Trying to find a decent time for a bicycle ride proved to be tricky on Sunday. The Online Weather Gods said DON’T DO IT.
Balls to the Online Weather Gods.
My legs were in need of a decent workout. I rolled out on the roadie for the first time in a month.
I’ve become too reliant on the Raleigh electric. If I can’t ride a road bike during peak summer, then when can I?
Chapeau!
There were a few overnight puddles to dodge as I departed out of Weird Wiv. These soon cleared once I reached the Estuary Wilds lanes.
The air was heavy and humid. This ride was all about getting back to base in the quickest time before the next shower arrived.
I passed F from the rowing club riding along Elmstead Road. He was moving at quite a pace. He’s got about 20 years on me. I thought I could catch him with ease.
Think again.
It was also good to see C and A both riding together. This was a familiar site during those batshit Covid days when group riding was not allowed. Everywhere I turned I seemed to bump into C and A each day.
Peak poppy season was present around the roadside. The verges were bone dry, lit up with a lipstick red smattering of poppies.
I slowed down on a couple of occasions as I approached two separate horse riders. Lycra Man Scares the Shit Out of Essex Horses is not a headline I want to wake up and read.
I completed the Lawford route. I decided to enter the town at the other end by the University. My front wheel started to make an incredibly loud clattering and scraping sound.
Oh dear.
At first I thought I had punctured. Then I thought that it was possibly a spoke that had become loose.
I stopped, had a quick inspection and spun the wheel off the ground.
Nothing.
I’m at a loss. It was probably a passing twig caught up in the wheel.
Strava tells me this is the fastest I have been on this 33km route. A decent ride.
To the Arts Centre! …after a brief freshen up. The Sunday lunchtime entertainment was The Vinyl Club. Sound Affects by The Jam seemed to fit the Father’s Day criteria.
It was fresh cycling along the Trail on my MTB. Another boat has become semi-sunken down by the Hythe. High water meant the boat was poking through, gasping for breath. It looks like being a losing battle.
I could smell weed everywhere. I don’t think it was the S Ldn variety. Probably something much more innocent.
I hit Sunny Colch and took the back route through Vineyard Gate. I wasn’t expecting to see a new dedicated cycle lane cutting through the car park. It’s only about 20m long. But I’ll take any small gains.
Vinyl Club was decent. This was the first time the group has chosen playback of a Jam album after running for nine years. Disclaimer: they picked the wrong album. It should have been All Mod Cons, innit.
There was a heavy count of Fred Perry’s in the audience. I was sitting at the back, sweating my arse off after the ride in. It wasn’t much of a Boy About Town look.
Sound Affects sounded great on vinyl through the Arts Centre PA. The bass and drums on Start! in particular was a highlight.
I stayed around a little for the Q&A that followed. There was a certain level of anti-Weller snobbishness around the place. I couldn’t be arsed to defend the fella who doesn’t need to be defended.
There.
Thankfully it was a short album, meaning I could disappear and get back to base to watch the stream of Surrey in the Hit ‘n Giggle. A had actually made the journey to The Oval to watch the ‘rrey. I couldn’t be arsed.
It was a wise decision. The Surrey Strut was momentarily disabled. There was an horrific collapse within the power play. The Oval t20 crowd sounded flat for once.
I had a little SW9 school work to catch up with. It was great to read about one of the ex-students who had graduated with a degree in Fine Art Photography.
Not wanting to give too much away, but this is a very proud moment for the SEN school. And the young student, of course.
