Author Topic: Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series (Read 1752632 times)

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4875 on:** 25 March, 2014, 05:50:25 pm »

Regarding tomorrow night ...

Just peeped into the route library (here's one I made earlier) and found THIS. BOGOF! The Cats, The Hurdlemakers and a non-standard ascent of TMNH with a figure of eight thrown in for good measure. If the Witham crew leave at 7:30 / 7:45 we should be at the H'makers at 9 to 9:30.

What do we think?

Tomsk · « **Reply #4876 on:** 25 March, 2014, 07:46:20 pm »

Hurdlemakers is good to me - I'll bring a bigger saddlebag.

Route-wise, I might even go up the Danbury side of the Mighty Hill from Chelmo.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4877 on:** 25 March, 2014, 08:09:59 pm »

Excellent! We might be bringing some Witham Cycling chaps with us.

delthebike · « **Reply #4878 on:** 27 March, 2014, 09:06:23 am »

Surprise! It's me, I turned up and didn't get lost or fail to make the destination.

Cold riding, there and back, mist coming down, no wind to speak of but really quite cold indeed! Little other traffic and it was well behaved.
Arrived just before nine and Tomsk arrived soon after. After a few punctures OD's group came in, including huggy, Steve, Kevin and other Steve.
Much hilarity ensued and Alps holiday, PBP, Indi and coffee table sized books discussed. Volunteering to clear the verges post Le Tour coming through Essex was also a subject of mirth.
I fell off on the way home!

Getting past a closed road section I stumbled moving the bike from the road to a, brand new and very narrow, footway. Comically falling off into damp grass to my right. No damage so it's all good!
Two new(ish) forumites. One's Kevin and one of the aforementioned Steve's.

huggy · « **Reply #4879 on:** 27 March, 2014, 09:21:21 am »

Quote from: delthebike on 27 March, 2014, 09:06:23 am

Two new(ish) forumites. One's Kevin and one of the aforementioned Steve's.

Don't they make a lovely couple with the table centre dressing setting them off well

Well done for waiting in the right pub, Del! At least you had Tomsk to keep you company until we rolled in from our shortened ride. It was an evening of incident what with your close inspection of a grass verge and (unpictured) Steve's double blow-out after hitting a nasty pothole travelling downhill at pace

Apart from a couple of kittens being murdered there was a good quantity of Old Oaky consumed in honour of our absent baby-sitting companion, some Wibblers Winter Warmer was an interesting pint too.
On the stroke of midnight and being about half a mile from home the 50p in the street light meter ran out and the Witham town roads were plunged in to country road style darkness, fortunately we had lights.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4880 on:** 27 March, 2014, 10:41:26 am »

In many ways it was an excellent evening, mainly because we introduced some new riders to our merry gang and its always a pleasure to see the too often absent Del

The puncture situation was not so excellent. Here we see Steve B discovering Hamsterskins are no match for your average mid-Essex lane ...

Then as we descended Riffhams Chase Steve G hit a very nasty pothole puncturing both tyres in spectacular fashion. He was very lucky to stay on his bike but has damaged at least one wheel. It could have been a much nastier incident. I have reported the pothole using the CTC Fill That Hole app so hopefully it will get fixed soon.

Oros70 · « **Reply #4881 on:** 27 March, 2014, 12:48:22 pm »

It was good to get out last night for a mid week ride.It is totally different riding in the dark. also good to meet new people tom and del.Hope to get out again soon on one of your little rides to the pub.I only killed 3 kittens many more to go.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4882 on:** 27 March, 2014, 12:55:02 pm »

Poster seen at the Chappel beer fest ...

Git!

Oros70 · « **Reply #4883 on:** 27 March, 2014, 03:38:54 pm »

Me a git more like a

off to the pub for a nice cool lager it is then

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4884 on:** 27 March, 2014, 04:05:39 pm »

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4885 on:** 30 March, 2014, 10:55:14 pm »

On Saturday, at Auntie Helen's leaving do, Tomsk and I discussed the target pub for this Wednesday evening's outing. We came up with the Flitch of Bacon at Little Dunmow. What do we all think?

