours to complete the ride, declining to stop and consuming just two bottles of water and a protein bar.


I found I'd got a very slow puncture riding through Great Notely. Rear tyre was down to 30 psi (35c tyre) which explained why I'd been finding it hard going since Takeley.


All in all it was a great day out.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GavinC on 05 December, 2020, 06:44:28 pm
I’d half convinced myself to DNS today but I’m so glad I didn’t. It turned out to be a lovely day for a ride - my longest on the recumbent by quite a long stretch :thumbsup:

The only really bad flood I noticed was also at the Flitch Way bridge in Takeley, which I managed to get through by clambering along the verge - luckily I was wearing sealskinz socks and goretex boots so my feet stayed dry. And I could avoided it by following Tom’s “in case of floods” route option!

Stopped for elevenses at the Snug at High Easter and lunch at the cafe at Thremhall (where I’d arrived 15 minutes after they were supposed to close, but luckily they were happy to rustle up a quick sausage sarnie and a coffee for me :thumbsup:)

All in all a great day out - thanks Tom  :)

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 05 December, 2020, 06:49:21 pm
We had ice here in Chelmsford when I got up at 06:30 - but given that was only 2 hours of sleep I didn't need too much persuasion to drop Tomsk a text saying I wasn't coming over. 

I opted for a ride in to the alpine section South of Chelmsford to avoid the most of the flooding, still had to wade a few sections of high up field run off.  River Chelmer is well onto the flood plains at the moment...   https://www.facebook.com/simon.d.wells/videos/10218748136637669

EEEK! I'm riding Papermill tomorrow on the 3Rs perm  :o
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Snotty Gilbert on 05 December, 2020, 08:56:05 pm
We had ice here in Chelmsford when I got up at 06:30 - but given that was only 2 hours of sleep I didn't need too much persuasion to drop Tomsk a text saying I wasn't coming over. 

I opted for a ride in to the alpine section South of Chelmsford to avoid the most of the flooding, still had to wade a few sections of high up field run off.  River Chelmer is well onto the flood plains at the moment...   https://www.facebook.com/simon.d.wells/videos/10218748136637669

EEEK! I'm riding Papermill tomorrow on the 3Rs perm  :o
My ece went to paper mill lock at 8.30am this morning. The little Baddow side was flooded and at axle height. Once I got to the bridge the sight of the car submerged to. It's windows at the shallow end was enough to put me off wading in 3ft of water. Hammond Lane, from Boreham also flooded, and you can't see the winds in the road, so easy to fall in the ditch. Hoe Mill lock at Ulting has a walkway, but the raised 4x4 with snorkel that came from that way had a wet bonnet, so I reckon over 3ft so didn't bother looking for the walkway.
I diverted via Maldon, which added 10k.



Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: the straggler on 05 December, 2020, 09:38:00 pm
Be tempted to ride my tourer/commuter with wellies, on flat pedals, if I was actually riding tomorrow. I think the Straggler did that on the Burford Bumble 200 a few years ago in similar Biblical rain & floods.

I messaged Big Saxon that I was contemplating to sit this ride out during yesterday's evening commute home by car. I changed my decision soon after discovering Tomsk post above, and today's conditions were nowhere near as bad as my pessimism made out.

Cheers Tomsk, you must have some sort of Spiritual Guardian Angel powers.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 06 December, 2020, 09:40:42 am
Well done to all those that turned out yesterday! The flooding didn't spoil the fun, or maybe added to the adventure. Unfortunately the lanterne rouge group was unvalidatable - arrived just in time around 18:00, but they'd missed out the Thaxted info control having got a bit lost. They seemed to have had a good day out though.

Soupy and I had a long vigil as expected, but just about warm enough with thermals, down jackets etc. Another time perhaps a brazier in the style of 1970s picketing might be appropriate. My second trip down to Greggs proved fruitless as they had already shut, but I arrived back at the Labour Hall to find Huggy there with a sample of his 'Substantial Meal' brew for us. Very much appreciated - top man!

Special ACME Audaciousness Award to Big Saxon for riding in one winter cycling shoe and a trainer, having brought two identical right shoes. I was also impressed that some riders flood avoidance routes landed them with more unexpected watery obstacles. The knee-deep flood under the old railway bridge at Takeley Street with the BMW stuck in it, notably.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Flatlander on 06 December, 2020, 10:08:35 am
Yesterday was a great day for the event. The day before was wet/snowing, the day after is 5 deg colder (-2.8 in Cambridge at 10am) and foggy so good weather organisation as well. How do you do that?

When I left Cambridge at 10 to 8 it was about 3 degrees and went up to 5 by the time I got to Witham. There was no sign of ice on the roads although there was still some snow on the fields and verges.  Was near to overheating on the ride out, possibly because I was late and had to give it max. The bike GPS thermometer ramped up to 12 degC whilst leaning against a wall in the sunshine at the start. The were a few floods on the ride out but nothing serious. The road out of Braintree was closed due to flooding but fine for cyclists at near 10am. The ride was good, good temperature, slight wind. The storm drain  after Terling was a little worrying but narrow so wasnt going to sweep the bike of the road. I took the flood free route into Takeley, not as nice as the original one past Hatfield forest, but  flood free so looking at other's reports I think I took the right decision - Thanks Tom (and Nick for the GPS).
The only time the weather had an effect was the ride back home. The temperature dropped to 0.8 approaching halfway and I was quite tired so max effort wasn't very max or warm but that just meant getting home was even better after a great day out. 
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Bikeabilityman on 06 December, 2020, 08:27:32 pm
Well done to all, especially to Big Saxon!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: Tomsk on 11 December, 2020, 08:31:58 am
Validation done, all paperwork processed, brevets in the post this morning. Though the entire validation process can now be done electronically, I still get a bit of a thrill putting a stamp on an envelope that's going to the Validation Secretary in Orkney.

