If I were doing the ride, which I'm not, I wouldn't be doing the Killing Me Soft Lea (or Lee) route at the moment.
i) Drainage on the last forest segment isn't that great - it's been raining heavily for months, remember?
ii) Dampness on the raised metal sections on the towpath e.g. the sort of humpback bridge over an adjoining whatsit could be pretty fucking lethal if you touch your brakes.
Those would be my main reasons. Other bits could be a bit boggy. It works best when it's been bone dry for a while, on a road bike at least.
Certain versions of the route that are available online won't be accurate, as I drew some of it due to working out the route from Enfield Island Village to Mott St by using aerial photographs and my memory.
Do what you want, but where there's uncertainty about riding conditions relative to the type of bike, I usually don't drag newbs, inexperienced riders, or 'new club members' into the unknown. I'd take the safe option, or do a reccy no earlier than a week before the scheduled ride, and consider the weather in the meantime.
If I were doing the ride, which I'm not, I wouldn't be doing the Killing Me Soft Lea (or Lee) route at the moment.
i) Drainage on the last forest segment isn't that great - it's been raining heavily for months, remember?
ii) Dampness on the raised metal sections on the towpath e.g. the sort of humpback bridge over an adjoining whatsit could be pretty fucking lethal if you touch your brakes.
Those would be my main reasons. Other bits could be a bit boggy. It works best when it's been bone dry for a while, on a road bike at least.
Certain versions of the route that are available online won't be accurate, as I drew some of it due to working out the route from Enfield Island Village to Mott St by using aerial photographs and my memory.
Do what you want, but where there's uncertainty about riding conditions relative to the type of bike, I usually don't drag newbs, inexperienced riders, or 'new club members' into the unknown. I'd take the safe option, or do a reccy no earlier than a week before the scheduled ride, and consider the weather in the meantime.