CycleInk Summer 2021 by CTC Wessex Cycling

Within:

CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT: Rob Ward VICE CHAIRMAN: Vacant SECRETARY: Henrietta Howarth MINUTES SECRETARY: Penny Buckley TREASURER: John Jackson AUDITOR: Ralph Huckle KITMASTER: Steve Cottenham WEBSITE & COMPLIANCE: Keith Matthews CYCLE ADVOCACY NETWORK: Paul Turner CYCLE TRAINING: Steve Gray 07710 201358 Cycle Ink EDITOR: Shawn Shaw Elected at the Annual General Meeting in October our committee meets four times a year and co-ordinates the group’s cycling activities and the clubruns of the various sections. Next Zoom committee meeting: 18th August 2021

Cycle Ink is the Newsletter of CTC Wessex Cycling, a Member Group of Cycling UK (Cyclists’ Touring Club) Views expressed in articles are personal to the writer and not necessarily those of the organisation. The deadline for contributions for the following quarters Cycle Ink :1st September 2021 Send your contributions to: editor@wessexsr.org.uk

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PROVISIONAL CALENDAR of EVENTS for 2021 subject to Coronavirus constraints Permanent versions of the Wessex Super Randonneur Series of Audax events are now being validated and there have been several successful rides this year. (Further details: http://www.wessexctc.org/perms.htm) Group Picnic at Damerham and Terry Walsh Memorial Ride 11 July (Mike Walsh) Gridiron 10 October (Anthony Clewes) (Further details: http://www.wessexctc.org/events.htm)

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To have your hard copy of Cycle Ink, the Club runs-list and newsletter, sent by post Go to

www.wessexctc.org Select

and complete the form. The cost for receiving Cycle Ink for 1 year (4 issues) is £2.50 (overseas £5.00) or £5.00 (overseas £10.00) for 2 years (8 issues) toward the postage and handling expenses. -ORPay £2.50 / £5.00 cash or cheque direct to: CTC Wessex at Lloyds Bank sort code: 30 80 89 account number: 23925060 and confirm by e-mail, giving your name and mailing address to: ctcwessexcyclingsubs@gmail.com The Treasurer is no longer able to accept newsletter subscriptions directly.

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Postcard from Wiltshire …… wish you were here! 27th May 2021 hursday Riders had a brilliant ride to Salisbury. We stopped to admire the view out over the Avon valley from Castle Hill, great opportunity for a group photo. After coffee at Downton we had lunch sat on the grass at Salisbury Cathedral. So lovely to have some sunshine. (See this runs list for details of the ride to Winchester 1st July)

By Cathy Cottenham

Basic Maintenance Workshop Steve Coombes, an experienced trainer and cycle mechanic will deliver a basic maintenance workshop on a weekday evening in B’m’th/Poole. He will cover punctures, snapped chain, broken spoke, checking and adjusting brakes, gears, saddle, handlebars, headset, wheel hubs and bearing. Cost £20. For more details and booking contact

stevecoombes@hotmail.co.uk or FaceBook Skills and Trails

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Steve & Graham,,,,,,and Scotland! - The Tandem Saga rolls on Sep 16, 2020

slightly different day today - overcast and a bit windy (and not in a good direction). Not to worry, the riding has been good and the wind pesky but not ridiculous. I probably shouldn't say this but we haven't had any appreciable rain since day 2! Steve and I left Carlisle at 06:30 and were soon through Gretna and Ecclefechan (sounds a bit like what I say if I accidentally whack my finger with a hammer). We stopped at the motorway service area at Johnstonbridge for a first break, after which we were into the gentle climb to Beattock summit. Some time after the top we were on a tiny lane which shadows the railway well away from the motorway for quite a few miles. Lunch was outside a Londis at Carstairs

Junction (not particularly salubrious). We have now come way upmarket and are staying in Limefield House. Built in 1805, the house has connections with David Livingstone. Have a look here if you are interested: https://www.scottishshale.co.uk/blog/?p= 364 We are staying in Polbeth having covered 154Km and climbed 1465m. Tonight 'Heart of Lothian' will be banging on my earbuds, followed by a bit of King King, a blues rock band of Scottish origin who's front man always performs in a kilt!

