Author Topic: Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series (Read 1754564 times)

Oaky · « **Reply #4225 on:** 26 June, 2013, 04:19:31 pm »

Ah yes - the Swan ... this was on our schedule in the days of yore when forward planning was the norm. I have a feeling it was never visited, owing to the curse of forward planning.

Edit: found it:-

Quote from: Oaky on 05 May, 2010, 08:27:46 am

...
07 Jun 2010 Swan Bures
...
23 Jun 2010 Bell Inn Castle Hedingham
...

We never did make it to the Swan (and the 07 Jun is a typo for 09 Jun, I think), but we did go to the Bell at Castle Hedingham, almost three years ago to the day. I remember it being a very warm and light evening.

Oaky · « **Reply #4226 on:** 26 June, 2013, 04:30:23 pm »

Quote from: Huggy on 26 June, 2013, 03:33:01 pm

Looks like this is set up for a sprint pace between Braintree and Castle Hedingham.

We only need a 17mph average.

Oaky · « **Reply #4227 on:** 26 June, 2013, 05:31:18 pm »

Quote from: Huggy on 26 June, 2013, 03:33:01 pm

If Oaky leaves his house about 7:30 and picks me up as he passes my house 5 minutes later

Cool... I'll leave as soon as the Brownie pickup contingent arrives back which is estimated as 7:30 ... I'll then ride-it-like-I-stole-it round to the end of your road

Tomsk · « **Reply #4228 on:** 27 June, 2013, 08:49:52 pm »

I got to the 'Bell' at Castle Hedingham by about 8:20, punters sitting outside, quite busy and a folk-y band playing somewhere within too. Oaky and Huggy arrived shortly after. There was a very good Red Fox Pale Ale on in addition to various Mighty Oak and Adnams brews. A bit of a headwind on the way out, that died later when it could have helped

still, not a bad evening by the standards of this 'summer' and the only shower came later when we were o'er the Stour, in the 'Three Horseshoes' at Bures St Mary [Greene King-shhhh]. On the way back I was responsible for what was damn near comedy off-roading, on the lane between Earls Colne and Greensted Green via the 'closed' bridge.....

Oaky's Day 01 disc still looks shiny and lovely

Got home at about 12:40 with 52 miles done.

TimC · « **Reply #4229 on:** 27 June, 2013, 10:49:42 pm »

Damn - the Hell at Bedingham is a favourite of mine, and Bures is almost my back yard. Had I been a little more compost mental (got in from Japan late yesterday afternoon) I'd have enjoyed joining you. Hey ho - another time, perhaps.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4230 on:** 28 June, 2013, 06:32:59 am »

Quote from: TimC on 27 June, 2013, 10:49:42 pm

Damn - the Hell at Bedingham is a favourite of mine, and Bures is almost my back yard. Had I been a little more compost mental (got in from Japan late yesterday afternoon) I'd have enjoyed joining you. Hey ho - another time, perhaps.

Well here's a challenge! Engage forward planning mode and fix a date with TimC to do a return trip to his backyard so we can meet up

Tim, give us some Wednesday evenings when you're free in the coming weeks / months

Tomsk · « **Reply #4231 on:** 28 June, 2013, 04:28:29 pm »

Wednesday's ride had a better Beer/Miles ratio than usual

We should do this, or something similar, soon. I can't do next Weds, but the following two are clear....

Oaky · « **Reply #4232 on:** 28 June, 2013, 04:37:18 pm »

Quote from: Tomsk on 28 June, 2013, 04:28:29 pm

Wednesday's ride had a better Beer/Miles ratio than usual

Depends on ones definition of "better"!

Quote

We should do this, or something similar, soon. I can't do next Weds, but the following two are clear....

Yup. i'd also be up for a longer visit to the Bell@Hedingham at some point too.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4233 on:** 01 July, 2013, 12:14:03 pm »

I'm not out on Wednesday as I have agreed to help a new Witham Cycling ride leader tomorrow night.

Please might I take the liberty of reminding those present of this event scheduled for Friday evening.

Oaky · « **Reply #4234 on:** 02 July, 2013, 09:38:54 am »

Any takers for tomorrow night? I'm completely neutral as to venue: I will be out of the house whatever happens, since mrs_o has a couple of friends round.

I know that OD and Tomsk are not coming out to play on Weds.

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 01 July, 2013, 12:14:03 pm

I'm not out on Wednesday as I have agreed to help a new Witham Cycling ride leader tomorrow night.

... I'd have come along to this too, but 6:30 is a bit early for me. I might hop out a bit later and see if I can catch you up / meet up at the pub though, depending how things go today/tonight.

Oaky · « **Reply #4235 on:** 03 July, 2013, 09:47:23 am »

In the absence of any other takers, I will be doing a longish ride tonight which might end up visiting the Compasses, probably around 10:00.

huggy · « **Reply #4236 on:** 03 July, 2013, 11:23:12 am »

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 09:47:23 am

In the absence of any other takers, I will be doing a longish ride tonight which might end up visiting the Compasses, probably around 10:00.

In the true tradition of non-advance planning I'm not sure of my availability this evening. When you say longish ride what time are you looking to depart? Also bearing in mind that my wheels don't turn as quick as yours at the moment a plan for a longish ride could mean a slightly later than 10:00 arrival at the Compasses, for me at least

EDIT: Mrs H is going to be late home this evening so I have pass to come out to play.

