Mid-Essex Mid-Week Nocturnal Series

[Oscar's dad]

Where did I put the earplugs.

I haven't used the speaker for a few years... its louder than I remember 

I remember one year, we cruised around the Hurrell's Lane ford and the doggers really enjoyed the Christmas tunes.

[Nick]

Sorry, mechanical is still mechanicaling so not out. Kisses will have to wait

[Tomsk]

Anyone daft enough to go out this Wednesday?

I'm waiting for new Marathon Winters - went to fit the old pair, (unused since the Beast from the East in 2018 I think), and found the rust and wear n'tear on the bead of one is terminal. It showed a pronounced bulge in the sidewall once inflated. I must have got them in about 2010 and have had a fair bit of icy/snowy fun on them. Neither are that worn, just a few studs missing, so I'll keep the other as a spare - perhaps the duff one was imperfectly made to start with, as it is now so unserviceable? At least the 'obsolete' 26 inch mtb ones are half the price of more up-to-date sizes!

[huggy]

Think I’ll pass on the sub-zero ice dodging this week 

[Tomsk]

Somewhere on a gritted route?

Cross Keys, White Notley maybe?

Plenty of others, but looking at the Essex Highways map, there's an issue with the gaping hole west from Witham or NE from Chelmsford.

[JellyLegs]

I might be tempted to venture out though everything and everyone tells me that it would be slightly unhinged.

[BFC]

I have confirmed the Marathon Winters (240 stud, 35x700c) work on icy tarmac, firmly compacted snow, unsquashed snow (hard work). When the snow is sort of squashed/part melted but not firm enough it's like steering on deep gravel as the slush puppy randomly crumbles under the tyres.

[Lightning Phil]

The Continental Contact Winters are also good on anything barring sheet ice and refrozen lumpy stuff.

[Tomsk]

Re: M Winters, anything resembling a rut or lump can deflect your wheels as well as any muddy/solid obstacle on conventional tyres, slick or knobbly. I've ridden carefully on sheet ice before on them and the steering just felt weird, but I avoided braking!

Looks like little enthusuasm for a ride tonight ...

[Nick]

I think I'll keep it local or just stay in tonight. I did fix the mechanical from last week though

[Oscar's dad]

I'm not available this evening I'm afraid, might be OK for next week though.  I think huggy was talking about a soiree at Huggy Towers but I may have dreamt that bit.

[huggy]

Looks like little no enthusiasm for a ride tonight ...

...at least not from me

[GavinC]

I'm not around tonight or I might have been tempted since I've now fitted the studded tyres to my MTB...

[Tomsk]

No Marathon Winters yet, ho hum. Next week should be ok!

[BFC]

No Marathon Winters yet, ho hum. Next week should be ok!

They are traditional wire bead and bulky - they don't pack down small for postage so delays in the current postal situation and weather is not a surprise.

[Snotty Gilbert]

Not out tonight.  Its still very frozen here, getting out of my road is bad in a car, so I think TMNH would be a step too far for a person with "special" balance skills.....

[JellyLegs]

You lot are far too sensible.  I shall have to stay ensconced in front of the log burner, with an early Xmas present of a small bottle of 12 year old Macallan then.  I am so disappointed. 

[Lightning Phil]

You lot are far too sensible.  I shall have to stay ensconced in front of the log burner, with an early Xmas present of a small bottle of 12 year old Macallan then.  I am so disappointed. 

Don’t worry there’s a few mad ones out today over in Hertfordshire . Average -2C and minimum -4C during outing.

[GavinC]

The Continental Contact Winters are also good on anything barring sheet ice and refrozen lumpy stuff.

What tyre are you using on the front Phil?

[Lightning Phil]

The Continental Contact Winters are also good on anything barring sheet ice and refrozen lumpy stuff.

What tyre are you using on the front Phil?

The Schwalbe Marathon GT-365, which has been replaced with the Marathon 365.  I have it in 40-406 size.  The rear is a Continental Contact Winter in 37-622 size.  I’m running front at 40 psi, and rear at 50 psi.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/marathon-365

They are not studded, so beware of pure clear ice, but on ice mixed with snow (opaque ish) they are great.  They use a mix of rubber compound and sipes to grip cold and snowy surfaces.  I’m still seeking out primarily gritted routes for my outings with about 6km of snow and ice yesterday out of 37km.

Here they are after yesterday’s outing

[GavinC]

The Schwalbe Marathon GT-365, which has been replaced with the Marathon 365.  I have it in 40-406 size.  The rear is a Continental Contact Winter in 37-622 size.  I’m running front at 40 psi, and rear at 50 psi.

https://www.schwalbe.com/en/tour-reader/marathon-365

Cheers   I’ve used the Conti Contact Winters in 700c before and been impressed with them, but didn’t know there was a similar tyre available in 20”.

[psyclist]

Cheers   I’ve used the Conti Contact Winters in 700c before and been impressed with them, but didn’t know there was a similar tyre available in 20”.

I used to think 20" was a precise measurement, until I learnt it can mean 406mm, 440mm and 451mm. Nothing like a common standard!

[GavinC]

I used to think 20" was a precise measurement, until I learnt it can mean 406mm, 440mm and 451mm. Nothing like a common standard!

Yes along with three different 26” tyre sizes, three 24” sizes, two 16” sizes. And that’s not to mention 17” tyres at 369mm being bigger than 18” (355mm) 

[Tomsk]

Curry on Wednesday ... ?

[huggy]

Curry on Wednesday ... ?

Yep, where??