Damerham Village Hall Picnic 8th July
Summer 2018
The Quarterly Magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Published Quarterly - Free on line or ÂŁ2.50 annual subscription for mailed hard copies.
Summer 2018
The Quarterly Magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling in & around Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch I am having some problems keeping in touch with the cycling members of CTC Wessex Cycling because I have been off the bike for some time. Please let me know what you are up to at jmichaelwalsh@aol.com. Remember we have a Facebook Page which can be a good tool to keep everyone up to date. Paul Turner kindly posts the week’s schedule of rides. I have extracted comments regarding the Brimstone for this issue. The Jumble Sale was another success. This issue will be distributed as the Reef Rides occurs. I trust everything goes well. In a few days time Bob Chittenden will be worrying about the resurrection of our Picnic in Damerham which being open to members and non members alike; he will be catering for an unknown number. CTC Wessex Cycling continues in providing a number of weekly rides which are well supported. As a further inspiration for grand adventures the cover photograph is of Steve Bateman stoker for Graham Dore who are cycling across the USA. I have reprinted a couple of pages from Graham’s blog in this issue. I have also provided the link to see the blog in full. The back cover is of both of them at the watershed. Lastly I repeat a message from the last issues, would you all please respect members of the public and especially their personal space remembering that you are often in Lycra.
By Mike Walsh
Editor: Mike Walsh
01202 429985
17 Grove Gardens
jmichaelwalsh@aol.com
Southbourne Road Bournemouth BH6 3QJ “CycleInk” is the Newsletter of CTC Wessex Cycling, a Member Group of Cycling UK (Cyclists’ Touring Club). Published quarterly. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the club. The committee meeting is the deadline for contributions. www.wessexctc.org our mirror site at www.bournemouthctc.org https://www.facebook.com/groups/ctcwessex/
Cycle Ink #189
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My First Audax Sunday 25th March 18 By Cathy Cottenham I arrived at Purbeck Sports Centre early on a cold Sunday morning filled with excitement and a certain amount of trepidation. I had been encouraged to enter the Coastlet 100km which I knew to be quite a challenge. Booking in on the day was easy and I was relieved to find my companions Maggie, Christine and John already there. We set off at a gentle pace and all was great until half way up the first hill at Creech! I must confess to getting off and walking a short way in the middle, but determination made me get back on my bike to ride up the rest of the hill. We settled back into a good pace and I was glad of their company and encouragement. Had the weather been a bit clearer the views would have been stunning. Our first checkpoint was at Lulworth and my card was duly stamped. Another steady climb and quiet lanes led us to Weymouth seafront and our second checkpoint. I enjoyed a much earned cup of tea and some lunch. The sun even came out briefly. Using my Garmin to follow the GPS route provided was working well but it also helped that I had three super guides in John, Maggie and Christine who knew where they were going. We headed off in the direction of Abbotsbury admiring the beautiful scenery. I was pre-warned about the hill to come but nothing prepared me for the steepness of it towards the top! Despite a snack at the bottom to boost my energy, I ended up walking the last section; it was just too steep for me. Still I eventually made it to the top and we headed to Hardy’s Monument.
