Epping Forest: Episode III - Return of the Badgers

Another nice mtb in the classifieds.

Genesis High Latitude

Saturday had better not be as hot as today, or I'm going to explode in a ball of fire D:

Rode into town and back, few miles. flat tarmac, 750ml bottle water gone fast.

Taped 2 bottle cages to the frame, can hold 750ml mineral water bottles.
Found a complete 2ltr camelback, be to small.
Found a 3ltr camelback bladder, may try to intergrate with a small messenger bag.
Found a free sample from a mag isotonic drink powder :)
Got some MOD iso drink sachets as well.
Bought a pack of 6x750ml waters.
My sawyer mini filter is miles away with my biking gear.........in theory...... you can drink water from the central Thames through a Sawyer and not get ill.

I am looking at 1.5ltr on the bike and as much water as i can carry.

I am ruling out my plans for a chop at the Marathon Des Sables as thats a bit hotter and on a water ration.

Is there a pub mid epping forest ? :)

Epping Forest has almost as many pubs as it does trees. You might get thirsty, but you'll never be far from somewhere to top up supplies :-)

So cider shandies for fluid intake then :)

Will aim for at least 3ltr of fluid to be carried for me and a spare t-shirt and mini can of bo basher for the train home :)
Hopefully 22t freewheel will arrive tomorrow, will try and intergrate a bladder 2/3ltr into working in the wrong carry bag as heat stroke is not nice.

If you wanted to make it a competition, Mick would definitely beat you to it. :)

Postie has been :)

Ordered Monday night, dispatched on Tuesday, arrive today Thursday :)

Big and chunky 22t freewheel, strong tyre levers and what could be a suitable sticker.

Now......next drama for getting out..... do i have enough chain length/dropout slottage to take the 22t or will i be going down town again for a new longer chain ?

Will report back later.

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Other than the cafes, and pubs, are there any other sources of water? There's a drinking water fountain at the Hunting Lodge, but I don't know of anything else.

Yep, there's a tap outside the loos by the Kings head pub.....in winter, it's used for washing bikes, but it's perfectly fine for topping up bottles....I use it all the time.

Cool. I shall investigate next time I'm up there.

The water top ups are good to know, i may reduce and alter what i carry.

Been playing around and can get a 3ltr camelback bladder to function in a messenger style bag, but the bladder needs some attention. (skanky taste)
Taped on 2 bottle cages (no bosses on frame) so 1.5ltr on bike, if i carry another 3 bottles that gives me 3.75ltr over the bladder/bottle combo of 4.5ltr and i can freeze the bottles overnight so cool water for a while.
Got a freebe energy drink and some MOD ones so can add to bottles through the day.
Found an old saddle-pack crammed the cable lock and tools into that, 8/10 13/15mm spanners, patches and levers, multi-tool, roll of tape, zip ties if i can find any. Proper mini pump, so mini i might borrow a larger one if i need to as mine takes a while to pump tyres up........ very lightweight though.....not as practical.
3x spare tubes, 2 from Tescos at £3 each 700cx28-35 and a Michelin one from a LBS at £6 so should be covered on flats.
Munchies, poncho just in case, hat and Tescos helmet, mini can of BO basher and will pack a spare T-shirt for train home.
Might throw in a basic personal firstaid kit and some other random crap :)

Glass of vino is in place of expected cider shandies.

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The joy of a big cog :)

Been for a quick blast to self tighten the 22t onto the hub, had enough chain to handle it and my knees will be very happy for it.

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Proper mini pump, so mini i might borrow a larger one if i need to as mine takes a while to pump tyres up........

Well, you wouldn't want to be carrying too much weight ;-)

Water/beer/cider/ice cream money are so weighty.
If i require the need of extra fast pumpage i can compensate in ice cream to the lender (fair enough)

:)

or trade a super cool limited edtion very rare hard to get "Surly" sticker :) thats been rebadged as a CBM sticker.

Seriously, I ride down from bishops Stortford to these little gettogethers, and I don't even take that amount of gear when I'm bikepacking!

I'm really sorry @IR @853Superfly , I don't have a bike to ride tomorrow, so I'm going to have to drop out :-(

As I'm away from home for the week, it also means being unable to do Wednesday's or next Sunday's ride, so sorry also to @7Üp @mmccarthy @stedlocks @Chak @Gregory @DFP

I hope you all still get out there and have some fun, while the weather is good.

Pete

Its ok for me, because I could have only come on the 12th and train prices are extortionate on the weekend. Going to try make it to the surrey ride and epping a bit later. My sis lives on the river in Springfield park, if anyone wants to come for a ride at epping in coming weeks whilst using a riverboat as base, gimme a shout.

Bummer BN, still allways someone else worse off, i have another unpaid week off work and most likely will be going back to collect a P45 and tie up loose ends, so a bit grumpy.

Anyways, re-read the thread, bits about tea huts etc etc so depending on forecast temps will ditch some water.
If i am not at 10.30 at the station i have gotten on the wrong train and will be lost somwhere in London :) so don't wait about.

You might want to check if @IR is definitely going, as he was the only other person scheduled for Saturday. If you're around for a bit longer, there might be another ride while you're here.

Wouldn't want you turning up to a deserted station, as I feel bad enough already :-/

dont worry BN, hope youre o.k

I'm fine mate, but the bike needs to visit the doctor :-)

time for a new project

Shiiiit what happened bro?

My money is on him hitting a low bridge, he's ripe for hitting low bridges that one.