Yet Another Cycling Forum
General Category => Audax => Topic started by: Tomsk on 27 November, 2023, 09:58:59 am
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We talked about this recently, but following a prod from psyclist ...
I'm looking at towards the end of the week after Christmas including Saturday 30th December for a 'Betweenmas' perm. See what the weather is doing a pick a reasonable day - so that's Thursday 28th/Friday 29th/Saturday 30th December kept free on the calendar for now.
What and where? Well, in recent years we've done a Boudicca 200 (2018); Richard Ellis Memorial 100 (Christmas Eve 2021); DIY 110 Hopstock (2021); Bricks and Moretaine 200 (2022).
A civilised option, with a later start after breakfast at 'Paradise' in Dunmow, is to just do a 100km. Then those wanting a 200 can devise their own DIY, including the 100km route.
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I was quite keen when we met last week but I have some physical issues that I'm attempting to resolve. Plenty of working bikes, though, for a change.
I will be available Thu/Fri/Sat although I would have a preference not to use the Sat if I don't need to. Route-wise I don't mind. I've not done Boudicca or Dick Turpin for a while.
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Thanks Tomsk.
I'll try to keep all dates clear, but may not be available for the 28th.
100km option sounds good ... or even a 150km route so we can go further afield.
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Sounds good.
I'll keep those days free.
Thanks Tomsk :thumbsup:
Owen
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We're busy on the 28th and 30th but would be up for one on the 29th.
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I've penciled in 28 or 29
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Bother, we have family Christmas commitments between 28th and 30th otherwise it would have been great to see you all especially if a 100km option was chosen.
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not sure on family commitments yet, but a 100km from Dunmow could be a possible.
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Bother, we have family Christmas commitments between 28th and 30th otherwise it would have been great to see you all especially if a 100km option was chosen.
We can have more than one ride! Maybe 27th Dec or early in the New Year?
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For some totally inexplicable reason, I stupidly volunteered to be the token presence in my dept on both the 28th and 29th this year. I might be tempted by a slow pootle round outside of those dates though.
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I'm now unavailable on 28th or 29th.
Ultimately I suspect the date(s) will come down to Tomsk's preference, and the weather.
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I'm now unavailable on 28th or 29th.
Ultimately I suspect the date(s) will come down to Tomsk's preference, and the weather.
I imagine so, unlikely to be able to find a date that works for all. I'll probably be at BIL's until the 26th and may have family at ours after that, so we'll just have to see.
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Probably the wrong thread but given the ‘last Wednesday of the month’ rule will we be at the Spiritual Home on the 27th ?
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Probably the wrong thread but given the ‘last Wednesday of the month’ rule will we be at the Spiritual Home on the 27th ?
Could do a 100/200km ride and then end up there? Still conditional on the weather of course ...
I can't now do 29th as we're off to a party for my lovely cousin Gilly's 70th birthday.
Tuesday 2nd January would work for me as an alternative/additional date.
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I'll be back to work on the 2nd :'(
100 / 200 ending at the compasses sounds good on the 27th (weather dependant)
Owen
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Travelling back from Lincs on the 27th so I can be at the pub in the evening but can't ride that day.
Free 28th/29th/30th but I'm also back at work on the 2nd.
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I’m also travelling back from Lincoln on the 27th so could head to the Compasses that evening but probably not ride during the day.
I’m free on the 28th and then not around til 7 Jan.
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27th is ok for me ... 200km would be spot on, or a late start 100km (like lunchtime, to end up at the Compasses for dinner).
I'm back at work on the 2nd. So other free days are 30th / 31st.
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I’m also travelling back from Lincoln on the 27th
I’d suggest meeting up for a ride but I’m not taking a bike this time.
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I’d suggest meeting up for a ride but I’m not taking a bike this time.
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I won’t have a bike either - we’re only up there for Boxing Day and coming back on the Wednesday. Ah well!
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Something might suit 27th or 28th. Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead. Other options available.
https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
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Something might suit 27th or 28th. Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead. Other options available.
https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?
