Essex Afterworkers

Really sorry but I think I'm going to have to cancel Thursday; not going to get out of work in time and definitely won't have time to sort the route. I'm sure there used to be a time when I was able to do afterworkers without work fucking things up :I

But for future reference, I usually do Kent ones geared because I'm lazy, if fixed it's 48/18. Or 48/16 if I'm feeling idiotic. Pace is easy, 14-15mph.

Monday departure time may depend on Sunday drinking... 8.30ish from Catford probably?

Shame, I was thinking I might join you tomorrow, Rosie. Monday might be a possibility, so I hope you'll be able to make that.

I'm probably in for Saturday Rosie, if that's still on? Although if you're doing it fixed I'd rather you did it with an 18 on the back so you don't drop me :)

I just seem to have sorted the saddle out on my Orrell finally so it doesn't hurt my aintcha, so would be up for doing it fixed. Would meet you north of the river, obviously.

Finally you mentioned your groupset on your road bike was shot, if you are interested in buying a bargainous Rival groupset let me know...

Shame, I was thinking I might join you tomorrow, Rosie. Monday might be a possibility, so I hope you'll be able to make that.

Sorry... Long weekend meant June deadlines snuck up on me. Shoddy time management. Will get the route sorted for next week.

Saturday and Monday should both be on - Fox, how about 9am from usual afterworker departure point? Unless you want to cut east from further north. Bring a bag, the cakes are awesome.

Yep, that would work. I was hoping you might say something like that. Not that I'm just coming for the cake or anything.

hello. I'd be keen to join the Monday ride too. will keep up with this thread for updates~

Ace. Let's say meet outside Balham station 9am for Monday.

Tricitybendix, hope you don't mind my asking, but how fast do you normally do these routes and is there usually a food/cake stop along the way? I haven't done a century all in one go yet and have slight concerns that I may be committing myself to something I can't manage.

Depends how hungover I am usually... probably somewhere between 14 and 16mph, but I'm in no hurry, happy to slow down, take breaks and have cake/pub stops as required. Come along!

Ace. Let's say meet outside Balham station 9am for Monday.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh I am so tempted as it's on my doorstep.

Wonder if I can slide out of my 'commitments'?

Ow fuck my head hurts.

Today is still on, in spite of my brain leaking out of my ears. (Assuming I can sort myself out enough to do route directions and locate a functioning bike.) 9am corner of Whitechapel/Osborn (south end of Brick Lane).

just in case anyone's garmining I've switched the route slightly to come back in via Barking (sorry Pete).

and I'm running late because my laptop hates me

caaake

Would anyone considering tomorrow's ride be put off if I moved departure time from Balham from 9am to 8am? I want to get to a barbecue in the afternoon/evening.

ooooh cake!

The cake was bloody good. The Bakewell tart had actual bits of real cherry in the filling and the victoria sponge was excellent, the filling wasn't actually jam but a kind of sweet filling made with fresh strawberries. I consider both of these benchmark cakes for the quality of any bakery. They obviously get bonus points for the signed jerseys on the wall too.

Remaining cake (rocky road) just polished off for breakfast with some Square Mile coffee. Nom.

^^^cakes look amazing!!

anyways, re tomorrow's ride I don't mind starting out earlier.. always good to have an afternoon after a ride ..
will you be fixed or geared?

oh I want cake.

^^^cakes look amazing!!

anyways, re tomorrow's ride I don't mind starting out earlier.. always good to have an afternoon after a ride ..
will you be fixed or geared?

Fixed I reckon, it's pretty flat.

The cakes look and sound phenomenal! Sorry I didn't come, I just couldn't drag myself out of bed yesterday morning... hungover to hell... when I did go out on my bike in the end it was only to go to the pub again. Argh.

I can start at the earlier hour as well, although the weather will determine which bike I bring (and therefore how slow I will be).

forecast looks alright .. do you have the ti bike? I want to see it =)
(i'm still trying to figure out if riding with the road rash on my knee will be mild torture, and therefore how slow it will make me, any experience/ tips?)

^ yes I have the Ti bike. I suppose I could always just give it a good cleaning if the roads are wet.

I bashed my knee last year when I came off my bike and I found that as long as it hasn't scabbed over it was generally fine to ride with (as long as there isn't anything rubbing over it, like fabric). I did spend a small fortune on hydrocolloid plasters though.

Ace, see you tomorrow at 8. I should probably warn you I haven't actually done a lot of the route before but I have comprehensive route directions so hopefully we'll be OK. Plus the bits I've streetviewed look lovely so at least if I get us lost it'll be a scenic kind of lost.

Sorry, Rosie, I'm not going to make it (again). One day--have fun!