CYCLE INK MAGAZINE The magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling in Bournemouth. Published quarterly. www.wessexctc.org for all CTC Wessex Cycling activities
CTC WESSEX CYCLING Margaret Phillpotts, Onair, 9 Bucklers Way, Bournemouth BH8 0EW CTC SALISBURY Alan Clarke, “Hill House”, Kelsey Road, Salisbury SP1 1JR (01722) 322188 CTC WEST DORSET Angela Price, 41 Garfield Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2EY CTC BLACKMORE VALE Richard Gow, Wildfell, Crown Rd, Marnhull, DT10 1LN (01258) 821391
Calendar Dates For 2012 Apr 1st
Dorset Coast 200km
Peter Loakes
01305 263272
Apr 28th
3D300 300km
Peter Loakes
01305 263272
29th
New Forest Challenge 50km
John Ward
01590 671205
Apr 29th
New Forest Day Out 100km
John Ward
01590 671205
New Forest 150km
John Ward
01590 671205
New Forest Excursion 200km
John Ward
01590 671205
Apr
29th
Apr
Apr 29th 28th
St Lo Twinning Weekend
Malcolm Howell 01305 756094
May 20th
Dorset Downs 100km
Justin Oakley
07968 213833
20th
Dorset Downs 150km
Justin Oakley
07968 213833
New Forest Challenge 50km
John Ward
01590 671205
New Forest and Coast 100km
John Ward
01590 671205
New Forest Century 150km
John Ward
01590 671205
New Forest On/Off Shore 200km John Ward
01590 671205
May 26 to May
Sept 4th Sept
4th
Sept 4th Sept
4th
Sept 16th Oct
7th
Dorset Dirt 50km offroad The
20th
Gridiron 100km
Ken Reed
01305 772654
John Jackson
01590 683815
CTC Blackmore Vale Rides These take place every week alternating between Saturday & Sunday Meet 10:00am, set off at 10:30am. Lunches: Cafés in Winter; Picnics during BST 01258 821391 - Richard Gow
Go to the Blackmore Vale website for the full Runs List: www.wessexctc/bvr.htm
John Jackson writes in this issue about the history of the Gridiron. He says he was proud to take it over. Remind me about that in a few years John! Anyway, I too was proud to receive the engraved tankard that you see me holding here - filled! Thank you very much everybody. Our cover this issue shows an old St Lo Trophy that Past President Barbara Johnson has hauled out from her cupboard of memories. Timely too with the latest Twinning visit coming up in May. You can read Malcolm Howell’s plan of action on page five. These joint meets are not as prominent as once they were, but they are good fun and are an excellent way of making cycling contacts in France. Do contact Malcolm and get involved please. You’ll not regret it. So, the Charities Commission has rejected CTC application to form itself completely into a charity. The reasons seem to me to be the same ones as were initially thrown at CTC back in the 1980s, that while CTC has some charitable activities, these are already hived off in the CTC Trust. So, a pause for breath at CTC then? Coupled with Kevin Mayne leaving us at this time too, maybe a long pause too? In this issue, Rob Garnett writes of his cycling life and Big Bob writes his regular feature despite the pressure he must be under at the moment. We must send all our good wishes for Joan’s recovery after her horrible accident. She has been through a lot over the last couple of years.
Keith Matthews 3
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RODWELL TRAIL
Our Connect2 project to build a bridge over the gap in the Rodwell Trail is at last almost finished. This scheme was proposed by CTC West Dorset and we have progressed it through difficult times with DCC and Sustrans. The official opening will be on Sunday 6th May at 1pm. The CTC VIP representative will be our vice president, Josie Dew. We hope that a large number of CTC members will be able to join us. We will send you more details once we have them for publication, and we would appreciate it very much if you can publicise this and if possible join us on the day. We appreciate that the distances are such that a Sunday ride will not be possible for most people, but perhaps a train or car assisted ride could be possible.
