Urban Cycle (walk) along the Lea Valley towards Ware Sat 30th May

[alsoknownas]

Is it too early to think about what time we're meeting?

No, and it's important. I reckon that 12pm would be the best time to meet. But a couple of things about that - some people seem to think that's too early! , and it means that we would not be stopping at the brewery outbound (not necessarily a bad thing) (brewery opens at 2pm btw).

 

[han]

Too early?! [emoji15] [emoji23]

 

[alsoknownas]

Too early?! [emoji15] [emoji23]

I know!

eta: This kind of thing probably explains why we didn't get quite as far as expected the last couple of times.

 

[han]

I would've thought 10 or 11 would be more sensible.

 

[alsoknownas]

I would've thought 10 or 11 would be more sensible.

I would prefer that too. Shall we push for 11? Certain people don't like to get out of bed on a Saturday morning .

 

[han]

That's a good compromise.

 

[golightly]

I could join you all on the ride up from South London. I don't reckon that it will too difficult to get to the start of the cycle ride by 11am and then we can take our time round the course.

 

[Orang Utan]

I would've thought 10 or 11 would be more sensible.

Or 9 even. It would be nice to get a whole day out of it, esp if it's sunny and warm.

 

[han]

Yes!

 

[alsoknownas]

If people want to make it an earlier start I think that would be great.
earlier than 10 though and some people simply won't turn up .

 

[mango5]

Please make it 11 as Sarf Londoners will need an hour or more to get to the start

 

[Orang Utan]

Please make it 11 as Sarf Londoners will need an hour or more to get to the start

Set off at 8!

 

[golightly]

I can see that working.

 

[braindancer]

Earlier the better for me! When setting off for a day of cycling I'm normally in the saddle before 7 - but I appreciate that's probably not the norm . 11 is fine though....

 

[alsoknownas]

Shall we just call it 11? I think that's gonna win in the end. 10 aint gonna happen I reckon. Any later gets a bit silly.

 

[Orang Utan]

I can see that working.

Why is an early start so bad? As I said, it's a shame to waste sunshine/daylight, esp if there's a long distance travel, and it's good to have lunch halfway through the ride.

 

[Treacle Toes]

Why is an early start so bad? As I said, it's a shame to waste sunshine/daylight, esp if there's a long distance travel, and it's good to have lunch halfway through the ride.

It's not a bad thing for smaller groups IME. Also/but, if we are to accommodate everyone we need to think about logistics and extra things people will have to do if they live further away from the meet point and/or have children.

 

[Orang Utan]

People with kids are more likely to be up the earliest tbf

 

[Treacle Toes]

People with kids are more likely to be up the earliest tbf

Yet have things to do to prepare for a day out with them and others. Come on OU. You know this.

 

[Orang Utan]

Yet have things to do to prepare for a day out with them and others. Come on OU. You know this.

I guess so. But it does look like a long ride.

 

[toblerone3]

Why is an early start so bad? As I said, it's a shame to waste sunshine/daylight, esp if there's a long distance travel, and it's good to have lunch halfway through the ride.

This has long been my personal gripe with Urban walks the late starting times which means we miss out doing some of the more ambitious day treks. But many Urbanz are very conservative and just refuse to get up early.

 

[toblerone3]

10am start (?)

 

[Orang Utan]

This has long been my personal gripe with Urban walks the late starting times which means we miss out doing some of the more ambitious day treks. But many Urbanz are very conservative and just refuse to get up early.

Well, it's fair enough if there are practical reasons why people can't meet earlier, so we'll have to go with the flow/majority

 

[golightly]

Why is an early start so bad? As I said, it's a shame to waste sunshine/daylight, esp if there's a long distance travel, and it's good to have lunch halfway through the ride.

I'd be up for it, but there's quite a diverse group coming from different locations, so if the day is going to work we need to be accommodating.

 

[ska invita]

also it takes me over a good hour or so to get anywhere near hackney....starting at 10am means leaving at 9am means getting up at 8am on a saturday morning - never going to happen. The earliest i can make it is noon (1pm would be my ideal). If people want to go earlier do it, but i'll catch you at the end. I vote noon as a compromise

 

[ska invita]

orangutan, you need to work out how to get to hackney with a bike from west dulwich ~ overground allows bikes but tube doesnt

 

[Orang Utan]

orangutan, you need to work out how to get to hackney with a bike from west dulwich ~ overground allows bikes but tube doesnt

It's quite easy - down to Camberwell, then Tower Bridge via Bermondsey, then Whitechapel - Bethnal Green - Hackney

 

[Orang Utan]

also it takes me over a good hour or so to get anywhere near hackney....starting at 10am means leaving at 9am means getting up at 8am on a saturday morning - never going to happen. The earliest i can make it is noon (1pm would be my ideal). If people want to go earlier do it, but i'll catch you at the end. I vote noon as a compromise

That gives just an afternoon to do quite a long ride. What's so bad about getting up early? We're not teens anymore!

 

[alsoknownas]

Alright look, I think it's fair to say that only 11 or 12 are real contenders for starting times. Any earlier and people will drop out; any later and
we lose half the day. I'd prefer 11, but that's easy for me to say, cos I only live 5 minutes away from the proposed start point . Shall we stick to debating 11am or 12pm?

 

[alsoknownas]

It's quite easy - down to Camberwell, then Tower Bridge via Bermondsey, then Whitechapel - Bethnal Green - Hackney

You might want to consider biking London Bridge to Liverpool St (not far), then train to Clapton .