At the Redbridge Cycling Centre prior to the start of the ride.

Regrouping near the Ice Age Stone in Navestock

We left the Redbridge Cycling Centre in orderly single file on the climb up to Chigwell Row. There were eleven riders, six on their first ever Redbridge club ride, two on their second or third club outing with us and three ‘old’ hands leading the way.  Described as a tour of the lanes north of the London Boroughs of Redbridge we were soon enjoying the fine views of the countryside from Bournebridge Lane only a stone’s throw from London; thank heaven for the Green Belt.

After the climbs of Stapleford Abbots and Tysea Hill it was time to regroup. This we did in Navestock by a memorial to the Ice Age, a huge stone that had been squeezed out of the ground due to the glacial activities of that period and now sitting on a concrete plinth.  Regrouped, we continued on yet more narrow lanes and at Sabines

Somewhere in Navestock

Descending the hill to Shonks Mill

Green and  met Tony ‘fresh’ from his ride in the club Championship ‘10’ earlier in the morning.  Our route took in refreshing views of the Valley of the River Roding and its surrounding countryside and after the steep winding descent of Mill Lane were soon crossing it at Shonk’s Mill, an old steam mill from ancient days.

Our new members were being introduced to joys of group cycling.  Whether or not they believed that during the ride uphill on Berwick lane is another matter. But we had to haul ourselves out of the Roding Valley somehow and this was the route chosen.  The summit was at the aptly named village of Toot Hill where we regrouped and continued on our way along the lane with more ups and downs than a helter skelter has at a fun fair. We stopped by the Moletrap Pub on Tawney Common to discuss a where we would have our refreshment stop. The bolts of pub were firmly closed, and the café in Abridge seemed too close to Redbridge so we all went for Jenny’s suggestion that the golf club near Hobbs Cross farm might be able to put the kettle on for us.

Turning into Berwick Lane

We tried hard to ignore the fantastic views of the Canary Wharf skyline from the top of Woodhatch, scene of the annual club hillclimb, for fear of meeting up with a pothole and after hurtling downhill, were soon supping tea and eating cakes in the clubhouse café.  Refreshed, our route took us back over the River Roding at Abridge.  Cara, getting ever fitter for her London – Paris ride next month said good bye to us here while the rest of us climbed Mile Hill out of Abridge eventually to reach the Cycling Centre via Lambourne End

On Tawney Common

Nazia and Frank Approaching Tawney Common

By the Moletrap on Tawney Common

On the Writtle-Chelmsford Cycleway

There was never going to be a huge number on the ride today.  Many were competing in the club 25 mile time trial and we were meeting them at the finish near Writtle. So it was that five pedalled out of the Redbridge Cycling Centre at 8.30:  Cara, undaunted by the hills of the previous week’s ride and determined to get fit for her forthcoming London – Paris challenge, Robin, Ryan, Yours truly and making a welcome return to Sunday club rides, Alan.

Avoiding a Fire on the Writtle – Chelmsford Cycleway

It was an ideal day for a bike ride, hardly a breeze, slightly crisp and clear. What a contrast to conditions of a few weeks ago.  Before long we were bowling along the lovely traffic free lanes of Navestock and enjoying views of the Roding Valley.  A contrast indeed with our club mates riding the club 25.  Kelvedon Hatch whizzed by and soon the familiar shape of the Blackmore’s church with its ancient wooden spire came into view.

Towards Chelmsford on the Cycleway

Here Alan turned left and made a quick getaway for home, while we carried on towards Writtle through Blackmore Woods (more accurately known as Writtle Forest).  At Highwood we headed north across the A414 and made for Newney Green, home of the famous pub called the Duck.  It was too early to even think of pints of beer so we carried on along Cow Watering Lane through one of the campuses of Writtle

Approaching Chignal Smeally

Pedaling Through Chignal Smeally

Agricultural College and eventually reached the finish of the time trial on the Old Roxwell road.

There they all were. Post mortems were a plenty: discussing how times could have been improved.  Stuart had organised the event which went ahead without a hitch and was now serving teas, coffees and excellent flapjacks.

