The Wormingford Dragon was an Audax route ran between 2014-15 and one which Colvelo has decided to keep alive. No brevet card on offer, just the chance to put some kilometres in the legs before the Colvelo “Monuments” which are quickly approaching.

A challenging 243km day out, the original route headed north-west to Newmarket before skirting east to Debenham, then diving south back to Colchester. However our iteration added an extra stop at Finchingfield to keep the spirits up on the outward leg.

A capable group left Colchester at 7am with the intention of good progress around the loop. A biting northerly wind split the peloton slightly but all arrived at Finchingfield feeling good. However a slight setback as it would appear the village doesn’t awake until gone 9am, and nearly an hours wait in the cold didn’t appeal. So we tapped on into Suffolk, the increasing frequency of stud farms indicating that Newmarket wasn’t far off. By the first stop we were 90km in, a good volume but the distance was showing in some of the riders. A quick coffee and feed kept everyone chipper, and we set off for the Maglia Rosso café, a former control point on the original Dragon. By now the attritional route and conditions had deterred a few from continuing, and we were further sobered by the TV coverage of Milan-San Remo, which showed that the pros had done over 100km more than us, and also had the benefit of a lay in!

A reduced group continued on to Debenham, clinging onto the thought of a tail wind for the southbound leg back home. Those who were left were keen to make progress, so the pace ratcheted up from here. A quick cup of tea at Debenham and we made for Hadleigh, lights blinking and legs starting to flag. It’s always comforting to see signs for home, and this raised our mood as we hammered through Hadleigh, and back into Stratford St Mary where the group went their separate ways to head into our varying corners of Colchester.

To summarise a tough day out but justice was done to the original Dragon route. A great effort by all regardless of distance ridden. The Ronde van Anglia fast approaches and this gave all involved an idea of what to work on between now and then.

Chapeau to all.

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http://www.huntbikewheels.com/blogs/news/98147718-an-adventure-in-scotland-rob-harwood-hunt-opendev

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The first sizeable ride of the New Year saw ColVelo take on the greatly anticipated “Coastal Explorer”. A 200 km route that took us from the Suffolk Countryside, to the Dengie Peninsula before a final lap of Mersea Island, in January, Madness!

10 plucky souls met at 6am for a what was to be a full day in the saddle. A cold and crisp morning saw a slow and steady start, with lights a’flashin, and only milk men sharing the road. As the sun started to rise, the early start was worth the effort, bronzed Suffolk farm lands, and singing birds gave the awaking morning a beautiful start.

2 hours in and first stop Sudbury. A much needed coffee and a little bite to eat. Fingers and toes a little warmer, we set of once more, this time directly South. With day light now on full show, the pace increases a little and in so we ate into the kilometres. With a bubble of chatter and not a worry in the world, we passed the Essex towns of Coggeshall, Kelvedon and Wickham Bishops in a blink. We had covered another 50km as we rode happily into Maldon and stop 2 of 3 and in preparation for the Dengie, in to the breach once more.

The third trip to the Dengie Peninsula for the ColVelo Collective in recent times, and the wind never fails to howl. Another hard fought battle with the element, this time with a side swipe of bike mechanicals to boot, a true character builder. A 60km round trip that took a chunk of spirit from the previously plucky bunch.

Our Dengie loop took us back into Maldon once more. To a man drained of fuel and a much required final stop to restock the reserves. Carbs and sugars loaded, we set of for the final stretch. Unfortunately the final stretch was still in excess of 60km.

A reenergised ColVelo rode through Heybridge, Tollesbury and Peldon before turing off tracks for the last section of Coastal Exploring, a lap of Mersea Island. A full winters day of sun light fading and fatigue setting deep, we all had to dig in, certainly when you consider the route taking us past our front doors and back out again, after 170km, only with ColVelo!