Our home for the night

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Sept 17, 2020

Pedalling on

t wasn't just chilly at 07:00 when Steve and I left this morning but decidedly cold, maybe 6 or 7 degrees. It remained chilly for a while after sunrise but soon blossomed into a perfect riding day. The initial part of our day was quite built up, through Livingstone and a few smaller places to the old Queensferry Bridge which looks a lot like the Pretty road near Dunfermaline Severn and Humber Bridges. As with the Humber Bridge, the bike path across I had planned to use was closed so we had a short detour to the other side. Beyond the bridge came Dunfermline but not too long after that we were in the countryside. We have flirted a little bit with the A9 (some bike paths alongside) but most of the day we have been off to one side or the other on minor roads or lanes. There was a lovely bike path along the river bank for quite a stretch at Perth. All in all a great day's ride which has brought us to Blair Atholl. We have covered 140Km with 1556m of ascent. My floordrobe of an evening - I know exactly where everything is but it might take 10 minutes to find it. As long as I put it where Steve won't fall over it, it's happy days.

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Sept 18, 2020

The Highlands

teve and I were a bit later leaving this morning as we had to wait for staff to appear and unlock the room where the bike was stored (the disabled toilet in the bar downstairs!) By then it was only a short further wait for the hotel breakfast. It was cool and a bit misty at 08:25 but it soon cleared and gave way to yet another perfect riding day. We have been shadowing the A9 on and off all day with odd sections where we have left it way over to the side of us. The riding has been a mix of quieter main roads, lanes or cycleway. I had been worried about how tandem friendly the cycleways would be and planned to ride a 20Km or so section of the main A9 but roadworks made it hopeless on a bike. Fortunately, that bit of the cycleway had been recently refurbished so it was all good (front cover picture).

Pretty roads A red squirrel crossed in front of us near Rothiemurchus, which was nice. We had lunch in Aviemore, which seems to get bigger and busier with every visit.

Looking down on Inverness high mountains in the haze beyond

We are staying in downtown Inverness having cycled another 139Km with 1317m of ascent. We might have gone a bit further but there is an accommodation desert on our route beyond Helmsdale so we divided the two days from Blair Atholl to Helmsdale evenly.

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Sep 19, 2020

Sutherland

hat is it with us and bridges? We rolled out of our downtown Inverness hotel at about 08:00 this morning and found our way to where the cycleway goes up to the Kessock Bridge. It was fenced off and the blue Sustrans Route 1 signs were covered over. Eventually, after a bit of tooing and froing, we found the diversion sign, which was yellow rather than the blue you look for with cycling signs. Not to worry, we were soon back on track. We had a bit of Scotch mist for a while this morning, which seemed kind of appropriate! I was getting a bit wet for the first 20Km or so. After that it was just plain old ordinary (International standard) mist. As we climbed up on the road between Alness and Bonar Bridge we came out of the mist Pretty Falls of Shin road into brilliant sunshine, but then as we began the decent down the other side it was back into the mist again. And so it has been for most of the day. Even as I write this in the late afternoon it is still misty outside at Helmsdale. Beyond Lairg we were hacking down the main road for a good while when my route turned off up a tiny lane and climbed the shoulder of the hill to the side of the valley rather than just carrying on down the main road (which was, incidentally, pretty quiet). Steve commented on something I had said earlier; that the Cycle travel website planning tool does not put gratuitous hills into the route. I guess in this case its algorithm was torn between too much main road and a gratuitous hill and the hill won! Anyway, it broke things up a bit and the views up there were great, for me at least. Today we have pedalled 142Km with 1335m of ascent (including one gratuitous hill). We should make it to Dunnet Head tomorrow and, all being well, should pass the 3/4 way point sometime on Monday.

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Sept 21, 2020

Tough morning - easier afternoon

he wind forecast for today was (in mph) 20 something gusting to 30 something, and not in a good direction! Steve and I set out just before 07:30 and battled the wind along the north coast road to Betty Hill. The experience did nothing to soften my dislike for that section - it is all either up or down and there is nowhere to hide from the, seemingly more Looking down on the lower bit of Betty Hill often than not, headwind. Still, from the upper bit we got it done and trundled slightly off route to the cafe signed from the main road. It was about 09:45 and the cafe wasn't open until 11:00 - we used their picnic table to have a quick snack on our carried food. Soon after Betty Hill we were onto the classic mountain road which runs to Altnaharra - that was a battle into the wind as well. The man at the Altnaharra Hotel, when I eventually flushed him out, seemed a bit unwelcoming, so we carried on to the iconic Crask Inn - a good choice. There were 9 solo bikes outside when we arrived but their owners were off in a back room somewhere so there was space for Steve and me in the bar. The food and coffee at the Crask must have been some kind of rocket fuel because when we emerged the wind didn't seem half so bad. Once back at Lairg we backtracked the route we took north to a few Km away from where we are staying at Alness. We have covered 169Km with a not inconsiderable 1760m of ascent - maybe we deserve to have a pudding tonight ;-). Steve and I stopped for chocolate and a drink at Ardgay and chatted to some centre based day ride cyclists who had driven up from Portsmouth. They were thinking to cut short their trip and head home before the Covid restrictions become untenable. Steve and I are avidly watching the news to see what will happen. I have accommodation booked for the next couple of nights but finding somewhere on Ardnamurchan was tricky because a lot of places would only take bookings for two or three nights because of all the extra cleaning needed in the Covid era.