Ann & Ken
http://www.akweb.org.uk/
NEWSTEAD BRIDGE
We took a video of the bridge deck being dropped into place. Here is the web link: http://youtu.be/CrQh9n_r6Ek
Ann & Ken
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Twinning Weekend 26th to 28th May 2012 You are all invited to join our select group of nine visitors from St. L么 and our members who are acting as their hosts. Saturday 26th May: Start at 4 Badbury View, Wimborne 10.30am; choose a short ride or a long ride to the Cecil Memorial Hall, Cranborne. Join us there for a buffet lunch, free to guests and hosts and to all CTC members who have told Malcolm Howell that they will be partaking. However, if you are intending to come to the buffet lunch, you must tell Malcolm Howell and not just turn up. Sunday, 27th May: we will ride from 4 Badbury View to picnic at Durweston Village Hall, inside if wet. Hosts will provide food for themselves and guests. Bring your own food and join us there. Then we return to Wimborne for a rest and return to hosts. That evening we ride/drive to Sturminster Marshall Village Hall for a grand dinner. This is free to hosts & guests, but you can join us there, if you have already booked with Malcolm Howell, and given him a cheque for 拢15 .(payable to CTC Wessex) We also need volunteers, not riding with us, to set the tables at the Cecil Hall, Cranborne at 11.00am on Saturday, 26 May and at the Sturminster Marshall Hall, at 5.30pm on Sunday, 27 May. Email to malcolm_howell@hotmail.com Or phone 01305 756094 Or Snailmail to 1 Garland Crescent, Dorchester, DT1 2SX
Malcolm Howell 5
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TOMMY COOPER JOKE This man was plummeting from a plane, his parachute hadn’t opened. On the way down he passed another man going upwards with a spanner in his hand. “Oy, do you know anything about parachutes?” he called “No, do you know anything about gas boilers?”
HUMOUR IN THE SADDLE The guys were on a cycle tour. No one wanted to room with Mick, because he snored so badly. They decided it wasn't fair to make one of them stay with him the whole time, so they voted to take turns. The first guy slept with Mick and comes to breakfast the next morning with his hair a mess and his eyes all bloodshot. They said, "What happened to you?” He said, "Mick snored so loudly, I just sat up and watched him all night." The next night it was the second guy's turn. In the morning, same thing, hair all standing up, eyes all bloodshot. They said, "Oh boy, what happened to you? You look awful!” He said, “That Mick shakes the roof with his snoring. I watched him all night." The third night was Bill's turn. He was a tanned, older tourist, a man's man. The next morning he came to breakfast bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. "Good morning!" he said. They couldn't believe it. They said, "Bill, what happened?" He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. I went and tucked Mick in, patted him on the arse, and kissed him good night on the lips. Mick sat up and watched me all night." . . . with age comes wisdom.
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Ron Cook Rose Bowl
Mike Walsh
. . . Presentation 2011 The Ron Cook Rose Bowl was awarded to Rob Garnett for many years of supporting the local Wessex Group and in particularly coordinating the Potterers in its many guises. This included organising the Christmas lunch at the Albion in Verwood. During the last Lunch Rob was presented with the Rose Bowl by me as the current holder.
Ron Cook was Wessex District Association secretary for nearly 25 years and was a prodigious mile-eater with over 500,000 miles to his total. This award is named after him and is awarded to members of Wessex who spread the good name of CTC Wessex by their cycling activities. It is awarded annually at the AGM on the recommendation of the two previous award holders, often in conjunction with members of the committee.
And now turn the page to read of Rob Garnett’s cycling life.
