The Only Way is Essex (and Hertfordshire) - Saturday Feb 23rd

^Sounds awesome! Thanks Poots.

I definitely can't do this Saturday now either. My tattoo has been moved to Saturday at 3 so i'll be in a different type of pain, haha!

Forecast for sat is zero and rain all the way too!

Where you getting inked Caz? (I mean which studio rather than which body part) and what you getting??

Given the weather forecast, I'm happy to take a "rain cheque" on this ride.

Need to decide whether I should do the Sunday audax ride now.

Poots- I'm going to my regular studio, Frith Street Street tattoo in Soho. I'm adding to my rose collection on my arm, exciting!

Given the weather forecast, I'm happy to take a "rain cheque" on this ride.

Me too, Poots did says it'll be postponed if it's turn out to be bad, and kati is rather insistence of not riding in the rain all day which is fair enough.

I'm happy to postpone the weather looks rotten with a horrible head wind.

Deffo postponed due to predicted cold snap (prob icy off main roads), sub zero
Temps and sleet/snow predicted. New date come soon!

Ran home ill so am in Cambridge on Saturday! Hats will meet you for coffee if you want, my mobile is on my facebook page if you wanna meet up/have company for an hour or so?

IKHTW - argh, just saw this! Plans changed and I'm going up tomorrow instead, though I probably won't actually be in cambridge itself at all. Another time!

People! Let me have your thoughts on the ride happening on 2nd Feb or 9th feb please - both are saturdays.

Would prefer 2nd Feb - as I can't make the 9th. (same as edscoble)

I think i can do the 2nd, and I guess it wouldn't make much sense having the ride the day after ladies drinks on the 8th?

I can't do either weekend but hope it's a good ride regardless of date.

Either looks fine for me so far!

Would prefer 2nd Feb - as I can't make the 9th. (same as edscoble)

Hey! Kati! Welcome!

I think i can do the 2nd, and I guess it wouldn't make much sense having the ride the day after ladies drinks on the 8th?

Ah. Yes. Well observed.

Another point: I haven't managed to recce this route yet. Garmin users: if I've got a Garmin with the route on, we should be ok, right?

Alternatively we could do a route we know like Brighton if people aren't bored of that?

Brighton got twice the number of climb compare to Southend for a similar distance.

Any chance it could be on a Sunday instead? Couple more ladies wanted to join but only make it on a Sunday.

Either date would work for me (Sundays as well). I am keen to get in some longish rides as my work has just started a "log your miles" competition.

I'm also still up for going, guess we just need to confirm a date?
Both this Saturday and Sunday are good for me

Sorry this has slipped a bit but how does sunday the 17th sound or Sat 23rd sound? Have checked both dates and engineering work not scheduled for either of those dates.

Also haven't had a chance to recce but if I stick route in a Garmin, it'll be fine, right?

I'm going on British Cycling ride lead training on sat so I'll be able to lead like a boss by the weekend after ; )

Ah...hasty ninja edit re:dates

Excellent.

You'll be fine, I'll bring a Garmin as well in case your crapped out so you'll have a back-up.

I won't be able to make Saturday the 23rd, but Sunday 17th is good for me.

I'm good for both dates.

I'm reconfirmed for Saturday 23rd. Must remember to bank some sleep that week :-)