Southend Shakedown 2014
We have ridden to the Southend shakedown nearly every year
since I have been riding. To be honest it’s not the best ride in the world, but
what makes it special is the amount of bikes, the feeling of being a part of
something that brings likeminded people together and the spectacle.
This year the ride was going to slightly different from the
normal Southend ride, we were going to meet a group of other riders at High
Beech (Bert’s Tea Hut), then we were going to head off into Essex, have a
decent ride then end up on the beach around lunch time.
At 9am we set off, fuelled up at our local garage then hit
the motorway for a short blast to get us to the meet point. The morning was
bright and sunny, although a little chilly, but for the time of year you
couldn’t complain. The motorway was soon dealt with and in no time we were
riding through the forest, even though it had only been a week since we last
rode through here the trees were noticeably leafier and greener. The morning
felt fresh and clean, the roads were dry, the sky was blue and the sun was
shining, what more could you ask for.
As we turned into High Beech I recognised some bikes from
last week’s ride, so we pulled up alongside and turned off our engines. It was
nice to see everyone one again, and all were in the mood for a good ride. There
were some new faces, so introductions were made. There was time for a warm
cuppa too before we headed off. Once everyone was sorted out and the corner man
system had once again been explained and we all knew who was leading and who was
sweeping we were on our way for the days adventure.
The first part of the route we took was the same as we took
to Finchingfield last week. But the sky was bluer the hedges and verges leafier
and the fields greener. We had been riding for a while when we pulled into a
garage. This was a multi-purpose stop; one to obviously refuel the second was
for relief. Always a problem after you’ve had a cuppa on a cool spring morning.
After a short break we were once again
on our way, leaving the route we’d taken last week heading onto new roads. The roads
were nice to ride, but soon we had to do a little dual carriage way work,
sometimes it inevitable. A short few miles blast and we were once again on the
lanes. But on leaving the dual carriage way we had encountered a problem. On a
roundabout, someone had thoughtlessly dropped a tool box. There were nails,
screws and this and that everywhere. We all pulled into the next layby to see
what, if any, damage had been done. Out of all the bikes only two had picked up
some unwanted metal. Luckily, if you can call it that, the first bike had
picked up a nail which had seemed to have entered to tyre sideways, so not
puncturing the tyre. The second bike (belonging to Soph) had picked up a nail
that had gone through the tyre which was now slowly going down. A quick ride to
a nearby garage was now the order for the day. 
Once at the garage we took the opportunity to refuel whilst
Soph made an unorthodox repair to her tyre. Once everything was sorted we were
again on our way, this was the part of the ride everyone was looking forward
too. The Burnham bends are legendary in this part of the country. This was
going to be my brother’s and my first time at these twisty’s. This part of the
ride was worth the wait, fast straights where quickly followed by sharp left
and right hand bends that zigged and zagged through the open countryside. Even when
we went through a village the roads twisted back and forth.
It all seemed to go all too quick. Soon we were entering the
suburbs of Southend and after a few turns we were riding along the sea front
towards the spectacle that is the Southend Shakedown. As we got nearer the
traffic slowed and the reason was clear, bikes and bikers lined both sides of
the road, sometimes they were parked 2 or 3 deep. Stalls lined the side of the
road selling all types of biking apparel, bikers groups invited you to join their
clubs and insurance companies touting for business. We negotiated our way along
the front, once in the heart of the hustle bustle we found a place to park and
ended the mornings ride.
Once dismounted and the bikes were locked up, we regroup and
decided to have a fish and chips lunch on the sea front. Now was time to relax in
the warm afternoon sun and our lunch was washed down with large amounts of soft
drink. After a rest we walked along the sea front, avoiding the fair ground,
sticking to the stalls we’d seen on the way in. After a brief walk we stopped
once more to sit on some steps whilst enjoying a nice ice cream.
A late lunch meant that an afternoon soon turned into an
early evening. We’d been having such a great time that we had not realised just
how late it had become. Just as we arrived, we left as a group making our way
through the suburbs and on to the A127. Here we stopped for fuel for our ride
home. It was here too, that we were going to go our separate ways. My brother
and I were going to carry on the A127 then jump on the M25 home, some had to
back track and make their way back to Chelmsford, whilst others had to stick to
the A-roads to get themselves home. It was a great day with some great roads
and great people. Once home everyone checked in on the forum to make sure
everyone had got home safely and to thank those that had planned the ride.