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Sep 22, 2020

Only our second wet day

ell, here we are a little wet and bedraggled in Fort William. We will pop down to Ardnamurchan tomorrow and then we will be on the home run. Today has been only our second wet day of the entire trip (3 weeks up to mid-day today). Again it has been windy, but today the buffeting gusts have been more of a concern than the additional effort needed to push the bike into the wind.

Pretty section before Drumnadrochit

The ride today included quite long sections along the A82 - the main road along the Great Glen. We managed to avoid bits of it by doing a section of Caledonian Canal towpath, and another section along a back road into Fort William itself, but for much of the way there is no alternative. The signed bike route takes the opposite side of Loch Lochy along a lovely little road but to use it you have to be prepared for a lengthy and hilly gravel section and we didn't fancy that on the tandem. (I rode it last year and it was quite rough) Our ride was dry until we were half way along Loch Ness, after which the rain steadily increased as the afternoon wore on. We stopped for lunch at the very posh Glengarry Castle Hotel. There were a few other guests in the lounge, genteel older people in casual attire. I had an inkling that Steve and me in our smelly cycling kit - thankfully not quite up to the 'dripping on the floor' stage, didn't quite fit in. The smoked salmon sandwiches were very nice and quite reasonable at £7.50, served with crisps and a few leaves, but they were clearly planning to fund the restoration of the View at lunch west wing on drink sales because they charged us £4 each for lime and soda!We now have all our overnight stays booked for the remainder of the trip, It doesn’t look like the Coronavirus will mean we have to cut our trip short - fingers crossed. .....forgot to say, we pedalled 142Km with 1669m of ascent.

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28th May 2021

London pedestrians to have priority at traffic lights.

Transport for London (TfL) has announced that a total of 18 pedestrian crossings across London will, by the end of June this year, show a ‘green person’ by default to help make London “the world’s most walkable city”. ‘Green Person Authority’ traffic lights will display a continuous red light to drivers unless they detect approaching traffic, at which point vehicles will be let through temporarily. The new technology is already installed at seven locations in Tower Hamlets, Newham, Hounslow, Richmond and Hillington. The number of journeys made on foot has shot up throughout the pandemic. TfL data showed that at one point last year, the proportion of journeys being made on foot increased from 35% to almost 50%. TfL says it will continue to identify new locations determined by factors including high pedestrian flow, proximity to pedestrian destinations like shopping centres, stations and schools, and the sustainability of existing technology where Green Person Authority crossings can be introduced.

Smart traffic lights go green for cyclists: 22 Oct 2020

AI tech that prioritises two wheels over four is set for trials at junctions in London and three other cities including Southampton. As cyclists approach video cameras mounted on traffic lights detect riders and turn opposing signals red, to give the cyclist's street priority at junctions.

The innovative system, which costs less than £700 to install on each light, is a step up from existing traffic sensors - which struggle to acknowledge the presence of cyclists at all.

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Sep 23, 2020

Heading home!

hat a stunning day - the combination of beautiful calm sunny weather and the amazing Ardnamurchan scenery gave us the best day of the trip so far for me. So many pretty bays with lovely stoney beaches and rocky fringes - if I had stopped to photograph them all it would have taken until dusk just to get to Ardnamurchan point. Steve and I left Fort William at 07:00 or soon after in the chill of morning. I put on my long fingered gloves and knee warmers for the first time. When we arrived at the Coran ferry we had just missed one but that was OK as it gave us an opportunity to put a bit more pressure in the tyres and lube the chains (after their thorough soaking yesterday).

