Essex and Suffolk Borders / Estuaries 200 / 100 from Manningtree: 2/4/2022

[mmmmartin]

https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9257 

Entries to open closer to the time.

Hmmmm. It's 100k from home to the start via the Tilbury passenger ferry.

[αdαmsκι]

Both versions are now on the calendar but I'll only open entries in January

100 km https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9534

200 km https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9257

[αdαmsκι]

Discussion on the audax forum has made me wonder about offering up the "Essex & Suffolk Borders 200" with a Buntingford start on the same day as the Manningtree start.

For AUK purposes it would be a totally separate event that would be very x rated; two info controls (Manuden and Great Chishill windmill); collect receipts from Lavenham and Manningtree; postal finish from Buntingford. It would also involve an out and back section from Dedham to Manningtree and back. (That's also the case on the Manningtree start but it doesn't feel that way because it is at the start and end of the ride). The cut-off for BRM has been and gone so this would have to be BR ride.

It would be nice to have the Buntingford start going the opposite way round (so Buntingford > Great Chishill > Manningtree > Lavenham > Maunden > Buntingford) in order for both set of riders to be able to wave at each other (as per the Flatlands / Yorkshire Friends rides). However, that means I would not be able to just recycled the routesheet and so for my work load I'd be tempted to send both rides round in the same direction.

It would also require a rider to hand out brevet cards in Buntingford (as I'd be in Manningtree) and wait a few minutes for any later comers.

Do we think there'd be enough interest in this option?

[drossall]

We'll I've got to look at any event starting from Buntingford, as it's quite close. Though the 200km sounds a stretch for me, and I'd pencilled in the 100km as a possible. So don't organise it specially for me, but I'll keep a watch on the thread and just maybe, if it comes off, decide that 200km without the travelling is the better option

Thanks from me for considering it.

[psyclist]

I’ve been considering ECEing the 100, but a Buntingford start would be quite handy for the full experience, and about 245km for the day, so not too bad. If it happens, I’d most probably opt for the Buntingford start just to support it. If nobody else came forward, I could do the brevet card duty.

[felstedrider]

Can you offer a start somewhere in the middle as well ?   Asking for friend.......

[αdαmsκι]

You can just get on & do it as a 300!

[HowardK]

+1 for a Buntingford start, and can probably drum up interest from a further 2 or 3 riders for the 200.

[Bernster]

Another possible +1 for Buntingford (although real life quite often gets in the way of riding)

[felstedrider]

You can just get on & do it as a 300!

You’re a hard taskmaster

*edit* actually there’s a chance we’ll be on holiday

[peter simplex]

 Buntingford has been bang in the middle of a railway desert since 1964 so less appealing for the car-less who are not addicted to an extra 20 plus miles of to-ing and fro-ing.  Plenty of stations to choose from though on the desert periphery, trains arriving from assorted directions. 

[drossall]

Quite appealing though for those who live a short distance west of Buntingford and would have to travel more than the length of the course, ride home again and back to the start, then travel the length of the course back again

[αdαmsκι]

Indeed, closest station to Buntingford is ~14 km away but this would be an addition optional. Remember the original ride is starting from Manningtree train station to allow public transport options

[drossall]

It would be nice to have the Buntingford start going the opposite way round ... in order for both set of riders to be able to wave at each other (as per the Flatlands / Yorkshire Friends rides).

Should cross twice of course.

This is so obviously a brilliant idea, and yet so obviously too much work for one organiser, that I've been wondering whether some kind of collaborative effort is allowed. Is a full-scale check needed both ways (the distances will be the same)? Or is the focus on the route sheet? And could some of us at this end do this part and others the Manningtree bit?

[αdαmsκι]

Thinking about this and decide I'll get it set up. Plus I'll reverse the direction of the Buntingford start for people to wave.

Thanks for offer of help. I've already sorted, and checked, routesheet for the Manningtree start.

I'm in the process of writing the Buntingford start routesheet for it to go the other way round. I've already done half of it and won't be long to finish. I can base it on the original routesheet and also use things like A&S400.

I'll need a few winter 200s so can use one of those rides in order to check the Buntingford routesheet 

[αdαmsκι]

Routesheet is now written up for "The Alternative E&SB" [Buntingford start] and it's registered with AUK so it should be appearing on the calendar once I've uploaded everything to the AUK site.

. If nobody else came forward, I could do the brevet card duty.

I'll be in touch

[Tomsk]

Routesheet is now written up for "The Alternative E&SB" [Buntingford start] and it's registered with AUK so it should be appearing on the calendar once I've uploaded everything to the AUK site.

. If nobody else came forward, I could do the brevet card duty.

I'll be in touch

Excellent - I'll add it to my list of ACME events!

[psyclist]

. If nobody else came forward, I could do the brevet card duty.

I'll be in touch

No problem. It’s on my calendar, let me know the details and we can arrange the brevet cards receipt nearer the time.

[αdαmsκι]

And "The Alternate E&SB" [Buntingford start] is in the calendar

https://audax.uk/event-details?eventId=9625

[Lightning Phil]

You’ve got a typo in the starting from.

[αdαmsκι]

Entries are now open, tho I understand there's a bigger, and prestigious, ride for which entries are now also open!

If riding the 200 make sure you pick the correct ride. I won't be able to transfer people from the Manningtree start to the Buntingford start or visa versa. They are separate events that are simply happening on the same day.

[αdαmsκι]

I did a route check of the Essex & Suffolk Estuaries 100 yesterday. (I'd originally planned to ride on Monday but changed my mind when Storm Franklin blew through!)

The ride out to Harwich is typical Essex scenery with big fields, big skies and rural villages. Navigation for ~20 km is easy as it's the same as NCN 51. The approach to Harwich via the beach huts and views of Felixstowe is great. It's then just a short hop to Shotley but much further going back to Manningtree in order to cross the River Stour.

There are a few km along the A137 from Manningtree that are a bit dull but after laving the main road it's a great ride over to Shotley, with views back across to Harwich and yet more views of Felixstowe. Then a good B road up to Suffolk Food Hall and an impressive view of the Orwell Bridge.

There's a kilometre or so on a concrete road after the Suffolk Food Hal then a bit of a grind along the A137. The official route is via Tattingstone to reduce the time on the A road. I think there's another concrete road I can use to further reduce time on the A road that I need to check out.

Manningtree Station Buffet are on board to help out 👍 That means people can just leave their brevet cards at the bar after the ride, and of course that also means there's beer available at the end of the ride. And at the start if you are the way inclined!

(I'll also leave stickers at the Station Buffet for everyone doing to Buntingford start and that'll avoid the faff of finding an ATM in Manningtree.)

I'm looking at checking the 200 km route on 19 or 20 March if anyone else fancies riding. Hopefully we won't be onto Storm Nigel by then!

Photos are all from yesterday.

[αdαmsκι]

Entries rolling in at the moment for all three rides, and pleasing to see the Alternative E&SB from Buntingford is being well supported. There's currently ~80 entered for the 200 and ~40 for the 100. Plenty of space for more people due to the low key nature of the rides. I'll be checking the 200 km route on Sunday and I will then send out information to everyone about the events.

Herman Ramsey will be helping out on the 100 km ride by stamping cards in Harwich and collecting completed 100 km cards back at Manningtree station, which is great as he's the inspiration for these rides.

[drossall]

  How many for the Buntingford alternative? Hoping to make it, but I'm out all day the previous week on the Stevenage, so need to be reasonable...

[αdαmsκι]

Just over 30 at the mo.