For the group perm I'm suggesting a Boudicca's Revenge 100km, reversed. The advantage of this is there's the option of a gritted route for most of the first stage up to Haslingfield, via the B184 then the old A11 (B1383), then via Whittlesford to Newton and Harston. However the scenic route via Henham to Newport, then up into the hills from Littlebury, is much nicer.
Dunmow-Haslingfield 51km (scenic)/45km (minimum distance, B184 etc) elevenses at the Mohak café - need to check opening.
Haslingfield-Buntingford 26km lunch at The Bull pub/Buntingford Coffee shop - loads of other options, those are just favoured venues.
Buntingford-Dunmow 32km (minimum distance, preferred option via Furneux Pelham, Manuden, Elsenham and Great Easton is 35km).
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Something might suit 27th or 28th. Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead. Other options available.
https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?
I called in for a coffee and cake in the 398, the attached coffee shop, midweek a couple of weeks back. I was the only one in there for half the visit though they obviously get plenty of cyclists in there and were very welcoming. I definitely intend to return to try a bit more of their cake!
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Something might suit 27th or 28th. Maybe even a lunchtime meet up at a pub in the Herts / Essex / Cambridgeshire borderlands?
I can recommend the Woodman at Nuthampstead. Other options available.
https://www.woodmannuthampstead.com/
I've been to the Woodman many years ago on a CTC ride - maybe we'd need to book, but sounds like a good plan for a social meet-up in addition to the perm?
I called in for a coffee and cake in the 398, the attached coffee shop, midweek a couple of weeks back. I was the only one in there for half the visit though they obviously get plenty of cyclists in there and were very welcoming. I definitely intend to return to try a bit more of their cake!
CTC Cambridge (who I ride with) go to the Woodman/398 quite often - it is definitely worth booking ahead if there is likely to be a decent group. They've got better at catering in the last few months, but we did have some occasions earlier this year where they'd run out of cake! But they are very friendly, and lots of space for bikes round the back. Lovely lanes round there too - Anderson's Lane is one of my faves.
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Hopefully this will get a response . . . having read the ACME Tourdax article in Arrivee I'd be interested to ride it as a 3 day solo or small group ride next spring or summer - are there any route details available please? - map, route sheet, .gpx or whatever.
I used to live around Saffron Walden in the 1970s so a bit of deja vu.
Rob
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I will send you the route sheets if you pm me your email address.
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Would like to come if I can get away? Is it the 27th or 28th?
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Hopefully this will get a response . . . having read the ACME Tourdax article in Arrivee I'd be interested to ride it as a 3 day solo or small group ride next spring or summer - are there any route details available please? - map, route sheet, .gpx or whatever.
Next year's tourdax is in the Calendar around 12th April. Same idea - 3 linked rides with different end-to-start making a loop, and rail accessible; different route though.
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Would like to come if I can get away? Is it the 27th or 28th?
I'm watching the forecast as mentioned upthread. Either would suit me, with perhaps 27th the first option but we'll pick the best day, once we reckon the forecast is trustworthy.
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I will send you the route sheets if you pm me your email address.
Done - and received - thanks!
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This morning I had a tootle round Boudicca's Revenge 100km (reversed), with a few bonus kms checking out some interesting alternative routes. 119km in total for me. (107km on the brevet, usually more like 110 depending on how closely you stick to the routesheet.)
The Mohak Café in Haslingfield haven't finalised their holiday opening times yet and I was told they may possibly shut between Christmas and New Year. An alternative venue might be Day's farm shop and café at Newton, a handfull of kms before you get to Haslingfield (which was at pretty much 50km for me). They are open normal hours from 27th Dec. There are many, many alternative routes along/parallel with the Cam valley, depending on how you feel about hills/grotty lanes/the old A11.
In Buntingford, the Coffee Shop will be open after Christmas, but with slightly reduced opening hours. It's likely we'll be there early afternoon. There's also a branch of Days here, but I can't see a pub that serves food, so I reckon Haslingfield/Newton will be the main brunch/lunch stop at just under half-way, with a tea and cake stop in Buntingford.
