The Giff-Gav Ride 11/09/2024

The weather has been a bit moody recently – and Easy Riders assembled on a day that started out cold! The Long Ride headed up to Petals Tearoom in Yeldham; the Medium Ride headed to Greenstead Green, and the Short Ride headed to The Hub near Great Waltham.

Gifford and Gavin were lead and support riders for the medium ride, and started in a loop via Panfield, Beazley End and Gosfield to Greenstead Green. It was a hilly, and quite fast ride, so I was lagging at the rear of the ride, and Gavin stalwartly remained with me all the way. To take my mind off my labours up the hills, we were talking about art. I’ve been to an eclectic mix of exhibitions recently – Paris 1924 at The FitzWilliam, Raymond Briggs (who did The Snowman) at Ditchling, Henry Moore’s Tube Shelter Drawings at Courtauld Gallery. I'm also going to Picasso's Prints at the British Museum soon. It turns out Gavin likes prints, especially woodcuts, and is a fan of the Renaissance artist Durer. Durer was particularly skilled at achieving a great tonal range with his woodcuts (Gavin - There is an exhibition of Durer on now at The Whitworth, Manchester). He’s also a fan of Rothko – apparently far better seen for real, so you can appreciate all the unconventional materials added to the paint to achieve texture.

As the weather has started towards autumn, this is the time of year to consider what kit to take on a ride. It’s worth having both short and full finger gloves, buff and helmet cover with you. And fluorescent is always prudent to ensure drivers can see you easily when you indicate to turn. These small items of kit that really make a difference to adjust body temperature when riding, and are small enough to stuff in pockets/bar bags when not needed. If you have a helmet with a visor, you should take it with you when buying a cover, to be sure the helmet cover is big enough. If the helmet cover is too small, they tend to fly off when riding on a windy day (guess how I know!). Small bits of kit are good things to add to your birthday/Christmas present ideas list!

We pedalled back via Burton’s Green and Bocking Churchstreet. I found riding up the hill at Burton’s Green far harder than riding down the hill at Bocking! It was a demanding ride, which I actually thoroughly enjoyed!

25 miles, average 9.5mph – rather slow, as everyone had to wait for me at the top of the hills!

Cathy MacTaggart