Hetta’s Story (2007)
My friend Sandy and I one day decided that it’s time we get out on our bikes a bit. I hadn’t been riding for about 10 years, so it was always going to be a challenge. We started off with really short rides – just about making it around Billericay – and gradually got our confidence and fitness up. That’s when Sandy said about the Cycle Club, Essex Roads. We went along, nervous at first, but our minds were soon put to rest once we met some people at the club (Roy, Mark, Paul, Tony). Our first rides out with the club were around November-December 2006, but despite the winterish weather, the rides were enjoyable and continue to be so.
With all the new found confidence I embarked on a series of charity rides in 2007, and in May ’07, I did my first ever 100mile ride with my husband. I also did the Norwich 100 in June ’07, and a few 60 to 80 mile organised rides.
July ’07 was also of course Tour de France time. I rode up to London with a few guys from the club to watch the prologue, and what a fantastic experience! Good company and a great atmosphere in London.
Towards the end of July I did a charity ride with Action Medical Research from London to Paris. The ride was 4 days and took us from Croydon to Dover, Dunkerque, Arras, Compienge, and on to Paris – 315 miles later. I was quite sad to get to Paris and just wanted to carry on riding. However, all good things must come to an end, and we had a free day in Paris to watch the end of the TdF!
In the summer I try and do a few of the time trials, but as Sandy has hinted, we have always been towards the back end of the result page. That doesn’t matter though, as you are really riding against your own time from the previous outing, and trying to improve on that. The people are really good, because nobody ever make you feel that you are too slow to take part in a time trial.
So, what do I like most about Essex Roads? It must be the friendly people, well organised and frequent rides for all levels, and the fact that everyone is welcome. So why don’t you come and join us?
Hetta (2007)
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STOP PRESS! Hetta is doing another charity ride. See below.
Hi All,
I shall be riding 300 miles in 4 days to raise money for ACTION MEDICAL RESEARCH again this July. I have updated the weblink to my sponsorship page with some info on my training so far, as well as some reasons personal to me for doing this. Have a look, and if you decide to sponsor me it will be great if you can do so before the end of April – I need to have raised £500 by beginning of May to secure my place.
Link –
www.action.org.uk/~henriettabrown
(If you cannot get into the online sponsorship page, you can send a cheque made payable to Action Medical Research to me at Ely House, Ely Way, Basildon, SS14 2BQ)
Thanks,
Hetta
Henrietta Brown