The very leaky lanes from Buntingford to Manuden were as waterlogged as ever - lots of minor floods, gravel, mud and potholes to keep you alert! I'm reckoning on a 7 hour ride, (8h33 allowed, at 12.5kph!) with two leisurely feed stops, so we should be round in daylight.
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Just outside Fowlmere there is Amigos cafe on the right on the road to Shepreth. In Shepreth you have the large cafe in Dobbies (there last Sat); if you take left past the RSPB place it adds about 1km.
There’s the Three Tuns at Great Hormead does hot food. Again likely adds about a km assuming you’re routing via Hare Street, Furneax Pelham etc. I’ll be there next Thu if you want me to check their opening times after Christmas.
Is your plan Boudiccas Revenge 100, going anti clockwise, on Wed 27th or Thu 28th? Plus what time are you thinking of starting? A Buntingford start might work for me, join the group in Dunmow, ride round back to Buntingford to finish perm. Then head back home.
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Just outside Fowlmere there is Amigos cafe on the right on the road to Shepreth. In Shepreth you have the large cafe in Dobbies (there last Sat); if you take left past the RSPB place it adds about 1km.
Amigos are a bit flexible about opening times; Dobbies are a bit more reliable. Just up the road is Hot Numbers - very reliable, long opening hours, I would guess bound to be open. I'm told the coffee is excellent(I'm a tea drinker myself), but a bit pricey.
I will see how the family calendar goes, and hope to come and meet you!
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I favour the 27th, simply because it would make sense to move on to the Compasses for the new tradition of last Wednesday of the month at the Spiritual Home. Still weather dependant - if Thursday is better I'd like to ride then.
Riding Boudicca 100km reversed, but with the proviso that there may be merit in staying on B roads as far as Whittlesford if sub-zero. After that then via Shepreth to Fowlmere (better crossing of the A10, though a tad further), then via Barkway to Buntingford. The usual route from there to Manuden via Furneux Pelham, then either round the airport perimeter route to Bambers Green, (easier in the dark and much less skoggy) or Pledgedon Green, Brick End, Little Easton to Dunmow.
Looks like there are lots of other lunch option on/near the route at the northern end. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll bear all this in mind!
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I can’t ride on the 27th but I should be in the pub in the evening.
If the ride experiences any slippage I’m available 28th/29th. I’ll probably do some perms in an attempt to get myself back on track.
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Looks like there are lots of other lunch option on/near the route at the northern end. Thanks for the suggestions, I'll bear all this in mind!
I can recommend The Stove in Bourn west of Cambridge - a wide range of top hot and cold food, excellent coffee, and they have their own bakery. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating.
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Strike the Three Tuns, Great Hormead. plus Beehive, Hare Street. Neither doing food today and not likely next week.
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27th is looking rather suboptimal at the moment, except for those with webbed feet.
But then we're in a changeable weather pattern currently, so who knows what it'll be like as the forecast is bound to change over the coming days.
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I've plotted a reversed route by reading the route sheet backwards. I've added a Newton variation, which means Chapel hill just from Haslingfield side. This also means you route past the village shop if the cafe isn't open. I haven't routed past Dobbies, Shepreth but can do if that becomes the cafe stop.
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/course/241887078
This variation starts / finishes Buntingford, as that's where I'll be joining leaving the perm. Plan is a 6:30am start (from home) to meet you at Paradise cafe for 9am.
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For others who need the route, it's in RwGPS at https://acme.bike/events/boudiccas-revenge-p100/ (https://acme.bike/events/boudiccas-revenge-p100/)
Will need to reverse it, but that's just a button press. Also need to reflect any route changes know in advance re the stops.
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Ha, that explains why I couldn't find it on tomsk.co.uk. To be honest unless the group gets separated, I'll likely have the routing turned off anyway. It's all pretty much familiar territory.
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Just noticed the countdown timer on ACME site for 7pm tomorrow. What is happening then in Essexland?
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is 27th a definite? I'm good for that, returning home on 26th, would just like a deffo Y/N
Assume from Tomsk Towers, 10am start?
