Epping Forest Epics

Mick_the_Greek · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 264 Location: South Woodford

Sat Usual meet at Bike Shed 10 am for ride through Forest.

Sunday, Away Day. North Downs, including Leith Hill, highest point in S.E. England. Depart Bike Shed 8 AM, meet to provide lift or give one. Start ride from Gomshall Railway Station on A25 approx 10 am. Please post if meeting at Gomshall or Bike Shed.

Beastway Weds, come on Caz theres not many left now or excuses. Good ride yesterday, thanks to the new guys we met up with who were very good at fixing a dodgy puncture (twice). Tickets are now available for promotion night on 25th July @ £10.00 each. Contact me or Mukesh.

Cazza · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 63

Given Sunday's 'Veneer of the week' conversation, I wonder whether a trip out to Shadbolt's is in order for the Sunday away days.

Am intending to come on Weds, Mick if it doesn't carry on raining like it has been today. Don't fancy my virgin ride to be skidding all over the shop, especially as the correct size armour hasn't arrived yet. I won't mention the cows, if you don't give me grief if I don't make it on Weds, Mick.

Am planning on coming on Sunday, though. Will give a lift if you're really stuck, but it's easier for me to jump on the M25 from Harold Wood than go to Woodford and out again.

Pete - come along on Weds and we can go along at 2mph like that bit in Police Academy when the woman is pootling around the race track.

Caz

jel · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk

Don't think I can make Beastway tomorrow as I've got to sort out some stuff for my move. Sorry Caz, have a good race.

Great ride again on Sunday. Mike, thanks for the inner-tube and help with my puncture, I'll sort you out with a new one on the next ride I make. I'm not the most mechanically minded person as I think became apparent in my inability to remove my tyre and managing to put in a twisted tube, so thanks to the three new fellers who got stuck in.

Want to make it on Saturday to get one more forest ride in before I move, if I don't thanks again to everyone and hope to see you soon.

jel

Mick_the_Greek · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 264 Location: South Woodford

Just to let you know Jel, the tube I so kindly lent you came from Jane, you owe her. I think you have just got to get bigger tyres or smaller wheels, hope to see you Wednesday.

smellyengine · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Chingford

Sorry to say that I won't be there on wednesday, starting a new job and it's a bit messy,so Caz, I can't do the Police Academy impression I'm afraid! And as far as away days go...do you think Shadbolt's could make it lose it's enigmatic mystique?! We'd walk in and it'll probably be full of grumpy blokes with a load of chipboard!
See you at the weekend!
Pete
PS Mick, I'm gonna go to my brother's tomorrow to copy a load of greek music..I'll bring it with on Saturday.

Cazza · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 63

Having run out of excuses, had a quick shifty on AA autoroute (embarassingly Beastway is 10 mins from where I work), and decided I was not, under any circumstances going to get detained at work, I finally made it on Weds. Bumped in to Paul (Tonto) in the car park. He was also doing his first ride, so it was nice to compare sick feelings in the stomach before our trial ride. We went round with Vicky and apart from two or three very steep climbs (which weren't that steep to most other people, I've gotta say), it wasn't too daunting.
Started at the back (thankfully), being a Master lady (ie almost in the oldest group) and Vicky had warned me to get a good start. Concequently I nearly killed myself in the first lap (3 miles). Still, I managed to do four laps in the alotted time and was still smiling (In between wanting to throw up) by the end. It was really good fun, albeit hard work. I definitely can see how Mick has improved so much since he's been doing the race. Everyone is really friendly and supportive. THere are some hard core riders (loads, in fact), but you soon get used to them streaking past you.
However I now know why I don't get in to these things, cos I will have to go back next week to try and better my time and corner the things I didn't handle well before (and to master those pesky climbs).
THoroughly recommend it to all. Thanks for badgering me, Mick.
Caz

Madzax · Joined: 14 Jul 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Harlow

Hi there,

Last Sunday my brother (Bob) and friend (Matt) met you guys at High Beach and tagged along. They had a great day, helped out with a couple of punctures.. and came back with some good tales of Epping single track, crashing, and loads of holly bushes.

We where wondering if you would mine if we could join you all again this Saturday ? meeting at the Bike Shed 10am

Thanks

Ian

jel · Joined: 13 Jun 2006 Posts: 7 Location: Sudbury, Suffolk

Good on you Caz. I know what you mean when you say you want to go again just to beat your previous time but i don't think I'll be able to make anymore. Don't think I'll be able to make saturdays ride either or any others for a while as the move is now imminent (tuesday) and I've got some stuff to do in the new house.

Sorry Mick, I just remember you handing me the tube, so Jane I owe you one.

I've taken the next week off work so hoping to get out with a map and explore the mountains of Suffolk. It is quite hilly to where i'm moving and Thetford forest isn't that far away and I've heard that Rendlesham and Tunstall forests are also full of singletrack and nearly deserted.

Thanks to everyone and I hope to see you all soon

jel

Cazza · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 63

Jel
Shame that you won't make any more Beastways and that it'll be a while before you're down Epping way for a while. However will look forward to checking out Suffolk and Thetford under your guidance. I hope the move goes smoothly on Tuesday and very envious of the countryside living you'll be having. Just think of that extra lung capacity once you're not breathing in so much of the city smoke.

See you soon

Caz

Mick_the_Greek · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 264 Location: South Woodford

Re Madzax, look forward to meeting you again at 10 am at Bike Shed, see if you can have as much fun getting to High Beech as we had last time leaving,

Sory to see you leave Jel, but please get some good rides sorted out before the end of Summer in Suffolk and we can arrange an away day on a Sunday.

smellyengine · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Chingford

Good work Caz. I, on the other hand, will probably not get to ride Beastway...But it sounds like you did pretty well.
And as for Jel, after a couple of rides I still feel guilty when shifting down a gear when riding with you singlespeeders! Good luck and look forward to a burn about in Suffolk!

smellyengine · Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Posts: 169 Location: Chingford

Great ride today chaps. First time in weeks that the legs actually worked!
After a few stacks (one into the back of Mick!) i decided to ride home over Pole Hill instead of through Chingford High Road. Climbed up good, watched the nippers leap about a bit. Went over the top bombing it home and crashed in the best style so far, landing a good ten feet from the bike! Shame no one saw as it must've been good. Anyway, the moral of the story is don't go too fast down Pole Hill when your arms and legs are pooped!
Oh well, roll on North Downs...
Pete

girl_from_pitt · Joined: 12 Jan 2006 Posts: 28

is today saturday ? - boy am I confused! I am all worked up about
NEXT saturday - ugh!

Anyways, thanks to everyone who took my survey - I'm getting
there with the responses.

Have fun tommorrow at north downs (I'm jealous!!!!). I'll
be thinking of you as I am sitting in the departure lounge of
the airport.

cheers
deb

KeithB · Joined: 30 Dec 2005 Posts: 12

After not coming out with you lot for almost 6 months i'm going to try and get out tomorrow! Hope you're all knackered after today as I'm not in the best of shape!

I'll see you all at Gomsall train station

Cheers,
Keith
(Grey kona with huge brakes)

Mick_the_Greek · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 264 Location: South Woodford

OWING TO FAMILY HEALTH PROBLEMS AM UNABLE TO TAKE RIDE TO NORTH DOWNS, THERE WILL HOWEVER BE A NORMAL EPPING RIDE TAKEN BY MUKESH LEAVING AT 10.00 AM FROM BIKE SHED.
SORY FOR THE TROUBLE MIKE.