2014-07-07 - Le Tour de Essex - Watch the Tour stage 3 in the Essex countryside

I've got Monday off to watch the Tour but I want to get some riding in too, so I thought it would be a nice idea to ride out to the village of Fyfield to watch the Tour pass through.

The Queen's Head in Fyfield is perfectly located on the Tour route and will be putting on a BBQ, HOG ROAST* (from 3pm) and the race on their TV and there will also be music after the race (live, I think, I'm not sure what that involves!). It's a CAMRA LocAle pub, so there should be good beer.

For those who are feeling less flush, the Fyfield Post Office and Stores is also an off licence for tramp beers, and right next door, so you don't have to worry about crossing the Tour route.

The pub and the post office are either side of a big wide junction which will give lots of space to watch the race go past as the end of Queen Street will be closed.

Because the Lea Bridge Road is closed, we'll take a diversionary (more pleasant, to be honest) route out of Hackney then come up to the route from the south so we don't get cut off.

http://ridewithgps.com/routes/5202515

It's 29 miles to Fyfield, so afterwards you can either ride back or ride to Chelmsford via lanes/cycle paths if you'd had a bit too much LocAle, which is just over 10 miles.

Meet 9.45 at Caballo (the bike cafe) on Chatsworth Road for a 10am petit départ.

*HOG ROAST!

This is probably already in the thread but I've had a lot of sangria - what time do you reckon they'll be going through?

loving this, in, almost certainly, :-)

TB - No it isn't because I forgot to put it in!

Caravane will show up from 12.33, the peloton between 14.22 and 14.33 according to the itineraire horaire.

Howrad I thought you were definite and maybe your neighbour!

List:

1. Fox
   
2. howradmichello
   
3. Oliver Schick
   

List:

1. Fox
   
2. howradmichello
   
3. Oliver Schick
   
4. conker (if my legs still work after L2B day before)
   

Ian I'll be probably be doing 'proper riding' the day before too (if not on Saturday but the forecast for Sunday looks better). Think of this as a leisurely stroll (but on a bike). I've allowed plenty of time.

I will probably do it fixed but reserve the right to use gears if I have destroyed myself being a roadie douchebag on Sunday.

I will also probably get the train back from Chelmsford as it is unlikely I will have the willpower to stick to few enough pints to ride back, but we'll see.

If anyone wants I'll produce some crib sheets with directions back to town/Chelmsford as I can't see everyone leaving at the same time/going to the same place.

Shout if that sounds useful and I can do it over the weekend.

I'd hate for anyone to have to permanently move to Fyfield just because of this ride.

It's killing me that I'm not allowed to take the day off work, I think I'm going to resort to begging!!

List:

1. Fox
   
2. howradmichello
   
3. Oliver Schick
   
4. conker (if my legs still work after L2B day before)
   
5. moth
   

Hooray!

This was my original plan; go somewhere in essex and watch the tour live but someone said since its a flat stage the riders will pass in about a minute .. not sure if its worth it but still keen and possibly will add myself to the list last minute ..

I'm actually wondering whether I could set off from here (slightly deeper into your route) at the same time that you left Hackney

with the hope that you might catch me up somewhere in the middle or at the end (later rather than sooner). If it was sooner, I wouldn't hold you up, just wave at me as you pass by and I'll plan to meet you at the other end.

My only real issue (aside from flagging the last few miles) would be whether I could make the 10 miles back to Chelmsford Station, as this would be my longest ride so far.

I'll be riding fixed. I don't have a geared bike.

Any advice / thoughts?

It's killing me that I'm not allowed to take the day off work, I think I'm going to resort to begging!!

I think you've made a bit of a strategic error, as soon as you found out everyone else was off you should have stopped talking about cycling, then occasionally mention how you've given it up because you hate those euro pro roadie douchebags with their shaved legs and long white socks and they're all dopers anyway and you hate road racing.

Then pulled a sickie at the last minute!

(It's too late now, they'll know).

Maybe beg and stress the once in a lifetime opportunity element? Can they make a special case? Can you get everything done ahead of Monday? Is anyone going to die if you take the day off? Seems unlikely given what you do?!

This was my original plan; go somewhere in essex and watch the tour live but someone said since its a flat stage the riders will pass in about a minute .. not sure if its worth it but still keen and possibly will add myself to the list last minute ..

Yes, the peloton itself will be fleeting. For me, it's just a chance to see the theatre of the caravane (which is most of what you'll see at the side of the road) and experience the atmosphere of watching it with a bunch of other people while drinking ale and munching on hog roast :)

Any advice / thoughts?

It's difficult to say in terms of timings but leaving at 10 will allow us two and a half hours before the start of the caravane at 12.30. That's 11mph continuous moving average or (what I think will be more likely) something like 14mph moving average and half an hour stopped.

List:

1. Fox
   
2. howradmichello
   
3. Oliver Schick
   
4. conker (if my legs still work after L2B day before)
   
5. moth
   
6. Swine
   

That's 11mph continuous moving average or (what I think will be more likely) something like 14mph moving average and half an hour stopped.

I can do 11mph average. Was worried it would be something like 16.

List:

1. Fox
   
2. howradmichello
   
3. Oliver Schick
   
4. conker (if my legs still work after L2B day before)
   
5. moth
   
6. Swine
   
   
   

Meeting you en route

1. Shoosh
   

This is really tempting, a nice warm up of heading east before Dunwich

Hmmm....

I'm driving up North for the first two stages, tomorrow, and was going to try to see the race in Cambridge on Monday but this sounds like much more fun. What do you reckon the chances of getting a car parked near there are?

Hmmm....

I'm driving up North for the first two stages, tomorrow, and was going to try to see the race in Cambridge on Monday but this sounds like much more fun. What do you reckon the chances of getting a car parked near there are?

I don't know, but if you've got a car, please first dibs for me and the bike cadging a lift back?

Pretty good I reckon. If you couldn't get on Queen Street, which is possible if the denizens of Essex show up en masse in their motors - white Range Rover Evoques and Ford Capris, obviously - there are quite a few potential parking spots down Cannons Lane, just off the start of Willingale Road. Willingale Road is maybe a bit narrow but there are a few lay-bys within a mile or so.

Worst case scenario is you'd have to walk a bit. Generally parking at the side of the road where it's wide enough isn't an issue out there, if you do it judiciously.

I don't know, but if you've got a car, please first dibs for me and the bike cadging a lift back?

Ha! I'd happily offer lifts but the farthest I can offer is to Theydon Bois as i'm going to stop in to see my Nan as she's having an operation in the next couple of weeks...

It's on the central line if that helps :)

Theydon Bois is fine!

Only about 5 miles cycle home from there for me. :)

Cool. I'll seek you out if we do head there. We'll have some stuff in the boot but should be able to fit a bike & person in...

Hi, I am hearing conflicting things about the roads being closed.

For those of you who remember it, the Tour is doing most of the "Joy of Essex " route.

Another way to avoid the Epping New Road, if it is closed, is to head out via Chigwell and then down to Abridge. You can then ride up to the route via Tawney Common, Toot Hill, Ivy Chimneys and then cut across to Moreton and the White Hart pub there. They are , I think , doing a right turn there so it should slow down. The roads are pretty narrow there as well.

Shoosh, if you don't go then let me know . I may have a place for you on the grandstand @ Whipps X.

Edward.

It's not happening, I asked, I begged, I was reasonably turned down, they'll just have to put up with me moping about the office on Monday!