FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast 18th March to Southend-on-Sea 2011

[Aperitif]

Now now Nigel...
I'm not sitting near you at breakfast, that's for sure; Nigelbought182

Don't for heaven's sake turn up on the Friday night with mudguards lashed on...whatever next!!

 

[dellzeqq]

Adam B
Adrian C
Adrian S
Alex B
Andrew B
Andrij B
Andy B
Andy M
Anne H
Carl P
Charlie B
Chris B
Christophe P
Claudine C
Clive B
Clive P
Dan B
David W
Edmar G
Howard S
Jenny M
Jens T
John E
John G
Jon D
Jonathan Z
Joy O
User10571 B
Lan-Lan S
Luke C
Marilyn B
Marna G
Martin B
Martin B
Martin F
Martin T
Nigel C
Nigel W
Olaf S
Phil C
Rebecca O-B
Richard S
Ross C
Simon A
Sonia W
Stephen T
Steve R
Stuart A
Stuart G
Susie F
Tanya G
Tessa H
Tim D
Tim H
Tim O
Titus H
Tom R

 

[dellzeqq]

tarantara!!!

new route!

no junction 31!

refreshments in village hall!

miles more open countryside!

hooray!

 

[Aperitif]

I kinda liked the abject misery scenario...I'll have to make do with just my everyday life now...

 

[dellzeqq]

fear not - we'll go through Romford.

And......added Splash n' Dash loo stop at Tescos in Seven Kings! So your cup won't runneth over!

 

[StuAff]

tarantara!!!

new route!

no junction 31!

refreshments in village hall!

miles more open countryside!

hooray!

Excellent news indeed.

 

[Aperitif]

In Praise of J31

It was special to cycle across those massive letters drawn on the road in white paint.

 

[dellzeqq]

it was - but wouldn't you rather be rocking up to a village hall where the sandwiches (ham or cheese!) are ready and waiting, the cake sliced, the tea there to be poured, and all the proceeds go to a prostate cancer charity?

 

[StuAff]

it was - but wouldn't you rather be rocking up to a village hall where the sandwiches (ham or cheese!) are ready and waiting, the cake sliced, the tea there to be poured, and all the proceeds go to a prostate cancer charity?

I certainly would!

 

[rb58]

tarantara!!!

new route!

no junction 31!

refreshments in village hall!

miles more open countryside!

hooray!

Excellent!

I had (just) cause to be over those parts yesterday, so hopefully the new route avoids the A13 stretch from Tarpots and up Bread and Cheese hill as I couldn't help but notice that the road surface bore more resemblance to a moonscape than something you'd like to ride a bike over. It was dreadful. And any SMRbth-ers will need to take extra care if going down said hill as it's just as bad going the other way.

 

[dellzeqq]

no Tarpots, no Bread and Cheese Hill!

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm sure we'll return to the mean streets of Purfleet some time or other.

 

[theclaud]

tarantara!!!

new route!

no junction 31!

refreshments in village hall!

miles more open countryside!

hooray!

Oooooooooooooooohhhh!

When talking to nervous new recruits, is it still more-or-less accurate to describe the route as "flat"?

 

[theclaud]

Of course it is, provided that later on you are prepared to defend a comparison with something distinctly unflat like the Raid Pyrenean or some route round the Black Mountains.

A friend of mine is quite keen to come along - she is the only person I know to refer to a very slight 20-metre incline on Swansea's otherwise pancake-flat seafront path as "Blackpill Hill"...

 

[theclaud]

Ah, if honesty is required that is a different matter.

Perish the thought! I'm just contemplating the approach that's best for morale...