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Where to Ride: Essex
Words and Pictures: Hugo Gladstone
For a long-time the people of Essex have had to stand up in defence of their county. Not only were there all those mid-90s jokes, but there's also a common misperception that Essex is just an extended arm of London.
Yes, it's true, there is an urban sprawl out along the Thames estuary, but not much more so than the capital could be said to stretch into Kent's Garden of England or the Royal County of Berkshire. Continue out around the corner of the coastline, and there's a beautiful world of wild mud flats and vast estuaries - home to protected bird species. Sweep north across the county and you are soon out into the lush greenery and pretty villages that constitute the vast bulk of the county.
Essex cyclists also frequently find themselves promoting their county's topography. Sometimes maligned as flat and featureless, they'll refer you to Baddow Hill or a climb up through Epping Forest. There was once even a sportive called 'So You Think Essex is Flat?' devised to dispel the common myth.
Essex is not mountainous but its terrain has shaped no end of decent riders. Alex Dowsett, Russell Hampton and Joe Perrett are just three recent examples of young racers who grew up riding on the county's roads.
LEISURE
Who said Essex folk were promiscuous? Stretching across the middle of the county, the Flitch Way is a fine traffic-free rail trail that celebrates an ancient ceremony of devotion between married couples. Read more...
ROAD
The countryside in the north of Essex is characterised by pleasant villages and open farmland. This rolling 40-mile loop takes in some of the areas highlights - including a well-preserved 12th Century castle and an unusual gig venue. Read more...
OFF-ROAD
Within the M25 and connected to the Tube network, the trails of Epping Forest couldn't be easier to access for the London mountain biker. The question is: will you be able to find your way out of this dense, wild woodland? Read more...
Further Resources
The Grand Prix of Essex may no longer be a fixture on the calendar, but for grass roots racers there are still plenty of road racing options. Most events are part of the Eastern Road Racing League (which grew out of the Essex League) while just across the Greater London border there is closed circuit racing on a purpose built cycling facility at Hog Hill. During the winter months the excellent Eastern Cyclo-Cross League serves the region and a recently launched mountain bike league provides for the off-road racing nuts during the summer. Track racing in Essex died with the sale of the old Harlow velodrome - although neither Welwyn nor the new Olympic track (when it's finished) are far away. There are several Cycle Speedway Tracks in Colchester.
For something a touch less competitive, the Essex Roads Cycling Club is a good place to start when looking for a sportive to ride. They have four events scheduled throughout the year, including an off-road jaunt in the summer. For something a little bit different, the overnight Dunwich Dynamo is a fantastic event that streaks through the back roads of Essex in the dark. Incidentally, on its way from London to the Suffolk coast, this informal, free-to-enter event dissects each one of our featured routes above.
For more information on leisure and utility riding, the Essex County Council and local Sustrans pages are useful.
