Fnrttc

The 2011 season of Friday Night Ride To The Coast  (Fnrttc) kicked off on Friday with a ride to Southend on Sea. They are becoming pretty popular amongst the cycling fraternity and more than 100 turned out for the first ride of the season on what turned out to be a freezing night. It was so cold that my drink bottle resembled a mojhito full of crushed ice. Shame it didn't taste like one though. 

Leaving Hyde Park Corner at Midnight we rolled past Buckingham Palace, down Birdcage walk and then left at Big Ben for a ride along the Embankment. It's always amusing to see the faces of those who walk out of bars half cut and see more than 100 Lycra clad cyclists with lights twinkling whizzing by.

Hyde Park Corner

We rode on through Stratford and past the Olympic park and then out into South Essex. 

With Tea, Sandwiches and Hot Cross Buns in Stock Village Hall courtesy of the Tully family up at 04.00hrs to welcome us, we thawed out enough to then ride on to Southend. As we left Stock the sun was coming up and the beautiful morning pink and orange sky sat atop a crispy white frost. We tentatively rode the Old Stock Road avoiding the occasional patch of ice and chatting happily as the morning mist wafted across the open fields. 

Old Stock Road, thats me in Yellow on the left navigating the ice

At Southend the day was clear and bright and warming up nicely. A full English Breakfast at the Rose restaurant on the sea front satiated the hunger and then we headed home on the train with about 65 miles in our legs and the first long ride of the year completed. 

Fnrttc are open to all but you must sign up and register in advance. All details are available on the blog which is linked above.