Rear of the Year Award 27/11/2024

I’ll start today, with a health & safety observation seen when riding up Fairfield Road behind Andy P and Jim D. On a day when rain threatened, we were all wearing waterproof cycle tops. I noticed that, when seated on his bike, Jim’s jacket came down almost to the level of his bike seat, and that any rain dripping off, would mostly drain onto the rear of his bike.

However, Andy’s jacket was about 2” shorter and would drain the water straight onto his cycle leggings and would likely end up with a very wet rear end! So, if you don’t like a soggy bottom, it might be worth considering how long your wet weather gear should be! Fortunately, Andy and Jim were quite happy to be models for, as Jim put it, the ‘rear of the year’ award!

The inclement weather forecasts had rather reduced the number of Easy Riders prepared to take a chance on the weather. About 6 riders joined Andy and Gavin for the Long Ride, and there were 7 riders (plus Ann joining further round) for the medium. I’d planned the medium ride to stick to high ground wherever possible, heading out along Rayne Road, across to Cock Green and Causeway End, returning via Leez Priory and Great Leighs where we gained a strengthening tailwind on roads where runoff water was frequently draining across the road. The rain stayed off, but as we rode the temperature dropped.

However, on our approach to Ranks Green Bill B punctured. As he’s on tubeless tyres, he and Nev spun the wheel to enable a reinflation, but suddenly the tyre popped quite loudly, indicating the tyre was off, and reinflation not possible. The local horses found our repairs of great interest! Nev departed to get his van to collect Bill, while Bill started walking back towards Braintree to meet him on the way. I took the group forward as I did not anyone getting cold (I’d noticed my group were all of slight build and likely to chill fast). As we reached the dip before Ranks Green, the road was decisively flooded with no route round. Peter Sk had the masterly idea of re-routing to the Green Dragon for refreshments and a warm sanctuary, so we headed back there. I rang Cornerstone Church café to tell them of our non-arrival due to a flood-thwarted bike ride.

It has occurred to me that when planning routes, there is a lot of local knowledge to be considered. Even with careful planning, and a recce the day before, the weather thwarted me. I’ve decided to annotate my OS map with a colour-coded fluorescent marking to indicate the various road hazards I’ve come across in different areas. For example, Mill Lane Felsted, and Ranks Green where it floods, and Leighs Road, Little Waltham, and Littley Green Road near the Compasses, where exposed and worn road surfaces get iced in winter and sticky with tar in summer. Once I’ve completed it, I’ll make it available to all ride leaders.

From there we had a short trip back to Braintree, in a cold, strengthening wind. A good-humoured group riding a truncated route!

18.9 miles, 9 mph

Cathy MacTaggart