ACME Miscellany

[BFC]

On Wednesday I met up with Edwin Knight, [Penny Farthing builder and racer, VCC chap and organiser of the forthcoming Bike Bicentenary Festival at Good Easter on 15/16th July - I'll start a thread sometime soon]. He's looking for a tall, long-legged rider to commit to training for the Penny Farthing World Championships in 2018.

Why tall and lanky? 'Cos you can build a bigger wheel - higher gear=faster...He has sourced titanium axled aluminium hubs, alu rims and all sorts of trick bits the Victorians couldn't have dreamt of - clearly this is a serious bid for an Essex World Champion!

Any ACME rider fit the bill? Get in touch and I'll pass you onto the Directeur Sportif.

I know a penny farthing builder in Chelmsford - he works in our upstairs office. A few observations of the modern incarnations of the "Ordinary bicycle":
The tyres are solid, and do not have the grip of those new fangled pneumatic things.
The bigger wheel whilst being capable of going faster are also higher to fall from.
The best braking set up is rear brake only - fitting an effective front brake is almost certain to result in a face plant from a great height. The brakes are crap, but anything better will put the rider in A&E.
They are bastards to ride uphill, and lethal to ride downhill. I have ridden escort to a few of them and the amount of time/distance they walked was  impressive ( Chelmsford to Littley Green ).
I have ridden a few, in our garage at work. I will stick to the new fangled "Safety bicycle".

[Oscar's dad]

So you're keen to give it a go then?

[tedshred]

So you're keen to give it a go then?

I thought you were a more likely candidate; tall, lanky, keen on cycling, enjoys new challenges, just the ride side of the sanity divide - it all fits 

[Oscar's dad]

So you're keen to give it a go then?

I thought you were a more likely candidate; tall, lanky, keen on cycling, enjoys new challenges, just the ride side of the sanity divide - it all fits 

It might all fit except for the fact that I don't like hurting myself - I'm a bit of a coward!  And as BFC points out the chances of ending up in A&E are very high 

[Oscar's dad]

Yesterday evening myself, Andy C33333333333333333 and huggy set off from Spa Road and proceeded in a southerly direction picking up Grey Sheep atop TMNH.  After descending over some kitty litter from Danbury we were re-grouping at a junction when we were passed by a fast moving blur which proved to be jibers.

We followed huggy's route into Chelmsford until jibers thought it best to show us the A&N roundabout which he had earlier insisted we avoid.  Eventually we found the Railway Tavern where I amused myself by loading Fred into one of the high altitude bike racks positioned by the station.

Tom's mate Ed and a couple of his friends were there with a penny farthing and The Socialable which is a side by side tandem.  The pub landlady was persuaded to try it, the video is on the group's FB page.

Whilst huggy updated us on developments in the Land of Huggy we speculated where Tomsk was, it transpired he had been caught out by the last minute change of plan and was waiting for us at The Endeavour.  When Tomsk eventually joined us he reported the pub was a fine establishment, and he had found some bike parking too 

The evening was so mild we sat outside.  All very pleasant and civilised.

[Oscar's dad]

Oh sorry, 'fandango was there too!  We see him so infrequently he is easy to forget 

[The Retiree]

Yesterday evening myself, Andy C33333333333333333 and huggy set off from Spa Road and proceeded in a southerly direction picking up Grey Sheep atop TMNH.  After descending over some kitty litter from Danbury we were re-grouping at a junction when we were passed by a fast moving blur which proved to be jibers.

We followed huggy's route into Chelmsford until jibers thought it best to show us the A&N roundabout which he had earlier insisted we avoid.  Eventually we found the Railway Tavern where I amused myself by loading Fred into one of the high altitude bike racks positioned by the station.

Tom's mate Ed and a couple of his friends were there with a penny farthing and The Socialable which is a side by side tandem.  The pub landlady was persuaded to try it, the video is on the group's FB page.

Whilst huggy updated us on developments in the Land of Huggy we speculated where Tomsk was, it transpired he had been caught out by the last minute change of plan and was waiting for us at The Endeavour.  When Tomsk eventually joined us he reported the pub was a fine establishment, and he had found some bike parking too 

The evening was so mild we sat outside.  All very pleasant and civilised.

I passed Tomsk going the opposite direction in Felsted


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jiberjaber]

Yesterday evening myself, Andy C33333333333333333 and huggy set off from Spa Road and proceeded in a southerly direction picking up Grey Sheep atop TMNH.  After descending over some kitty litter from Danbury we were re-grouping at a junction when we were passed by a fast moving blur which proved to be jibers.

We followed huggy's route into Chelmsford until jibers thought it best to show us the A&N roundabout which he had earlier insisted we avoid.  Eventually we found the Railway Tavern where I amused myself by loading Fred into one of the high altitude bike racks positioned by the station.

Tom's mate Ed and a couple of his friends were there with a penny farthing and The Socialable which is a side by side tandem.  The pub landlady was persuaded to try it, the video is on the group's FB page.

Whilst huggy updated us on developments in the Land of Huggy we speculated where Tomsk was, it transpired he had been caught out by the last minute change of plan and was waiting for us at The Endeavour.  When Tomsk eventually joined us he reported the pub was a fine establishment, and he had found some bike parking too 

The evening was so mild we sat outside.  All very pleasant and civilised.

https://youtu.be/v-M8-w7mX80

[Oscar's dad]

Good snaps jibers 

[jiberjaber]

So what's open on a Sunday morning between 06:00 & 07:30 between Manningtree & Colchester / TipTree??

