Return of the Bobb
Whilst the Viper at Fryerning proved to be a step too far for the intrepid Fandango, we still managed a good turnout at what is really a bit of an outlier for MEMWNS. Unless, that is, you happen to live in Chelmsford. In fact, it's almost as if somebody has taken over the forward planning and worked it around their training schedule
I made my own way up TMNH (to avoid the embarrassment of holding up the Witham peloton) and met Thomas Cochrane at his usual lurking spot outside the Generals.
We were soon joined by the Hustler, Hotblack and NWAFT none of whom even seemed to be puffing. Immediately we set off at a furious pace through the Hanningfields to Fryerning. Following behind Hotblack (albeit briefly as he accelerated away), I noticed that his cassette basically consisted of several sprockets of almost identical size. Apparently, he was running 39/53 and 12-21 so although he was changing gear regularly, it can't have been making much difference.
The Viper was heaving when we got there which is always encouraging when you have a good old-fashioned country pub. Tomsk, the guy from the Stanway Mongrel Mob, Bobb and Joergen were already in place and sampling. We were soon joined by Gordon Burns. It wasn't always easy to hear properly in such a busy pub so I didn't quite work out whether that was Gordon completing his MEMWNs SR or just doing the 400k leg.
Sadly, the conversation then slipped into some deep geekdom - probably inevitable when you have that sort of concentration of IT bods. While Tomsk nodded sagely and pretended he knew what 12x12 squares meant, the Hustler and I did Gareth Cheeseman impersonations and wondered why we had never seen Alan Partridge and OD together at the same time.
We also discussed Gordon's forthcoming assault on the Tour Divide. We were all pretending to be fairly blasé about a 4,400k ride but the masks slipped when he mentioned it was offroad. No wonder the ballroom in the east wing of Stortford Manor has been turned into TD HQ. As well as an extensive library dealing with subjects as widely spread as avoiding bear attacks, living off roadkill and how to squeal like a piggy, he is also building a papier mache scale model of the whole route with the exact gradients.
We sampled Heresy by Bishop Nick, Brewers Gold by Crouch Vale and Blackwater Mild by Crouch Vale all of which were excellent but Brewers Gold took the Quaffers' Choice Award by a whisker having served as an ideal recovery drink after the trauma of trying to keep up on the way to the pub. Even in shorts and a thin top, I was a sweaty mess by the time I reached that drink.
It was still warm when we left the pub so no need to add knee warmers. Apologies to the peloton for "sprinting" off down New London Road in Chelmsford. I suddenly realised that I could just catch a train which would deliver me to Marks Tey at exactly the right time to avoid the high tide on the way home. Needless to say, having sped off to the station and arrived just in time to catch the train, it was delayed by 7 minutes. At least the timing worked as I passed the fire engine that waits on the island during high tides just as it was leaving. I didn't manage to beat the street lights though.