Author Topic: Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series (Read 1752727 times)

Tomsk · « **Reply #1775 on:** 07 March, 2011, 09:06:45 pm »

Sq & C, for the sake of variety? I think we came out there from Dunmow via High Easter, Pleshey and the Walthams last time.

Oaky · « **Reply #1776 on:** 07 March, 2011, 11:11:51 pm »

Quote from: Tomsk on 07 March, 2011, 09:06:45 pm

Sq & C, for the sake of variety? I think we came out there from Dunmow via High Easter, Pleshey and the Walthams last time.

S&C it is.

Now... do I spend tomorrow night truing the rear wheel on the Dahon, or shall I use GEARS? Hmm...

Oaky · « **Reply #1777 on:** 09 March, 2011, 11:29:41 pm »

25 miles, including 3 NH ascents. A few pints of Phoenix Brewery's Navvy with Tomsk.

I have (almost) updated my stats generation to handle the NH counts (I still have to manually put in the nhcount for new routes). 16 ascents so far this year, split evenly between the bikes:-

bike	ascents
dahon	5
globe	5
z70	6

Oaky · « **Reply #1778 on:** 13 March, 2011, 10:28:23 pm »

I propose the Wagon and Horses at Braintree for the next outing (16/3).

It's a Greene King pubbe, that's recently re-opened (last Wednesday!) as one of a new concept for their houses - it has the usual IPA and Abbot Ale, plus one of their in-house (a.k.a. borged) non-Greene king branded brews (St. Edmunds, Moorland, Speckled Hen....), but also has 3 other local brews on tap as well, which will rotate on a regular basis.

I randomly visited it tonight and had a couple of very nice ales: Farmers' Drop of Nelson's Blood and Saffron Brewery's Littlebury lighthouse (Henhan-based brewery

).

Easy to find from the Witham-Fairstead-Notleys road (carry straight on past Black Notley until you reach the T-junction, turn right and it's on the left a few yards further on).

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1779 on:** 14 March, 2011, 06:39:52 am »

Don't forget the King Billy. You could drop in on the way if you were feeling tired. I am a faint possibility.

huggy · « **Reply #1780 on:** 14 March, 2011, 08:49:02 am »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 14 March, 2011, 06:39:52 am

Don't forget the King Billy. You could drop in on the way if you were feeling tired.

You beat me to the suggestion

I should be out this week

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1781 on:** 14 March, 2011, 09:34:05 am »

What time is the Grand Depart from Witham?

Also, this Sunday I am doing a 100k DIY audax starting and finishing from Witham, heading north through Finchingfield and stopping at the tearoom in Stisted. I want leave my house at 0800 hours. I haven't finalised the exact route but if anyone fancies coming along be outside my garage door at the appointed hour.

Oaky · « **Reply #1782 on:** 14 March, 2011, 10:51:29 am »

My plan is to leave from the Jack and Jenny at about 7:15 to route "via" north hill (in the loosest sense of the word). I plan to be on fixed, if i can return the rear wheel to a nearly round shape.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1783 on:** 14 March, 2011, 12:31:21 pm »

What would your ETA in Braintree be?

huggy · « **Reply #1784 on:** 14 March, 2011, 12:33:42 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 14 March, 2011, 09:34:05 am

this Sunday I am doing a 100k DIY audax starting and finishing from Witham

I would have liked to join you on this one, but family committments prevent it.....maybe if you postpone or repeat it next weekend??!?

Tomsk · « **Reply #1785 on:** 14 March, 2011, 07:27:42 pm »

David and I should be out and about. Not sure about our route there, possibly via Finchingfield and Shalford, to Bocking then Braintree, unless we could meet you somewhere between North Hill and Braintree....

Oaky · « **Reply #1786 on:** 14 March, 2011, 10:24:16 pm »

This is my intended route.

Optionally, I might do North hill twice, so that's 18 to 20 miles. I reckon that's probably 8:30 to 8:45 arrival at The Wagon and Horses.

(Note, I'm not intending to ride on the A12 - I'm not crazy. I'll be on the adjacent shared use cycle/foot path.)

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1787 on:** 14 March, 2011, 11:10:00 pm »

Right then, here's my plan. I shall set off from Witham at about 1900 hours, stop at the King Billy as I've long been curious then make my way to The Wagon & Horses. I won't be staying until closing as I have an early start on Thursday.

