Have access to a road bicycle, will travel. I’m making the most of these dry days when I can be out freewheeling on the roadie. Having been blocked from accessing most of my bicycles since Easter because of scaffolding, now is the time to ride.
Ride to live, live to ride.
The bicycle Brucie bonus is that the gateway from Weird Wiv over into the Tendring peninsula is finally open. The road works and the link road that isn’t a link road are allowing access for cyclists. Just ignore that sign that says CCTV in operation, right.
I headed over on the Lawford route. I’ve not ridden this in over a year. It felt good to be out along some of the extremely remote country lanes on Saturday morning.
I wasn’t alone enjoying the new found road freedom around these parts. The first sighting of fellow cyclists was a magnificent-looking electric tandem.
Chapeau!
I was also experimenting with my own cycling fashion attire. The sun was failing to break through. The meant that I could wear short sleeves and my new Brixton Cycles cycling bib. There was little sun to penetrate through my fresh black ink beautifully painted on my body.
Elsewhere around the lanes there were a few horse riders also enjoying the early morning solitary leisure activity. I made some slow progress as I approached one particular horse who looked a little nervy from behind.
The lush lanes that I’ve not ridden for a year have taken something of a hammering. One particular stretch close to Lawford appears to have seen a wildfire breaking out along a stretch of the ditch. It’s completely gutted and is still smouldering.
I reached Dead Lane. It was as joyless as ever. It’s an essential little link lane which allows me to cut through a housing estate currently being built, and then on to the return leg for the round route.
The onions in the field look dead on their feet - or should that be dead on their roots? They were exposed and already semi-fried, simmering away in their rural setting.
Back at base and Strava says I was a minute off a PB for this route. Not bad considering I’ve not ridden it in over twelve months.