In complete darkness we rode the lap of Mersea in a matter of fact nature, it just had to be done. Battery powered lights were becoming a problem and strength in numbers was the only way to ensure all could be seen. When the chips are down, ColVelions pull together.

Once off Mersea, most went their own way, but a few of us made a well deserved beer in the Black Buoy, Wivenhoe to reflect on what was a cracking day on the bike. Over 200km complete, in January! Chapeau to all, great efforts all around. Until the next time.

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And for Sunday….Something a little different.

Over the last year ColVelo has developed a reputation as a club who favours long distance riding and embracing the more challenging conditions our corner of Great Britain can throw up. Certainly not a bad thing. The inception of ColVelo promised to give our members exactly what they wanted, and our ride philosophy has always been to explore the full extent of East Anglia.

Comparatively, ColVelo still works from a condensed membership base, and given we push on with our riding all year, this has seen many of our rides increase in distance and intended speed as our regular riders strive for new challenges and milestones. Which, it could be argued has made the ability to ‘start out’ riding with ColVelo a more challenging prospect.

What hasn’t changed is the great spirit and sense of fun we maintain on every ride. So with the help of club stalwart Andy Colsell, This Sunday saw our first Coffee & Canvas Ride. A 53km jaunt around the lanes of North Essex.

The name….Coffee is an easy one, the canvas, a nod to tourers of old, and relaxed days out taking in some of the great countryside we have in our doorstep. C&C rides will be based around inclusive speeds, strictly no drop, plenty of good coffee, cakes and stunning riding. Just without the vast distances.

ColVelo Coffee & Canvas rides will run two Sundays a month and hopefully serve as an entry point to the world of ColVelo, and a well earned recovery ride for those who may have gone big on the Saturday.

This week an extended start list of attendees made up by regular riders and new faces likely intrigued by what was on offer was a great sight. Lead out by ride leader Andy Colsell on his stunning touring bike, decked out with double Carradice, we rode on an anti-clockwise loop via Wormingford, Bures, Assington, Nayland and finishing the official ride at the Dedham Rose tea rooms for the coffee and cake stop.

We couldn’t be happier with the first Coffee & Canvas ride. The pace was perfect and it would seem all that turned out had a great day. If you want to get involved and find out about all that is planned for ColVelo in 2016, pop down for a C&C ride soon. The next one rolls out on Sunday 24th January. Check out our events page soon for full details.

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A solid group of ColVelion’s arrived at the meet point for the first sizeable club ride following the Christmas break. For those that completed the the festive 500, an opportunity to continue winter gains, and for those that didn’t, it was the time to reignite rested legs.

The Dengie Peninsula has become a mythical talking point amongst the ColVelo Collective. A sadistic bunch rode the Peninsula in October. Such was the grandeur of terrain, natural beauty and testing conditions, the need to go back once more and ride the barren costal farms lands was a must.

The Dengie is as tough as it gets in these parts, a little spike of land bordered by River Crouch, The Blackwater Estuary and the North Sea. A fully embracing 60km section with no break from the elements. If the generic weather forecast gives you an average wind reading, multiply it by four as you hit these parts.The Peninsula was the focal point, but to get there was 35km of riding, leaving Colchester and heading south towards Maldon, Essex. Knowing what was coming, a coffee stop in Maldon was essential.

All fuelled up, we set off in good spirits. The sun broke and the pace was high, we had 10 km to ride before the most exposed sections of the Dengie. There are no sign posts to say beware of wind, you are just hit by a sledgehammer of coastal echelons that drive in from the North Sea. The odd wind turbine is the give away. No Infrastructure or head rows for protection, sprawling lands with no let up. The general chatter amongst the collective ceases, one by one we all drop from the top of the bars to the drops, mouths open and head slightly of centre. The riding is hard, harder than remembered and we ploughed on through knowing that the next 25km is without a meter of free wheeling.

