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My time to ride the trails at weekend’s, is often hit and/or miss, making it very frustrating knowing I really need to keep at it if I am going to retain the skills and stamina I am building. Therefore I am now taking full advantage of any free time I can muster during the week. Even if this means riding at 5.30am while ickle_pops is swimming!

This week, my time allowance arrived Friday morning. The weather was good, my mood adventurous and my bike waiting to be taken out! I decided, after I have had soooo many punctures riding my door step country park at Langdon Hills, a road ride to Hadleigh Castle was in order. So mounting my steed I took to the sound barrier ridge to Pitsea and then began the steady ascent to my destination. Unfazed by the busy roads with work and school traffic, the ride was pleasant enough as I made my way through Bowers Gifford and up to Benfleet. Some of the route is Cycle Network making it a bit safer and on the leg through Benfleet, a series of peoples’ driveways gives opportunity to pump and manual…this week I managed to keep the flow for about 6…

Bread and Cheese Hill is the first big climb. I can remember as a small child sat in a steady flow of traffic, first gear selected and our car over heating. Most entertaining!!! This road climbs, plato’s then climbs a short distance more. I found it ok; my climbing skills after all the trails in Wales have stood me in good stead, so much to the amusement of the Carwash boys, I coasted back down and sessioned it again. Up and over, another couple of miles to Hadleigh Castle Country Park.

The park gets its name from the nearby Hadleigh Castle: an impressive ruin of a fortress built over 700years ago. From the elevated position, you can see views of Kent, Canvey Island, Southend Pier, Canary Wharf and the Dartford Crossing. But Olympic riding?? Hmm!

The series of cycle paths that run through are mostly hard under rubber, making good for all weathers. It flows in amongst the trees and I did venture off into the rough and found some steep steps to rumble down and a couple of opportunities to kicker off. I played in and around for about an hour, not really sure if the paths I took were allowed or not, but it was fun! I made eastwards to a section I first remember doing about 8years ago when all I knew about mountain biking was you were probably going to get muddy! This descent is the only DH section really. Steep, great to jump, but relatively short…oh and mind the walkers! I sessioned a few times, taking different lines, modulating speed and braking and practicing jumps.

Getting rather hot from the push up I continued to the foot of Hadleigh Castle. The cycle path continues along the bottom, but I wanted to have my rest sitting up at the ruin. This is most definitely a hard slog up on a wide cattle strewn double track. A few walkers were about, all pausing to take in the view…and their breath!

I made it to the top and on entering the castle, pushed my bike up and sat on one remaining foundations and ate my birdseed bar. The sun still hot, with a slight south westerly breeze, it was tranquillity in itself. I could have mused for ages.

I continued on my journey with an inner calm back down the hill onto Belton Hills. This is a small woodland section with a few alternate routes that can be taken. One small, sharp climb, but a nice flow to it all, until my turn around destination point of Leigh-On-Sea train station was reached. From here, I dropped down to make my return parallel with Benfleet creek. The tide was low, but with the water glistening in the sunlight, the sound of the birds singing, the return on this flat double track was great. I reached Benfleet station in no time at all.

One more station to reach. I found another footpath to stay off the road, over and through mooring trails, past the football pitch, up a back road to link with St. Mary’s Church footpath. But first to cross the farmers field. All good, he even waved! The last footpath to do was very narrow until the churchyard was reached. Respectively I pushed my bike through the grave yard and up the slow climb to the A13 again. Just a few more miles to go, as I hit the tarmac once more, for the last leg of my loop.

I can only hazard a guess of a total distance covered of roughly 25 miles. But it’s a good ride for me to keep my wheels turning without punctures! A most enjoyable Blues Buster Ride.

Where next...............???!!!

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