London Phoenix Cycling Cub will be running its inaugural Easter Classic ride on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008, through the country lanes of Essex. The start and finish are at the picturesque and conveniently-located Fairlop Waters Country Park.

Two ride lengths are planned, of approximately 110km and 65km, with fast times expected as the road season really gets going. Appropriately, the longer distance takes in the villages of Good Easter and High Easter, and both routes will be fully signposted, leading the rider through idyllic countryside dotted with duck ponds and thatched, pargetted cottages. Those who complete the ride will be rewarded with a seasonal gift.

Fairlop Waters Country Park provides free car parking, as well as café, bar and restaurant facilities. It is easily accessible from the M25, M11, the North Circular, major A roads and even Fairlop tube station (Central Line, bikes are permitted on the overground section from Stratford).

“This new Easter Classic event gives riders a great reason to get some miles in over the long Easter Weekend,” said Stuart Lockyear, club secretary at London Phoenix. “We’ll be showing London cyclists that Essex isn’t all about Ford Escorts and stilettos – this is a beautiful, bucolic landscape with very little traffic, right on London’s doorstep.”

Entries are available online for £5 from the club’s website, www.londonphoenix.co.uk , or on the day for £7. Places are limited so riders are encouraged to check the website for availability. Start time from Fairlop Waters Country Park is 10am on Easter Monday.

London Phoenix is a group of London-based cyclists from all across the city, who get together for races and training rides. The club has a website forum as its virtual clubhouse, and instead of regular weekly club rides from a set place, London Phoenix cyclists arrange to meet up for mountain bike, road or cyclocross rides, races and time trials from a variety of venues.
The club also meets up socially every month. Currently with a membership of approximately 60 people, London Phoenix riders regularly compete and score successful results in their chosen disciplines.