Cont page 22

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Local Cycle Rides Our club members volunteer to lead regular group rides offering a gentle half day or a more athletic day outing as well as rides to suit the more moderate leisure cyclist. Over the years our club members have built ‘the knowledge’ and maximise use of the country backroads to best enjoy the scenic and explore the interesting. For beginners, and those returning to cycling after a long break - No membership required. ll ABOARD 4 BURLEY. Every Saturday along a route intended for beginners yet attracting cyclists from all disciplines and all abilities as a social activity. There is no designated leader and no back up provided. Start 09:00 at Waitrose Supermarket, Christchurch or just make your own way to the Old Farmhouse Tearooms, Burley for 10:00 (see www.wessexctc.com for further details)

* * * For an introduction to club riding: EDAL SUNDAY. The runs are approximately 30 to 50 miles, depending on the season, at an easy pace suitable for solos and tandems where the beautiful scenery can be appreciated. With stops for morning coffee, a picnic lunch and occasionally an afternoon cake stop group members will make you most welcome and be very happy to natter on matters cycling.

HURSDAY DAWDLERS Rides are at a modest pace but don't really dawdle. Most members are seniors but all are welcome. The members share an interest in the countryside, coast, buildings and views. The ride stops at cafes for elevenses and tea but members always carry their own picnic lunch.

UESDAY TOASTERS. A 20 to 25 mile ride from Wimborne Square to Blandford using quiet roads at the pace of the slowest riders, making it ideal for newcomers to group cycling. *

Moderate Paced HURSDAY RIDERS. This group aims to provide moderately paced sociable rides of approximately 40 to 50 miles using minor roads, to explore Dorset and the New Forest. We stop for coffee, picnic or pub lunch and often afternoon tea. A good friendly day on the bike

* * * Medium Paced HE “INTERS” are a happy go lucky bunch who look forward to Sunday rides of 60-80 miles in the winter and 80+ during the summer enjoying sociable stops for morning coffee, lunch (own packed or pub/cafe where available) and for afternoon cake. A group with a fairly wide range of ages and abilities there is a relaxed attitude should a break "go off the front." Occasional weekend trips are organised too.

* * * Somewhat quicker HE SATURDAY Velos and both ROULEURS groups take their riding that bit more seriously and produce a quicker riding experience whilst still taking in the joys of being ‘tourists’. Destinations: Coffee only Sat & Sun, while Thurs take lunches and on occasions raises the bar to 100+miles for the day.

Our next quarters Runs List follows have a look, you’re welcome to come and join us for a ride or 2. Our ride guides will not leave you lost.

BH22 9NH BH23 6AH BH21 3DA BH21 1RN

Ferndown, Junction of Wimborne Rd E. & West Moors Rd

Hurn Stores

Merley Bridge, Junction of Gravel Hill & Merley Park Rd

Merley, Willett Arms Car Park

BH21 1HQ BH21 1JD

Wimborne Recreation Ground (Redcotts)

BH17 7BJ

BH13 7QL

BH24 1AT

BH24 3NF

Wimborne Square, Cafe on the Square

Upton House, Park Entrace

Sandbanks Ferry North Slipway

Ringwood (Town Office), 6 The Furlong

Moyles Court, Rockford

rides are 50-70 miles with the all-important CAFÉ STOP at about midpoint (we’ll do shorter rides as we start back from lockdown). We aim to enjoy a good half-day’s ride in friendly company on attractive Dorset lanes averaging 14-16 mph. New riders are supported as they get up to speed. We keep up to date on WhatsApp, so please contact Richard Spencer on 07811946302 if you’d like to join us.

● From 19th July, if everything goes to plan we should be back to no restrictions.

● As from 17th May there has been the lifting of the 'Rule of 6' outdoors, but remains in place for indoor refreshments. Still picnics it is then!

England is now in stage 3 of HMGs February announcement and we have resumed cycling as Groups (future conditions may require dates to be pushed back).

BH23 1QD

Christchurch, Waitrose Supermarket.

FAQ - Where do CTC Wessex Cycling rides start from?

- STARTS -

Cont from p14

Ardnamurchan point View from Salen Jetty We stopped at the Jetty Shop at Salen on outbound and return legs (there is only one road so it was an out and back), and we were pleasantly surprised to find a little cafe at Ardnamurchan point, so it would have been rude not to stop there as well. Just as we we were parking the bike at the lighthouse a gannet flew by low to the water and quite close to shore - nice! I had also seen a stag red deer cross the road in front of us en-route. At the lighthouse I asked Steve what we should do next and we agreed it was time to head for home! Today we have pedalled 153Km with 2438m of ascent (there are many ups and downs on the road along Ardnamurchan). We are staying at a very nice place up a big hill above Strontian.

