Essex Afterworkers

I'm on gears today but only cos I'm broken from 90 hilly fixed miles on Sunday and 60 fairly rapid ones on Tuesday. Fixed is fine for Cider with Rosie, I did broadly the same route fixed on Sunday and it was fine. And yep I can do the return leg or at least to Catford (I'm afraid it won't be exciting - Pollhill/A21 - but it will be downhill :D)

Although Polhill is uphill on the return leg. Just to expectation manage :P

It's a mere incline. It's only a hill cos it has hill in the name, and I speak as someone with incline aversion. It's lovely.

Would anyone object to a bit of the A25? It should be pretty quiet at that time...

no objection =P
can I join you guys south of the river? looks like the Cider with Rosie route passes by my front door (where OKR turns into New Cross Road)

yep no problem, where suits? Suggest a junction and we can meet on the corner. Guess we'll be rolling through about 6.20, depending on traffic/people trying to have impromptu meetings with me at 5.55pm.

New Cross Road and Pomeroy Street ? I'll be waiting on the southbound side

Cool, see you there at 6.20/25.

Ok, the original Cider with Rosie route it is then, which means I don't need to bother the poor man in IT for a Garmin lead...

See you at 6.

muybien! See you then. Looks like it'll be a nice evening for a ride.

sorry for the late question... will i need a proper front light (ie one to see with)?

I'd recommend it, the last bit will be very unlit.

OK ~ will sort torch out now

i took my workmates on that route but none of them had ever ridden in the countryside before so they brought their London lights with them. I was the only one who had something sensible, and I also had 32c tyres which made diving downhill through extremely muddy lanes in the pitch black after 3 strong ciders lots of fun. When I suddenly remembered through the apple haze that my workmates had crappy lights and skinny tyres I felt fairly guilty and slowed down so I could listen out for any screams of agony emanating from behind me. Eventually it turned out ok because they'd both wobbled downhill at about 10mph such was their paranoia about the mud and the dark and the wildlife.

So yes, take lights.

Wish I was able to go on this ride tonight!

Ha. Excellent. Your colleagues sound hilarious, you should bring them along.

I'll be surprised if any of them ever cycle again after they do the London Bikeathon on Sunday. Out of those that survive, I mean.

I suspect I am going to feel the effects of Sevenoaks to home in the biggest gear possible tomorrow but I reckon it was worth it. Loads of fun. Thanks for coming Fox and blowfish, both excellent riding companions as usual.

Thanks for the ride! the lanes were awesome though quite scary. And what felt like madly chasing you back into London was great fun. Lovely night for it too.

Ugh, sorry I had to leave you in Sevenoaks, right decision though, stomach still isn't right this morning. Annoying as legs were quite happy and was a shame to miss out on the spinny way back fun :/

Good cider though!

Thanks for the ride! the lanes were awesome though quite scary. And what felt like madly chasing you back into London was great fun. Lovely night for it too.

Heh, sorry - that was a bit unfair given the gearing discrepancy. You seemed to be hanging on though! I do love that swoop from Pollhill.

Ugh, sorry I had to leave you in Sevenoaks, right decision though, stomach still isn't right this morning. Annoying as legs were quite happy and was a shame to miss out on the spinny way back fun :/

Good cider though!

Sorry to hear, glad you made it back OK though. I'll ensure there are more opportunities for spinny way back fun in the future.

^ no problem.. i love chasing people.. that's how you get faster right~?
Fox, nice to meet you and hope you're feeling better now

Paris next weekend isn't going to happen due to lack of funds; can't afford ferry/hostel/fuel etc just before payday. Will make it happen another weekend though.

let me know near to the date Rosie

I'm planning a 150 mile jaunt to Rye and back tomorrow if anyone wants to join, leaving early. It's apparently going to piss it down all day but I like suffering and misery.

Weirdo.