FNRttC FNRttK Brussels-Ostend RIDE CLOSED. Full up!

[mmmmartin]

checking out café stops may be a bit tricky at night...

not to mention that, ideally, recces should ride the roads at the same time and on the same day of the week as the Real Thing so a proper assessment of traffic levels can be made, and how safe it'd be for a large group at that time. there's often a huge difference - eg the workers going to the French nuclear power plant at Flammanville make the road very busy at the start of their shifts but the road is pretty empty at other times of the day, as we found on the recce for Normandy a few years ago. The Netherlands is slightly different as you're on roads shared with cars only about 10 per cent of the time.

 

[StuAff]

not to mention that, ideally, recces should ride the roads at the same time and on the same day of the week as the Real Thing so a proper assessment of traffic levels can be made, and how safe it'd be for a large group at that time. there's often a huge difference - eg the workers going to the French nuclear power plant at Flammanville make the road very busy at the start of their shifts but the road is pretty empty at other times of the day, as we found on the recce for Normandy a few years ago. The Netherlands is slightly different as you're on roads shared with cars only about 10 per cent of the time.

Good point.

 

[srw]

Ever since I first read of it, this ride has been on my must-do list. Unfortunately the week before the early May bank holiday is now earmarked for my only must-attend work do of the year, which travels around Europe and includes the weekend. If it happens to travel to somewhere near Brussels next year - I'll find out in a couple of weeks - I'm in.

It's not, it's in Provence. I'm out.

 

[swarm_catcher]

It's not, it's in Provence. I'm out.

Enjoy Provence! And maybe see you in 2017.

 

[srw]

The humanity

Five star hotel and spa, natch.

 

[mmmmartin]

@mmmmartin
@Flandrienne
@swarm_catcher
@StuAff
@StuartG
@AKA Bob TBC
@wanda2010
@ianmac62
David H
John S (also known in another place as Salvatore)

 

[StuAff]

@mmmmartin
@Flandrienne
@swarm_catcher
@StuAff
@StuartG
@AKA Bob TBC
John S (also known in another place as Salvatore)

Wasn't sure if I'd ridden with John before...then I remembered, yes, on the 2012 London-Southsea run (with our ride leader, Hummers et al).

 

[mmmmartin]

not sure if he's paid his subs but i understand he's done a bit of riding

 

[StuAff]

not sure if he's paid his subs but i understand he's done a bit of riding

Oh yes, just a bit...

 

[mmmmartin]

but @StuAff we might have to look after him because it will be The Darkness. and it is also abroad, which is forrin lands innit.

 

[swarm_catcher]

We have a new route into Ostende and it involves a ferry! This bring the distance back down to 139km also. I wonder if @BalkanExpress can lead us out of Brussels again this year. We'll wait to hear from him.

 

[mmmmartin]

Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive,
But to be on a ferry was very heaven!

 

[StuAff]

We have a new route into Ostende and it involves a ferry! This bring the distance back down to 139km also. I wonder if @BalkanExpress can lead us out of Brussels again this year. We'll wait to hear from him.

The free ferry across the harbour to Visserskaai I presume?

 

[swarm_catcher]

The free ferry across the harbour to Visserskaai I presume?

Correct. Will bring us to within walking distance to Caruso.

 

[mmmmartin]

Update: have checked in the sub-folder within a folder inside the fridaynightridetothecoast@gmail.com email address thingy and found I have put there some emails that had been sent so we add

1. @wanda2010
2. @ianmac62
3. @BalkanExpress
4. @mmmmartin
5. @Flandrienne
6. @swarm_catcher
7. @StuAff
8. @StuartG
9. [S]@AKA Bob[/S] Doing gnarly audax. Probs not coming.
10. John S (also known in another place as Salvatore)
11. David V Confirmed (of the family we visit)
12. @Gordon P
13. ?
14. ?

After 14 we create a waiting list and an undemocratic, unfair, Byzantine and Kafka-esque system of decision-making will whittle participants down to 14 by chucking some off the list and dragging others on.