If anyone fancies joining in my plan you're more than welcome.

huggy · « **Reply #1788 on:** 15 March, 2011, 03:52:41 pm »

Hmm, choice to chose between
(a) longer ride with gratuitous hill climb (x1)
(b) more drinking time

I think I may well be favouring option (a) with the secondary option of an earlier-than-closing-time departure from The Wagon & Horses

Tomsk · « **Reply #1789 on:** 15 March, 2011, 04:16:06 pm »

I'm struggling to think of a good mid-ride meeting point, without you deviating from your route, Oaky. The most direct route for us would be via Gt Leighs to Terling to pick up your route onwards to Fairstead. What's the pub at Terling like?..... Or we could just press on to meet OD at the 'King Billy'?

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1790 on:** 15 March, 2011, 05:24:06 pm »

The pub at Terling is shut. It used to be a Thai restaurant, re-opened briefly as a pub then shut again!

Oaky · « **Reply #1791 on:** 15 March, 2011, 07:21:30 pm »

Quote from: Tomsk on 15 March, 2011, 04:16:06 pm

I'm struggling to think of a good mid-ride meeting point, without you deviating from your route, Oaky. The most direct route for us would be via Gt Leighs to Terling to pick up your route onwards to Fairstead. What's the pub at Terling like?..... Or we could just press on to meet OD at the 'King Billy'?

There are a couple of pubs in Black Notley - I was in the Vine on Sunday and they had a very nice Adnam's "American-style" IPA on. That said, that's practically at the destination.

The S&C isn't much of a route diversion for me, or you could catch OD at the King Billy.

Oaky · « **Reply #1792 on:** 15 March, 2011, 09:28:23 pm »

Quote from: Oaky on 07 March, 2011, 11:11:51 pm

...
Now... do I spend tomorrow night truing the rear wheel on the Dahon,
...

I have now returned the rear wheel of the Dahon to having an even number of spokes and a shape which better approximates ROUND.

I can now return to North Hill safe in the knowledge that at at least one point during the ascent, I will be in exactly the right gear.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1793 on:** 16 March, 2011, 06:49:07 am »

Quote from: Oaky on 15 March, 2011, 07:21:30 pm

Quote from: Tomsk on 15 March, 2011, 04:16:06 pm
I'm struggling to think of a good mid-ride meeting point, without you deviating from your route, Oaky. The most direct route for us would be via Gt Leighs to Terling to pick up your route onwards to Fairstead. What's the pub at Terling like?..... Or we could just press on to meet OD at the 'King Billy'?

There are a couple of pubs in Black Notley - I was in the Vine on Sunday and they had a very nice Adnam's "American-style" IPA on. That said, that's practically at the destination.

The S&C isn't much of a route diversion for me, or you could catch OD at the King Billy.

Ah yes, The Vine at Black Notley; that's on my list as well. I am pleased to have the chance to visit The King Billy this evening and knock one off the list.

Update: I shall be leaving Witham at 1930hrs after I have walked Twinkle Toes to Sprouts.

huggy · « **Reply #1794 on:** 16 March, 2011, 09:20:37 am »

Quote from: Oaky on 14 March, 2011, 10:24:16 pm

I reckon that's probably 8:30 to 8:45 arrival at The Wagon and Horses.

Would that be a 7:15 departure from the Jack & Jenny?

Oaky · « **Reply #1795 on:** 16 March, 2011, 11:24:44 am »

Hi Huggy- that's the plan - 7:15 outside the J&J

huggy · « **Reply #1796 on:** 16 March, 2011, 02:43:50 pm »

meet you there

Tomsk · « **Reply #1797 on:** 16 March, 2011, 05:33:24 pm »

Erk! Too many choices [pubs]!! I think we'll just head straight to the Waggon and Horses for about 9:30!

Oaky · « **Reply #1798 on:** 17 March, 2011, 12:38:52 am »

Stats: 26.5 miles @ 14.2 mph; 1 NH ascent on fixed.

Company: Huggy for the ride there and back, plus OD and Tomsk in the pub.

Beer: Saffron Lighthouse and Red Fox Brewery Coggeshall's "Wily ol' Fox", or, as OD christened it "Fox's Willy".

Home by 12:15 (not a record by any stretch, but still comfortingly early).

Edit: 17 ascents now, 6 on fixed

.

Code: [Select]

North Hill ascents 2011
bike  ascents
dahon 	6
globe 	5
z70 	6

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #1799 on:** 17 March, 2011, 07:04:05 am »

It's always a good night when you discover not one decent pub you've never visited before (The King Billy, aka The King William the Something or Other) but two (The Wagon and Horses).

The King Billy was particularly noteworthy as it was shut for a long time but re-opened about a year ago, bucking the national trend, and seems to be doing well. The beer was excellent (can't remember what I had) and the Gloucester Old Spot and drayman's chutney pork pie was bloody brilliant.

All in all an excellent evening, thanks chaps