ETA: BP Garage on Mersea Rd opens 06:00 & 24hr McD in Maldon seem to fit the bill for my return leg home! 
http://www.bp.com/en_za/on-the-road/south-africa/find-your-nearest-bp.html?stationid=4434

[Tomsk]

My application to upgrade to AUK Level 3 Organiser has been accepted!  I have been officially certified.

Thank you Tedshred for being my ACME advocate and John Ward [Perm.Sec.] for being my mentor 

I can now think about organising a 1000km for 2018 - using the Gavin & Stacey route as the basis for this, means the sting will be in the middle, not the tail 

June is the most likely month, July, August and September already have provisionally planned 1000km+ events - Super-Pre-Qualifiers for PBP 2019?? 

[Tomsk]

ACME Winter Brevet Populaire Series:

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???

[tippers_kiwi]

I can now think about organising a 1000km for 2018 - using the Gavin & Stacey route as the basis for this, means the sting will be in the middle, not the tail 

June is the most likely month, July, August and September already have provisionally planned 1000km+ events - Super-Pre-Qualifiers for PBP 2019?? 

  Congrats Tom

I can now think about organising a 1000km for 2018 - using the Gavin & Stacey route as the basis for this, means the sting will be in the middle, not the tail 

After doing the ride and then doing some driving around Wales I better start dropping several stone 
Of all of it though I would have to say the road out of Pontypridd on a return leg would be the worst of it, I actually stopped on the way down the hill to consider my options and decided falling off the bike was preferable to slipping over in my shoes. An arse over the back of the saddle type mountain bike descent followed, it was quite terrifying and I'm not usually to scared of a steep hill.

Making some notes on it this week and we can have a catch up.

[Tomsk]

Making some notes on it this week and we can have a catch up.

Thanks, super! 

That descent was a little scary in a car too, but if you look at a map, there is a main road hill-dodger's long-cut...[A468 & A4058, dual-carriageway, but the latter bypassed by the parallel A470 up the valley to Pontypridd]. But, we Flatlanders go to Wales for the SCENERY! 

[tippers_kiwi]

  This is true...and the more main roads are bloody busy in Wales!

I walked twice on the way up to Eglwysilan Common, once a bit further down when I skidded in Cowsh*t on a steep bit  and the next not far before the Top when I just decided I needed a little rest from the pedals 

[Tomsk]

To all ACME members: I need a dedicated helper or several for 'Saxons' on 1st/2nd July:

I could do with a someone for the start, to run the kitchen - just tea/coffee n' biscuits/cake, then a couple to add to the three we already have [plus myself] for the candle-lit supper. The kitchen is covered thanks to super-star helpers the two hoots and Agi, [fhoot and Agi did this last year, so know the ropes] but a desk-jockey and bike-parking supervisor would be good [these two could change roles every so often].

We have an overflow sleeping area this year at St Mary's Centre, so an extra helper to cover this too, maybe?

PM/email me or see me at the pub tomorrow or next week...

[tippers_kiwi]

It's moving weekend for the Tipper Clan so I can't make any other commitments this year 

[jiberjaber]

I'm afraid I'll be out of the running also as I'm in Europe that week on the bike...

[tedshred]

I will try do the night shift again.

[jiberjaber]

So an eventful night last night, Earlier forecasts during the week for heavy rain turned out to be correct - the light rain turned in to heavy 5 mins down the road, an hour of it all the way back to Chelmsford plus 4 stops to try and fix my aerobar pad which was jolted when I hit a submerged pot hole...

I see there might have been some adventures had by the 'A' peloton as they headed back East... anything to report chaps? 

[Andy C33]

Me and Carlos decided to get "close" at Spar road roundabout. It was only a matter of time.

[jiberjaber]

Me and Carlos decided to get "close" at Spar road roundabout. It was only a matter of time.

[Carlosfandango]

Me and Carlos decided to get "close" at Spar road roundabout. It was only a matter of time.

I turned right at slow speed just as Andy C33 was stealthily coming alongside

He`s a bit skinny as a landing pad, no injuries, just a broken sti lever.

Funnily enough I`d just told Oaky that I hadn`t fallen off in a while.

Er, if anyone has a right Shimano 11 speed lever going cheap, I`d be very grateful


 

[jiberjaber]

Me and Carlos decided to get "close" at Spar road roundabout. It was only a matter of time.

I turned right at slow speed just as Andy C33 was stealthily coming alongside

He`s a bit skinny as a landing pad, no injuries, just a broken sti lever.

Funnily enough I`d just told Oaky that I hadn`t fallen off in a while.

Er, if anyone has a right Shimano 11 speed lever going cheap, I`d be very grateful

That makes a change from turning left in front of people... LOL

[tippers_kiwi]

  Blimey....glad I was flying Solo on the way home....Christ that was a long way, don't know how you do that so often Tomsk!

I had about 18k of the heavy rain in the end and I was feeling pretty cold between Terling and Witham but warmed up again on the way up Braxted hill. I remembered how much I hate wearing rain gear with short sleeves, most of the cold was coming from the fact I had been sweating inside the shell and did not have anything to soak it up.

Got home to Pie and chips in the warming drawer for me...ah well, would have been rude not to!