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Cycling Has Been Our Pleasure
Rob Garnett
I was truly amazed and felt very honoured when Mike Walsh presented me with the Rose Bowl at the Potterers / Alternatives Christmas lunch. I didn’t really feel I had done sufficient to deserve it and didn’t quite know how to thank you all. Now everything has sunk in I thought you may like to share my recent thoughts of the many years of riding with CTC, how it has moulded my life and the enjoyment it has given to us both. I met my wife, Jean, through the North Birmingham DA and regularly go to the reunion of the Alternative group of yesteryear. We have met so many wonderful people from around this country and beyond by going on the Birthday rides, joining tours in the UK and Europe and over recent years riding with the Bournemouth Section. All have become lifelong friends and many keep in regularly in touch. To graduate from three to two wheels my father said I would have to prove that I could ride a two wheeler. I think my mother was scared that I would fall off in the horse road, as my grandma called it. I learnt very quickly on a friend’s bike and started riding on two wheels in about 1939, joined our family ride into the country each Sunday (about 12 miles) to picnic and play cricket. In the summer of 1941 all the family rode the 18 miles to Warwick for a weeks holiday in a cottage with another cycling family who dad worked with at Hercules Cycles. You can guess what machines we rode, only my father’s had a Sturmey-Archer 3-speed gear, the rest of us including my mother had just single geared machines. I inherited my father’s bike when I started work and road the 14 mile round trip each day. However mother had to wait until she was 60 before dad replaced the rear wheel in her original bike with 3 speed hub, but she never appreciated the gears and rode in the middle gear as she felt nervous about moving the gear leaver. After I started work I bought a Raleigh Lenton Sports from a work friend and rode the 100 miles to Rochdale in Lancashire to holiday with family friends, returning along the same route via Manchester and the Potteries. This wetted my appetite to Youth Hostel and buy a better bike. I bought a Viking Master Series SS frame, built it into a bike with Dad’s help and joined the North Birmingham CTC in 1947. In those days the members were mostly teenagers and 20 year olds, we thought the 30/40 year olds were really past it. How times have changed. With a bit of racing with the North Birmingham Road Club,
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cycling became my whole life and I went everywhere on the bike. About 9,000 miles a year and rarely used any other form of transport. The first CTC section I rode with was the social section. However about 8 of us of similar age became a bit unpopular as, heaven forbid, we were accused of passing the leader and not getting off and walking up the steeper hills etc. It therefore became obvious we needed to form another section. I was elected to be on the committee, attend the runs list meetings and we should call ourselves “The Alternatives”. Many of those original members are still our friends, with husbands/wives, who meet each September, at Ledbury for a reunion. How we reminisce and I’m sure the stories are better than fisherman’s tales as they gain a bit each year I’m sure, but what a great day we have together. We did so much together in those early years and I recall a work friend would say on a Monday, after my racing & hostelling, that my eyes looked like two raw eggs in pools of blood. But we thrived on it, and quickly recovered. After finishing my apprenticeship I went along for National Service in the army and after talking to another cyclist at the trade training camp we decided to ask the Adjutant if we could go out on our bikes on Wednesday afternoons, to keep in training, instead of football etc. and quickly formed a group who rode a few miles for a nice cup of tea, returning after the games afternoon was over. I was then posted to Melton Mowbray and decided to ride the 50 miles home on a Saturday afternoon, returning on a Sunday after I had been out with the club until lunch on the Sunday. However my mother was getting a bit concerned about this as I also went out with a girl on Saturday night and the family saw very little of me. She said I was just using home to get my washing done etc. and needed to changed my habits. Shortly afterwards I fortunately found another soldier who had a motor cycle and lived close to me in Birmingham and I was also beginning to find the winter cycling, late on a Sunday afternoon, a bit hairy. Dave the motorcyclist would pick me up about 10pm on a Sunday night and after a busy Saturday night and cycling until the afternoon on Sunday I would soon doze off to sleep on the back of the motorbike, my helmet would soon rest on the back of his and I’d grip the saddle behind me. Unfortunately there was hump-back bridge in Loughborough and with little traffic about at midnight we could take the hump at speed and almost fly from the summit for a few yards. This isn’t good if your asleep and on one occasion I shot off the saddle and put my arms around Dave’s neck to hold on. He informed me later we used the full width of the road to stay upright, after this he always gave me a sharp dig in the ribs with his elbow if he thought I’d gone to sleep. After being de-mobbed in 1955, I continued to ride with the group on a Sunday, enjoyed the weekend trips, weeks abroad and all the winter social
