adamski
Guru
On Saturday 1st April 2023 Audax Club Mid-Essex will again be offering up 100 km + 200 km rides from Manningtree train station and there'll also be the option to start the 200 in Buntingford (Herts). The great thing about the Manningtree start is the easy access on train from London Liverpool St., Stratford, Essex and Stowmarket, Diss & Norfolk. Plus there's a massive car park. Oh and the station buffet at the station is great and they serve beer.
Details of the rides are below
Essex and Suffolk Estuaries 100
The 100 km ride will start from Manningtree train station and head eastwards out to Harwich, with great views of Felixstowe and Shotley pennisular. Herman Ramsey, who set up a lot of the original Manningtree rides, will be stamping cards in Harwich. The ride then loops back along the Stour estuary to Manningtree. The second part crosses into Suffolk to do a 50 km loop around the Shotley pennisula. There's great views across the Stour estuary to view where you've just been and more views of the Felixstowe port and the Orwell Bridge. There'll be a control at the Suffolk Food Hall before a little bit along some traffic concrete roads to skirt the edge of Ipswich. The finish will be back at Manningtree station. If you're getting the train home then you'll be able to get a beer or two from the fantastic Station buffet.
Outline of the route
Essex and Suffolk Borders BRM / PBP 200
This ride will start out from Manningtree station and head westwards following the Sour valley and crossing in and out of Essex and Suffolk via some beautiful villages. The first control will be a catered checkpoint at Great Chishill windmill in Cambridgeshire from where there's stunning views. That first leg is around 85 km, but don't worry as there's plenty of places to stop en route if needed, including Sible Hedingham, Finchingfield and Saffron Walden. It's then a short hop to Buntingford (Hertfordshire), which is the westernmost point of the ride. The return leg goes a different route, but again through some amazing villages. There'll be a commercial control in Lavenham and then a final ~30 km section through Dedham Vale AONB back to Manningtree station.
Alternative E&SB BRM / PBP 200
This is essentially the reverse of the Essex & Suffolk Borders 200, but starting from a car park in Buntingford,. For anyone living Hertfordshire way you can complete the ride without having to first travel over to Manningtree.
The route of the 200:
Details of the rides are below
Essex and Suffolk Estuaries 100
The 100 km ride will start from Manningtree train station and head eastwards out to Harwich, with great views of Felixstowe and Shotley pennisular. Herman Ramsey, who set up a lot of the original Manningtree rides, will be stamping cards in Harwich. The ride then loops back along the Stour estuary to Manningtree. The second part crosses into Suffolk to do a 50 km loop around the Shotley pennisula. There's great views across the Stour estuary to view where you've just been and more views of the Felixstowe port and the Orwell Bridge. There'll be a control at the Suffolk Food Hall before a little bit along some traffic concrete roads to skirt the edge of Ipswich. The finish will be back at Manningtree station. If you're getting the train home then you'll be able to get a beer or two from the fantastic Station buffet.
Outline of the route
Essex and Suffolk Borders BRM / PBP 200
This ride will start out from Manningtree station and head westwards following the Sour valley and crossing in and out of Essex and Suffolk via some beautiful villages. The first control will be a catered checkpoint at Great Chishill windmill in Cambridgeshire from where there's stunning views. That first leg is around 85 km, but don't worry as there's plenty of places to stop en route if needed, including Sible Hedingham, Finchingfield and Saffron Walden. It's then a short hop to Buntingford (Hertfordshire), which is the westernmost point of the ride. The return leg goes a different route, but again through some amazing villages. There'll be a commercial control in Lavenham and then a final ~30 km section through Dedham Vale AONB back to Manningtree station.
Alternative E&SB BRM / PBP 200
This is essentially the reverse of the Essex & Suffolk Borders 200, but starting from a car park in Buntingford,. For anyone living Hertfordshire way you can complete the ride without having to first travel over to Manningtree.
The route of the 200:
