The Southend section has its own Facebook page ( Forty Plus Cycling Club; Southend ) for members to post comments or photographs. It is a closed group. If you would like to be added, please contact Peter Wotherspoon.
MAPS FOR NEXT RIDES
Tuesday 18th February
Baker’s Arms, Stock via The Saddlery, Margaretting
Thursday 20th February
The Crown, Sandon via The Peartree Pantry, Hatfield Peverel
Tuesday 25th February
The Wheatsheaf, Hatfield Peverel via The Old Teapot, Margaretting
Thursday 27th February
Rose & Crown, Maldon via Abercorn Garden Centre, Galleywood
Recent Rides Blogs
Tuesday 11th February. Weather-wise a miserable day, cold and drizzly. I opted to go straight to White Elm and thought I was mental to be out riding. Strangely there were several other people similarly afflicted! I was one of seven in Keith’s group when we left for lunch. Sure enough Trevor’s group soon caught us up. Going down North Hill I was no longer aware of Trevor sniffing my bum but then I was concentrating on where I was going. Looking back as we turned towards Mowden the 2nd group was nowhere to be seen. Turns out there was puncture trouble near Paper Mill. Previously I had suggested to Keith we bypass Nounsley ford as it gets very mucky down there. A road closed sign along Mowden Hall Lane convinced him it wasn’t such a bad idea. Our alternative route was down Sportsman Lane which was very moist but then a lot of the roads we used were like that. In Witham we were confronted by a road closure but took to the pavement to get by. Not having a Spoon’s lunch since last year I went for my favourite, Tennessee beef burger washed down by a pint of Trawlerboys. This beer was brewed in Lowestoft and being a native of those parts I felt obliged to try it. Trevor and his boys appeared about 20 minutes after us and we left them behind. The ride back was dry, brighter and fortunately with virtually no wind. Home at 14.45 after 41 miles. Mel
Thursday 13th February. Another ride with a bitterly cold Northerly wind but as I was leading the first group I set a good pace to warm ourselves up. We rode pretty much into the wind all the way to The Lock Tearooms in Heybridge. We arrived around 11:05, about 10 minutes earlier than average, and we were all very warm on arrival. The service in the cafe was very efficient and the first group had made their orders before the second group arrived around 11:15. As the crow flies it was a short distance to the pub in Mundon, so to add extra miles we went on a loop around the country lanes of Tolleshunt Major and Little Totham. Once we reached Little Totham, the wind was at our backs so we had a leisurely ride back through Heybridge and Maldon to our pub stop, The White Horse. Luckily the pub had the wood burner going so it was a bit warmer inside than outside, which isn’t always the case there. Still the pub grub was good value. There was a small split in the groups on the way back. The main group climbed Lodge Lane in Purleigh, whereas Peter and Keith took the Mill Hill. We joined up again in Bicknacre. The hill up to the Turnpike was dead easy, for a change, with the wind helping us the slope. Trevor
2025 Puncture Competition
Champions don’t give up their title easily, so I go to the top of the group with 2 stoppages. No puncture just a faulty valve.
| Rider | Number of Punctures |
| Trevor | 2 |
| Adrian | 1 |
| Dave N | 1 |
| Graham | 1 |
| Jon C | 1 |
Contact Trevor Bull who manages the Southend Section web pages, email: trevorjbull@googlemail.com