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activities. I lost my interest in racing and became a tourist, joining some CTC lead group tours abroad which I really enjoyable and widened my interest. I loved to hear the stories of the older riders, talking about far off places and just longed to visit them. Those years were wonderful, no real responsibly of course until I fell in love on meeting Jean at one of the regular touring slide shows. She always enjoyed the social side best, unlike some of the other girls in the group who were much fitter and toured extensively. At that time the North Birmingham DA went away each Christmas. Twenty-three of us to Ludlow in Shropshire when on one of these occasions we decided to marry. Getting married and with an old house to renovate and more responsibility the bike got hung up in the garage and was only used occasionally. Now a car trip to work each day and finally a job in Bournemouth in 1965. When we moved house Jean gave my bike to a neighbours lad. I couldn’t believe my eyes when the furniture van was unloaded in Ferndown, no bike. How could she, my pride and joy, given away after so many memorable miles. I only forgave her last week. Yes another house to lick into shape and after long hours at work, the family recreation was walking on a Sunday with the Verwood Rambling Club. This was great and something we could all enjoy on a Sunday, but how do you spare the time on a Saturday afternoon to reconnoitre a walk which you have volunteered to lead. The answer was for Jean to drop me in the car at one end of the unknown section with an old bike to walk/ride and for her to pick me up at the other end. This speeded it up, but made me realize I was beginning to enjoy the cycling again, even on footpaths and tracks. Jean still had her bike and Jane, our daughter, had one so we began to cycle again. Occasionally we met up with some of our North Birmingham friends who enthusiastically talked about CTC Birthday Rides. We warmed to the idea, re joined the CTC in 1985 and really started cycling again, our interest became strong again. We had also started camping, not on the bikes as I’d found it very demanding in my youth, particularly in poor weather. Now by car with the bikes on top of the car and a frame tent, luxurious. Even better when we bought an old caravan. This meant we could go to a site, both here and on the continent, stay for a few days using the bikes each day to explore the local area and move on as we pleased. After I retired and Jane had left home, we could go over to France, Italy, Switzerland etc., for a month and not even have to book a site in advance. We didn’t ride many miles each day and spent the time exploring the local area. I still enjoy this in the UK, but times have changed. Instead of a yarn with a fellow traveller on the site over an evening drink, most folk shut themselves in to watch TV. Now even by satellite on the continent. What pleasures they miss.
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Initially after re joining the CTC we still tended to go out on our own on the tandem, which meant Jean didn’t overtake me. We joined the Tandem Club, made more friends and I occasionally joined Jean & Ron Trill on their regular Sunday ride, but it wasn’t until I retired in 1994 that I started to go out on a Thursday and did a regular tandem ride with Jean on a Sunday. Joan Courtney was organising the Potterers at that time and I immediately volunteered to lead an occasional ride. Following Bob Courtney’s retirement they both wanted to spend more time touring so I offered to take over the Potterers and continued until the group became very large and it was decided to form a separate section, the Alternatives, who have become a thriving section on a Thursday with similar interests to the Potterers. We meet together three times a year to enjoy lunch together and of course have a joint Christmas lunch. Over the last ten years there has also been a joint trip to Majorca to organise, which has become very popular and although we basically go to the same place each year nobody seems to tire of it. Now I find it more difficult to ride any distance and just join a group for coffee. However the social part is very precious to me, when I can enjoy a joke, hear the news and reminisce with friends. Yes cycling has been a major part of both Jean’s and my life, and for me it has always been enhanced by becoming involved. Volunteering to lead rides, getting on committees and all the rest, that’s been the secret of my pleasure. I’m sure you have similar memories which I hope will inspire more recent riders to enjoy so much more than just a ride to Cranborne or Blandford on a Thursday or a Sunday. Lastly, I trust you will have enjoyed similar pleasure from this wonderful pastime and have made many friends along the way. You know, those folk who will always stop and help if your tired, or need to repair a puncture, even if it’s wet, cold or getting dark. Those are the true cycling friends whom you will never forget. I’m sure, like Jean and me you already know many of them. Many thanks for the Rose Bowl, it’s very much appreciated and has made me think and given me an excuse to share our memories with you.
JUST THOUGHTS Every time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the human race.
