Richard Ellis Memorial 100 & 200km 07/10/2023

[Tomsk]

Getting things together for the REM on 7th October: 200km Helpers' Ride on Saturday 30th September. Any takers for this (and helping on the day too of course)? I checked the 100 a few weeks ago, but anyone is welcome to do an 'official' Helpers' Ride for this too.

I still have to prod the cafés (again), but Manningtree control chez Andy Terry's parents' home is sorted.  Mary Ellis and Family will again be at the Maglia Rosso as well as the arrivée.

[felstedrider]

Unfortunately I’m away this year.

[JellyLegs]

I can’t make this one, I am working unfortunately.  Hope to see you for the winter series this year.

[Tomsk]

Helpers' Ride done.   Five of us did the usual tour of cafés, ok up to the point where we'd lingered too long at the first two and were just too late for Café Rio in Manningtree.    A Tesco Express raid and a bench outside the Mogul had to suffice. One road closure (one still to come by next Saturday) should both be ok and passable ...

The very mild COR after Langham was in a better state than last year, when I had a wheel spin/stalling situation due to a combination of wet leaves and acorns! There are some awful potholes - slightly dicey after dark on the last few kms. One road rage incident: he got reported.

[Tomsk]

The weather is set fair - and the last-minute entries come rolling in! 90 for the 200, 37 for the 100 at the last count.

The cafés will be busier than usual ... and we'll need a lot of pizzas back at the arrivée.

[markldn]

Looking forward to a lovely early October audax.

[GavinC]

Lovely day out today on the 100km. Many thanks to Tomsk and his team of helpers.

[Old Git]

Lovely day out today on the 100km. Many thanks to Tomsk and his team of helpers.

Yes great day, really enjoyed it. Mistake to ride fixed though 😂😂👍 thank you Tom, Grant and team .

[Slimline Saxon]

The usual enjoyable event, and the opportunity to spend some time with Mary and her family, sampling her home baking. Maglia Rosso need to gear up for us, but Raymond and me always arrive in the lull between 100 and 200, so not so bad.

[GavinC]

Mistake to ride fixed though 😂😂👍

You looked like you were doing okay

[MDD]

Lovely day out, beautiful weather, fab route,  hospitality in the garden in Maningtree and no road rage incidents all day. First 200 in a few years after time in/out sick and a great way to get back into the swing of it. Thanks all involved.

[Tomsk]

Thank you for all the favourable comments here, in person at the finish and by email. Thanks especially to Andy Terry and family at Manningtree.

Sonia at the Maglia Rosso sends her apologies for the slip-ups in service - she damaged her foot last week and they had to find a stand-in chef at short notice. Also the Saturday boys and girls were only on their second day, which explains a lot. Hopefully things will be improved there soon.

2024 event date: 5th October.

[LiamFitz]

It was a brilliant day and the light tailwind and flat route had nothing to do with my record time for a 200km.

Made some new friends and saw bits of the UK i've never ridden before - the perfect formula for an audax.

Plus the Manningtree Control was perfect!