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Tour of Essex
10 June 2006

Q How can you cycle along country lanes so quite as to be almost deserted on a beautiful summer's afternoon only 42 minutes from Liverpool Street?
A Go cycling in Essex when there's an England World Cup match on.

Given the clash with the World Cup, I wasn't entirely surprised when only one other cyclist turned up at the Green Bridge at 9.15am. Kathy had done a few Lewisham rides before but this was her first time with Tower Hamlets Wheelers. Kathy and I got the train from Liverpool Street to Hatfield Peveral, the other side of Chelmsford, to do an anticlockwise route through lots of pretty little villages.

As a Northerner, I'm constantly amazed by the countryside in the South East. When I think of countryside, I think of the rugged grandeur of moorland and dry-stone walls. But South East England really is full of tiny, pretty villages with thatched cottages, village greens, duckponds, medieval churches etc. You probably knew that already, but I have to keep reminding myself that it's not just tourist-board propaganda designed to sell Constable prints and Shakespeare experiences - it actually does exist, and not that far from London either. Note to self - go on rides in countryside more often.

In the morning, we headed north, then west, before stopping for lunch at the Black Bull in Fyfield. The home made pies and the IPA were excellent. The downside was that we got attacked by a large sunshade - a strong gust blew the sunshade up from our picnic table and then let it fall down, but we were able to catch is before it caused any damage.

We headed east in the afternoon, and at 2.00pm everything went dead. OK, I exaggerate. Some elderly ladies persisted with their church fete, but apart from that we didn't see many people out, and the few we saw seemed in a rush to get home. Kathy checked the score a couple of times when we stopped to check the map and stock up on water. Then I declared a halt just before full time. We did well with the timing here - I managed to get to the bar just before full time, to buy our drinks before the rush but confirm the final score at the same time.

Because there were just the two of us, we were able to go at what I reckon was the fast side of moderate pace. Anyway, our own "final score" was:

Distance: 56.3 miles
Average speed: 13.4mph
Total time including stops (1 lunch, 2 drinks): 6hr 45 min
Mechanical problems: 0
Physical problems: 2 sunburnt calves - forgot to apply suncream there

Hope to see you on Saturday rides in the future.

Matt

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