Essex DA

Terry T · Post by **Terry T** » 14 Jan 2007, 6:58pm

Come on people, show yourselves.
Promote your events, promote your section, promote your DA.
This is a free tool for your benefit, use it ! :twisted:

TimC · Post by **TimC** » 8 Feb 2007, 12:05pm

If none of the 'official' DA personnel will do it, perhaps this link might help:

http://www.essexcycling.co.uk/

TimC

Terry T · Post by **Terry T** » 9 Feb 2007, 12:42pm

Although the Essex D.A. has finally got round to having a website of it's own, it leaves a lot to be desired compared to the other D.A. websites. Are there plans to develop it further?
There are no pictures, no real details and certainly nothing to inspire would be cyclists in the area.
Text accompnied by runs lists and not much else isn't really enough is it?
It's an improvement over what was in place before, but it could be so much better.

E.C.Ryder · Post by **E.C.Ryder** » 9 Feb 2007, 8:09pm

As a Essex DA/Havering Section member (I think you know who I am Terry) I agree that the Essex DA site could be better and in time I hope it will be.
What`s happening in the Essex DA at the moment: well this year is our 80th year of existence for which celebration are being planned, one idea is a gathering of the Sections for a picnic in August. A new Section will soon be up and running or should that be cycling in Colchester.
The South East Group are still the strongest (cyclists out on Sundays), followed by the Chelmsford Section and then the Havering Section who will be celebrating 40 years of existence in 2008. Sadly the Brentwood Section have gone into `winter hibernation` but we hope to see them back on the road in the spring.
Another sad note is that Chelmsford Section rider Frank Walker a young 87 year old as been forbidden by his doctor to cycle anymore although he seems to be in good general health.

Terry T · Post by **Terry T** » 9 Feb 2007, 8:38pm

Thanks for that E.C.
The Havering section has hung on mainly due to the efforts of Brian Stevens and I wish my old section well for the future.
They meet at Upminster Station if anyone's interested, on Sundays.
Have a look at the Essex Cycling website.(I'm just sorry it's so poor).

TimC · Post by **TimC** » 10 Feb 2007, 3:37pm

I should add that I'm nothing to do with the Essex DA, I just happen to live in the far North-East of Essex (and as far from EDA activities as one can get!). I'd noticed that Essex DA was conspicuous by its absence here; I found the link on Nuttycyclists' website and thought it'd plug an obvious gap!

Cheers

Tim

Simon L6 · Post by **Simon L6** » 10 Feb 2007, 9:16pm

the website tells us that Essex is a beautiful county. Lest any of you from the north or the west think otherwise, Essex really is a very beautiful county. To ride from Inagtestone to Stock, or from Chelmsford to Manningtree is a joy indeed.

Terry T · Post by **Terry T** » 11 Feb 2007, 12:36pm

I cycle through Stock on my way to Chelmsford 5 days a week, and regularly cycle that very area at weekends. Much of north Essex is stunning.

Simon L6 · Post by **Simon L6** » 11 Feb 2007, 3:13pm

http://bikereader.com/forum/index.php?topic=28446.0

enjoy

Terry T · Post by **Terry T** » 11 Feb 2007, 3:57pm

My colleague lives by Paper Mill Lock.
I bet those that have never been to Essex think it's all Escort XR3i drivers and white stiletto shoes. WRONG :!:

oscars dad · Post by **oscars dad** » 12 Feb 2007, 5:07pm

Simon L6 wrote:http://bikereader.com/forum/index.php?topic=28446.0

enjoy

I am the oscars dad that wrote the post that Simon L6 kindly bought to your attention here.

For those in any doubt, Essex is a superb county for cycling. I came to live in Essex quite by accident (it's a several beers story) and had all the preconceived idea of the county before I moved in. My move to Essex also coincided with the beginning of my second cycling career (and second spell of being a CTC member). I soon discovered I had landed on my feet and have enjoyed exploring Essex by bike ever since. Even better, I have converted my wife and step daughter to cycling so we explore as a family - a double joy!

nuttycyclist · Post by **nuttycyclist** » 13 Feb 2007, 2:36pm

TimC wrote:If none of the 'official' DA personnel will do it, perhaps this link might help:

http://www.essexcycling.co.uk/

TimC

Thanks Tim. As for adding the DA site to here, I only stumbled across "here" thanks to your link on ACF.

For everybody else, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Michael and I happen to own the hosting account that the Essex DA are using for their website. I also appear to be the person who designed and wrote the *structure* of the DA website, which now needs padding out with member input.

I'm afraid I don't hang about here much, in fact I only registered to make this one post. I am an overly busy person who is trying to cut down on the activities I get involved in. Posting to another forum isn't something I intend to do. I do spend a fair bit of time on ACF, not because I don't like "here", but simply because my job involves lots of 2 or 3 minute delays and I've got to know the company over there well so enjoy chatting while I wait for tasks to complete.

