ACME Betweenmas Group Permanent 2023 (All Welcome!)

[Tomsk]

We talked about this recently, but following a prod from psyclist ...

I'm looking at towards the end of the week after Christmas including Saturday 30th December for a 'Betweenmas' perm. See what the weather is doing a pick a reasonable day - so that's Thursday 28th/Friday 29th/Saturday 30th December kept free on the calendar for now.

What and where? Well, in recent years we've done a Boudicca 200 (2018); Richard Ellis Memorial 100 (Christmas Eve 2021); DIY 110 Hopstock (2021); Bricks and Moretaine 200 (2022).

A civilised option, with a later start after breakfast at 'Paradise' in Dunmow, is to just do a 100km. Then those wanting a 200 can devise their own DIY, including the 100km route.

[felstedrider]

I was quite keen when we met last week but I have some physical issues that I'm attempting to resolve.   Plenty of working bikes, though, for a change.

I will be available Thu/Fri/Sat although I would have a preference not to use the Sat if I don't need to.   Route-wise I don't mind.  I've not done Boudicca  or Dick Turpin for a while.

[psyclist]

Thanks Tomsk.

I'll try to keep all dates clear, but may not be available for the 28th.

100km option sounds good ... or even a 150km route so we can go further afield.

[Owen]

Sounds good.

I'll keep those days free.

Thanks Tomsk 

Owen

[Thing2]

We're busy on the 28th and 30th but would be up for one on the 29th.

[Laid Back Rich]

I've penciled in 28 or 29

[bhoot]

Bother, we have family Christmas commitments between 28th and 30th otherwise it would have been great to see you all especially if a 100km option was chosen.

[ElyDave]

not sure on family commitments yet, but a 100km from Dunmow could be a possible.

[Tomsk]

Bother, we have family Christmas commitments between 28th and 30th otherwise it would have been great to see you all especially if a 100km option was chosen.

We can have more than one ride! Maybe 27th Dec or early in the New Year?

[JellyLegs]

For some totally inexplicable reason, I stupidly volunteered to be the token presence in my dept on both the 28th and 29th this year.  I might be tempted by a slow pootle round outside of those dates though.

[psyclist]

I'm now unavailable on 28th or 29th.

Ultimately I suspect the date(s) will come down to Tomsk's preference, and the weather.

[ElyDave]

I'm now unavailable on 28th or 29th.

Ultimately I suspect the date(s) will come down to Tomsk's preference, and the weather.

I imagine so, unlikely to be able to find a date that works for all. I'll probably be at BIL's until the 26th and may have family at ours after that, so we'll just have to see.

[felstedrider]

Probably the wrong thread but given the ‘last Wednesday of the month’ rule will we be at the Spiritual Home on the 27th ?

[Tomsk]

Probably the wrong thread but given the ‘last Wednesday of the month’ rule will we be at the Spiritual Home on the 27th ?

Could do a 100/200km ride and then end up there? Still conditional on the weather of course ...

I can't now do 29th as we're off to a party for my lovely cousin Gilly's 70th birthday.

Tuesday 2nd January would work for me as an alternative/additional date.

[Owen]

I'll be back to work on the 2nd  :'(

100 / 200 ending at the compasses sounds good on the 27th (weather dependant)

Owen

[felstedrider]

Travelling back from Lincs on the 27th so I can be at the pub in the evening but can't ride that day.

Free 28th/29th/30th but I'm also back at work on the 2nd.

[GavinC]

I’m also travelling back from Lincoln on the 27th so could head to the Compasses that evening but probably not ride during the day.

I’m free on the 28th and then not around til 7 Jan.

[psyclist]

27th is ok for me ... 200km would be spot on, or a late start 100km (like lunchtime, to end up at the Compasses for dinner).

I'm back at work on the 2nd. So other free days are 30th / 31st.

[felstedrider]

I’m also travelling back from Lincoln on the 27th

I’d suggest meeting up for a ride but I’m not taking a bike this time.

[GavinC]

I’d suggest meeting up for a ride but I’m not taking a bike this time.
[/quote

I won’t have a bike either - we’re only up there for Boxing Day and coming back on the Wednesday. Ah well!

[Lightning Phil]

Something might suit 27th or 28th.  Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?

I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead.  Other options available.

https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/

[Tomsk]

Something might suit 27th or 28th.  Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?

I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead.  Other options available.

https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/

I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?

For the group perm I'm suggesting a Boudicca's Revenge 100km, reversed. The advantage of this is there's the option of a gritted route for most of the first stage up to Haslingfield, via the B184 then the old A11 (B1383), then via Whittlesford to Newton and Harston. However the scenic route via Henham to Newport, then up into the hills from Littlebury, is much nicer.

Dunmow-Haslingfield 51km (scenic)/45km (minimum distance, B184 etc) elevenses at the Mohak café - need to check opening.

Haslingfield-Buntingford 26km lunch at The Bull pub/Buntingford Coffee shop - loads of other options, those are just favoured venues.

Buntingford-Dunmow 32km (minimum distance, preferred option via Furneux Pelham, Manuden, Elsenham and Great Easton is 35km).

[JellyLegs]

• Something might suit 27th or 28th.  Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
  
  I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead.  Other options available.
  
  https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
  

  
  I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?
  

  
  I called in for a coffee and cake in the 398, the attached coffee shop, midweek a couple of weeks back.  I was the only one in there for half the visit though they obviously get plenty of cyclists in there and were very welcoming.  I definitely intend to return to try a bit more of their cake!
  

[sparklyfish]

• Something might suit 27th or 28th.  Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
  
  I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead.  Other options available.
  
  https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
  

  
  I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?
  

  
  I called in for a coffee and cake in the 398, the attached coffee shop, midweek a couple of weeks back.  I was the only one in there for half the visit though they obviously get plenty of cyclists in there and were very welcoming.  I definitely intend to return to try a bit more of their cake!
  

CTC Cambridge (who I ride with) go to the Woodman/398 quite often - it is definitely worth booking ahead if there is likely to be a decent group. They've got better at catering in the last few months, but we did have some occasions earlier this year where they'd run out of cake! But they are very friendly, and lots of space for bikes round the back. Lovely lanes round there too - Anderson's Lane is one of my faves.

[robgul]

Hopefully this will get a response . . . having read the ACME Tourdax article in Arrivee I'd be interested to ride it as a 3 day solo or small group ride next spring or summer - are there any route details available please?  - map, route sheet, .gpx or whatever.

I used to live around Saffron Walden in the 1970s so a bit of deja vu.

Rob