Latest Gateway News
Mid Week Ride today – 29th August 2018
From Bob D Another good turnout this week, 10 riders plus 3 by car. The forecasters got the weather wrong today by a few hours and the outward run was done in pouring rain . Ivan and myself took a short cut but the others did a full loop and we all arrived at the appropriately named Puddle thoroughly soaked, definitely the wettest I’ve been this summer. Peter C arrived direct from a hospital appointment, is looking great and was able to update us on his recovery, rehab etc and it seems he is on the way to a full recovery which is great news. Fortunately the rain stopped just as we left for home and the return trip was actually quite enjoyable.Hopefully next week will be dry but I suppose those of … Read entire article »
Mid week ride today 22nd August 2018
Post from Bob D. A record number of 18 riders met at Orsett today, definitely the most in the seven or so years this ride has been going. With three regulars missing today this number is even more impressive. Eventually four groups,very fast, fast ,med fast and slowish all arrived safely at Puddledock. Praise again for Taff P who rode most of the route on his own having already ridden from Rainham to start point. Everyone made for home by various routes and I understand from info received many PB’s were achieved today. The best news is that Peter C is now home from hospital and is recovering well, we all send him best wishes for a full recovery and an eventual return to the fold. Bob D. … Read entire article »
Midweek ride Today – 15th August 2018
A message from Bob Drake I will start this weeks report with a brief resume of last weeks unreported ride. On the return ride last week whilst waiting to regroup in Bulphan one of our members Peter C suffered a very serious cardiac arrest and was rendered unconscious. Club members, I won’t name names you know who you are, quickly rendered CPR assistance and continued this until emergency services arrived. Peter was eventually removed to Basildon hospital where he received emergency surgery and other important treatment. We are pleased to report he is making slow progress to what will hopefully be a full recovery in the not too distant future. Today a large turnout left Orsett to rendezvous at Puddledock where even more members arrived by car and Peter’s family attended to … Read entire article »
Bob’s Wednesday Ride 1st August
Another great turnout of 13 riders this week. To get a head start, I left at 10.00 on the dot. I was soon caught by the rest of the group and we all stayed together until the north end of Dunnings Lane. The fast boys then took off and Bob and Bert rode stayed with me. The two groups of 10 and 3 completed the full Berwick Pond loop, in the warm and sunny weather that we have been accustomed too over the past few Wednesdays. We took over two tables at Puddledock Cafe and had our usual mix of healthy and not so healthy second breakfasts. Following chat about the Tour de France, politics, health and funding for up and coming professional cyclists, we set off at 12.30 for … Read entire article »
Wednesday Ride 25th July
A little late reporting this week but had to mention this one as a record 14 members turned out in the midweek sunshine. Split into three smaller groups we all arrived at Puddledock within a few minutes of each other .After usual chat split up to return to differing home destinations, the four of us returning to Orsett put in a fast and furious dash to burn off a few calories. As I write this it … Read entire article »
TO BATTERSEA AND BACK – SUNDAY 22th July 2018
It was a real recreational ride on Sunday. Instead of meeting at Bulphan seven of us took the train to Fenchurch Street and from here onward to Battersea Park. With London at its summer best, Matt who organised this ride, led us along the safe cycle route of The Embankment. Heading west, passing through Westminster and around Parliament Square taking in the many magnificent buildings of state – and more. In the shade of the aged plane trees we continued alongside the river, and turned south crossing the Thames over Chelsea Bridge. We meandered the quiet and pleasant residential streets passing a few grand homes on the way… At the Pear Tree Cafe in Batersea Park we sat beside the boating lake and sipped our latte’s surrounded by happy families kids and … Read entire article »
Mid Week Ride Today 18th July 2018
About 12 riders out today (they come and they go) on another warm and sunny summers day. No Bob today unfortunately as he was on coach trip duties. I decided to do a slow ride and Vic and Alan decided to keep me company. Leaving at 10.00 from Orsett as usual, we were soon passed by the fast boys and settled into a 15/16 mph ride taking turns on the front. We caught up with Taff on Dunnings Lane and continued on past Puddledock towards Pike Lane. Going through Corbetts Tey, we turned left to miss out the Berwick Pond loop. We arrived at Puddle cafe shortly after the fast group and settled in to the usual second breakfast/early lunch. Leaving at 12.00 ish, I caught up with rest of … Read entire article »
Mid week Ride Today – 11th July 2018
Ten riders set off from Orsett today to ride the Berwich Ponds loop with Puddledock the designated lunch stop where we were to be met by Chris G who is not riding at the moment thus making eleven in total. It was soon apparent that some people were in a hurry and set off at a furious pace which three of us were either unwilling or unable or both able to maintain. Chris M in his usual generous way offered to pull me back to the bunch but I didn’t want to hold him up so dropped back to to ride with Bert H and Taff P. Taff as his name suggests is a resident of S. Wales who’s work brings him often to Thurrock and he has joined Gateway … Read entire article »
MIDWEEK RIDE ‘UPNOR CASTLE’ WEDNESDAY 4TH JULY
Together with Bob, we had Vic, Andy, Alan, Chris M, Terry and Phil. A little cooler and cloudier it was up and on out of Gravesend to Sole Street, Cobham and Upper Higham. A pause again on Hermitage Road gave us an inspiring view of our Essex coast and countryside. Hotting up now, it was onwards through the ripening field crops, taking a zig zag route, avoiding tractors… and with much pleasantness all around, we got to the Kings Arms. Hospitality, with exceptional food, drink and craic – we could have settled here a while… Homeward through Strood, passing the refurbished Russian submarine in the Medway we took the long climb out of the town. A sensibly planned sweeping cycle route avoiding heavy traffic led us to Shorne Country Park, then Lower … Read entire article »