Post mortems over, we were joined by Mark, getting fitter by the week, and Chris,  having just ridden his first ever time trial and eager to pack in some more miles as preparation for some marathon sportives he will be riding this summer; one of them being a circuit of Wales – a mere five or six hundred miles, to the official tea stop at the café opposite Writtle College. More tea, coffee and cakes; this cycling lark isn’t very good on the waistline! But the carbs were necessary, we were

No one attempted to cycle through the ford

into our 25^th mile and had over twentyfive more to go.

We took the quiet lanes through Chignal Smeally, Mashbury and Good Easter, a cycling paradise indeed.   Just after Good Easter our route forded the River Can. To avoid submerging ourselves and bikes into its murky depths we took the footbridge, amazed that even cars might even negotiate going through the

Hot off the Press: the Club 25 Result

water.   Time flies though and it wasn’t long before we were alongside the defunct WW2 bomber base at Willingale and, would you believe, feeling the pangs of hunger and thirst. Something that only the café at Norton Heath, not far away could cure. But when we got there, it had just closed.  Serious group discussion then followed and  we decided that it should be the café in Blackmore. Suddenly our conversation was interrupted by a ‘swoosh’ and a familiar sounding voice greeting us with ‘Hi Guys’.  We looked up and saw ‘Cav’ in full Quick

Everyone at the finish of the 25

Steppe outfit disappearing up the road to Willingale out on an afternoon spin.  If only I’d have had the camera ready.

After refreshment and conversation in Blackmore we then retraced our route of the morning to Stapleford Abbots and made our way back to Redbridge Cycling Centre via Havering Atte Bower and Collier Row.

Words and Pictures: Paul O’kelly

There seemed to be few problems during the event other than a couple of punctures and some soreness which some bike fitting might help with (?) and I hope everyone enjoyed my wife’s apricot and date (sorry if I said fig) flapjacks. It was great to catch up with other members on the Club ride, led by Paul O’Kelly, at the finish – with the weather around 9C and climbing they looked set to have a very pleasant ride.

Thanks to everyone who supported the event: Alan Flutter for timekeeping, Tom Moore for assisting Alan and pushing off (with help from Mark Adams), and Peter Stone, Phil Coghlan and Ed Pheby for marshaling. Without the help of Club members like these we would not be able to run these events and ensure they are safe. If anyone can help with marshaling in a future Club event it would benefit all those who timetrial.

We’re back for another 10 mile timetrial on the E91/10 at Leaden Roding starting 8.00am on Sunday 12th May so hope to see everyone there.

Race results can be found here, and random photos from the event here.

Stewart

It was billed as the ‘hilly challenge’ and it attracted fifteen riders; the most we’ve had out on a club ride for ages. This may have been due in part to the delayed arrival of spring, with a southerly breeze replacing the cruel easterly of the past few weeks, sorry months, or it may have been the fact that most cyclists are a masochistic lot and will always go for a challenge especially if it means uphill.

New and prospective new members, Cara, Frank, Tanbir, Adam and Dave joined us on the ride which would scale some climbs in High

The start at Redbridge Cycling Centre

At the Top of Claypitts Hill

Beech and then the nasty incline just south of Roydon with the unlikely name of Low Hill.

We were soon hurtling down the hill along Pudding lane taking care to avoid its huge potholes.  The suburbia of Debden saw another pothole demolish Mark’s inner tube and at Loughton just before Goldings Hill, Steve, having been driven bonkers by a new chain refusing to mesh with old cogs, decided to call it a day while he was still close to home.

Eventually we regrouped at the foot of the first major climb; the infamous Claypitts Hill.  All made it to the top but I’ve no idea who made it to the summit first.  For many years, Claypitts was the venue for the club’s annual hillclimb, with the record held by a former member of the Buccaneers cycling club, the club that merged with the Rapier Road Club back in 1972 to form the Redbridge CC. His name was Ernie Crowe, a prolific rider in his day, who sadly, passed away just three weeks ago.  It was a fitting coincidence that the club chose to ride over the hill so soon after his passing.

