End of the Month Long Ride 30/04/2025

As it appeared to be the first hot, sunny day of summer (!), plenty of Easy Riders appeared for the extended rides. The long ride of about 12 led by Andy P and Gavin, headed eastwards to Frank’s Corner on Turkey Cock Lane; the medium ride of about 18 led by me and Peter M, headed to Ashfields Carriage Club and the short ride went to the Blue Egg. I was very glad that Mike and Andy C stepped up as support riders for the two parts of my group.

I have to put my hand up to missing a trick here. As there were 18 of us, I should have rung ahead to Ashfields to say there were considerably more than the 12 people booked, and split our groups carefully, so that slower riders were with Peter M and did not feel pressurised, and faster riders were with me. This would have staggered our arrival at the café, because we nearly overwhelmed them! Oops! My fault!

We rode my usual route via Rayne, Felstead, and Onslow Green before reaching Proverbs Green. I think this is a lovely name. Proverb means a simple, traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. However, a closer look at the etymology indicates pro means forward moving, and verb is an action word, so proverb means forward moving actions. Appropriate for Braintree Easy Riders!

We arrived at Ashfields where we fell on refreshments, and Dave S regaled us with tales of a recent stag-do he attended at a go-kart arena as one of his 60-year-old friends was getting married. The go-karts were petrol-driven and powerful, and he was surprised at how much upper body strength was required to control them. In the 3-stage event, his first grid position was towards the rear, and he finished last. Then to his surprise, the second grid put the slowest drivers first – i.e. him – and he was overtaken before the first bend by 70% of the competition! They also completed 10 laps, whereas he only managed 8! He sagely observed the young party members ended up with inevitably superior pole-positions on the final grid, due to their faster reactions (and possibly totally cavalier attitude!). The latter part of the stag event was clay pigeon shooting, where he felt he acquitted himself well. Mind you, I have to say I find it easier to imagine Dave in the traditional garb of a gamekeeper, than in the traditional kit of a go-karter!

Health & safety tip for the day is about sun protection. Last year Tracy advised us to never get sunburned lips (slow healing and very painful), so I’ve bought new 50spf lip salve, and I’ve also restocked with a small tube of 50spf sun cream for my bar bag. Nearly every year, when visiting National Trust, I end up buying their small tubes of sun cream, when I’ve forgotten mine. If anyone needs it this summer, the sun cream will be in my bar bag

We headed back east, following some of the same roads, skirting the north side of Pleshey to Ford End. The idyllic weather had brought several pelotons of club-kit clad riders, mostly riding a lot faster than us, but always with a friendly greeting. Our group rode down the B road to Hartford End, then turned right up to Littley Green, riding up a 6% incline on a very quiet road. We wended our way back to Rayne, where riders started to disperse as we reached Braintree.

34 miles, average 10.5 mph

Cathy MacTaggart