Wood Cottage 22/11/2023

This Wednesday dawned cool and damp, with no wind.  Rather a good day for a bike ride in my opinion.  In Weavers Park, I noticed an avenue of trees being planted and had a chat with the workmen.  It turns out the trees are Carpinus betula fastigiata, which are a type of hornbeam, which grows well in cold winters and hot summers.  As they mature, they will make a fantastic avenue.  The workmen installing them do most of their installation work in playgrounds and parklands, and the older man knew all about the trees he was planting and was making a good job of training his apprentice.

I was delighted to see our rider, Gavin.  He’s been waiting ages for a hip replacement, and finally has had it done.  The surgery went well, and he looked in fantastic form.  Obviously, his recovery has been due in part to the marvellous level of fitness he’s maintained while riding with the Easy Riders!!!  He’ll be back riding with us as soon as he’s had the OK from the medical advisers.  Hurrah!

Geoff came out and left his beanie hat behind, which meant he had really cold ears.  So, he borrowed my spare helmet cover – it didn’t cover his ears, but should conserve heat from his head, so his ears don’t get quite so cold. Health & safety tip for the day is extolling the virtues of the buff.  Can be worn loose around neck; pulled up over the head under the helmet, to keep neck and head warm; or twisted halfway along its length, and one end inverted, so it makes a hat shape.  They are small enough to keep in tiny bar bags, and are really useful, particularly to share with other group members. 

Another useful tip from Paul Simpson, is to keep a plastic carrier bag stuffed under your saddle, between the saddle rails and underside of the seat.  Use the plastic bag to keep your saddle dry when we go for tea when it is raining.

The medium group headed along the Flitch Way to Rayne, then rode via Great Saling, Stebbing and Little Dunmow to Wood Cottage.  Dee made a marvellous job of support rider, by carrying her whistle.  One blast from her meant car behind us, and we regularly pulled over to let them past.  Two blasts meant Stop.  This was very useful when Tim’s chain came off, so some of us could wait, and no-one was dropped. 

We pedalled back via Willows Green, where various club members had the committee meeting.

23 miles, average 9mph

Cathy MacTaggart