Mid-Essex and the Rest of the World Epiphany - 2023 edition

[Oscar's dad]

I'm not sure that will be entirely reassuring to Lucy to know that OD will look after her.....Owen, other WAGs will be in attendance too 
   I can't think what you mean!

I think Lucy needs to be introduced to Svetlana and we let the natural progression on life long friendship blossom from there 

Clearly I can't speak for Svetlana, who is most likely going to turn up although one can never tell, but should she be there I am certain she and Lucy will get along famously 

[Andy C33]

Hope to be out for the full day.

Don't, don't, don't, don't believe the hype.

How…….Very……Dare..You!!!!!!!!

[bobb]

Super stoked to let you know I checked out the COR today, it's fine on fixed with One-Pro tyres

So do we get to see this route, or is it top secret?

[josser]

Was I supposed to put all this in the diary or something?

[Oscar's dad]

Was I supposed to put all this in the diary or something?

Oh you naughty tease! 

[Deano4]

I am having such a bad time with my bike this year. The left crank has decide to come to loose and wobble about a bit, so regrettably won't be able to attend this now  :'(.

Hope you all have a good time.

[tandemaniac]

I hope to be at the spoons for breakfast, but will taking a break before re-joining at the spiritual home later in the day.
Not sure I qualify as "stoked" as I won't be on the tandem!

[Tomsk]

The question for me now is: sturdy (slow) bike with Marathon Winters and the potential for carrying a ton of warm winter gear, trophies etc or fixed with rather less luggage capacity ...

Anyway, both bikes fettled and now cleaner than they've been since about October. This may be a last-minute decision when I wake on Saturday morning!

[jiberjaber]

I've just looked at the route and the weather forecast, looks like it will be *above freezing* for most of Friday and all Saturday.

I have a gritted route but it inevitably removes all the fun from the ride as  it's main roads on a Saturday morning with the traffic 

I will still be on studs anyway as I CBA to swap over tyres again just for one day and I like the noise

Rough route is:
Depart 'spoons 10:00 
Maldon Rd out of Witham to Does Corner
Ashfields to Hoe Mill
Along the Northern Escarpment of TMNH
Down Doggers Lane
Under the A12 in to Baddow for 11s, beer with coffee option, depart just before 12
Out via the Radar and up and down to Swan Lane, past the animals heading up again...
Along the COR to the old church
Along the road and then back under the A12 bringing us to The Viper. ETA just before 13:00
Depart around 15:00 for 26km through some lanes up a road to more lanes, past some animals and arrive at SH for just before 17:00

For anyone not wanting to tackle the tame COR and miss out on the animals they can head on from Swan Lane basecamp to Ivy Barns and then follow that to The Viper, you'll probably arrive 10-15mins before us though

(times based on about 19kph)

[tedshred]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

[BFC]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

I'll be glamping in the car park.

[jiberjaber]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

I believe so.

I'm presently checking out 11s. It's a bit of a chore this route planning !

[Tomsk]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

  I'll be doing the Epiphany camping for the first time in a while.

If jibers is staying with the crunchy tyres, I'll do likewise and we'll annoy everyone in stereo - the Venerable Dawes is a much better bike for laden COR, plus my nice-but-probably-still-icy early morning ride in to the 'spoons is preferable to the Braintree and Notleys gritted route.

[josser]

Assume it’s fancy dress as usual?

[Oscar's dad]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

Me 

Assume it’s fancy dress as usual?

Good heavens No!  That would be silly and we are all above such antics 

[josser]

who do we have in the Epiphany Field overnight ?

Me 

Assume it’s fancy dress as usual?

Good heavens No!  That would be silly and we are all above such antics 

Jolly good, I “won’t” get dressed up then…

[tedshred]

Jolly good, I “won’t” get dressed up then…

Don't worry, if you can squeeze into the outfit you wore on your stag it doesn't count as "dressing up".  In fact, it's compulsory.  If it's a choice between your blonde bombshell outfit (how proud your mother in law looked) and your brown corduroy suit, I'd go with blonde bombshell every time. You can also keep my +1 entertained - do you speak Russian ?

[tippers_kiwi]

I am likely having a team car assist on the way home....considering the Brompton for the day but then....maybe a bike with Tubeless tyres will be all the more fun for everyone.

[josser]

Jolly good, I “won’t” get dressed up then…

Don't worry, if you can squeeze into the outfit you wore on your stag it doesn't count as "dressing up".  In fact, it's compulsory.  If it's a choice between your blonde bombshell outfit (how proud your mother in law looked) and your brown corduroy suit, I'd go with blonde bombshell every time. You can also keep my +1 entertained - do you speak Russian ?

You weren’t keen on the corduroy suit we’re you… it’s more olive bronze than brown but I’m not one split hairs. I’ll make sure I deploy something that would make everyone’s mothers in law glow with pride

[tedshred]

 it’s more olive bronze than brown but I’m not one split hairs.

Can we just compromise on faecal ?

[Oscar's dad]

Jolly good, I “won’t” get dressed up then…

Don't worry, if you can squeeze into the outfit you wore on your stag it doesn't count as "dressing up".  In fact, it's compulsory.  If it's a choice between your blonde bombshell outfit (how proud your mother in law looked) and your brown corduroy suit, I'd go with blonde bombshell every time. You can also keep my +1 entertained - do you speak Russian ?

As we know it's by no means guaranteed that your +1 will turn up.  However my contacts in the intelligence community have alerted me to some unusual aircraft movements in the St Petersburg area so you might be in luck.

[josser]

 it’s more olive bronze than brown but I’m not one split hairs.

Can we just compromise on faecal ?

Charming…

[Oscar's dad]

Also we have a problem with The Musky Reindeer Pelt of Destiny.  Not Nik's Nick but the Other Nick can't attend tomorrow due to unforeseen circumstances.  Therefore The Pelt is on Ongar and likely to remain so unless anyone is going that way today.

[tedshred]

Joss could wear his suit and, perhaps, a horned hat as a compromise. 

[Christophe]

Myself and the future Mrs C. and possibly a teenager (if she can be arsed to get up) may make an appearance for breakfast in the morning to judge fancy dress.