Tour de Pistonheads 2015
Discussion
Gruffy, Justin, and all
I've done some research and made a list of possible stage 3 cafe stops, mainly by asking some clubbies and using Google street view. Not suggesting we stop at them all (or that anyone keen need to stop at any of them if they wanted to set an individual fast time) but for those of us intending to ride together I thought it might help to have predetermined RV points on our nav devices where we can regroup* after any mechanicals.
I had been thinking of suggesting we also nominate one of them as a definite morning stop and another as a definite afternoon stop, where we'd stop regardless of whether we needed to regroup or not. But it seems we're going to be well looked after by Justin and the support crew that may not be as necessary as I'd thought.
What do you guys think. Should I put the list I made up here for consideration at least?
I've done some research and made a list of possible stage 3 cafe stops, mainly by asking some clubbies and using Google street view. Not suggesting we stop at them all (or that anyone keen need to stop at any of them if they wanted to set an individual fast time) but for those of us intending to ride together I thought it might help to have predetermined RV points on our nav devices where we can regroup* after any mechanicals.
I had been thinking of suggesting we also nominate one of them as a definite morning stop and another as a definite afternoon stop, where we'd stop regardless of whether we needed to regroup or not. But it seems we're going to be well looked after by Justin and the support crew that may not be as necessary as I'd thought.
What do you guys think. Should I put the list I made up here for consideration at least?
- edit - just to clarify. When I say regroup, I'm thinking back into the subgroup the puncture sufferers had separated from rather than necessarily all regroup back into one big group.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Thursday 30th April 10:07
Oh , what the hell. I've finished typing up the list so here it is. I can always delete this post if it's unwanted!
Approximate riding time / Distance from start / Name Description / Google map link
0:00 / Km0 / Cambridge RV point / TBD
1:00 / Km25 / Mocha Cafe, Saffron Walden. Probably a bit early to stop normally I'd guess, but if someone's had a mechanical and we need to regroup it's a regular Herts Wheelers club ride destination so we can assume its cyclist friendly. It's down an alley that's on the left of the high street we pass along as we come into the town. The alley means bikes can be left out of the way of pedestrians (and any opportunist thieves who may pass by). / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Saffron+Walden...
1:45 / Km43 / Bosworth Tea Rooms, Finchingfield. Claimed to be the most photographed village in England, and 1/4 a way into the ride. These tea rooms are set on a green overlooking our route through the village. Easy to keep an eye on the bikes if we sit outside. Biggest downside to stopping here is it's only 16km before our lunch stop. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Bosworths+Tear...
2:20 / Km59 / The Booking Hall Cafe, Rayne. / The ideal lunch stop spotted by Gruffy. A cafe in the disused Rayne station's booking hall, with a restored vintage railway carriage outside. Plenty of space for bikes and support car parking. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Booking+Ha...
4:00 / Km100 / White Hart Inn, Moreton. On the left as we pass through the village. Couldn't find a cafe or tea room in the area but this posh-pub would seem to be cycle friendly from their website. Certainly looks a pleasant place to sit outside with a coffee. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/White+Hart+Inn...
4:30 / Km112 / The Verde Cafe, Epping. Epping is halfway between lunch and the finish, but none of the cafes look particularly inspiring or seem to anywhere sensible to leave up to a dozen bikes outside. Verde looked the best of the bunch owing to it being set back from the main road on a little service crescent, so they may be some space for bikes. But I can't see much space. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Verde+Cafe...
5:10 / Km128 / Lamb's Cafe, Whipps Cross E17. Again uninspiring looking but it has a railed garden that faces the route, so arriving riders could easily spot those already there, and vice cersa. We could probably lift bikes over the rails and sit with them for security. Only 30km to the finish though, but if people are tired it might be good to take on some fuel before taking on the London traffic. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Lambs+Cafe/@51...
6:15 / Km157 / Finish, The Mall. Compulsory victory salute by all.
6:20 / Km158 / Rapha Cafe, Brewer St. W1 (by junction with Air St.)
Bikes allowed inside. NB Closes at 6pm on Sunday, but if nothing goes too wrong we should make it in time for a swift one. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rapha+Cycle+Cl...
Approximate riding time / Distance from start / Name Description / Google map link
0:00 / Km0 / Cambridge RV point / TBD
1:00 / Km25 / Mocha Cafe, Saffron Walden. Probably a bit early to stop normally I'd guess, but if someone's had a mechanical and we need to regroup it's a regular Herts Wheelers club ride destination so we can assume its cyclist friendly. It's down an alley that's on the left of the high street we pass along as we come into the town. The alley means bikes can be left out of the way of pedestrians (and any opportunist thieves who may pass by). / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Saffron+Walden...
1:45 / Km43 / Bosworth Tea Rooms, Finchingfield. Claimed to be the most photographed village in England, and 1/4 a way into the ride. These tea rooms are set on a green overlooking our route through the village. Easy to keep an eye on the bikes if we sit outside. Biggest downside to stopping here is it's only 16km before our lunch stop. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Bosworths+Tear...
2:20 / Km59 / The Booking Hall Cafe, Rayne. / The ideal lunch stop spotted by Gruffy. A cafe in the disused Rayne station's booking hall, with a restored vintage railway carriage outside. Plenty of space for bikes and support car parking. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Booking+Ha...
4:00 / Km100 / White Hart Inn, Moreton. On the left as we pass through the village. Couldn't find a cafe or tea room in the area but this posh-pub would seem to be cycle friendly from their website. Certainly looks a pleasant place to sit outside with a coffee. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/White+Hart+Inn...
