Club run reports - Sunday 18th April

Category 6 ride led by Tony Dos Santos

Eldon does it AGAIN! 

What can I say, the strap line says it all. We met up at Hertford, all with the joys of spring. I had already given the .GPX route out to others, so everyone knew where they were going. A new guy turned up called Alasdair (he likes to be called Ally, as only his mum calls him Alasdair, lol) So we set off from Hertford, at a break neck speed with the usual suspects out in front, yes, you two Eldon and Ridoutt. Well, we went up Brickendon Hill, round a couple of lanes and then I noticed out in front quite a few were missing. I thought this is strange and continued and continued. Well, just before Brookmans Park, we had all joined up and Peter E confirmed he had taken the wrong turn (roflmao - he did have the gpx file and was too busy talking). No harm done, we rode through Brookmans Park and onto Shenley. Great banter was had at the café, and Mark K had tea and scones (posh git lol). 
A really uneventful ride with only one chain that came off. Great banter as usual, and it’s nice to see 13 riders out. Thanks all for coming. Sorry the report is so short, but I’m still gutted that Mark Kerr beat me down Brickendon Lane. It was a 2 mile race; next time I’ll get you. Oh and Mark, it’s called the keirin, you know, the ride following someone around the arena. God, this is a boring report. Signing off from the Dos Santos household. 

Category 5 ride led by Janine Wignall

4 people took part in the Cat 5 ride this Sunday - Tim and Angela Dobson, Ian Smith and myself

Following our start in Much Hadham we headed south through Hunsdon, Stansted Abbots and Roydon before turning into Parsloe Road at Jacks Hatch. Shortly after crossing over the border from Epping Rural District into Harlow Urban District we picked up the cycle track to ride a transect of Harlow. Having grown up in Harlow these routes are well known to me, although my fellow cyclists thought it was a route they would find hard to repeat with many sections that were completely new to them. Many of the cycle tracks are the original roads linking the villages that Harlow New Town engulfed in the 1950's, and were designed for residents to use as a traffic free commute to work. We only saw two other cyclists using these old lanes on Sunday. They are well signposted giving directions and distances to other areas of the town including the Cycle Museum we may return to visit when they open again. The second half of the ride from the Town Centre (The High) is part of Sustrans Route 1. Arriving in Old Harlow we picked up Sheering Road to take us to the Orange Tree at Sawbridgeworth for a well earned refreshment stop before returning home.