Words & pics by Graham Dore, pilot, & stoker, Steve Bateman Cycle Ink #201

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Tony Clewes, Gridiron organiser

It has been a tough year and a bit for us all but thankfully we are getting back to some sort of normality with club rides in full swing and events starting to take place. As ride organiser for the Gridiron 2021 the decision to hold the event this year was always going to be hit and miss but we have decided to move forward, and plans are afoot. The date for your diaries is as always, the second Sunday in October starting from the Lymington centre with controls at Copythorne and Hythe. Without the help of our volunteers this event would not be able to run as it should and I want to thank all the core team for all their hard work so far. See you in the Fall.

TC Wessex Cycling have a set of Competitive Rollers which are available for use by anyone either for a club event or on another occasion either within or outside CTC Wessex Cycling. There is no charge for their use. Daniel Armstrong at Velo Domestique 176-180 Seabourne Road (the top end of Southbourne Grove) looks after the rollers and they can be collected from there. Terry Walsh refurbished the rollers some time ago and they have since been used on a number of occasions: at Velo Domestique, at a Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers event and at the St Peter’s School Sports Convention. The rollers can provide a very good evening for riders and spectators giving much fun.

To place an order at our heavily subsidised prices go to https://www.wessexctc.org/clothing.html check the size chart, then either: ● Complete an Order Form and send it to Steve by post or email. ● Or contact: Steve Cottenham to tell him what you want. e-mail: steve.cottenham@gmail.com Tel no: 07834727841

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The BCP Walking and Cycling Officers Report - Active Travel Fund (previously branded the Emergency Active Travel Fund, or EATF). Tranche 2 – Whitecliff path consultation just closed. The consultation team will pull together the feedback and then engineering team will progress the final report. Other live projects: · Wallisdown Road West underway – rolling programme throughout this year. Mountbatten to Coty access road – first phase – complete this summer. www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/wallisdownroad · Boundary Roundabout well underway –due for completion in April- May · Holes Bay Crossing – work well underway and due for completion in early April. · Cabot Lane junction improvements – complete. · Beryl E-scooter trial – underway and very popular so far – over 45,000km ridden so far with over 4000 users. · Beryl Bikes – over 79,000km ridden in February. · New Sustrans Bike It officer, Amanda Shorey, has just started – working with 12 schools on behaviour change and engagement. · Dave Smith asked the BCP Officers to get parking restricted on certain roads as this causes problems across the conurbation . Active Travel England are also starting to engage at a local level with issues such as this and highlight pour areas to their local Councillors. By Beth Barker-Stock

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Keyhole Bridge - there is now a Group primarily of local residents set up to try and get the BCP to reverse their decision to re-open the Keyhole Bridge i.e. for walking and cycling. A group on Facebook users to take part in the dialogue Poole Park Cycle Routes - One suggestion was that Through-Traffic should be stopped in the Poole Park and dedicated cycle lanes should be put in place. Transforming Cities Fund - Cycling in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. I completed the questionnaires on the BCP website for four sustainable transports routes available before 31 March! I also cycled the four routes available at that time. I was impressed with the detail planning by BCP Council and Dorset CC. See the link: https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/News/News-Features/TransformingTravel/Transforming-Cities-Fund/Our-schemes-and-network.aspx . In summary: 1.Bournemouth station to Jumpers common, Christchurch. It seems that all the pedestrian and cycling junctions are covered with immense detail. The route continues with Wyndham Road, Kings Park and Littledown Avenue. Wyndham Road have very severe humps!

2.Bournemouth Railway Station to Ferndown- The route takes the open gardens to Benellen Avenue- Leven Avenue with no direct access for cars (now not a rat-run) - Glenferness Avenue. Glenfurness Avenue Is wide and can carry a separate protected cycleway! Ensbury Park and Redhill Avenue will have a dedicated new protected cycle way. In Redhill Avenue the speed limit will be 30 miles an hour. Whitelegg Way will have new traffic lights, as well as the graded upgraded pedestrian and cycle crossings with improvement pedestrian and cycle detection. River Stour is a problem. At from Chapel Gate (Bournemouth University Sports near the Airport) and Chapel Lane to Ferndown is countryside!

