CycleChat Ride - 2 May - Manningtree/Colchester/Tiptree (i.e. north-east Essex)

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Sig, I'm still working on Mrs KH for this ride however should know by Monday. Let me know if you're doing the ride and want to go for a 100 - we could arrange a convenient starting point. I can get to East London quite easily, etc. We could possibly meet up with 'tif or some of the others on the way in.

Can't you use the Jedi mind trick my kids seem use this on me to get things they want
I will be doing this ride Chris and would like to do 100 so keep me posted

 

[ChrisKH]

Can't you use the Jedi mind trick my kids seem use this on me to get things they want
I will be doing this ride Chris and would like to do 100 so keep me posted

Jedi mind tricks. Wondered how they did it.

I would like to do a 100, it's just whether my body will let me.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Have chatted with my neighbours about suitable breakfast locations (as requested by Aperitif) and they all agreed that the cafe at Manningtree station is rather fine and should do a good job of refuelling the long-distance cyclists before the main ride starts. (Yes, folks, Aperitif, ilovebikes and arallsopp are all planning to cycle to the start).

For the rest of you, I think the train that gets you to Manningtree at 11:00 on Saturday would be a good choice! Those who are driving get to choose whether to come to mine first and cycle a bit more (TheDoctor has already confirmed he is doing this; PM me if you want to have the extra 5 miles each way and park for free).

I will look Monday or Tuesday at producing the definitive route. I'm still toying with taking us on a whizzy fast dual carriageway briefly which cuts out a nasty hill or two, or whether some of you might not like it. I find the dual carriageway fine but if anyone is nervous about cycling on such a road, let me know and I'll go for the alternative.

 

[ChrisKH]

Can't you use the Jedi mind trick my kids seem use this on me to get things they want
I will be doing this ride Chris and would like to do 100 so keep me posted

Well after much negotiation (Mrs KH wants to go all day shopping to Bluewater on Saturday to spend her birthday money), late night stand off's and short periods of huffiness and not talking (from me mainly ) I have managed to secure a pass and Mrs KH has kindly put off her shopping trip to Sunday. Secured, would you believe, on the back of there being a small entry on the kitchen calendar for this ride. No written advance warning of the aforesaid shopping trip means the calendar entry takes precendent. The fact that it was written at midnight on Friday is neither here nor there.

So, let's just wait for Auntie's route to see what we need to add on to make the magic figure (weather permitting).

 

[Auntie Helen]

I am still faffing over one small part of the route (and I may reserve the right to take Plan B for that section on the day if I think it would be wise) but will try to do the almost-definitive route later today.

I expect you, ChrisKH, to buy Mrs KH a lovely bunch of flowers and some choccies for letting you go out to play with a bunch of weird cyclists.

Sig (& Chris), are you doing the 100 by cycling home or are you wanting to do the 100 with me (there is some talk of this, of us extending the route for those who want to do some more, but 'tis not entirely confirmed)?

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Sig (& Chris), are you doing the 100 by cycling home or are you wanting to do the 100 with me (there is some talk of this, of us extending the route for those who want to do some more, but 'tis not entirely confirmed)?

Not sure whats the best to do i think its about 70ish miles from me,if people are cycling back I will do that.

Well done Chris,my husband tried to book up a band rehearsal for saturday,there were raised voices [from me] when i pointed out that the ride was written on the calendar ages ago,so NO I WASN'T GOING TO BE AT HOME

 

[ChrisKH]

Not sure whats the best to do i think its about 70ish miles from me,if people are cycling back I will do that.

Well done Chris,my husband tried to book up a band rehearsal for saturday,there were raised voices [from me] when i pointed out that the ride was written on the calendar ages ago,so NO I WASN'T GOING TO BE AT HOME

I'm glad to see we're not the only ones who struggle with childcare, etc.

Auntie H, Mrs. KH was very spoilt this weekend as it is her birthday. I think this swung it, partly. It certainly wasn't me impersonating our tired six year old after too much sugar that did it.

PS I'm easy with when I do the miles - before during or after, so can fit in with everyone else. I need to take a detailed look at the map, in the next day or so. I must admit, I didn't realise the start point was that far from Sig or me.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

I'm glad to see we're not the only ones who struggle with childcare, etc.


I'm easy with when I do the miles - before during or after, so can fit in with everyone else. I need to take a detailed look at the map, in the next day or so. I must admit, I didn't realise the start point was that far from Sig or me.

Chris can you check the distance i did this quickly yesterday so may be totally wrong.i don't know wether its best to go up by train[so as not to be late] then cycle home or could cycle with Chris back to Benfleet then catch train to upminster.
We need a plan

 

[Auntie Helen]

Chris can you check the distance i did this quickly yesterday so may be totally wrong.i don't know wether its best to go up by train[so as not to be late] then cycle home or could cycle with Chris back to Benfleet then catch train to upminster.
We need a plan

Benfleet from Manningtree is about 46 miles (I did this route last Tuesday) so that would give you 90ish in total for the day.

 

[ChrisKH]

Chris can you check the distance i did this quickly yesterday so may be totally wrong.i don't know wether its best to go up by train[so as not to be late] then cycle home or could cycle with Chris back to Benfleet then catch train to upminster.
We need a plan

Actually, I think you're probably right to tack the miles onto the end rather than at the beginning, as it gives you an opt out option should it prove all too much on the day! Colchester to Hornchurch is 70 KM so add this on to the day ride and you're up into the 90-96 + miles zone. Easy enough to pootle around to make it to a 100? We could tag along behind the London/Bromley (the Kent ones, if any) returners towards Hornchurch/Romford and I can get a train from anywhere in East London home. What do you think?

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

Actually, I think you're probably right to tack the miles onto the end rather than at the beginning, as it gives you an opt out option should it prove all too much on the day! Colchester to Hornchurch is 70 KM so add this on to the day ride and you're up into the 90-96 + miles zone. Easy enough to pootle around to make it to a 100? We could tag along behind the London/Bromley (the Kent ones, if any) returners towards Hornchurch/Romford and I can get a train from anywhere in East London home. What do you think?

sounds like a good plan.
my main concern with cycling there was that i would be late for the start

 

[ChrisKH]

sounds like a good plan.
my main concern with cycling there was that i would be late for the start

Indeedy.

Any idea of train times from Romford? I will probably be going Benfleet-Upminster, Upminster-Romford, Romford-Manningtree if that train route is viable. I know the Upminster-Romford trains run every 15-20 mins or so. Presumable no problems putting bikes on the train for the latter two connections?

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

train times from romford are either 9.50 or 10.02 . push and pull train [upminster to romford] run twice an hour 24mins and 54mins past the hour or you could cycle from upminster to romford

 

[topcat1]

Can i come! I guess i'll be taking the train down and riding back.

 

[Sig SilverPrinter]

hi topcat be aware that trains to manningtree are starting from ilford station as there are engineering works between liverpool st and ilford