• Work on the High Woods country park route is now finished – except for the Cycling Town finials to go on top of signposts. There is a slight hitch with one sign that needs to be placed in Turner Rise, but a direction indicator may now be painted on the road. The solar lamps appear to be working well. CCC's only disappointment is the Gavin Way roundabout, where the cycle lane is poorly laid out: we hope this will be addressed later. Phase II of this route, a spur to join the Broadlands estate, is on hold pending year-long Network Rail activity.

• Attention has moved to Greenstead, where work on the Salary Brook path starts in December, weather permitting.

• A new south-side route along Cymbeline Way will connect Spring Lane with Glen Avenue, Sheepen Road and Westway. This should move into the final design stage soon.

• Cycle Colchester project manager Mark Eves is processing a list of contraflow schemes for one-way streets. Meanwhile, Rosemary Wilkins of Essex County Council is prioritising cycle town work. A final list will be published in the new year.

Aba Pifferi has been appointed to the Sustrans Bike It scheme in Colchester, and Alex Wise is the Colchester-based Bike Club representative.

Pheasants usually shoot out of ditches, startling both themselves and any passing cyclists. This one, however, decided to join the peleton in a recent Colchester CTC/Rovers leisure ride led by Hugh Ward. Eat your heart out, Road Runner! Meep, Meep!