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Oh No . . . Not Rock and Roll
Big Bob
As many of you may be aware I have a passion for music and it’s not often on the bike that a theme or tune is not dancing around my head. I have climbed obscure hill ranges to throbbing Wagnerian chords and pedaled through dark Northumbrian forests with haunting Sibelius called up from memory and drawing me Northward. Concert Halls and Opera Venues are regularly visited and life proceeds in a civilized way in the middle chain-ring so to speak. But! But! Just occasionally, deep in the subconscious, an old Rock god stirs and half smiles which produces mayhem. Domestic sound systems howl with guitar riffs from Hendrix, Clapton, Townsend and all the old groups from younger days. All birds and wildlife desert the immediate area and anarchy rapidly descends on Big Bob Towers. “So what”. You may justifiably say and I would agree, but in our relentless quest for the deeper psychologies of our Cycling life it is important. I am convinced that exactly the same Bacchanalian principle can suddenly infect a perfectly respectable Cycling group. How else can you explain, and I have touched on this before, the sudden transformation of a happy peloton of peacefully pedaling elderly Clubmen into a raging horde of arthritic sprinters going for a county road sign or café stop finishing line, Shattered and tattered we sheepishly file into our favourite cafés and meekly submit to the orders of whatever dragon may be in charge of the establishment at the time wondering what on earth possessed us. But deep down we know, we know, it was that old surge of Rock and Roll manifesting itself, so in future, while happily sauntering with a group beware of the odd whistled phrase or half whispered lyric. Clutch your CTC membership card, think pure thoughts, for you are all about to be taken over. If the worse comes to the worse, don’t fight it, go with it, hang on the back, it will pass and you to will be sat dazedly wondering what the hell happened. At the end of the day the memory will fade but the finger has touched you and the Cycling life will never be quite the same. Now on to other things, serious things unfortunately, concerning our very own Le Hotel du Velo Sportiv Residential Retirement Country House. We are in financial schtook!! As with all serious Bikies accumulating money is a problem. Our passion and calling is the open rolling road, the singing high hills, the cosy roadside café, the isolated country Inn, none of which contributes to the accumulation of wealth unfortunately.
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I think the straw that broke the camels back at Le Hotel was our lavish enjoyment of this Christmas period. So much fun and good cheer among friends and visitors at Le Hotel will leave a warm memory for a long time, but now . . . in come the bills! The house committee have sat around the library fire deep into the night searching for a solution which seems to be of no avail. Derek P suggested we hang a red light over the main entrance and offer to service the requirements of the surrounding parish but it was generally thought this would only add to the electricity bill. Margaret P generously offered to (wo)man a kissing booth at £1:00 per kiss but promptly changed her mind when I volunteered to be first in the queue. Gathering his considerable financial acumen Ralph H prompted the thought that maybe we should go out to work. in the surrounding farms possibly. There was a stunned silence and all were turned to stone. Eventually a puzzled voice spoke up from the periphery. “But we are Cyclists, we don’t work we ride.” Ralph snorted and lifted his beer mug. Mike B’s suggestion of digging up our grass track and converting it into a market garden was considered sacrilege and the proposer was severely admonished. The thought then arose that we should all claim “disability allowance” but as most seemed to be already doing this it became pointless. It was then that our Chairman Terry W showed his worth and rose to the occasion. Five pints of good Ringwood Ale consumed maybe, but as brilliant as ever. Raising a dignified hand to claim attention he posed a logical question to the furrowed brows surrounding him. “Where” he boomed. “Is the most money gathered together”?. “The Bank of England”. Came a voice from the depths of an armchair. “Ralph’s piggy bank”. Cried another. “The village Pub after our Friday night celebration”. Chortled four pints Dave. “No” replied Terry sternly. “The most money gathered together in one place in England is . . .”, and here followed a slight pause . . . “CTC headquarters at Guildford”. A look of enlightened amazement broke over the seated group. Of course, with all the exorbitant subscription income obtained plus numerous other sources Headquarters was awash with money. There were even rumours of gold plated urinals and numerous other riches beyond a mere Bikies wildest dreams and as for Chief Excecutive Kevin M’s extortionist Hit Men the least said the better. In a flurry of excitement Mike B, John H, Colin B and Peter H were all for tooling up, cycling up there and cracking the place but Terry’s ice cold thinking was one step ahead. “Steady lads, there is a legal way of doing this”. He gazed around giving his usual almost imperceptible twitch of the face muscles which indicated it was someone else’s round. “Now what do headquarters must like to spend on ?”
