Report of Essex Roads Road Race
The race started actively. However as it came through the finish for the 2nd time with 6 laps to go, Colin Ward (Essex Roads CC) had already shown his hand and taken 25 seconds on the bunch: but what was the plan? Could he stay away for another hour and a half on his own? It wasn't obvious that you would want to bet against it. By the 4 to go lap he had stretched his lead to over a minute, but after that it only shrank.
Behind him a group of 6 had separated from the bunch, Ben Locke (Braintree), Ben Brown (Hackney), Ralph Mullan (Shaftesbury), Will "Ben" McFarland (ELV), Ben Wright (VCR) and Dan Scott (PCH) and they had made it half way across the gap, and there the race seemed to reach a point of balance for a lap or so before Ward yielded to the temptation to slip back and join his chasers. With 3 to go this group of 7 thus had just 20 or 30 seconds on the bunch. At first glance they were surely doomed, and yet this chase group had already dangled 20 or 30 seconds off the bunch for 2 or 3 laps - perhaps they could hang on to the same slender lead into the finish.
And so it proved. Ward pushed on as he came through to take his pull with maybe 2 or 3 miles to ride and nobody could take his wheel, he stretched away and made safe the win he'd surely earned, with Ben Locke in lone pursuit while the remaining 5 fought out the sprint up the finishing hill.
As the bunch came in, headed by Tom Dyson (ELV), Joe Giggins (PCH) and Nick White (ELV), both PCH and ELV were perhaps left to ponder their own tactics in riding to protect their rider in the break rather than risking more in reinforcing him, or riding him down to force the bunch sprint and so win the real spoils in this race.
Congratulations to the winner, Colin Ward, and to his club, the hosts, Essex Roads and their organiser Helen Spraggins, and thanks too to the riders who were commended by the Chief Commissaire on their discipline and good sense throughout this race.

Off-Road Rides
Essex Roads Off road rides for May are as follows
5th of May will be held at Hadleigh country park meeting at the car park on 2 tree island on the left as you cross the bridge just after the golf driving range. The ride will be around Hadleigh, Belfairs and surrounding areas. The ride duration will be approx 2 hours. I predict the conditions will be muddy after the recent rain fall. There is a cafe within the driving range so there wll be an opportunity for tea and bacon butties after the ride.
26th of May will be from Langdon Hills meeting at One Tree Hill south car park. Again ride duration will be approx 2 hours.
Both of these rides will start at 8:00am and finish about 10:00. As before, routes and pace will be decided on the day based on who comes out. Everybody is welcome. If you have any questions regarding these rides or anything mountain bike in general, please contact me on martin@essexroads.com.
Hope to see you there
Martin

It’s 2012 and our Sportives are getting very popular. Our Spring Lambs event was held on Sunday 1st April, and was fully booked at 550 riders. You can now see the Results and photos taken on the day. If you’ve missed getting on to this event then don’t worry as we have our next one soon after. It’s the OrchidCycle Essex 100 mile sportive on 10th June. Riders are also booking on to our Autumn Leaves event and this also promises to be a sell out. So if you like our sportives then start entering!

Thank you from the Royal British Legion
We have received thanks from the Royal British Legion after raising £337.46 for the charity through our annual Poppy Ride! Special thanks go to Roy Fisher and Isabel Kershaw who shepherded our riders round the 100 mile course, and also Gary the Barber, Pete Mitchelmore and Mark Stanbury who raised lots through their work and friends. Particular thanks go to all the riders cycling a collective total of around 2000 miles that day to support those who have given their lives and have been injured in world conflict.

Billericay Circular Cycle Ride
In order to bring further leisure cycling to the local area, Essex Roads Cycling Club has recently worked in cooperation with Billericay Town Council to produce a 15 mile cycle route taking in the best sights of the country within the locality. Essex Roads officially cycled the route on Saturday 1st October 2011 after meeting at Billericay train Station. This is a lovely ride, so please try it out!

Success for Essex Roads junior!
Kiera Tippett was first girl in the Southend Wheelers Criterium at Redbridge on Bank Holiday Monday. Not only that Kiera is currently in 1st position in the Eastern Region Youth Road Races with just one left to do after winning every race she has entered. Well done Kiera. Kiera holding her prize.

Dear cyclists
Our Cycling Festival took place at Redbridge Cycle Centre (Hog Hill) on Sunday 28th August.
Here are the Results.

Cyclists and Horses
We’ve had communication from Sustrans asking us to be understanding in the way we interact with horses ridden on the counties roads. In full recognition and agreement Essex Roads Cycling Club has developed a protocol for its riders to follow so as to reduce the risk of horses becoming frightened by passing cyclists. If you are an Essex Roads Member then please read the Sustrans Code of Conduct and follow our ERCC protocol for passing horses on Essex roads.

Orchidcycle Essex – a great success!
Thanks to all those who took part in the Orchidcycle Essex charity cycle ride last Sunday 12th June 2011. It was a wet day but around 650 riders rode over a thousand collective miles to assist the Orchid Cancer Appeal raise serious money for research and to find cures for male reproductive cancers. Essex Roads Cycling Club is proud of its long association and joint working with Orchid to make this day happen. In turn, our club has received a wonderful letter of thanks from Rebecca Porta – the Chief Executive. The club is especially grateful to those who assisted on the day including our signage, booking on, marshalling and food distribution teams as without their help none of this would happen. To date we have raised £34,491 as the result of our 2011 event and thanks to all those riders who made this possible.

Bike store discounts
Did you know that by joining Essex Roads Cycling Club you can get generous discounts in some local bike shops! On production of your membership card Herongate Cycles in Herongate will be able to give you very good deals on an array of bikes and equipment, and Biketrax in Brentwood are able to give you 10% off any shop price listed, as well as Kings Road Cycles also in Brentwood. So, there’s every reason to enjoy your cycling even more with Essex Roads CC.

. . . . . and we are still welcoming new members :-

Have you ever thought just how you might start cycling with a club? Did you know that every Sunday we organise four types of rides: novice, touring, club and training rides so you can pick the distance and speed to suit you best - then graduate to the next group up as you get fitter. We even do early-bird rides on a Sunday starting at sun rise. Everything is possible with Essex Roads!

And we don’t just cycle on-road, we go off-road riding too. Practically every other Saturday we organise off-road rides in all parts of our beautiful county. We also organise off-road and on-road trips and endurance rides. You can experience this too with Essex Roads!

Are you a youngster who is keen to take up cycling – we are a registered British Cycling Go-ride club and can start you off in the right direction.

Are you a more mature rider and have waited long enough to achieve your cycling ambitions – many of our riders are in their 60’s and 70’s and cycle every week! Are you a lady cyclist – we have many lady members in our club, and families too. All these things are possible with Essex Roads!

How about taking part in a time trial – a race against the clock like they do in the Tour de France? We organise weekly events of this type from April all the way through to August. Have you thought about competing in national time trials along with riders from other clubs – our members take part in many ECCA events each year.

Ever thought of riding a sportive . How about developing your fitness in the dry over the winter – every Wednesday we hold a winter turbo training class right through from October to March to develop your core fitness and cycling techniques. This is happening with Essex Roads!

And in 2012 we are going even further! We’re introducing more member benefits so that you can save even more on your cycling by becoming a member of our rapidly expanding club – we increased our membership last year from 269 to 286 club members! We are working on developing more events and expanding our portfolio of activities to appeal to even more cyclists. Above all, we are turning into a cycling club for everyone. Come and meet us and we will turn you into the cyclist you want to become!