Mid ESSEX February Ride

[Auntie Helen]

Just been out for 18 miles in the rain. Very rainy. Not as nice as last night's ride! Very warm here in the Colchester area though (nearly 8 degrees) and the last few patches of snow/slush were melting. Hope it's the same in Billericay...

 

[BigonaBianchi]

..well to be honest it's pretty horrid here...melting snow, drizzle and cold (well for me it's cold but I'm a fully qualified wimp)....I got all kitted up at 9am to do the loop but am still sitting here trying to pluck up courage to venture out...my excuse it that with this cold I'mbetter of fin the warm...anyway....once all this sludge has gone tonight things will be better...forcast for saturday is sunshine (ish).

 

[Auntie Helen]

BTW what time are folks expecting to arrive at the station (Billericay) on Saturday? I'm going to give myself a margin of time in case of A12 nasties so will probably be there by 10:30am if the roads are fine. Am I going to be bored and lonely or are some of the rest of you expecting to get there early?

By the way, I should be easy to spot as I'm the lady on the trike (let's hope User3143 doesn't get there before me so people think I've had a sex change...)

 

[stevevw]

BTW what time are folks expecting to arrive at the station (Billericay) on Saturday? I'm going to give myself a margin of time in case of A12 nasties so will probably be there by 10:30am if the roads are fine. Am I going to be bored and lonely or are some of the rest of you expecting to get there early?

Depends on the weather if it looks like we are going to be ok on Friday PM I will get there early if a bit dodgy I will wait a bit on Saturday to get an update from those that live that way.

 

[ChrisKH]

I shall probably be early (weather permitting) as I have an unorthodox route by bike which I haven't tried before, so am setting off with plenty of time. I don't have car access this weekend so I'm solely pedal (and train) powered.

I should imagine anyone looking shifty with a bike round Billericay station will be CC'ers. Or bike thieves. I will be hiding my Cycle Chat 'friedly' shirt under my jacket, but if someone pays me enough I'll take off the jacket (for a bit) and point at meself.

 

[4F]

BTW what time are folks expecting to arrive at the station (Billericay) on Saturday? I'm going to give myself a margin of time in case of A12 nasties so will probably be there by 10:30am if the roads are fine. Am I going to be bored and lonely or are some of the rest of you expecting to get there early?

By the way, I should be easy to spot as I'm the lady on the trike (let's hope User3143 doesn't get there before me so people think I've had a sex change...)

Hi Auntie, my eta will be about 10:30 as well. Are you planning on parking at the railway station ?

 

[TheDoctor]

Can someone remind me if the route is hilly? I'm loth to get the carbon uberbike filthy so may resort to the singlespeeder. If that's even remotely sensible...

 

[Auntie Helen]

You cycling from Benfleet, ChrisKH? (My memory tells me you live down Church Hill but I might be wrong, so apologies if you're from somewhere completely different...) What's your unorthodox bike route? I cycled from Colchester to Thundersley via Rettendon (down the old A130) which was OK except going through Rayleigh, but that's probably further east than your optimal route.

 

[Auntie Helen]

Hi Auntie, my eta will be about 10:30 as well. Are you planning on parking at the railway station ?

I'm parking Crown Road road near the station where I happen to own a house (my tenant has said I can park on her drive seeing as I paid for it to be resurfaced a few years ago!).

Parking at Billericay Station is £2 for the day on Saturday so that's probably the best alternative option. Failing that, Lake Meadows country park should be a reasonable option, it's just north of the station (I think there are plenty of signs for it).

...although I think you're coming by train, aren't you? Anyway, I should be lurking somewhere around the station by 10:30 so come up and say hello. I will be wearing my new CycleChat Jersey but under my warm and waterproof Night Vision top so the CC jersey probably won't get much of an airing!

 

[4F]

Coming by car now, station parking sounds good

 

[Auntie Helen]

Can someone remind me if the route is hilly? I'm loth to get the carbon uberbike filthy so may resort to the singlespeeder. If that's even remotely sensible...

I think there are a couple of gentle hills (BOAB's initial post describes it a bit more) but nothing too frightening.

Here's a summary from his Bikeroutetoaster file:

Ascent - 388 meters
Descent - 384 meters
Start Elevation - 80 meters
Finish Elevation - 84 meters
Minimum Elevation - 31 meters
Maximum Elevation - 110 meters

I hasten to add that the misspelling of 'metres' is a fault of the website and not Auntie Helen!

I attach the elevation diagram from bikeroutetoaster for The Doctor's delectation

 

[BigonaBianchi]

can i suggest that we gather off to the right of the station entrance near the taxi rank hut...otherwise we'll have 29 cyclists blocking the main drop off point for cars...actually that might be a laugh....

 

[TheDoctor]

Cheers Auntie!
Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions...

 

[Auntie Helen]

TheDoctor, as you know I'll be slow up the hills, probably slower than some poor soul on a fixed (mad idea, riding one of those things!) so if you want to take that bike you'll hardly be left behind...

 

[TheDoctor]

It's not a fixie!!!
Oooooh I don't know. I'll see how muddy the roads look.