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The silence deepened . . . “I tell you . . . training programs . . . what do they call it, henchmarked, denchmarked, benchmarked or something or other training programs. Teaching poor sods to cycle to work or up drainpipes for all I know.” Silently Terry scooped up his freshly delivered pint and expanded. “What we do is claim a substantial grant for a training program we will run here in the wilds of Dorset.” Alan D looked up. “That will be more exhausting than working in a Wareham clay pit”. He quoted dismissively. But Terry was ready, with narrowing eye he gave the killer thrust. “We will offer to train a section of the population, a fine section of the population in fact some of the finest, I refer of course to our gay brothers and sisters”. Rob G, looked down from his bar stool. “But I know no Ladies and Gentlemen of that persuasion in the vicinity although I did know a bloke who rode a pink trike once”. “Precisely”. Triumphed Terry. “We receive the grant and have no clients, ipso facto, nothing to do except enjoy ourselves on our bikes and money worries solved”. After an initial pause general comprehension dawned and many were the cheers and back slapping congratulations before the meeting broke up. All this now seems like a dream and just goes to show how reality can differ from the best laid plans of Cycling Men. From the day the program was launched, in a low key way, with many a tee-hee and knowing chuckle our troubles began. What started as a trickle of Ladies and Gentlemen or Gentlemen and Ladies if you prefer up Le Hotel driveway became a flood. I must admit I have made a lot of new friends but have never been more knackered. We are all working 12 hour days training a section of the population which didn’t exist in these numbers in our neck of the woods according to some. Chairman Terry is keeping a low profile at the moment but I personally have gone off the whole thing and am making serious enquires at a certain Wareham clay pit!
JUST THOUGHTS If you really want something in this life, you have to work for it. Now, quiet, they’re about to announce the lottery numbers.
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Right to Ride Report - Feb 2012 Paul M. Turner Sally Funnell, Cycling & Walking Officer at Borough of Poole, is retiring on 9 March. It seems that the general financial situation has taken its toll! Sally was always pro-cycling. She will be missed. However Cllr Rollo-Smith has come forward as cycling champion and has made the effort of cycling all the cycleways in Poole and is collating his thoughts on improvements – many of which Sally has tried to obtain over the years. The Twins Sails Bridge will be open for traffic, including cyclists, from 27 February. On the Saturday The Mayor of Poole and invited local guests will lead the first group to walk across the Twin Sails Bridge. The Mayor of Poole will then invite all local residents to participate in a walk across the bridge giving a fantastic opportunity to see their new bridge close up. The Official Opening will be by The Princess Royal on 9 March 2012. Poole cycling at the Town Centre and Poole Station will have uplift. Borough of Poole has approved cycling on a dedicated area between the two and it will link to Kingland Road towards the Bus Station. Also Borough of Poole approved cycling around The Civic Centre linking the Bournemouth & Poole College to Poole Park. There is combined bid Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) with Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole with Bournemouth BC taking the lead. If the bid is successful, I gather that Sustrans will fund Brompton Bike docks at all railway stations at Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole including intermediate railway stations. In Bournemouth BC, Local Transport Plan (LTP) capital programme integrated transport block, 2011/12 to 2014/15, towards smarter choices, Links to Schools, walking, cycling and public transport schemes will be determined. Bournemouth BC will contribute towards British Cycling/local Skyride programme in 2011/12 as well as British Cycling/Sky & Sport England towards local cycle rides and programmes between 2011/12 and 2013/14. Sustrans Links to Schools capital schemes in 2011/12 will be established. The result of this bid is due at the end of June. Paul M Turner Cyclists’ Touring Club – Right to Ride Network 14 February 2012
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Freewheel Competition
Mike Walsh
. . . the presentation During the GridIron volunteer lunch Peter Durrant was presented with the trophy for his win earlier last year in the Member Group’s Freewheel Competition.
