Spurs Legends Game Wednesday17/05/2023

The Easy Riders departed in their usual style from Weavers Park at 0930, 0945 and 1000. It was a cold morning but soon warmed up.

The Medium Ride was destined for the Blue Egg, and having split into two groups as usual, Ann’s group headed out along the Flitch Way. We’d only got to Clap Bridge when Tony’s chain broke, and he bailed – it’s only a short walk home for him from there, and he could repair it in the peace of his shed (or maybe delegate it to Doer Cycles!).

We pedalled to the metal bridge and then headed north. I spent time talking to Mike, about his recent trip to watch the Spurs Legends game, which raised funds for Essex Air Ambulance. Recently the father of the Spurs kit-man was fatally injured in a cycling accident, and the Essex Air Ambulance was involved, so a fund-raising game was organised. Older and younger retired Spurs players played in a game against other retired club players (like their arch-enemies West Ham!) and some celebrity players. The players are very good at the community side of these events and participate in numerous supporter selfies. Tom Huddlestone, former Spurs player, was a hero of Mike’s son Steven when he was in his 20s. Steven, and Mike’s grandson Harry (named after a chap named Kane?!) aged about 5, were at the Legends game, and were absolutely jubilant to have a selfie with Tom Huddlestone. Mike’s enthusiasm and delight at this memory made his face an absolute picture. (As I am not a football fan, it will be a miracle if I have got all the teams and names right!).

Health & safety tip for the day is to think like a car driver when you are riding in a group. If you look forward to the riders in front of you and think “I wouldn’t like to try to overtake all those riders in one go if I was driving”, then you should ease off the pedalling speed, and create a gap between you and the group ahead. Also known as “the 5-rider rule”.

We pedalled up to the Blue Egg, devoured their enormous sweet and savoury goodies, and proceeded to pedal back towards Braintree, in our usual good, humoured way.

23 miles, c9.2mph. A good ride out had by all.

Cathy MacTaggart