Therefore, if you want to get hold of me, the best contact at the moment is the top email address on http://www.essexcycling.co.uk/contact.php although I will try and check this thread for updates.

Terry T wrote:Although the Essex D.A. has finally got round to having a website of it's own, it leaves a lot to be desired compared to the other D.A. websites. Are there plans to develop it further?
There are no pictures, no real details and certainly nothing to inspire would be cyclists in the area.
Text accompnied by runs lists and not much else isn't really enough is it?
It's an improvement over what was in place before, but it could be so much better.

Terry, as I said above, the site needs MEMBER input. A club site is for all members, not for the waffling of one member (after all, I have nuttycyclist.co.uk for that - not updated since July 06!).

If you've got desires for anything, send it in (with membership number so we know you're a valid CTC member) and I'll post it up as soon as I get a chance. With regards the SEG's 75 reliability ride I got the initial page written with about 2 days, and the route sheet went up within hours of receipt.

With regards plans for the future, yes I know there are no photos (yet) but nobody's sent me any! (Other than Lee who sent me a couple of aerial shots I requested last week, and I'm trying to work out their suitability or whether to request some others).

My own plans for further development are:-
- Old historic photos from the '50s. (Charles gave me these and I have them scanned in now, I just need to get some time at home to code them up)
- Routes. I'd like to get some of our member's favourite rides up as route sheets, so we can all enjoy them. However, having planned that, CTC Maps came on line so I'm not rushing ahead that fast!
- Ride reports. I'd love to see both short ride reports, as well as full touring write ups and photos. At the moment Spotlight is very good at this (and the website is NOT intended to replace spotlight) but I'd like to see some of reports submitted to the website as well as the magazine. Again, I'm not the one with the opportunity to get out and ride, so we need member input.
- Campaigning. I'd like to see some more focus given to what we're up to in trying to improve the conditions for cyclists. This, unfortunately, is down to me to kick off :oops:

but I am just not getting the time at the moment; I'm too busy campaigning. Two brief items to report are that These bollards have now been moved and I have also noted that the A127 cycle path alongside the east exit slip from the A1245 is being fully reconstructed to remove that dangerous crack that has been there for a little while (I've been chasing over the last 18 months!)
- Colchester and Tendring. I'd like to see the new section added to the site as soon as they're fully up and operational.
- Photos. Yes you're right! We need some. I have a couple that have been submitted, but need to find my notes as to what they show, then decide where they need to be added and get them up there. However I need more to be submitted!

Yes I acknowledge that the old few pages I hosted under my own site needed more, hence the new site. Yes I acknowledge that the new site doesn't YET have the member input, so is lacking somewhat. I was however pleasantly surprised last Sunday when I got out on a club run for the first time in ages to receive two member comments regarding the site. Both were comments of praise. I wasn't expecting that.

So Terry, thanks for your feedback and criticism (I remember I saw a lot from you on the old CTC forum) now let's have your help and input and turn the Essex DA site from what it is now into what YOU as a local member want to see.

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TimC · Post by **TimC** » 19 Feb 2007, 12:20pm

Simon L6 wrote:the website tells us that Essex is a beautiful county. Lest any of you from the north or the west think otherwise, Essex really is a very beautiful county. To ride from Inagtestone to Stock, or from Chelmsford to Manningtree is a joy indeed.

It is indeed, Simon, but you need to go north of the A12 (and preferably north of the A120) to really appreciate it. The area bounded by Stansted, Braintree, Colchester, Sudbury, Haverhill and Saffron Walden is as delightful as any in the country, and remarkably free of major roads - yet chock full of little lanes and chocolate-box villages containing excellent hostelries and cakestops. In short, paradise for the cyclist!

richardirving · Post by **richardirving** » 3 Apr 2007, 2:34pm

It is indeed, Simon, but you need to go north of the A12 (and preferably north of the A120) to really appreciate it. The area bounded by Stansted, Braintree, Colchester, Sudbury, Haverhill and Saffron Walden is as delightful as any in the country, and remarkably free of major roads - yet chock full of little lanes and chocolate-box villages containing excellent hostelries and cakestops. In short, paradise for the cyclist![/quote]

Very true, I happen to live bang in the middle of that lot and it is classic cycling country - don't spread it around too much, otherwise the lanes will be full of cyclists. Actually, better that than cars!

Ben Lovejoy · Post by **Ben Lovejoy** » 29 Oct 2007, 9:20pm

Can anyone recommend some quiet routes around Wickford?

The only cycling I've done in the last five years has been a short commute on a Brompton, so I'll need to start with short routes (5-10 miles) and build up from there.

I'm almost certainly getting a trike recumbent, if that has any bearing on recommendations.

Any short organised rides in the area? Most of the ones I've seen are rather longer than I'll be tackling for a while yet!

Ben

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