Ride Report Saturday 23rd August
Main group had 16 riders. Ade, Barham, Craig, Chris (Me) Dave 1 Dave 2, Heather, Hugues (newbie Greenwich) John (newbie veteran local time triallist…..left us at Buck Hill, got fed up waiting for late-arrivals/2 of group searching for them) Mark, Michael, Omar, Patrick, Ron, Simon, Sze.
(Moderate Group report below / Dave who led it might want to write his own)
The aim was to ride to the new Redbridge Cycle Circuit at Forest Rd nr. Hog Hill. Unfortunately, Daves 1 & 2 who drive from Thetford were late, Ade liased with them on his mobile. To summarise, Ade went looking for them, with Omar it seems, I rode back from Brook Rd for the second time while the Group rode to the Epping rd / Beech Lane…I met the 2 Daves who were on the planned route but hadn’t seen Ade & Omar. Ade & Omar went a different route but met us on the Rugby Pitches / Hornbeam Rod while Hugues changed an Inner tube ( ….Veteran John went while the group hung around Beech Lane.)
The ride through Knighton Woods, Roding Path (nettles/brambles) Grange farm, Bridleway to Hainault forest was mostly dry apart from some mud on the bridleway.
The Cycle Circuit has very bendy 2Km road circuit, apparently the Elite/ Ist Cat race during the week saw the 2 leaders lap the field & the chasing group. It’s high up and breezy. Those who paid £3.50 & rode the MTB course said it was sporting. Has a gravel surface. Others might want to comment. Cafe serves tea and cakes. Everyone thought it Ok ( ? ) citation
Returned through Hainault Forest, Pudding Lane, footpath to Bridleway then to Chigwell Village, Grange farm, Roding Path & Knighton Wood. At Craigs’ suggestion stopped at Royal Forest Hotel for beers/ various. Ron bought me a drink and thanked me for leading the ride. Thanks Ron. Ron is really sticking with getting fit. He must be suffering sometimes…mind you, I am a lot of the time but I just pretend. Craig is out to get fit again…seems painfully fit already. Everybody rode well, it’s quite a tough route.
About 3 hrs riding plus Hainault & various stops.
MODERATE GROUP. Dave took Jayne, Kathy, Richard plus Debbie newbie with 2 others from Nottingham ( ? ) who arrived later, to the Forest Gate Inn. We met them at the Royal Forest by chance….thanks Dave
Next Saturday might see some Holidaymakers back again. Meet 11.00 opp Chingford Station.
Chris
