Was Essex Flat Enough?
Posted on Tuesday 12 June 2007 by Ken Peters
The weather gods have been exceptionally good for my recent rides with CTC. Today was another day that was close to perfection in cycling terms with plenty of sunshine and a good crowd that eventually numbered sixteen.
As has happened recently there was a major riding out group that I managed to lead out from north London. Those that met at Finsbury Park station were Angela, Geraldine, Kate and Jeremy. The latter two were new to me but Kate had contacted me during the week and had explained that she had done some 2-star rides; she and Jeremy were planning to do the British Etape in a few weeks time so they needed to test themselves with something a little more demanding. As we travelled out we picked up Denise and Nick Wells at Seven Sisters station and a few moments later or group was completed by the un-deraiiled, namely, Camille and Nick Bloom who joined us at Tottenham Hale.
Nick Bloom was magnificent in navigating us through an odd bit of north-east London which must be part of Walthamstow rather than Tottenham as it is after Blackhorse Road station. Eventually we breezed into Chingford and as we had almost half an hour in hand on any train-assisted riders we settled down for coffee and some introductions at a very nice café adjacent to the station. While waiting another two joined us as I had spotted Hyacinth and Dave who I have to list as friends of mine. There is a long story there but I won’t bore you with the details. Finally Nick Dean appeared having made his own way across from Mill Hill. The ride out ethos is taking hold or it may just be that there are a few more rides starting in the outer metropolitan area which gives the opportunity for people to decide between the train with its thirty minute pre-departure wait and getting on the road and putting some distance under wheels immediately.
At the station we eventually met Tom Spierling, who is Danish/Dutch and had recently completed his first CTC ride as well as Ant, Charlie and Stuart. There was only a moderate degree of faffing but with the weather being set fair there were few complaints that we had not set off immediately.
Once on the road we encountered a problem as at the first junction that we made turn there was a “No Through Road – Road Works” sign but I pressed on as often these restrictions allow cyclists to get through while barring the way for motorized traffic. This was certainly the case as we had covered about two kilometres before we reached the roadworks but the nice guy sat in the cab of his JCB was happy to let us pass after he warned us of a deep trench.
After that there was little to report apart from the fact that we found a couple of hills deep into Epping Forest which surprised a few who were expecting a flat Essex ride; there were a few surprised people as they had to search for granny gears or the fixed equivalent. After exiting the forest we headed for Theydon Bois and thence towards Kelvedon Hatch. There was remarkably little to report apart from the fact that we rode briskly until there was a brief slowing of pace when the call came from the rear of the group that someone had lost a chain. Soon after that at Stapleford Abbotts we nearly managed to lose Nick Dean who overshot a junction while off the front but he was quickly hunted down. We did lose Denise at that point, who decided that she was not at her best and was going to meander home slowly, so we were down to 15 but the good news was that the pub where we were heading to for lunch said that they would have no problem coping with a gaggle of cyclists.
Not long after Nick Dean recovered some of his lost brownie points by assisting Angela who was having difficulty getting clipped in with her updated Look cleats. I think that everyone was secretly glad of the break and after the adjustment was made we covered the remaining distance to lunch and arrived at The Mole Trap, Stapleford Tawney not long after midday. There was at least one comment that the pub was familiar but I believe that recognition was made difficult as the previous visit there was on a leaderless ride that was marred by several punctures, none of which were mine, as well as a lot of rain. I have to say that the pub was popular as we passed a group of about twenty walkers who eventually joined us as well as plenty of car borne folk and several lovely dogs. I think that service of lunch was a little erratic but eventually all were refreshed.
During the lunch stop we lost Hyacinth and Dave who had to make their way back home as well as Angela who was suffering from a lack of energy caused by a few late nights and also Nick Dean. After lunch little of note happened apart from Tom making a break at Fyfield that seemed to take him all the way to Dunmow. Eventually he realised the error of his ways and returned to the group that had waited patiently for his return. From there to our tea stop at Upshire Church a remarkable outbreak of moderate two abreast riding behind the leader was noted; I wonder why?
Tea was wonderful and after lots of discussion it was decided to end the ride at Waltham Cross, so I could get back to Winchmore Hill, but only Camille and Stuart took the train option, and shortly afterwards the remainder of the group split with Nick Wells volunteering to take most people into east/north-east London while I had Charlie and Nick Bloom tailing me toward my north London hangout and thence onwards towards Highgate and Muswell Hill respectively.
A short ride of only about 90K by the time I had reached home but at least we had finished early as I noted my arrival home as just before 17:00 which was remarkably early. Thanks for all who turned out, you were are remarkably nice bunch to lead. By the way for those who are observant there were no punctur8s on the ride even for myself.
Riders
Angela Dale, Hyacinth Forbes, Geraldine Nogami, Denise Pugh, Kate Sandall and Camille Savory.
Nick Bloom, Nick Dean, Ant Evans, Jeremy Hughes, Charlie Keep, Dave Lefevre, Stuart Mitchell, Tom Spierling and Nick Wells
The planned route can be seen here.