Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series

[Oscar's dad]

How about The Hurdlemakers on Wednesday evening?

It's 8 miles from the nearest train station

I offer the Witham peloton THIS which we can probably manage without getting on a train 

I have been scouring the archives looking for hostelries I've not been to for some time and also the GBG looking for nearby unvisited pubs.  Here's my list of suggested targets for future evenings awheel, feel free to add your own suggestions:

- The Vine, Black Notley
- King Billy, Notley
- White Swan, Little Totham
- All the Danbury pubs
- Dog Inn, Halstead (GBG)
- Refurbished St Anne's Castle
- Barista, Chelmsford (GBG)
- Colchester: Bricklayers, British Grenadier, Live and Let Live, New Town Tavern (all GBG)

[tippers_kiwi]

 

Also, it's probably too late in the year for the distance (and it is not in THE GBG) but our friends are now open for business at the Red Lion in Belchamp Otten...and doing Food and Drink specials on a Wednesday night as well!

Otten Red Lion

I am hoping to be in attendance on Wednesday, most likely making my own way there though so don't wait around for me!

[Oaky]

How about The Hurdlemakers on Wednesday evening?

It's 8 miles from the nearest train station

I offer the Witham peloton THIS which we can probably manage without getting on a train 

With only 0.64 of a yacf MEMWNS Standard North Hill??

[tippers_kiwi]

With only 0.64 of a yacf MEMWNS Standard North Hill??

It's the wrong flaming 0.64 as well!

[Oscar's dad]

I offer the Witham peloton ...

NB the "I offer" bit.  I'm now assuming other suggestions will now flood in!  I'm more than happy to follow a wheel 

[huggy]

I offer the Witham peloton ...

NB the "I offer" bit.  I'm now assuming other suggestions will now flood in!  I'm more than happy to follow a wheel 

It neatly avoids Doggers Lane too (the road & ford, not the forumite once OTP), I thought we could at least do a reverse of the usual direction of passage if we are approaching from the North and not doing the classic assent on TMNH 

[Oaky]

I offer the Witham peloton ...

NB the "I offer" bit.  I'm now assuming other suggestions will now flood in!  I'm more than happy to follow a wheel 

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/10697062

 

[Oscar's dad]

I shall, I think, maintain a dignified silence 

[Kirky]

I offer the Witham peloton THIS which we can probably manage without getting on a train 

I have been scouring the archives looking for hostelries I've not been to for some time and also the GBG looking for nearby unvisited pubs.  Here's my list of suggested targets for future evenings awheel, feel free to add your own suggestions:

- The Vine, Black Notley
- King Billy, Notley
- White Swan, Little Totham
- All the Danbury pubs
- Dog Inn, Halstead (GBG)
- Refurbished St Anne's Castle
- Barista, Chelmsford (GBG)
- Colchester: Bricklayers, British Grenadier, Live and Let Live, New Town Tavern (all GBG)

Some more destinations

The Wheatsheaf – Writtle
Queens Head – Boreham
White Hart – Margaretting Tye
POW - Stow Maries

[tedshred]

Here http://www.stanfordarms.co.uk/ 

[Oaky]

I shall, I think, maintain a dignified silence 

A little bit of searching brings up a very nice sounding real ale pub

[tedshred]

Mine was nicer. 

[Oaky]

Mine was nicer. 

It does look good, and even has bikes parked outside in their website photo.

[tedshred]

They're both within half a mile of the station so OD, Huggy and JiberJaber will be able to get there and back without too much of that cycling business 

It's also only 93 miles from Dunmow so a nice evening ride out for Tomsk.

[Oaky]

Regarding Hurdlemaker's tomorrow, I'll probably follow OD's version of the route, although I don't know yet when I'll be able to set off.

I will probably turn left after Holybread lane and roll down the hill to do a U-turn to pick up the remaining 0.36 of North Hill.

[jiberjaber]

Ortlieb bar bags, preferably with some kind of map thingy on top... opinions and options welcome, pondering the Ultimate 6 medium at the moment, but undecided on if there is enough space on the CdF 42cm bars to allow gear change etc...

Even better (assuming I can get home from That London in a decent time) would be opportunity to fondle one at the Hurddlemakers Arms tonight... ??

[Oscar's dad]

I'm not sure anyone has an Ortlieb bar bag. There are some Altura and Carrradice users and I've got a modified Topeak bag.

[jiberjaber]

I think you've got a case of bar end shifters IIRC Steve, so an ideal handlebar bag machine, my concern is about where there are STI shifters on the breaks - I've got 105 shifters on there now so the washing lines are no longer there, but the RD shifter does come a long way in to get the full shift out of it.

[Oaky]

I think you've got a case of bar end shifters IIRC Steve, so an ideal handlebar bag machine, my concern is about where there are STI shifters on the breaks - I've got 105 shifters on there now so the washing lines are no longer there, but the RD shifter does come a long way in to get the full shift out of it.

Huggy uses a bar bag with STIs, (Altura, I believe).

Perhaps tippers also, but I don't remember for sure.

[I have an Altura barbag, but only use it on the flat-barred bikes]

[huggy]

I have Sora STI shifters and use the Altura Dryline bar bag.  There is just enough clearance between the drops to accommodate the bar bag and guide the shift cables gently out of the way.
Here is a full frontal pic of my set up, ably modelled by Monkey


Since this picture I have replaced the cables with snazzy blue outers but the routing is the same, just left the cables a little longer.  Will attach my bar bag this evening to show you in the flesh.

[Carlosfandango]

I've got 105 shifters and a Carradice barbag, there's  no problem with clearance. The bag comes with a map holder and a light holder for the bottom if you want to relocate your lights from the handlebars.

It also comes with a nifty shoulder strap and it's green to match my eyes, lovely.

[huggy]

So, who do we expect to be departing from the Witham Spa Rd roundabout at about 7:30?
Looking down the thread, not very many.

[tippers_kiwi]

Yep, another Carradice here as Oaky said. My Bars are 44cm and there is plenty of room for the shift and to get the hands on the hoods. The Map holder is good, you can use your touch screen phone with gloves on through it, (yes, you can text while riding to ensure a nice cold bottle of Leffe is ready when you get home), the elastic around the top is good which means I rarely have to actually secure it and as with all things from Carradice made of Cotton Duck it keeps things very dry!

[Andy C33]

Should be out tonight.

[jiberjaber]

Only just leaving that London so may have to adopt plan B of eat & beer in Chelmsford. In brighter news, dynamo wheel and lights delivery was attempted today, so should have new toys to play with when they reattempt tomorrow