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Ride For Richie
Martin Baker23 Jun - 08:47
Club cyclists remember one of our own
Ride On Friend
Our good friend Richie passed earlier this year. It was a sad loss to our close rugby community and it was clear from the eulogies that his influence spread beyond the world of the odd-shaped ball and both cycling and music were another couple of keen interests he held.
Some of us knew the former, because we rode with him often; from shorter rides for a full-English in Hertford to full-on cycle touring to Paris. He would always be the one to help, whether it was the machine itself with a puncture or the man who was tired and broken, with Richie keeping company to ensure no one was left behind.
So it seemed only right that we should ride for him - and I suppose with him - one last time, in his memory and we should visit places which held some meaning both for him and for us.
The early planning threw up a ride to Leigh-on-Sea (Richie's home town) and back, several pints influencing this decision. However in the spirit of inclusivity we chose a route which started locally: visited both Richie Street and Clifford Road, went through some parks on London’s network of cycle paths, included his regular commute one last time. It finished at the Little Green Dragon - a real-ale, blues pub at the end of his ride home. When to do it? A date in June was agreed upon.
A dozen riders duly gathered last Saturday on humid morning for the inevitable photo by the club.
We set off across the Willow estate and headed towards Barnet. Tremaine’s obsession for cast concrete saw us take an unplanned excursion at Gordon Hill where he marvelled at the WW2 pillbox (while we blocked the pavement on the other side of the road). Then off we headed again, before the inevitable puncture of the day.
We regrouped at Clifford Road (Barnet) for the next staged photo, and then cycled through East Barnet and Arnos Park to the A406 at Powys.
We were now progressing well and on our way to Alexandra Palace until the Red Bull Soapbox Races spoiled our chances of another planned photo from the top. Never mind. So up the back of Muswell Hill then down Archway we went, before the madness of Camden’s traffic lights at noon.
The working plan for Regents Park was to have a soft-pedalled lap all together, then attack on the second lap. This lasted around 200m before everyone’s inner Cavendish took over and a traffic light on red now turned from a hindrance into sweet relief! Two laps and then a coffee (thanks Toby!) before we set off to find Richie Street, playing the tourist as we cycled past the glory of St Pancras station.
The later planned section along the canal was binned when we realised that some riders’ bikes cost more than others’ cars (!) so Goose navigated us “from the Cally to the Cross (and every sh*thole in between)” until we hit Green Lanes. Cue the mad dodging of cars and racing for every light as we headed to the pub: last one there buys the round. Of course Tom and Toby got there first, with Jim close behind - but Crofty was there already, waiting for opening time. Five to two on the clock.
We spent a couple of hours in the Little Green Dragon, toasting a great friend and reminiscing. Some of the seeds handed out at his funeral got planted at the base of the tree outside the pub. Most of us had less to drink than we’d have liked but probably more than we should, before we headed off homewards.
What a great day and a brilliant send off. We missed you today Richie, you’ll be forever in our thoughts.
Thoughts on the day from Muso.
Some of us knew the former, because we rode with him often; from shorter rides for a full-English in Hertford to full-on cycle touring to Paris. He would always be the one to help, whether it was the machine itself with a puncture or the man who was tired and broken, with Richie keeping company to ensure no one was left behind.
So it seemed only right that we should ride for him - and I suppose with him - one last time, in his memory and we should visit places which held some meaning both for him and for us.
The early planning threw up a ride to Leigh-on-Sea (Richie's home town) and back, several pints influencing this decision. However in the spirit of inclusivity we chose a route which started locally: visited both Richie Street and Clifford Road, went through some parks on London’s network of cycle paths, included his regular commute one last time. It finished at the Little Green Dragon - a real-ale, blues pub at the end of his ride home. When to do it? A date in June was agreed upon.
A dozen riders duly gathered last Saturday on humid morning for the inevitable photo by the club.
We set off across the Willow estate and headed towards Barnet. Tremaine’s obsession for cast concrete saw us take an unplanned excursion at Gordon Hill where he marvelled at the WW2 pillbox (while we blocked the pavement on the other side of the road). Then off we headed again, before the inevitable puncture of the day.
We regrouped at Clifford Road (Barnet) for the next staged photo, and then cycled through East Barnet and Arnos Park to the A406 at Powys.
We were now progressing well and on our way to Alexandra Palace until the Red Bull Soapbox Races spoiled our chances of another planned photo from the top. Never mind. So up the back of Muswell Hill then down Archway we went, before the madness of Camden’s traffic lights at noon.
The working plan for Regents Park was to have a soft-pedalled lap all together, then attack on the second lap. This lasted around 200m before everyone’s inner Cavendish took over and a traffic light on red now turned from a hindrance into sweet relief! Two laps and then a coffee (thanks Toby!) before we set off to find Richie Street, playing the tourist as we cycled past the glory of St Pancras station.
The later planned section along the canal was binned when we realised that some riders’ bikes cost more than others’ cars (!) so Goose navigated us “from the Cally to the Cross (and every sh*thole in between)” until we hit Green Lanes. Cue the mad dodging of cars and racing for every light as we headed to the pub: last one there buys the round. Of course Tom and Toby got there first, with Jim close behind - but Crofty was there already, waiting for opening time. Five to two on the clock.
We spent a couple of hours in the Little Green Dragon, toasting a great friend and reminiscing. Some of the seeds handed out at his funeral got planted at the base of the tree outside the pub. Most of us had less to drink than we’d have liked but probably more than we should, before we headed off homewards.
What a great day and a brilliant send off. We missed you today Richie, you’ll be forever in our thoughts.
Thoughts on the day from Muso.
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