4:30 / Km112 / The Verde Cafe, Epping. Epping is halfway between lunch and the finish, but none of the cafes look particularly inspiring or seem to anywhere sensible to leave up to a dozen bikes outside. Verde looked the best of the bunch owing to it being set back from the main road on a little service crescent, so they may be some space for bikes. But I can't see much space. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/The+Verde+Cafe...
5:10 / Km128 / Lamb's Cafe, Whipps Cross E17. Again uninspiring looking but it has a railed garden that faces the route, so arriving riders could easily spot those already there, and vice cersa. We could probably lift bikes over the rails and sit with them for security. Only 30km to the finish though, but if people are tired it might be good to take on some fuel before taking on the London traffic. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Lambs+Cafe/@51...
6:15 / Km157 / Finish, The Mall. Compulsory victory salute by all.
6:20 / Km158 / Rapha Cafe, Brewer St. W1 (by junction with Air St.)
Bikes allowed inside. NB Closes at 6pm on Sunday, but if nothing goes too wrong we should make it in time for a swift one. / https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Rapha+Cycle+Cl...Going non-stop to Rayne would work for me too, if our group is still all together. The fewer planned stops the better our chance of making London in reasonable time.
I expect I'd quite like a quick afternoon stop somewhere though. But only if that goes along with the general feeling of the group.
I expect I'd quite like a quick afternoon stop somewhere though. But only if that goes along with the general feeling of the group.
Edited by SixPotBelly on Thursday 30th April 11:31
Non-stop to Rayne would be my vote too. We have the luxury of our support crews so, if necessary, it's also possible to stop for a few minutes as you pass. Stopping for too long makes my legs stiffen up and it's like pedalling through treacle for the next 30 minutes, so personally I'm keen to limit how often I stop. No reason why others can't make use of SPB's great research if they prefer to stop more often though.
^ Agree.
WRG to avgs. Some of us Strava mtb slogs too (even slower than our slow road riding)
Ooh, early weather shows wind suddenly turning 180degs to a North Easterly next weekend, hope it does stay like that, we'll be doing 20+ on the flat with that behind us.
WRG to avgs. Some of us Strava mtb slogs too (even slower than our slow road riding)
Ooh, early weather shows wind suddenly turning 180degs to a North Easterly next weekend, hope it does stay like that, we'll be doing 20+ on the flat with that behind us.
Edited by richardxjr on Thursday 30th April 13:36
richardxjr said:
Ooh, early weather shows wind suddenly turning 180degs to a North Easterly next weekend, hope it does stay like that, we'll be doing 20+ on the flat with that behind us.
I wish the forecast for stages 1 & 2 was as cooperative. A good tailwind for stage 3 might be just what we need after two days of hills, headwinds and crosswinds.Nice work 6PB I'll be noting those although as you've all discussed getting on with it is probably best, you're looking at 8 hrs start to finish at reasonably sportive rider pace.
The pub in Moreton is a good call and I'll endeavour to use it, they are definitely cycle friendly, I have a pint there once a year on the Dynamo when the whole village is wall to wall cyclists, they even put on a firework display for us last year.
Coming 40k after lunch having a friendly pub may well come in handy for comfort breaks too.
The pub in Moreton is a good call and I'll endeavour to use it, they are definitely cycle friendly, I have a pint there once a year on the Dynamo when the whole village is wall to wall cyclists, they even put on a firework display for us last year.
Coming 40k after lunch having a friendly pub may well come in handy for comfort breaks too.
JustinF said:
Nice work 6PB I'll be noting those although as you've all discussed getting on with it is probably best, you're looking at 8 hrs start to finish at reasonably sportive rider pace.
The pub in Moreton is a good call and I'll endeavour to use it, they are definitely cycle friendly, I have a pint there once a year on the Dynamo when the whole village is wall to wall cyclists, they even put on a firework display for us last year.
Coming 40k after lunch having a friendly pub may well come in handy for comfort breaks too.
Keen to press on as I am, I suspect I'll be hoping for an afternoon stop on the day, if only because it's 100km from lunch to London. Just five minutes or so to give the sit bones a rest, and throw down a coffee. Moreton looks perfect for that, especially as you recommend it, and if you are indeed there it'd be even more likely that I'd elect to stop. I certainly wouldn't want to make any one else stop who didn't want to though, and I'd be happy even if everyone else carried on. I'd just go off afterwards with a cry of "full gas" to catch everyone back up by London. It'd be fun trying anyway. The pub in Moreton is a good call and I'll endeavour to use it, they are definitely cycle friendly, I have a pint there once a year on the Dynamo when the whole village is wall to wall cyclists, they even put on a firework display for us last year.
Coming 40k after lunch having a friendly pub may well come in handy for comfort breaks too.
Plenty of free parking in London at around 07.30 in the morning on a sunday which is also not a congestion charge day.
If you are worried about leaving your car un attended you then you are more than welcome to park on my drive but i'm in Morden which is a 40 minute tube run or an hour's cycle to Kings X.
Avoid an NCP st all costs
If you are worried about leaving your car un attended you then you are more than welcome to park on my drive but i'm in Morden which is a 40 minute tube run or an hour's cycle to Kings X.
Avoid an NCP st all costs
richardxjr said:
Before I pay to park for Stage3, anyone got a spare parking space in London outside congestion zone, Sun 7am to (possibly) midday Monday?
Catching the 0805 KX to Camb for 0931.
I'll be on the same train. Getting on at Potters Bar.Catching the 0805 KX to Camb for 0931.
Regards parking, which side of London are you coming from?
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