The Train in Rayne now stays mainly on the Lane

So far it has been a Goodyear for punctures – not a patch on 2023, so pinched tyring and deflating puns have been few and far between. We were obviously treading on thin ice however – its a Marathon, not a sprint, after all and it all went flat today. For a blow by blow account, read on:

Martin’s ride was another “Only Way is Essex” spectacular, taking in some new quiet lanes, a new pub (the Maypole, Thaxted) and a new cafe (Booking Hall in Rayne).

Those wanting pre-ride coffees were thwarted by the discovery that one of our regular cafe stops, Parrishes, is now shut for the forseeable future. Luckily the Swan came up with the goods with great value coffee and bacon sandwiches.

12 riders set off from the Maypole in two groups. Group A initially in front, only to be overtaken by group B at the first puncture. Group A retook and kept the lead through punctures 2 and 3 in group B and maintained the lead despite sustaining puncture 4 at the cafe stop and managing the full route down to Waltham Cross and a cultural tour of Great Bardfield.

The route set off on a route devised to avoid the busy Dunmow road (but not to avoid puncture 1 to Martin W), across to Duck End (punctures 2 and 3, both to Simon) and down across the busy A120. Via a barely visible track, we joined the Flitch Way.

We have ridden a part of the Flitch way west of Great Dunmow before. This time we were heading east towards Rayne.

The Flitch Way stretches almost 24km along the track of the former railway line between Braintree and Bishop’s Stortford, which opened in 1869. Although the last passenger train ran in 1952, goods continued to be carried until the end of 1971. The name “Flitch Way” originated from the Flitch ceremony in Little Dunmow whereby couples who could prove that they had not argued in marriage after a year and a day would be awarded a flitch (side) of bacon.

At Rayne we stopped at the Booking Hall cafe for refreshments (and puncture 4, to Martin W) before rejoining the metalled roads heading back north. Group A had time to do the full Waltham Cross muddy lane experience followed by some, or all, of the advertised cultural tours, namely: “A brief visit to an ex-prison in Great Bardfield, now the home of a cottage museum where information about famous Great Bardfield artists is available”. Group B, having being more tardy in their puncture repairs, had no time for either.

From Great Bardfield it was a short ride back to Thaxted, fine food and ale and to meet up with Brian.
Group B: Graham, Keith, Simon, Geoff, Chris, Charles
Group A: Martin W, Maurice, Jeremy, Ric, Andrew, Howard
Group C: Brian (lunch only)

Jeremy, Graham, Howard and Brian had all ridden to Thaxted but the combativity award has to go to Ric who rode the whole return trip from Harston. Thanks to Martin W for another great ride exploring new routes.