His acceptance speech was as expected full of humour as was the repartee. This can be seen in Ralph Huckle’s expression. The Freewheel Competition will in future be held in early April to ensure avoiding the very bad weather experienced in the past few years. Congratulations to you Peter on your ride.
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First Bun Run of 2012
Shawn Shaw
A bowl of porridge and a little tea and the pre-ride ceremony was complete. Onto the bike and away to Wimborne Rec. 09:05 and we left heading down the Cowgrove Road. We three had ridden together for many a mile and were destined to continue. Together for so long yet no tolerance of each others various ways was evident. I, as usual, full of himself, wanting to dash on – belief abounding. Me, devoid of such assuredness taking the pragmatic approach intent hold his own. And then Myself, dogged, feeling every muscle twinge and joint ache but wanting not to mind and see the ride through. And so it was that this singular group of mixed ability followed the riverside route to Blandford: noting in passing the resurgence of Yellowhammers and massed swans grazing above White Mill; following a stoat who astonished at finding his feet on hard black stuff tested it for a while before leaping back into the hedgerow; stopping to watch a velvet adorned stag and his three companions flow across the road ahead. So far Me, Myself, and I had gotten along relatively happily. Langton Long was the site of the first dispute. Myself thought the underpass was best; I thought the Bypass was OK; Me said to keep to the way we used before. Bryanston Gate was the next; Myself was for ‘through the school’; I was for the 2nd Right; Me said ‘keep to the way we used before’. As we left Winterborne Stickland disputes passed into one joint desire at the sight of three persons on cycles ahead. I said ‘if we make a bit of an effort we can catch these’ and Me added ‘Well they aren’t putting any effort in – Why not?’ Myself said, ‘Bulbarrow!’ We upped the tempo never-the- less and approached the mountain bikers who had adopted a free style approach to hill climbing; wrestle with the bike for the best of two falls and two submissions; the bike and Bulbarrow were winning. Me, Myself and I glided past with words of greeting and intended encouragement, surpassed the crest and rounded the corner where Myself got the better of his companions and put a halt to their cavalier ways. A spot of grovelling took place, or so it seemed, but Me said ‘No we can do this - keep your form and tempo and we will do this’. I looked supremely confident at his companion’s words. Myself, ‘If you think I can?’ Sure enough the battle done we were soon looking out over the Vale, over Stoke Wake to Hazelbury Brian toward our objective Holwell. Downhill all the way now. The companions were back as one in a harmonic unity of cyclic motion. A rider from Dorchester, Andy, was there to meet Us and tea and cakes supplemented the early morning nutritional preparations. Steve Gould from Poole a little late starting out joined us and as Dorchester Andy was going to Ferndown (the in-laws) we rode back together. As we were leaving another cyclist was seeking refreshment. He was over from Glastonbury so you see, a simple stop off spot but it must be worth the effort. Dorchester Andy is Weymouth CC, Steve is also a bit quick and this is where the ride departed from the norm. Usually we return to Wimborne via Milton Abbas and the Winterborne Valley. The idea is that it is not cast in stone and it is for those who are out there with their wheels on the ground to do their own thing. Stoke Wake nestles in
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the shelter of the hills that protect Ibberton and Wooland and as it would be rude not to visit as we were in the area we retraced. Andy and Steve engaged bottom and steadily climbed. I was looking for a higher gear, Me was thinking that it had been hairy enough coming down and Myself had followed the example set and engaged bottom gear and smoothly ascended. As we were in the area, etc, Winterborne Houghton was felt obligatory before grinding down the head wind of the Winterborne Valley. At Red Post Steve took the Bloxworth road and Andy and Us flowed mercurial along the A31 to Stag Gate. Not always Us as Myself lost his fight ‘not to mind’ on a couple of occasions. It was overall a win for I, and Me was happy to go along. Losing the traffic a more sedate pace was settled on through Sturminster Marshall and on to Wimborne, and the end of the ride. It was a good morning’s out. Going ‘out’ the internal struggles of the lone rider was offset by what there was to see all around. Coming ‘in’ and the company kept the ‘struggles’ focussed on the job in hand. I am away over Easter when next the Shack is open but don’t let that stop you from trying the ride out for yourselves. May 5th is my next time; looking forward to it.