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3.Poole Town Centre – Rigler Road – Inglesham Way -Sandy Lane – Watery/Slough Lane – Sherford River – Wareham Road. There are problems big problems around Hamworthy under the railways bridges! 4.Poole Town Centre – Wimborne - Poole-Wimborne Road – Darbys Lane – Trigon Bridge – Canford Heath there will be planters, more wayfinding signage over the Trigon Bridge and Darbys Lane North for pedestrians and cyclists only. I arrived at Poole grammar school just after 1530 where walking and cycling is the norm. I find that the Gravel Hill was very difficult to navigate with the cars and trucks fast at 40 miles an hour. Over Castleman Trailway(The old steam railway line track) cycling was very difficult with reduced width. Then on to Merley and Wimborne. 5. Poole – Ferndown From the George along Longfleet Road to the Garland Road junction has a protected cycleway on both sides around the Poole hospital. After the Garland Road junction towards the Shah pedestrians and cyclist share the pathway. But there is an alternative and quieter route from St Mary’s Road crossing Fernside Road Pelican Xing into Hunt Road where it joins Ringwood Road in a divided protective cycleway on the east side of the road as far as Mannings Heath Road. But Herbert Avenue towards Broom Road will have a shared cycle way with pedestrians on the east side of the road and not on the west side! There is a protective cycleway around the Turbary Retail Park. Longham Bridge is narrow, an existing path to a new cycleway over the River Stour on the east side of the Stour will be established. Around Haskins Garden Centre, Longham Church and Ringwood Road the detail is sketchy, but a shared pedestrians and cyclists should be available. From Ringwood Road to Ferndown there are various upgrades planned.

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6. Merley, Poole to Christchurch Route – Gravel Hill through Queen Anne Drive to Merley Lane there is a shared pedestrian and cyclists route. Magna Road as a combination of cycling and pedestrians, and on the road cycling with motor-vehicles. From Canford arena to Bear Cross is a protective cycle way both sides. From Bear Cross on the north side of Wimborne Road a “green cycleway” to Anstey Road. From Anstey Road to Kinson Library, it is proposed to have a protective cycleway, and Tesco Kinson to Broadway and around Castle Lane West. There is not much detail around Royal Bournemouth Hospital. Iford Bridge to Bailey Roundabout there are some upgrading works. I am disappointed about the Fountain roundabout as cyclists use that route from Tuckton Bridge to Fountain Roundabout. Fountain Roundabout is dangerous with speeding cars!

Wimborne - Leigh Road has been updated to a protected new cycleway. Signage - Concerns were raised about the poor signage for cyclists & pedestrians in the area. It was reported that this is currently being reviewed by the BCP Officers. Christchurch Waitrose Car Park – a press article stating that the Christchurch Waitrose Car Park was being sold. It needs cyclists & pedestrians to get onto the path adjacent to Christchurch By-pass. The BCP Officers & Cllr Rice reported that this was already being looked [into]

Paul Turner, CTC Wessex Cycling ‘C.AN.’ Officer [BCP] 28

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Posted on Wednesday 19 May 2021

End of Journey facilities 21 schools in the BCP Council region will be benefiting from a total of just over £214,000 worth of grants (up to £20,000 each) funded by the £100m + Transforming Cities Fund programme. The grants, supporting the council’s Transforming Travel programme, are being awarded for projects to install end of journey facilities for students and staff, who cycle, walk or scoot to school and to encourage others into taking more healthy and ecofriendly journeys to school. These include facilities such as lockable bike and scooter stores, showers, lockers, bike repair stands, clothes drying facilities and electric bike charging points. Schools will be match-funding at least 20% of the total cost of the project themselves through their own fundraising activities.

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PRESENT:- Julian James (Chairman); Cathy Cottenham; Stephen Gray (Cycle Training Coordinator); Henrietta Howarth (Group Secretary); John Jackson (Group Treasurer); Keith Matthews (Group Webmaster); Shawn Shaw (Newsletter Editor); and Alan Baker (Minutes Secretary). In attendance: Steve Cottenham (Group Kit Master). In addition, Alan Clarke was present for the following item only.

Keith Matthews reported that Alan Clarke, representing the former CTC Salisbury Group, had contacted him with a proposal he wished to put to the Committee, and so Keith had invited Alan to attend tonight’s Meeting. The Chairman agreed to take Alan’s business immediately. Alan reported that the business of winding-up the Salisbury Group was drawing to a close, but there remained the matter of disposal of the balance in the Group’s bank account, a sum of about £1,000. National Office had agreed that this balance could be transferred to Wessex Group as an alternative to it being sent to National Office. The Committee AGREED unanimously to accept Alan Clarke’s kind offer, and thanked him.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:- Paul Turner (Cycle Advocacy Network Representative).

MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:- The Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 November 2020 were APPROVED nem con.

MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:Minute 7(i). Alan Baker reported that he had spoken to Doreen Birch about her recovery from the broken femur sustained four months ago. She had been making good progress until, in January, the mend in the broken bone had failed and she required a second operation to re-pin it. Whilst in hospital the second time she caught coronavirus and is now recovering from that, too.

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:- Julian James reported that CTC was no longer permitted to offer tax-paying members the benefit of Gift Aid on purchases.

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SECRETARY’S REPORT:- Henrietta Howarth reported that there had been two recent resignations from the Committee: Bob Chittenden, who has also stepped down as Group Picnic Organiser. Bob helped at many other events and also organised the Christmas Lunch for the Dawdlers, ensuring that invitations reached members who no longer rode. On behalf of the Group, Henrietta thanked Bob for his work for the Group. John Ward, who for several years ran two programmes of Audax events in the Group’s name. The Spring programme has been taken over by David Smethurst. John plans to continue with the organisation of AUK Permanent Events in the name of the Group if this is acceptable to us. John and his wife Sheila will continue as Gridiron helpers. Henrietta thanked John for his work for the Group. The Chairman agreed to write letters of thanks to Bob and to John. Henrietta reported that Mike Walsh, with the assistance of Dave Langley and John Ward, will organise a Permanent Audax Event in memory of his brother Terry who had died recently. The event will be a total of 100 km from Burton Green to The Haven at Firsdown near Salisbury, and return. Finally, Henrietta reported that, as a result of the change of Year End date from 30 September to 31 March, it is necessary to make minor changes to the Group Rules and Constitution. She has produced a revised draft with changes to Clauses 5 through to 9 to allow for the date change and also to formalise arrangements for the holding in future of General Meetings online as an alternative to meeting at a venue, at the Committee’s discretion. If approved by the Committee, the revised Rules and Constitution would be presented to the next AGM on 05 May this year for adoption by resolution.

TREASURER’S REPORT:- John Jackson reported (i) that as of 13 February the Group had £2,448 in total between its two bank accounts, sufficient to cover all known future spends, including the three Bikeability Training Course bursaries recently approved to a maximum of £1,830. Payments received included £200 from Primera Sports for advertising on the covers of last year’s and this year’s issues of “CycleInk”. Payments made included £150 for “CycleInk” printing; £47 for the hire of Damerham Village Hall; and a donation of £60 to The British Heart Foundation. (ii) that, after more than ten years’ service as Honorary Group Auditor, Ralph Huckle had announced his intention to resign after completing this year’s audit. Whilst there was no immediate urgency, John welcomed any suggestions for a replacement.

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Finally, John asked if any Committee Member living near the Primera Sports shop on Charminster Road, Bournemouth, would be prepared to visit the shop to prompt future advertising and payment. Julian James agreed to do this. 9.

CYCLE ADVOCACY NETWORK (formerly RIGHT TO RIDE) REPORT:- Paul Turner was unable to attend the Meeting because of a clash of commitments. His quarterly Report will be circulated and also published as usual in “CycleInk”.

10. BIKEABILITY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING REPORT:- Stephen Gray reported that there had been no recent activity because schools were reluctant to allow members of the public to visit. He expected the training of children to resume once schools fully reopen, and Instructor Training to restart once the final phase of the lockdown is lifted. 11. NEW RIDE LEADERS:- there were no new Leaders to propose. 12. APPROVAL OF REVISIONS TO THE RULES AND CONSTITUTION OF THE GROUP:- Henrietta Howarth outlined the areas of necessary change which arise either because of the change of Year-end date from 30 September to 31 March and thus impact on various deadlines, or because of the need to accommodate the holding of General Meetings in the future using Zoom Video Conferencing. After some discussion it was AGREED to amend the proposed wording by restricting eligibility to participate in the calling of a Special General Meeting to Members who were assigned to the Group on the CUK database. All other changes to the Group Rules and Constitution proposed by Henrietta were APPROVED. 13. PROVISIONAL CALENDAR OF GROUP EVENTS FOR 2021:- The Calendar, already shortened as a result of cancellations, was NOTED. 14. GROUP AWARDS:- It was AGREED to postpone further discussion of Awards until next year. 15. FORTHCOMING AGM:- It was NOTED that the forthcoming AGM would be held on Wednesday 05 May 2021 at 7.30 p.m. by Zoom Video Conferencing. Keith Matthews undertook to be Meeting Host. It was AGREED that Group Members will need to e-mail their name and membership number before being sent a Zoom invitation. 16. NEXT COMMITTEE MEETING:- It was NOTED that the next Committee Meeting will be held on Wednesday 19 May at 7.30 p.m. and AGREED that it should be conducted by Zoom Video Conferencing. Keith Matthews will be Meeting Host. 17. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:- there was no further business.