Without exception we are all fatigued from our efforts, energy reserves have taken a hammering and the legs full of lactate. We head off the peninsula and and the cycling gods turn the sky black, as if to say, “we gave you sun for the hard bit, I cannot hold the rain any longer”. In heavy rain we head once more to Maldon for a second and final coffee stop, this one vital not in preparation for what’s comings, but in order to give us enough just to get home.

Energy depleted, wet, cold and generally low in spirit, ColVelo comes into its own in tough circumstance. Dark humour and asking the most basic of questions, “why” keep you going. Churlish laughter and knowing you are all in it together get you through those final kilometres. As we all roll back into Colchester and go our separate ways, a 125km route is complete. With the majority of us having covered in excess of 140km including riding to and from meet points, a tough day in the saddle is done.

When reflected upon after a warm shower and a comforting cup of tea, I wish to be riding this route again. Hard riding and stunning terrain does that to you. A wonderful day, spend with a likeminded bunch of dark humoured cycling buddies.

The post Ride Report – The Dengie Peninsula – 9th January 2016 appeared first on ColVelo Cycling Collective.

As a motley crew of riders arrived at Velo! Cycling and Coffee, all in the hope of a winters ride without the freezing temperatures. However, there was a distinct feeling in the air that we had all been duped and perhaps things were not quite as they had predicted to be !

After collecting a couple of riders on route, we were a healthy group of 8. Heading out of Colchester and towards West Bergholt and then onto picturesque Bures. It was at Bures that we started to feel the cold and ice rain started to fall. We continued valiantly, although at a comfortable pace.

Modern technology is a wonderful thing, non more so than when your Garmin is saying 0.3 of a degree celsius. As we headed through Sible Hedingham, Great Yeldham and onto Cavendish. The going was hard, plenty of ice, slick roads and freezing temperatures, which at times made for careful riding.

A planned stop in Lavenham was particularly welcomed by all concerned. Our now regular, Cafe Knit on Lavenham High Street, was warm and welcoming. The coffee was hot and the cake sweet. We enjoyed a 30 minute stop to warm the core and we were on our way once more, with only 40km in distance to home. Spirits were heightened and the outside temperatures had risen just a little.

The ice had all but gone and the rain had stopped. With an increase in spirit came an increase in speed. We rode strongly through Boxford, Stoke by Nayland and Boxted on the run into Colchester. With the improved conditions came a little more trust in the road surface and some confidence amongst the collective.

In summary, a stunning 111km route into the Essex and Suffolk countryside. Some valuable winter miles in the bank and most importantly all riders stayed upright. Until the next time, ride safe and we hope to see you on the next ColVelo outing.

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We are pleased to advise the dates for the ColVelo Alps trip will be 23^rd July to 27^th July, 2015, so please mark the diary.

We will be travelling on Thursday 23^rd, riding Friday 24^th, Saturday 25^th, Sunday 26^th and travel home Monday 27^th. Making a 4 night stay in a beautiful alpine apartment, 3 epic days of riding aswell as being in France whilst the Tour de France is in its final Alpine stages, which we will certainly watch from the comfort of a French Bar!

Our apartment is in the Alpine town St Gervais, based between Megeve and Chamonix, please google it, its stunning! A perfect gateway to some wonderful cycling terrain and famous Col’s.

Further details of the trip are as below, the apartments can only sleep so many, so please contact us quickly if you are interested and a small deposit can ensure you do not miss out.

Our package does not include flights, lunch or dinner, but the rest is covered! Any questions, please contact us using the details below.

Price – £199 per person – Excludes flights

Included in the price;

• Airport transfer from/to Geneva Airport(with bike if required).

. 4 Nights accommodation – Breakfast provided.

• Free Wifi & Sky Television.

• Onsite mechanical support courtesy of Velo!. We will ensure all bikes

are in tip-top condition.

• Guided routes on some of the worlds most storied Cols.

• Welcome pack including nutrition, hydration and other goodies.

For enquiries, please email – colvelo@outlook.com – providing a contact

telephone number and email contact address.

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