Colchester Cycling UK

Greenstead Green Ride Report

November 11, 2012

A cold but bright morning greeted nine cyclists that met at Colchester Leisure World for the Remembrance Day ride.

We left for Tiptree, to meet up with Simon MacFeeters and his group of Tiptree Cyclists. The route out of town was busy with forces heading to the Colchester remembrance service on the High Street.

It was National Cycle Network Route 1 all the way except for the initial town centre section and Layer Road to avoid what would have been a mucky Olivers Lane. We made good time to be in Tiptree for quarter to eleven, meeting a large group from Tiptree for the two minute silence.

Colchester and Tiptree cyclists

After the silence the Tiptree group (plus Andrew) headed for The Layer Fox, to pass several other memorials en route, and arrive back in Tiptree in time for the Remembrance Day parade.

Deniece and Derek headed their own way home, while the six of us remaining forged on to Greenstead Green via Kelvedon, Silver End, and Stisted. I had a funny feeling on the way up into Stisted that my back tyre was a little soft, and confirmed it a short while later. Andy kindly put some air in it so I could press on to Greenstead just a few miles along the road, where I could fix it in the relative comfort of a barn yard!

Greenstead Green Farm Shop was very busy — so busy in fact they couldn’t accommodate us indoors, instead seating us on the patio outside. I should have pre-booked, but it is never easy knowing how many will be riding, and how many will want to order food.

The short run back to Colchester was on wiggly lanes through Colne Engaine, after which I missed a turning, mistaking the muddy lane for a farm track, so we joined the B1508 before Wormingford rather than Fordham… in West Bergholt we dispersed to our homes.

By Malcolm Mitchell