FNRttC Southend Ride Friday 10th March 2017

[Fab Foodie]

I was in Faversham yesterday, gone by lunchtime though. Congrats on a huge mileage, is that a personal best?

Thanks!
No, thats 122 miles or close, while my PB is 150. Has I got to deal I would have just eclipsed it I think. Another day :-)

Damn those Sustran routes!

 

[ianrauk]

It was great to be back with the FNR's again after I took a break from it last year. Only doing two rides (Whitstable and Shoreham).
The new meeting place is far better imvho. Nice and easy to get to. Lot's of space, fantastic river bank views and interesting nightlife.
Great to see so many old chums and even better to see lots of new ones.

The ride out of London is a tedious but necessary process, not helped by potential murdering bus drivers, and disgraceful acting police.

The weather was on the right side of just about not too cold.. so the pair of glove liners and woollen gloves were superfluous, sticking to fingerless gloves the whole night, and as mentioned above, the stop at Dartford was a little too long, but I did manage to get myself a funny colour ice cream, but not managing to taste it much due to ongoing sinus problems.

The new brekkie place in Southend was a marvellous addition to the ride. After so many years of the (sorry to say it) awful Rose. The Beaches was fantastic. Great location, great views, more then enough space, great friendly staff and great food. Well done @AKA Bob for finding it.

The SMRbtH was an awesome wind assisted affair home, helped lead out man @rb58 , @sagefly and @StuartG . Pushed along the A1013 at a fantastic rate of knots. Meaning we got to the Dartford Crossing in record time. A quick turn up of the transfer vehicle and we were back in Kentishire. Saying cheerio to Ross in Bexley I escorted Stuart through the backed up traffic streets of SE London to Bromley where we parted and I headed for home to a cup of tea, a hyperactive 7 year old and an hour in bed.

So thanks everyone, regular customers and new. It was a great night ride. See you for Whitstable.

120 miles on the door.

 

[ianrauk]

PS.. how fantastic was the view of Hannigfield Reservoir at that time of the morning? Did anyone take a pic?

 

[sagefly]

Great start to the 2017 FNRttC season, well researched route thanks Titus and Co, good TEC work by Martin who I will need to catch up with on his Pilbara adventures, finding out more about Australia from Gordon at J31 all good things.

Highlights great to see a load of new Fridayers to bolster the numbers, wonderful to learn that there are Friday night shoes available, Jenny has details, and a massive uprating in destination at Southend, great breakfast plenty of space and quick service.

A first SMRbtH for me, thanks to Ross, Ian and Stuart for the navigation to the fabled A13 variation!

I'll miss Whitstable, sorry Tim it's my favourite Fridays ride, but back for Mays edition, where ever the destination is!

 

[rb58]

The SMRbtH was an awesome wind assisted affair home,

I think you'll find it was the awesome power in my legs ;-)

 

[mmmmartin]

need to catch up with on his Pilbara adventures

In a nutshell, @sagefly : hot, dangerous, rough, painful and tiring. Working in the Australian desert was fun but everything's trying to kill you: a bit like a long audax, really.

 

[sagefly]

Not everything is trying to kill you, but everything has the ability to do do if you don't pay attention!!

 

[AKA Bob]

A fly through of the route including pictures courtesy of Mark Woollard

https://www.relive.cc/view/895366108

 

[Douggie954]

As a first timer I thought it was great. Brilliant organisation, a great route and best of all a warm welcome from everyone taking part. Can't wait for the next one although I hope to have some better lights.

 

[mmmmartin]

I hope to have some better lights.

@Douggie954 it's not necessary to go overboard - here is what the FNRttC has to say about lights.
Something with 100 lumens can be bought for twenty quid-ish, what's important is that it lasts all night - so you might want to shun things that involve recharging and go for a light that takes AA batteries so you can carry spares and pop them in when the light starts to fade. A spare on the front provides security in case Light A dies, and you can switch it on for extra light during a fast decent.
For being seen from behind you might want a light that can be switched to "non-flashing" mode and also to have some reflective strips on your clothes: by far the best and the cheapest way of doing this is the ubiquitous cheap high-viz yellow vest. You can spend more on this if you want to look trendy but it won't show up any more and it won't make you go any faster.

 

[StuartG]

I think you'll find it was the awesome power in my legs ;-)

And for some of us - the suction ...

 

[Salty seadog]

Thanks!
No, thats 122 miles or close, while my PB is 150. Has I got to deal I would have just eclipsed it I think. Another day :-)

Damn those Sustran routes!

Chapeau all the same mate.

 

[Twizit]

As another first timer, further thanks to extend here to Titus for leading a great ride, and all others involved in the organisation. Been meaning to make it along to one of the FNRttC's for some time now and really enjoyed this as a first time out. Apologies for not being able to stay around for breakfast, sounds like I missed out. Had to make do with a quick coffee and flapjack on the train back to Fenchurch.

Bizarrely felt fine and awake through most of Saturday, but didn't half crash early into the evening!!

Look forward to the next one I can make.

 

[Fab Foodie]

A little more info....

Firstly my route. In future I'll get more advice from those who know, but I made my return based on Sustrans and points of interest. What I should have done was taken @ianrauk route out of Sarfend and then dropped down to the ferry at Tilbury. Then I should of have got @Trickedem route to Whitstable. However such is the folly of the inexperienced. Next time I'll start with a map and work from there rather than plotting software!
Anyway, here are the stats.
View: https://ridewithgps.com/trips/13367408


Some Polaroids....

 

[Fab Foodie]

Photos of the return trip....