Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series

[Oscar's dad]

How did it go last night?  It looked like you had a good crowd when I drove past you on Spinks Lane.

[Oaky]

Anybody out tomorrow night?

I'm thinking about perhaps visiting either the Axe and Compasses (Aythorpe Roding) or the 5 Bells, Colne Engaine, although I'm open to other suggestions.

i will be in That Londonton during the day, so I'm not sure when I will be able to set off - hopefully 7:30 from Witham, but that could change.

[huggy]

I'm up for coming out to play this evening. Assume that you're planning a 50 mile route; ready to set off whenever you are.
I quite enjoyed our brief visit to the 5 Bells at Colne Engaine a few weeks ago, wouldn't mind a revisit, although may not be Western dwellers friendly.

[Oaky]

I was indeed thinking of a route around 50 miles

I did a bit of preliminary checking for the Axe and compasses and a route up north Hill then round the south of Chelmo works out around 30 miles, making for approximately 50 once the return leg is added.

[huggy]

I was indeed thinking of a route around 50 miles

I did a bit of preliminary checking for the Axe and compasses and a route up north Hill then round the south of Chelmo works out around 30 miles, making for approximately 50 once the return leg is added.

[Oaky]

Something like this, perhaps?

Lets say 7:30 by the J+J?

probably get to the pub about 9:30ish?

[huggy]

Something like this, perhaps?

Lets say 7:30 by the J+J?

probably get to the pub about 9:30ish?

That's quite a big 'ish', at least it is for me, maybe more like 9:45 

7:30 by the J+J 

[Oaky]

That's quite a big 'ish', at least it is for me, maybe more like 9:45 

hehe

I am going to see if I can get away any earlier today ... if so, I might be able to be at the J+J for 7:15 - if you're also OK for that start time.

[Oaky]

BTW - I just re-routed a bit near Willingale to take out a gratuitous (and unnecessary) wiggle.

Route Version 2.0

EDIT: huggy - FYI - if you rely on the cue sheet entries on BRT (I think this is what it puts in the tcx that gives the turn-by-turn alerts on the Garmin 705) then note that this version doesn't have those as I used a different site to reroute the dodgy section ... you could just load the original and just follow me on that bit...

[huggy]

I'm ok for meeting at the J+J at 7:15, just text me if you need to revert to 7:30.

I use the GPX track from BRT on my 705 which makes up its own turn by turn instructions and ignores anything useful that may have been manually entered in to BRT (like 'STOP now for CONTROL / BEER'), so your revised and less gratuitous route should be fine

[Oaky]

I am good for 7:15 @ the J+J.

[Oaky]

Another cracking 50+ mile MEMWNS, this time with the surprise addition of chief who wasn't even lost!

On the lovely smooth swoopy descent towards Margaretting, my legs span out at 35.4 mph (which on my 42/16 gear on 700x25c works out to be about 172rpm).

The Woodforde's "Once Bittern" was an excellent way to rehydrate and the Adnam's Broadside replaced some lost carbs.  Electrolytes were provided courtesy of crisps and pickled eggs.  I did move on to fruit juice after that (Gwynt-Y-Ddraig "Dog Dancer", to be precise - a form of apple juice I'm led to believe) to get a couple of my 5-a-day in.

Oh - and it turned out that my "better version" of the route included something that looked rather like a gravelly farm track  so we reverted to the original not-so-gratuitous-as-it-turned-out wiggle.

[Oscar's dad]

Gravel track?  Where?

[Oaky]

Gravel track?  Where?

http://goo.gl/maps/fXG8Q

[Christophe]

Quick heads up. Just got a text from her indoors. CAMRA Witham Beer Festival at the Public Hall on the last Friday and Saturday of September. Maybe organise a night out with WAGS? I'll be walking down.....

http://www.colchestercamra.org.uk/calendar/pubs-festivals/witham-public-halls-first-beer-festival

[Oscar's dad]

Quick heads up. Just got a text from her indoors. CAMRA Witham Beer Festival at the Public Hall on the last Friday and Saturday of September. Maybe organise a night out with WAGS? I'll be walking down.....

http://www.colchestercamra.org.uk/calendar/pubs-festivals/witham-public-halls-first-beer-festival

That might work. Perhaps we can organise a WAGs and kids ride beforehand.

Today I saw and had to buy the worst looking cycling jersey I've ever seen.  It's only redeeming feature is a beer connection.

[Tomsk]

Forward Planning Alert.... I will be bunking off Book Club this Wednesday if I get a better offer. I just can't get into our July book, despite having had two attempts.

I will be boring everyone about LEL, I have to warn you all  Actually just read Auntie Helen's blog, that says it all - the Boswell of the Great Easton control.

[delthebike]

I will be boring everyone about LEL, I have to warn you all  Actually just read Auntie Helen's blog, that says it all - the Boswell of the Great Easton control.

If I come along do I get another round of (short lived) applause? 

[huggy]

I'm taking a Witham Cycling Led Ride to the Wagon & Horses at Braintree this Wednesday, starting at 7:30 with eta of 9:30 in Braintree.
The current plan is to follow something like this and join the Flitch Way at Little Dunmow and use it all the way to Braintree train station where the Wagon & Horses is conveniently just around the corner.  After a suitable refreshment stop we'll return to Witham through the Notleys.

Tomsk,
I seem to recall the Flitch Way from Little Dunmow to Braintree as being easily navigatible by bike, if not necessarily on 23c tyres.  Please let me know if you think I should plan an alternative road surface for all or any sections 

[Tomsk]

Flitch Way should be ok on pretty much any machine. I'll meet you at the Swan in Felsted - about 8:30?

[huggy]

Flitch Way should be ok on pretty much any machine. I'll meet you at the Swan in Felsted - about 8:30?

Thanks Tomsk, it'll be good to see you on Wednesday.  On current numbers signed up to the ride there will be 5 or 6, maybe more, of us meeting you.  8:30 at the Swan is probably about right but I'll text you if we are running behind schedule.

[Tomsk]

Ok Huggy - Offspring #1 may come along - he's still sounding keen! I've got to get him on here - plus, I've got mudguards for his bike to make him a proper Audaxer too!

[bloomers100]

This isn't forward planning. I was just wondering what session you lot were comin to the Compasses Beer festival next week. I'm intending to go Friday late afternoon / evening.

[Tomsk]

Friday evening would work for us. 

[Oaky]

mrs_o and I will be sans-Acorns for that weekend, so will likely be out for at least one session at the Compasses BF.