The Great Escape 2015 - 200km audax - London-Essex

[Dogtrousers]

@jefmcg we were started in groups. Not sure how many riders, maybe 30 per group, a few mins apart. It was really well organised. Hats off to Islington CC for all their fine work

 

[ianrauk]

A great days cycling. Well organised by Islington CC. Though I could quite happily do without the return through North East London of a late afternoon.. that was just a crap ending to a good cycle ride. But.. that can't be helped.

160 miles for the day and I have sunburnt legs....

Look Mums No Hands at 8am

 

[rb58]

Nice to ride in a small but perfectly formed CycleChat group today. Good route, although they could have thrown in a few more pretty Essex villages. I'm not sure all the club riders knew what to make of an audax event - I didn't see a single one if them having a nap in a bus shelter!

 

[martint235]

Nice to ride in a small but perfectly formed CycleChat group today. Good route, although they could have thrown in a few more pretty Essex villages. I'm not sure all the club riders knew what to make of an audax event - I didn't see a single one if them having a nap in a bus shelter!

Just to be picky, they could have thrown in more free coffee too. Or some free coffee.

 

[rb58]

And a donut.

 

[Mark Grant]

Flapjacks were nice though!

 

[ianrauk]

It say's something when the freebies were gels and high5 tabs rather then donuts and cakes.
the flapjacks were very nice though... so much so that I had 2.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Flapjacks were nice though!

Special thanks go to the auntie of one of the Islington CC guys at the Great Dunmow control, who made the flapjacks which were a lifesaver as my supplies of pork pie, peanut butter and marmite sandwiches and fig rolls were exhausted at that point, and my Haribo levels were getting dangerously low.

I had a great day, and felt less knackered at the end than I do after some of my uber hilly 100k jaunts around the North Downs. Sure the last 15k was pants, but I knew what to expect there.

My longest ever ride by a significant distance.

So lots of thanks to @ShannonBall and every one at Islington CC.

 

[jefmcg]

It say's something when the freebies were gels and high5 tabs

What? What sportive witchcraft is this??? Warm beans on tepid toast, and limp sandwiches. Not these scientific abominations.

Edit: fixed the spelling, but kinda happy @ianrauk quoted it while it was wrong

 

[ianrauk]

What? What sportive witchcraft is this??? Warm beens on tepid toast, and limp sandwiches. Not these scientific abominations.

Indeed....but.. the (huge lumps) of flapjack made up for the disappointment.. :-)

 

[rb58]

Agreed. The flapjacks were ace!

 

[Mark Grant]

A few pics.

 

[ianrauk]

You caught me drinking milk from the jug & sniffing an innertube
A great CycleChat posse shot too..

 

[Nigel182]

Back and soaked the aching knees they are going to hurt for sometime as the return was 'Hellish for me got back to LMNH's at 20:50hrs later than I hoped but did manage to get the last train out of the smoke by the skin of my teeth 157 miles in that a with trip up and home from the Train Station.
Will sort out a few pics tomorey.

Good to ride with the CycleChat Crew for a few miles

Also huge Congrats to the Islington CC for organising this Top Job Lads and Lasses

 

[martint235]

Well that commute stung a little!!! Tried desperately to maintain a 15mph average and ended up with 14.8. Wish I could blame it on the headwind (there was one) or the traffic (there was more than normal on the South Circular) but I think it can safely be pinned on tired legs!!!