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is 27th a definite? I'm good for that, returning home on 26th, would just like a deffo Y/N
Assume from Tomsk Towers, 10am start?
It’s not a definite. It’s weather dependent. Tomsk will no doubt advise in due course, but currently 28th is looking more favourable weather wise.
The usual plan is to meet in Paradise Cafe.
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I'd like to do this but will depend on weather and a couple of other things I have in the diary.
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is 27th a definite? I'm good for that, returning home on 26th, would just like a deffo Y/N
Assume from Tomsk Towers, 10am start?
It’s not a definite. It’s weather dependent. Tomsk will no doubt advise in due course, but currently 28th is looking more favourable weather wise.
The usual plan is to meet in Paradise Cafe.
I'm OK either day.
Is that cafe also in Dunmow? - My forum name says it all, I'm not local
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Yes, it’s right by the War Memorial in the High Street.
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Currently Thursday 28th is looking more promising. Still a tad breezy though!
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I now have something we have to do on the afternoon of the 28th. I’ll head out on my own first thing.
So, if the perm is now Thursday is the pub night moving or is the pub night still Wednesday ?
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I’m planning Thu now as Wed looks a wash out
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I’m planning Thu now as Wed looks a wash out
Tomorrow I'll batten down the hatches and make my first batch of marmalade instead! Saturday 30th looks ok, so I might get a ride in then - won't be an early start though as we're going to my cousin's 70th birthday party in London the night before.
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I'm open either way, are we going for Saturday or Thursday for a larger group thing?
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I’m sticking with Thu as plan to ride with my wife on Sat. I’ll be aiming to hit Dunmow between 9am to 9:30am if anyone wants to join me. Likely do a cafe stop Dobbies, Shepreth.
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Thursday suits me for sure. Meet at 'Paradise' in Dunmow High Street for a start around 09:00-09:30. I'll be there for breakfast around 08:15. That means we'll get to Haslingfield at lunchtime, then have time for a cuppa at the next control in Buntingford.
If anyone is riding on a Boudicca 100km brevet and not a DIY, then it would save time if you bring a completed AUK entry form (generic entry forms are on the AUK website), though I'll have some with me too.
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:thumbsup: I’ll bring a completed form for the perm, plus I’ll have my Buntingford start receipt ;D
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I've been bed ridden over Christmas so won't be out riding on Thursday but I maybe we ok to go to the Compasses on Thursday evening.
I'll decide on the day.
Have a safe ride
Owen
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I've been bed ridden over Christmas so won't be out riding on Thursday but I maybe we ok to go to the Compasses on Thursday evening.
I'll decide on the day.
Have a safe ride
Owen
Get well soon Owen. I'm planning on heading to the Spiritual Home tomorrow evening for a bite to eat, post ride - arrival probably around 18:00, depending if I go home first.
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Tomsk, Mick Grey and myself. Thanks for organising and the company of yourselves. Definitely the better choice than yesterday. I decided to round my ride up above an imperial century in the end, some bonus headwind, but brought my riding up to 165km all told. A good day awheel.
I didn’t ECE it, which could have gained an extra 1/2 point :o Think I’ll survive ;D
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Tomsk, Mick Grey and myself. Thanks for organising and the company of yourselves. Definitely the better choice than yesterday. I decided to round my ride up above an imperial century in the end, some bonus headwind, but brought my riding up to 165km all told. A good day awheel.
I didn’t ECE it, which could have gained an extra 1/2 point :o Think I’ll survive ;D
:thumbsup: A very reasonable day weather-wise, though the strong westerly made the Haslingfield to Buntingford leg pretty tough, especially as there are some exposed draggy climbs up to Barley and Barkway. We seem to have avoided any rain, apart from a bit of drizzle for a minute or two on the climb out of Buntingford. I don't know why I cleaned my bike beforehand though, (for the first time in a couple of weeks), the lanes are still very grotty!
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Yes, a nice day out, thanks to Tomsk for fixing it:) for me the rain kicked in as I rode through the 160k mark, 3 miles from home. Probably ideal.