Christmas Lunch
Mike Walsh
Before Christmas 2011 Bob and Joan Courtney, assisted by a number of helpers, arranged a Brunch for all within the Member Group. This was very well supported with 80 members attending. During the Brunch Peter Durant
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PHSG Monthly Rides
Keith Matthews
We are affiliated to CTC Wessex Cycling and we meet once a month. Who are we? We are the cycling group of the Poole Heart Support Group. We have all had heart problems of one type or another but that doesn’t stop us getting out on our bikes. On a fabulous February morning, eight of us met at Willett Arms in bright sunshine for a ride in the back lanes of Hurn. We only cover about 20 miles and then home for lunch so its a bit of a stretch to work out interesting and quiet routes. This one involved slipping through Milhams Lane and back roads and cyclepaths to get to Throop Mill where we posed our bikes in accordance with the sign on the wall. Actually, some wag seems to have tried hard to erase the “No”. Then we took the interesting bit, over the river at the weir and rough-stuff through to the little lanes behind Hurn airport. Riding here between the hedgerows, you would never know that you were only a mile from Bournemouth. A good trip was enjoyed by all.
who was performing in the adjacent pub came and said hello. This gathering was arranged as a brunch so it would be possible to ride to the event and return home before lighting up time but unfortunately the exceptionally cold weather forced all but the most hardy to drive. Even some that did ride out accepted a lift back because of the severe weather.
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Cycle Ink #164
The Gridiron
John Jackson
. . . Celebratory Lunch & Presentation
I felt very proud when asked by Terry Walsh to consider taking over the Gridiron from him. After running it for the first time I feel very fortunate to be associated with such a special event, so anchored in our local environment and its people. As well as providing such a fantastic ride for 850 cyclists from all over the UK and even further afield, the Gridiron makes a real financial contribution to the local village halls and Women’s Institutes that we use along the route. One of the special things about the Gridiron, as many who rode were eager to
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tell me, was the volunteers. The CTC members who generously give up their day so that many more can enjoy a wonderful day’s cycling. So on the first Friday in January, 25 of those volunteers enjoyed a celebratory lunch at the Old Farmhouse, Burley. A little history for those who don’t already know; the Gridiron was started in 1993 by Peter Davenport, who ran it for three years before passing the reins to Tony Lowe. In 1996 it was taken over by two men who remain actively involved. Keith Matthews organized the ride for nine years;
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at Hyde, felt riding the remainder would be a little too much. Rather than take a welldeserved rest he rode direct to Boldre, volunteered his services and helped to book the riders back in; that’s the generous nature of these two guys. Their industry over the many years hasn’t yet been formally recognised, so with the however in the final three years of his reign he broke his foot and had two heart attacks and had to finally accept that someone was trying him to tell him something! But Keith never thought that he would be handing it over to somebody older than himself! Terry Walsh then ran the Gridiron from 2005-2010. Every year, the entrance number has swelled; a tribute to their organisation. Terry may have handed over the mantle to me but he was as active as ever last year and helped make sure that the Hyde control, the busiest of the lot, ran so smoothly. After a layoff from the bike, Keith was able to take part this year, but, on arriving
support of CTC Bournemouth I had the pleasure of presenting them both with engraved (but empty) tankards and the title of ‘Mr Gridiron’. Well done & huge thanks to Terry and Keith.
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Informal Wayfarers Rides to Burley This ride happens every Saturday and is completely informal. There is no leader and no back up, but generally an experienced cyclist somewhere around. The route is designed for beginners but joined in by all abilities.
Start 08:45 at Waitrose Supermarket, Christchurch every Saturday Or 09:00 at The Oak PH, Burton
Or just make your own way to the Old Farmhouse Tea Rooms, Burley for 10:00
Contributions and Photographs The committee meeting date is the deadline for Newsletter contributions. Contribute by any way you like. Photographs are welcome in any form.
www.bournemouthctc.org
www.wessexctc.org
“CycleInk” is the Newsletter of CTC Wessex Cycling, a Member Group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club. Published four times a year for members. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the club.
Cycle Ink #164
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