Oaky · « **Reply #4886 on:** 31 March, 2014, 02:33:59 pm »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 30 March, 2014, 10:55:14 pm

What do we all think?

... that you can't possibly be suggesting that we ride down the Flitch way on the way there or back on the grounds that it has way too good a surface to be one of your routes?

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4887 on:** 31 March, 2014, 03:00:29 pm »

So, can we go on the Flitch Way or not?

huggy · « **Reply #4888 on:** 31 March, 2014, 06:44:43 pm »

I'll hopefully be ready for a 7:30 departure (I have to go to That London during the day).
I'm inclined to introduce Vicky to the Flitch Way as she has cyclo-cross breading, just hope the hamsterskins appreciate it

Tomsk · « **Reply #4889 on:** 31 March, 2014, 08:38:02 pm »

I'll meet you all somewhere en-route, but I'll enjoy the shortest ride home since we went to Stebbing last year....

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4890 on:** 31 March, 2014, 08:45:18 pm »

I have news that some of you might find quite shocking. Are you sitting down?

Oaky has given a green light to the Flitch Way. Yes, I know!

Oaky · « **Reply #4891 on:** 01 April, 2014, 12:42:40 pm »

I should be OK for a 7:30 start.

I will be bringing an appropriately shod bicycle.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4892 on:** 01 April, 2014, 01:11:42 pm »

My plan is to fettle a route for your derision tomorrow morning.

huggy · « **Reply #4893 on:** 01 April, 2014, 03:11:30 pm »

Here's a starter for 10 - http://bikeroutetoaster.com/BRTWebUI/Course/643883
Obviously it being a BRT route there will be comedy off road sections that have not been vetted but we'll be suitably equipped anyway

I reckon a 9:30 to 9:45 arrival at The Flitch of Bacon.

Tomsk · « **Reply #4894 on:** 01 April, 2014, 09:41:09 pm »

Thinks: meet you all somewhere en-route in Braintree - station? Or.....looks like you're going past the Three Ashes in Cressing?

huggy · « **Reply #4895 on:** 01 April, 2014, 10:42:53 pm »

Or maybe The Wagon & Horses??

Auntie Helen · « **Reply #4896 on:** 02 April, 2014, 07:13:10 am »

Rumour has it there was some talk of the Midweek lot visiting me in Germany.

It's just 135 miles from the Hook of Holland (by motorway, bike route might be shorter) so that looks like a nice audax!

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4897 on:** 02 April, 2014, 07:24:11 am »

Quote from: Auntie Helen on 02 April, 2014, 07:13:10 am

Rumour has it there was some talk of the Midweek lot visiting me in Germany.

It's just 135 miles from the Hook of Holland (by motorway, bike route might be shorter) so that looks like a nice audax!

This is a possibility, its a nice idea. Speaking personally I can't see it happening this year as I am rapidly running out of holiday but others might not be so restricted.

So returning to this week and our more humble plans. How about me and Huggy meeting at the end of my road (Brain Rd) at 7:30 and then scooping Oaky up at the Jack & Jenny (as was)?

huggy · « **Reply #4898 on:** 02 April, 2014, 09:28:21 am »

Quote from: Oscar's dad on 02 April, 2014, 07:24:11 am

How about me and Huggy meeting at the end of my road (Brain Rd) at 7:30 and then scooping Oaky up at the Jack & Jenny (as was)?

If you notice on the planned & published & shared route we cunningly ride down Maltings Lane (past the end of Elgar Drive where Oaky doesn't live) before heading off to Wickham Bishops, so the scooping could be done at the end of Elgar Drive or Oaky Towers, at about 7:40 depending on how kind the lights are.

Oscar's dad · « **Reply #4899 on:** 02 April, 2014, 09:45:01 am »

You don't just chuck this stuff together do you?

Top notch plan, I shall simply follow you!