It turned out not too bad in the end despite the forecast. I was woken up at some point during Friday night / Saturday morning to the sound of rain hammering down but by 6am it had stopped and I had a dry ride up to the start. I clearly didn't need to leave so earlier because it was in the Weatherspoons before 9am for a 10am start
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I was riding with a work colleague and this would be his first audax, inspired after having helped at Pocklington on LEL. Paul arrived and we set off in the dry, chatting along before having to stop after 12 kilometers to put on my waterproof. It was pretty bleak, misty and wet for 15 km or so but the rain abated and my waterproof went back in the bag when we were at Latchingdon.
The lanes around Hanningfield were, as always, beautiful. We stopped at the cafe in Stoke were the service was slow. We were there for over 50 minutes in order to get hot drinks, two sandwiches & some cake.
I felt guilty going into the final control in Danbury to get a stamp from the Tea on the Green cafe without spending any money, but they were more quite happy to just stamp the card. Thanks guys. I then zoomed down North Hill, spinning like a fool and managing to avoid feathering the brakes. I do like that descent
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We were back in Witham at about 4pm. I avoided the lure of the beer and instead rode to Upminster to get the train home. I noticed I had a slow rear puncture but managed to avoid changing the tyre by pumping it up twice during that 40 ish kilometer stretch.
All in an decent day, although if the weather had been like it is today it would have been even better.
Paul's now talking about doing the December The Stansted Airport Express so I guess he had a good day.
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