Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series

[Oscar's dad]

I have walked past Look Mum a few times.  There are also a couple of tossy looking bike shops nearby clearly aimed at London cyclists with more money than sense.  I'm not sure I would be welcomed in any of the aforementioned establishments.

Nothing new there then 

I am trying to think of a suitably rude reply.  I'll get back to you shortly ...

 

[delthebike]

Think so.  I think you also need hipster jeans with the right  leg rolled up to your knee.

That sounds painful!  How do you clip in? 

[Christophe]

Chris, Bum holes! When you say swimming at Old Street do you mean sipping an espresso at LMNH with cool people?

I have a lightly used Brommie that I could be persuaded to part with, as its you 

Thanks for the offer. As long as it's not knicked I might bre interested. We'll see what the insurance say

Sorry not sipping espresso with the cool people. Don't even know what LMNH stands for!

Anyway. One way or another I'll be at Coggeshall at 9.30

.

I do have a receipt, cheeky. I once got my trousers, wallet, work ID and keys to hire car stolen from Harlow swimming pool on a lunchtime swim. A colleague much shorter than me brought me a spare pair of his trousers to travel home in. The hire car wasn't nicked even though the reg no was on the stolen fob.

What you get up to in your spare time is none of my business! Did they take your underwear as well? Have you still got the trousers? Could be next years Christmas fancy dress

[Christophe]

I have walked past Look Mum a few times.  There are also a couple of tossy looking bike shops nearby clearly aimed at London cyclists with more money than sense.  I'm not sure I would be welcomed in any of the aforementioned establishments.

I'm sure they'd welcome you with open arms. Reindeer pelt, bar towel freshener, sun hat sweat management, piss jug, studded tyres and all.

[bloomers100]

That made me lol with a full mouth, not pretty.

[Oaky]

I'm sure they'd welcome you with open arms. Reindeer pelt, bar towel freshener, sun hat sweat management, piss jug, studded tyres and all.

Laughing out loud at that one too

C|N>K (as we say in the geekier parts of the world).

(You forgot to mention the traffic cone styled hi-viz gilet).

[bloomers100]

and the walky talky.

I found myself browsing catb.org, I need to get a life.

[Oaky]

I found myself browsing catb.org, I need to get a life.

Easily done.

I quite like the terms "rotary debugger" and "ANSI standard pizza".

[Christophe]

(You forgot to mention the traffic cone styled hi-viz gilet).

Got one of those now myself. Very fetching orange. was £6 off ebay compared to £50 for 'cycle specific' equivalent in Evans or somewhere.

[Christophe]

(You forgot to mention the traffic cone styled hi-viz gilet).

Got one of those now myself. Very fetching orange. was £6 off ebay compared to £50 for 'cycle specific' equivalent in Evans or somewhere.

And it's also got a walky talky pocket on it.

[Oscar's dad]

I can't help it if I'm uber cool!

[Christophe]

I can't help it if I'm uber cool!

That's one way of putting it. More like 'Unique'

[Oscar's dad]

I can't help it if I'm uber cool!

That's one way of putting it. More like 'Unique'

I came across the expression "thought leader" the other day 

[huggy]

I can't help it if I'm uber cool!

That's one way of putting it. More like 'Unique'

I came across the expression "thought leader" the other day 

Was that in one of your Ameri-speak management course books, alongside blue sky thinking and reaching out?

[Oscar's dad]

It was on LinkedIn - nuff said.

[Christophe]

I bet he goes round touching people's bases and giving them quick and dirties in their ball parks as well

[Oaky]

* Oaky makes mental note to pop onto LinkedIn and see if "Thought Leadership" is amongst the skills that one can "endorse" another user for

[huggy]

* Oaky makes mental note to pop onto LinkedIn and see if "Thought Leadership" is amongst the skills that one can "endorse" another user for

[Christophe]

Back on topic. Is destination still the Chapel Inn, Cosggeshall tonight?

[Oscar's dad]

Oh yes.

[delthebike]

I've bailed already! Too much wind and not enough leg! 
Have a good time chaps. 

[bloomers100]

Anyone get blown off on the way home last night? 

[Oscar's dad]

I've bailed already! Too much wind and not enough leg! 
Have a good time chaps. 

I got your text, you were missed!  It was a bit on the windy side, nice when it was in your favour, brutal when it wasn't. 

My ETA at Rayne was only 8 minutes out so better than 2 hours on Sunday    I was thinking the roads were drier until we happened across a ford that was more like a set of rapids.  Rather rashly I decided to ride through whilst Tom and Grant weighed up their options.  After just a few metres I was regretting my rashness as the water deepened alarmingly.  A few good pushes on the pedals got us to shallower water and all was well.  I think the water was over my bottom bracket and my feet got soaked.  The boys braved the footbridge but still got wet feet.

Time for a shocking revelation.  I think CAMRA's Good Beer Guide is all about the beer as the Chapel Inn was nice enough but nothing special.  The beer on the other hand was excellent and once again we were able to enjoy some Foxes Willy.  That nice man Christophe turned up and drank Coke (his body is a temple at the moment); we all rode home via his scenic route. 

A very nice evening - thanks chaps 

[huggy]

  The boys braved the footbridge but still got wet feet.

Actually, we rode through too but still got wet feet.  Apart from the unknown depth the fast flow raised the concern about wheels being washed away sideways but happily that did not happen.....maybe more of a problem in a few weeks when the excesses of Christmas have been worked off 

The Coggeshall Gold was a refreshing beer with a grapefruit aftertaste, possibly suited better to a summer evening rather than a windy winter one 

[Christophe]

Short one for me tonight straight there and back so only 30km 

Company as usual was good with OD regailing us with tales of flooding and wet feet. Huggy and myself swapped stolen bike stories and insurance tips. Not too sure about OD's idea of themed MWMENS Audax though. (Sex Shop Audax anyone?)

Also have a pass for Saturday morning  . Will come back later when I have time with a couple of route suggestions.

ciao for now.