We carried on across High Beech plain only to release all the potential energy we had gained climbing up Claypits by hurtling down Mott Street. Brakes were applied sharply at the bottom to make a sharp left far the climb of Lippitts Hill.  Oh, what fun we were having!

We went back across High Beech plain and after descending Claypitts took the sharp left turn onto Pynest Green Lane.  A gentle quiet lane which ran around the fott of the hills around High Beech that eventually took us along Avey lane to the thoroughly unpleasant busy road to Waltham Abbey and to our lovely café stop, the Apollo on the pedestrianized thoroughfare of Sun Street.  The abbey is fine prominent structure dating back to Norman times and is the centrepiece of the town with its narrow streets and old buildings.

It was time to move ever northwards along the Crooked Mile, a main road with lots of twists and turns. So we proceeded in orderly single file until we came to the green houses full of peppers and tomatoes that characterise this area.  We turned left onto Netherhall lane and so absorbed by the remains of old Nether Hall with its sharp broken edges and its eerie towers, that no one noticed a steep escarpment getting ever closer. It was the notorious climb of Low Hill and it quickly destroyed any semblance of order that the group had.

Approaching Low Hill

Nearing the Top of Low Hill

Trevor at the Head of the Peloton on the Top of Low Hill

And then we had to turn southwards for the ride back to Redbridge.  The southerly wind which had made life very pleasant so far was now a very nasty companion.  It decimated the group and we arrived back at Hog Hill in ones and twos spread over twenty minutes.  Well; I did say earlier on that cyclists are a masochistic lot!

Paul O’Kelly

Edward, resplendent in new club colours passing Matching Airfield Control Tower.

Not for us then being dispatched by a pusher-off to the timekeeper’s sombre instruction:  “5, 4,3,2,1 go”.  The calmness of non-competitive cycling through lanes and the sounds of the countryside contrasted with the scary whirr of disc wheels.

There were twenty or so gathered in the layby, some had helped make the event possible and some had

Approaching Matching Green

ridden.  Sylv supplied us with tea. Tom the organiser had displayed result board for all to see. (The result can be found on ‘Road races and Time trial/2013 results)

Unfortunately no one joined us for the ride onto the café so undaunted, we made our way via Aythorpe Roding to Bretts Café/Restaurant at White Roding, where we feasted on eggs benedict

On Watery Lane near Matching Green

and lovely coffee.

Our ride home took us across the old WW2 Matching airfield. We stopped at the memorial and imagined the sight of the bomber squadrons flying low over the fields.  The old control tower still stands and has now become a landmark for those pedalling through this lovely part of Essex.

The Pothole in Watery Lane

After Matching Green we took narrow Watery Lane, a favourite thoroughfare for cyclists. We were enjoying its twists and turn and then near to its junction with the Lane to Little Laver our progress came to a halt at probably the largest pothole we have ever seen.   See photo (which will sent to Essex County Council)

Chris turned off just before Moreton, eager to get home and watch The Hell of the North on Telly (The Paris to Roubaix single day classic). We carried on through Moreton and 30 minutes after climbing the hill up to Blake Hall station were in approaching Redbridge having clocked up 50 miles.

Paul O’Kelly

The results can be found here. More photos from the event can be found here.

Hope to see you all at the next event on 21st April.

Stewart Fung

Princes Gate, Navestock

Navestockside

It was just past midday when we caught our first glimpse of the reservoir. We were approaching West Haningfield and had been struggling into the easterly wind through Blackmore, Margaretting and Galleywood.  It looked serene and quite beautiful against the backdrop of the rolling countryside.  But those who assumed food and rest were imminent were in for a nasty shock when yours truly led the group into Middlemead.  An endlessly straight road hugging the side of the reservoir below its level. It was a far cry from the winding narrow lanes of Essex, there was no view of the reservoir and exhaustion was setting in.  Finally, we reached South Haningfield and by 12.30 were supping and eating in

The Green, Blackmore

the Café, run by the RSPB and giving us lovely views of this huge reservoir.