Mid-Essex riders will get their brevets returned when I see them, so another bundle to go in the Carradice. Now on to sorting out 2021 events ...
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 12 December, 2020, 08:02:50 am
We had ice here in Chelmsford when I got up at 06:30 - but given that was only 2 hours of sleep I didn't need too much persuasion to drop Tomsk a text saying I wasn't coming over. 

I opted for a ride in to the alpine section South of Chelmsford to avoid the most of the flooding, still had to wade a few sections of high up field run off.  River Chelmer is well onto the flood plains at the moment...   https://www.facebook.com/simon.d.wells/videos/10218748136637669

EEEK! I'm riding Papermill tomorrow on the 3Rs perm  :o
My ece went to paper mill lock at 8.30am this morning. The little Baddow side was flooded and at axle height. Once I got to the bridge the sight of the car submerged to. It's windows at the shallow end was enough to put me off wading in 3ft of water. Hammond Lane, from Boreham also flooded, and you can't see the winds in the road, so easy to fall in the ditch. Hoe Mill lock at Ulting has a walkway, but the raised 4x4 with snorkel that came from that way had a wet bonnet, so I reckon over 3ft so didn't bother looking for the walkway.
I diverted via Maldon, which added 10k.



Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the heads-up. In the end my EPE of the excellent RRR turned into a Little Essex R & R as my Garmin routed me the wrong way from Stock. I decided after 155k to JFDI at Papermill lock despite many cars turning back and one abandoned in the water at the N end. It was knee deep for about 50m

So just the Oyster for the badge  :)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 January, 2021, 09:06:16 am
In case there was any doubt after latest C-19 Tier 5/Lockdown 3 announcement - the Knights Templar Compasses calendar event in February will not go ahead or later in 2021.
There is no Perm version of the route, feel free to cycle round it at your own leisure as a non-AUK ride when local travel restrictions allow.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 05 January, 2021, 09:50:51 am
The Kelvedon Oyster will not be going ahead this month either.

It is available as a perm and can be ridden as such as soon as AUK events are being validated again.

Huggy, we need a ruling on the much coveted ACME Anvil Winter Brevet Series shiny.  You previously offered, I think, a 2 week window around the calendar ride dates but will you be making any changes now there are no calendar events ?  There is at least one rider on this thread who has saved the best for last and just needs the Oyster to complete his series and claim his shiny.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: huggy on 05 January, 2021, 10:07:12 am
Huggy, we need a ruling on the much coveted ACME Anvil Winter Brevet Series shiny.  You previously offered, I think, a 2 week window around the calendar ride dates but will you be making any changes now there are no calendar events ?  There is at least one rider on this thread who has saved the best for last and just needs the Oyster to complete his series and claim his shiny.
I have been in direct electronic communication with said rider and made assurances that the shiny will be awarded on completion of the oyster-in-the-crown ride of the ACME Anvil Winter Series.

The award of the shiny was initially made more exclusive and coveted by the rule to ride all four routes in a rolling 2-year period, I think the rulz can now be relaxed to remove the within 2-year period requirement.
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: tedshred on 05 January, 2021, 10:11:08 am
Thank you wise one  :thumbsup:

Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 15 April, 2021, 09:43:36 am
I finally earned my shiny yesterday with an EPE of the Kelvedon Oyster  :thumbsup: (the calendar event in January as well as RRR were cancelled but they have both been thoughtfully provided as perms)

I can happily not do the section from London to the M25 again (especially on a weekday with a late start in order to get a cheap train ticket), and foolishly routed back via Little Baddow after the perm that's 3 times now although I was spared wading through Papermill lock as in December. But otherwise a nice and varied route with Mersea Island and Heybridge Basin as the undisputed highlights. Thanks tedshred for arranging that amazing pink sunset. I crossed various other ACME routes but there was almost no duplication. The cyclepath section West of Colchester was very welcome at rush hour!

Do I get extra kudos for extending all 4 rides to 200? (although looking at my ECE inbox I'm probably not alone in that respect)

(http://www.fotothing.com/photos/0bb/0bb4a39dfd91f03239aee0ebf793e068.jpg?ts=1618481677)

(http://www.fotothing.com/photos/87d/87d9a344b26b06df88a6483fa4db5fd0.jpg?ts=1618481756)
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: psyclist on 15 April, 2021, 10:04:38 am
I finally earned my shiny yesterday with an EPE of the Kelvedon Oyster

Sounds like you had a rather good day. The weather appeared to be fine, albeit a bit more chilly than you might like for this time of year.

The award of the shiny was initially made more exclusive and coveted by the rule to ride all four routes in a rolling 2-year period, I think the rulz can now be relaxed to remove the within 2-year period requirement.

Will there be a new shiny for multiple completions of the quadruple? Maybe 5x?
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 15 April, 2021, 11:25:10 am
I finally earned my shiny yesterday with an EPE of the Kelvedon Oyster

Sounds like you had a rather good day. The weather appeared to be fine, albeit a bit more chilly than you might like for this time of year.


It was more or less the same as Nederlandse Dubbele a NNE all the way from London Bridge to Pebmarsh then cross (cold) Easterly to Mersea finally being rewarded as a tailwind back to Ingatestone.

Even more impressive than Heybridge were the enormous sailing barges at Maldon never seen anything like them before!
Title: Re: ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series
Post by: GdS on 23 April, 2021, 10:40:56 am
Got my shiny thanks Huggy and all the other ACME for organising and making it happen  :thumbsup:

(http://www.fotothing.com/photos/bf1/bf1f4177b472e61109ee4309cb8994dd.jpg?ts=1619170778)