London to Southend - 99% traffic-free 3

London to Southend - 99% traffic-free

London Fields at 08:30 - Leave around 09:00
On the bit of pavement near C&M - Be ready to ride

Check your bike, body and brain before coming on this ride - Will be a long day and we can't hang around

Sweet, scenic, no-hills cruise to Southend
An unusual way to the coast, great day out

Using:
Greenway
Parks
Cycle paths
River paths

100 KMs

Where not cement, mostly impacted rock pavement, possibly grass..
It can be bumpy and dusty in places
It is an extra 40-odd KMs compared to the usual Southend ride but it is made up for by some unique places and views.

You'll need:
25c tyres or greater
Good gloves
Maybe mudguard

Might be a long day in the saddle - Quick but social pace - No crybabies - No crap equipment
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Some notes:

1. It is an easy, mostly flat 100KMs.
   
2. Quite a few slow sections near the river due to path condition, width and dodgy blind-corners.
   
3. Lots of constricting barriers to keep out motorbikes..
   
4. There is a 4KM run across a tidal zone that may need to be routed around depending how high the river is.
   
5. Also a 400M section of overgrown single-track down the edge of a farmer's field which might have to be walked.
   

Train back or does the ride come back too?

One-way.

too early to commit by actually putting my name down, but it's in the diary

I stumbled upon this trying to find a good route. Is this as quite as it gets?

Is there a route map?
Can't get to LF for early start, but I am about half way between the start and finish so might meet up en route and DAS everyone

I might have to pull out, got swim squad in Shadwell from 9 till 10.

At Tilbury maybe?

OK, I've commited now by putting my name to the list. Hope the pace isn't too swift

Waits at any non-obvious turn.
:)

What's the ETA into Southend as I'm on babysitting duty so would need to be back in London at a respectable time.
Also would it be do-able on 23c gatorkins as I'm being a bit tight and I don't want to buy new rubber

Nope and nope sorry.

There will be some real bumpy stuff and no clear timetable..

28c's or bigger.

^^ after today's ride I thought I'd fit my 28c's - uh oh - they don't fit curent frame
#gonnabeuncomfortable

I'm keen. I've ordered some Michelin Endurance rubber for the road biek. Dilemma about which bike to take, and how much stuff to bring...

Would a (geared) mtb be acceptable on this ride?

Sure.

K, I'm in. Managed to get to Decathlon via a detour on the way home, so have 25c robust rubber. I've tackled some pretty non roadie tracks on 25c Duranos so I think these Pro4 Endurance will be ok.

Is any beer drinking included in this ride?

ok, so managed to fit a 28c tyre to front forks but the back end will have to be 23c #mightwork?
^ if there's no beer at the end of this ride then it's not the real Mask but a doppelganger

It is a 3 pronounced like a c..

Just stand up on the bumpy bits.

I've bought a new roadie douchebag jersey to mark the occasion. Apparently I am an xxl in Italian cycliste poseur clobber. Cool.

Gah sports fabrics..

Best way to the coast!

Crossers and mtbs welcome!

Tomorrow is going to be ace!