Alan Baker, Minutes Secretary to the Group Committee Cycle Ink #201

Spring in the saddle y first whole April in Wessex was wonderful. Drifts of Wild Garlic and Bluebells in abundance. Magnificent Magnolia trees, and in the distance the broad leaf tree tops shaped to inspire a ‘Capability’ landscape. Good 'stuff' for cycling! As we all know 2020-2021 has been tough, however, CTC Wessex Cycling riders have been fortunate compared to many other people with the group rides available as soon as permitted. I was able to do a combination of rides like this: 1. Solo rides more or less in the Wimborne area venturing out to Blandford, it kept me going. 2. Then we had a fortnight where we could cycle 5 in a group and thanks to Cathy, the Thursday Riders were excellently organised. One memorable ride was up towards the ridgeway where Basil took a photo of the group overlooking the famous free range porkies. Lovely to cycle to Ebbesbourne Wake (do visit The Horseshoe!). Unfortunately we only had a few weeks before another lock down. 3. Then a ’miracle’ happened as Cathy asked “Is there a rider who would be interested in going out on rides with me?” In mid February some fabulous rides started thanks to Steve Chisman! I know the New Forest is beautiful and the rides to Arne, Studland and Lulworth Cove are wonderful, but if I had to choose, it would be the Dorset countryside

25th Jul - 1st Aug 2021

Cycle Ink #201

lanes. A lot of place names became known to me: West Stafford, Plush (’Jørgen you must be in the lowest gear!’), Alcester (near Shaftesbury) where Steve stopped to take a photo of the most wonderfully situated disused water mill and what about Melcombe Bingham or is it Bingham Melcombe!? 4. One Tuesday Lee from Swanage joined us and we had a great ride out into the countryside. Briantspuddle and then out towards Ansty area with a few hills! Steve and Lee love their hills! Steve took a photo of Lee and Cathy at West Stafford. 5. The Dawdlers was the first group I went out with and they are a great group of riders. I had one ride with Jim McDonald and ’the rest of the guys’! And the women, too! It is always a pleasure to ride out with them, however, there seem to be more ’fast riders’ these days! Be careful, you guys, when you overtake on the hills! In the New Forest there were cars behind us having to cope with the speed! I was at the back and it looked dangerous. Maybe smaller groups when riding up hills or along busy roads, says the foreigner! 6. Sunday Inters has a reputation for going fast and on long rides. Try to go out with them one Sunday! It is absolutely wonderful. Yes, they do go out for long rides, but they go as a group!Memorable ride out to Lulworth Cove led by Jeff. Thanks to Stephanie to keep me informed. A little story about a certain church up in the hills – Stockwood – St.Edwold’s Church. Steve and I ventured out there on my last Tuesday ride via Cerne Abbas and the most beautiful ride alongside the river. Up and down. Mostly up, Steve doesn’t seem to know any flat routes! Anyway, we met the Dawdlers on the last Thursday in April and I asked Jim where the oldest church in Dorset was. ’It is probably in Wareham’. ’It takes a foreigner to catch him out,’ the foreigner said to Ian and Paul. Well, is St.Edwold’s Church the oldest or smallest? I have a feeling that I owe Jim a cup of coffee and a cake too! (The smallest in Dorset, measuring roughly 9m x 4m. Most of the building dates from the fifteenth century, with the porch added in 1636 and a circular, domed bell turret topped off with ball terminal and pinnacles added in Georgian times. Dorset OPC. Dating from 1030 St Martins-in-the-walls Wareham may lay claim to being the oldest) My longest period in Dorset was over and now I’m back in Denmark I have decided to have a break from club chess and spend more time cycling! But that’s another story! Enjoy your summer rides all of you and thank you for all the wonderful times on the road!

By Jørgen Holmstrøm Cycle Ink #201

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Cycle Ink #201