TimC · « **Reply #4237 on:** 03 July, 2013, 01:20:17 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 28 June, 2013, 06:32:59 am

Quote from: TimC on 27 June, 2013, 10:49:42 pm
Damn - the Hell at Bedingham is a favourite of mine, and Bures is almost my back yard. Had I been a little more compost mental (got in from Japan late yesterday afternoon) I'd have enjoyed joining you. Hey ho - another time, perhaps.

Well here's a challenge! Engage forward planning mode and fix a date with TimC to do a return trip to his backyard so we can meet up

Tim, give us some Wednesday evenings when you're free in the coming weeks / months

Ah, you expect a knowledge of forward availability that I don't possess! It'll have to be on an opportunity basis, I'm afraid - slightly complicated by the fact that if I'm in UK my kids are with me on a Wednesday, and they're not old enough to drink yet!

Oaky · « **Reply #4238 on:** 03 July, 2013, 03:51:15 pm »

Quote from: Huggy on 03 July, 2013, 11:23:12 am

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 09:47:23 am
In the absence of any other takers, I will be doing a longish ride tonight which might end up visiting the Compasses, probably around 10:00.
In the true tradition of non-advance planning I'm not sure of my availability this evening. When you say longish ride what time are you looking to depart? Also bearing in mind that my wheels don't turn as quick as yours at the moment a plan for a longish ride could mean a slightly later than 10:00 arrival at the Compasses, for me at least

EDIT: Mrs H is going to be late home this evening so I have pass to come out to play.

On account of having a day off today for school sports day, I can probably set off any time from about 18:00 onwards.

I was originally planning 64 miles with approx 53 of them before the compasses, and then a direct route home, however, I hadn't determined a route yet.

We could instead do ~40 miles to the compasses and then straight home... I have a couple of pre-prepared routes that would satisfy that requirement.

http://www.bikeroutetoaster.com/Course.aspx?course=260851 (49 miles, based on Witham Westerley)

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/circumnavigation-of-chelmsford (55 miles, an old route of mine I re-rode recently - I'd probably re-reoute it around Stock if I had time)

My gut feeling is to go with the first one (but i'll have to find an extra mile or two to get up to 50

)

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4239 on:** 03 July, 2013, 03:53:43 pm »

I take it you'll be fully recuperated by Friday evening.

By the way, how did you get on at the school sports day?

Oaky · « **Reply #4240 on:** 03 July, 2013, 05:30:35 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 03 July, 2013, 03:53:43 pm

By the way, how did you get on at the school sports day?

4th in the 100m dads' sprint in the morning.
last in the afternoon dads' race which was jumping along with a bean-bag gripped between the knees... (they changed it away from the sprint format because of too many injuries in the morning race).

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 03:51:15 pm

My gut feeling is to go with the first one (but i'll have to find an extra mile or two to get up to 50 )

I just realised that that route doesn't quite make it to the compasses so it should be easily 50 with the compasses detour

Oaky · « **Reply #4241 on:** 03 July, 2013, 05:31:21 pm »

huggy - what time will you be able to set off?

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4242 on:** 03 July, 2013, 05:36:05 pm »

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 05:30:35 pm

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 03 July, 2013, 03:53:43 pm
By the way, how did you get on at the school sports day?

4th in the 100m dads' sprint in the morning.
last in the afternoon dads' race which was jumping along with a bean-bag gripped between the knees... (they changed it away from the sprint format because of too many injuries in the morning race).

Well done!

Oaky · « **Reply #4243 on:** 03 July, 2013, 05:50:57 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 03 July, 2013, 05:36:05 pm

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 05:30:35 pm
Quote from: Oscar's dad on 03 July, 2013, 03:53:43 pm
By the way, how did you get on at the school sports day?

4th in the 100m dads' sprint in the morning.
last in the afternoon dads' race which was jumping along with a bean-bag gripped between the knees... (they changed it away from the sprint format because of too many injuries in the morning race).

I think coming away from the sprint uninjured was a result. Apparently there are cuts, bruises and black eyes out there.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4244 on:** 03 July, 2013, 05:53:30 pm »

Its a ~~dog~~ dad eat ~~dog~~ dad world!!! I've never understood why parents get so competitive at such events. Pathetic!

huggy · « **Reply #4245 on:** 03 July, 2013, 06:15:16 pm »

Quote from: Oaky on 03 July, 2013, 05:31:21 pm

huggy - what time will you be able to set off?

Should be with you about 6:30......

Oaky · « **Reply #4246 on:** 04 July, 2013, 09:57:48 am »

That was grand.

55 miles, with two pubs - we were a bit ahead of schedule at Colne Engaine, and since my auto-pilot was already heading me towards the pub instead of the right turn we were meant to take, we stopped for a swift refreshment (Crouch Vale "Essex Boys' Bitter") then on to the Compasses where we found that slipgate had decided to join us

My quads are feeling it a bit this morning - it is quite a choppy route.

Oaky · « **Reply #4247 on:** 08 July, 2013, 01:43:36 pm »

Is anybody out this week?

I can't help but notice that it's the Chelmsford beer festival this week, although it's not as MEMWNS-friendly as some other locations.

Christophe · « **Reply #4248 on:** 08 July, 2013, 02:10:45 pm »

It's only Monday. Does this not constitute forward planning?
Probably not for me as I'm hoping to get a couple of long rides in this week. I did also point out to OD that Friday night's little sojourn doubled my alcohol intake for 2013, so twice in a few days is probably pushing it for me.

Tomsk · « **Reply #4249 on:** 08 July, 2013, 09:02:29 pm »

Wednesday is ok for me