—- shall I take the short cut through Blackmore Bus terminal?

An hour later with food in us and a slow puncture mended, we were back on the road climbing up the hill to Stock.  The easterly wind had now become our friend and it pushed us on through the ford at Buttsbury and into more familiar territory.  Soon we were in Navestock.  I turned off here at Goatswood lane to head off home leaving the others to soldier on back to Redbridge Cycling Centre. Mileage for the day turned out to be nearer 53 miles than the estimated 45; well done to all.

Words and pictures:  Paul O’Kelly

Getting ready to leave the cafe

The Cafe on the Water, South Haningfield

Between Galleywood and Blackmore

The river Wid at Buttsbury Ford

Through the suburbs of Romford

Mashiters Hill, Romford

We made our way out through the suburbs of Havering in and out of the showers and once past Upminster we were soon riding across the flat countryside that surrounds the M25 between Junctions 29 and 30.  At North Ockenden we took the aptly named Fen Lane taking us down onto the bleakness of Orsett Fen.  The countryside was nothing like that north of Redbridge and Abridge where the good old River Roding has produced some lovely valleys.  Orsett fen was dead pan flat…

………. until we turned left onto a narrow lane that reared its way up the side of Langdon Hill (or as some say Laindon Hill).  It was ¾ mile of extreme torture touching 18% in places.  Our peloton of eight quickly blew apart and Ryan reached the summit first followed by the rest of us in dribs and drabs.  Hero was Edward (now known as the Eagle) for his fine effort on the climb refusing to fall off at the steepest part.

At the Foot of Old Church Hill

We made our way down the northern slopes towards Laindon station and then off-road into the

Edward at Summit of Old Church Hill

Langdon Hills Country Park for some tea, coffee and cakes at the visitor centre run by the RSPB.  Our conversation was unusual for this place; not for us the populations of winged species frequenting the hillside but whether or not Edward and Steve should be buying new bikes at Ciclos Uno.

Orsett Fen

Our route back to Redbridge took us up hill to

Trevor at the Summit of Old Church Hill

Herongate and an unpleasant few miles on the A128  into Brentwood. The traffic was busy and it made us all appreciate the delights of cycling along narrow country lanes. Brentwood High Street was crowded with shoppers and traffic.  Soon though we were climbing through the quietness of South Weald and dropping down the hill to St Vincents Hamlet.

Trevor bade us farewell at Noak Hill, and the rest of us made our way back to Redbridge via Goatswood lane, Stapleford Abbotts and Lambourne End.

Leaving the Tea Stop at Langdon Hills Country Park

Total mileage approx. 38.

Paul O’Kelly

Shivering outside the tea stop in Sawbridgeworth

Watery Lane near Matching Gree

Paul O’Kelly

Due to our Runs Leader being unavailable (playing policeman as an Accredited Marshal), I was press-ganged asked to take the run.

Yet another cold start (will it EVER warm up?) from Hog Hill with ten riders – some new, some old, and some past their sell-by date! New names to learn, but it’s great to have so many out. At least it was dry, and the sun crept out on a few occasions in the light wind. Indeed, the Passingford Bridge to Colliers Hatch section was breathtakingly beautiful, with the added bonus of observing riders in the Hainault Hilly 40k at Toot Hill.

Norton Mandeville

We were down to 8 nipping past Cav’s house at Clatterford End; and my gravel road (in good condition, I must add) to Norton Mandeville was shunned by two, who took the shortcut to Norton Heath; where a café thronging with cyclists was a joy to behold.

Special mention must be made of Gensec Trevor, who managed to puncture twice in quick succession soon after departing the café. Rumour has it that they WERE new inner tubes thirty years ago!

Norton Mandeville Church

Returning though Kelvedon Hatch, the fast-and-young section decided on a shortcut back to Hog Hill that was so long, they arrived after us! Seriously, it will be better when we get a ‘slow’ and a ‘fast’ run being led in the near future.

Blackmore is host to another puncture.

Approximate mileages – out to café 20, back about 18 (due to u-turning for aforementioned puncture stops!).

ERIC ANGELL