Well, that was interesting…
Evening got off to my favourite start when, despite work going to the 9.30 wire, I made the 9.38 train of choice (the next one is 10.08, so in plenty of time, just less plenty...). This is definitely not a given, it's a race against time, so nice to win it. So, mobile changing room it was, followed by the first of the evening's meal deals. The train slightly undid my efforts by being late into Waterloo by five or six minutes, but that left plenty of time for nattering with
@AKA Bob who was already at the Costa, before we made our way to the NT. A somewhat depleted peloton awaited us, quite a few people deciding the mild ambient moistness forecast was reason sufficient to bail. A few more decided to call a halt in the early stages. Whereas in my case it was more a case of: Choose a bike with mudguards. Pack the rain trousers. Ride. This ride did not really register on the toughometer. For those of you not familiar with the toughometer, here it is courtesy of
@anothersam
The numbers of regulars or at least one or two rides under their belt was a bit low. Fortunately, plenty of our newcomers stepped up to the waymarking plate and acquitted themselves well, with the odd slightly odd bit of positioning just to keep things 'interesting' for those following. There were no repeats of the 'which way round the roundabout because the way marker's left his post' incident from Whitstable last year, thankfully.
I had the dubious honour of being first, and I think longest, mechanical, thanks to the chain. No, not
that chain. The Litespeed's got form for this- those on the Brussels ride a couple of years back will remember
@mmmmartin successfully bodging a 10 speed link onto the 11 speed chain, plus the messaging service helpfully provided by a couple of lovely cops from the Dilbeek PD. I had a bit of a warning the other week (oh, the benefits of hindsight) when, during degrotting after the March century, the chain first knotted itself and then the joining link spontaneously broke (seriously, the bike was just parked up, I was taking a breather from trying to sort the aforementioned knotting, when bang, it split). After that, my friendly LBS replaced that link (just the two at this stage...) and I bought another for the tool bag. Back to last night…in the bus lane on Waterloo Bridge, I felt and heard what I thought was a chain drop. Er, no. Drivetrain was now ideally setup for a really good clean, and really hopeless for forward propulsion. I found the chain on the road, and it possibly had a good flattening courtesy of a TfL bus. Nick and Ross successfully wrangled the chain back into working order, but it now had three quick links (?!!) and sounded absolutely terrible in pretty much every gear, particularly on the big ring, which gets rather more use. Thankfully, friendly LBS is open on Sunday afternoons. New chain and a couple of quick links for the tool bag (assuming they're OK) ASAP. Between the drivetrain issues and malt loaf (lack thereof) issues, plus the headwind, speed was a bit lacking. Fasted resistance training, innit....
Opening stretch of Titus' route had a few variations, featuring more canalside riding than previous instalments and a twisty stretch that suggested a mini version of Lombard Avenue in San Francisco. Nice, though before long we were back to the same old same old urban sprawl. In drizzle. And a headwind. Nice.
Junction 31. How we have missed you. No, we haven't. Best feature remains the loos. The hand dryers are very good. As a retail experience, dismal. Overpriced, mediocre selection of nosh and epic queuing. Gordon and I agreed on the train it had got worse. Most of us followed Titus' advice and brought sandwiches. In my case, augmented by a £1 cup of Something Not Entirely Unlike Tea from the machine (which was unhelpfully broken last year), the least hideously priced hot drink option. Amused to see a rather sparse-looking breakfast option (£4.99! 'Fresh' allegedly) with Beans in Ramekins…
On we went, numbers further depleted by some making for a train home. And finally into the Nice Bits of South Essex. And, unfortunately for those who really don't like climbing, some hills. That climb into Rayleigh is a bit of a bugger, though I somehow got my second-fastest time on that stretch! And then, after that evil little rise into Leigh-on-Sea, down to the final stretch, and onto Beaches only half-an-hour later than Titus had forecast. 9.00…a very late breakfast indeed, but not surprising given the conditions and resulting fairy visits. And the twenty-five minutes needed to sort my chain. Soz.
Self, Titus and Gordon were the last to leave Beaches, and we opted to get the 10.18 train. Rammed until East Ham, but cleared there. The other two left at Limehouse, and I went to the end at Fenchurch Street. Just missed the noon train home, and got the 12.30, which promptly ran late. Back home for tea and a much needed nap at 1415 or so.
Thanks one and all. Hopefully, a bigger turn-out and better weather for Whistable. And need I mention the magnificence of the midway stop's cake offerings?
Just for a change, I'll be doing a night ride on Friday (yes, actually on Friday!), the recce for my IOW ride. Forecast is for rain. But of course....
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