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Cycle Ink #189
Some Jubilee members at the end of the Coast and Coustlet
After a much needed rest we set off, and knowing the hardest part was behind me boosted my confidence. We stopped for a cup of tea at Dorchester and I got my card stamped by the friendly volunteers. I was finally on my way back to Wareham! As much as I enjoyed most of the Coastlet, it was a hard ride for me and I was very relieved to arrive back at the Sports Centre. We were welcomed back and congratulated on our achievements as well as being given complementary hot drinks and soup. The event was well organised and all the volunteers I met were cheerful and encouraging. I found the ride a real challenge at times but thanks to the encouragement of John, Maggies and Christine, my sense of achievement at completing my first Audax was immense. Would I do another Audax? Yes, I think I would. By Cathy Cottenham
Cycle Ink #189
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Steve and Graham's Trans Am
By Graham Dore
This is the blog for Steve Bateman's and Graham Dore's tandem bike ride across the United States of America. We will be riding from the west coast at the southern end of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, California to Yorktown, Virginia on the east coast, a distance of around 3,750 miles. We will be following the route designed and published by 'Adventure Cycling' but taking a variant called the 'Western Express', which is a bit shorter and more direct than the standard route but passes through less hospitable terrain. The Western Express follows highway 50 for much of its length - widely termed the loneliest road in America. There are several 50 mile sections with no habitation or refreshment along the roadside of highway 50. Steve and I have nominally set aside 47 days for the ride, which would be an average of 80 miles a day. Normally we can manage quite a bit more than that on the tandem if the terrain is not too hilly, but a lot will depend on where suitable accommodation falls. It may be that some days will be constrained because the only viable accommodation comes up well before the distance we would otherwise choose to ride. We are flying to San Francisco on 15th May and hope to start with a short riding day on the 16th. We will be riding for the Lions Club Charity for which there is a MyDonate page here: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/transamericatandemride.
Kansas June 04, 2018 We crossed into Kansas on our first leg this morning. We were expecting to lose an hour by crossing another time zone but the GPS (which obviously knows exactly where it is) resolutely stuck to Colorado time. When we stopped for our first break Steve's phone had changed but my phone, the GPS and the clock on the wall were still on Colorado time. Sometime soon after setting out again we crossed into Wichita County - and the GPS changed time.
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Cycle Ink #189
We checked with someone later and the Wichita County line is the time zone boundary and not the state line. Earlier this morning we caught up with a couple on touring bikes. We slowed to chat to them for a while. They had come across the Western Express the same as us. They were Austrian and the guy, who was obviously not too enamoured with the flatlands, said that, to him, a plain is a wasted space between mountains! Definition of a plain according to a fellow (Austrian) cyclist: "a wasted space between mountains"! This afternoon we came through an extended stretch of roadworks. There were three sections of one way traffic and they use an escort truck to take vehicles through - all very well but there is no way we are going to keep up with an escort truck riding a tandem bike! So, we were held for ages waiting for the truck to turn up, and then as soon as it did, all the vehicular traffic would clear off up the road leaving us to make our own way. On one of them we had to get off the road because the escort truck was already coming back with a load of trucks behind it. We did exchange life stories with the stop board man at one of them - very nice bloke - it was quite windy today and he was struggling to hold his board steady! Anyway, on the last one of these sections, the escort and the other traffic had all gone ahead when we came to a chain of tarmac laying machines on the upwind side - there were clouds of smoke billowing across the side of the road left for us to use. Each of the machines had multiple burners underneath 'flaming' the road. I shouted to a bloke and asked whether it would be OK to go through and he said it would but I think he just wanted to get back to his mobile phone conversation with his girlfriend. I can tell you, it was very hot and very scary - I couldn't see even a couple of feet ahead in the smoke and we couldn't stop because it was just too hot. I thought our clothes would be scorched or spattered with tar but they are OK. Maybe not really that well thought out for bikes!? As we have progressed today the towns we have passed through seem to have steadily become more like 'proper' towns. The first place we stopped wasn't much more than a gas station on a crossroads but where we are staying now feels more like a small town as you would expect (e.g. there is a choice of restaurants for this evening). Proper or otherwise, you can generally see places from a few miles away and, with their grain silos, they look like big cities with high rise office blocks in the distance.
Cycle Ink #189
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Today we have covered 128 miles with 406 feet of ascent. It has been hot with a not insignificant cross wind - one of those days where you drink a whole bike drinks bottle of water in one go and then, in a couple of minutes, you are thirsty again. There have been frequent places to stop and get refreshments though, which was a big help. We are staying at Dighton, Kansas. Tomorrow morning we should pass through the halfway point of our ride (on day 21). We might even allow ourselves a beer tomorrow evening ;-)
By Graham Dore
Velo Domestique
By Mike Walsh Velo Domestique is closed until 21st March for some structural repairs. They transferred to 176180 Seabourne Road (the top end of Southbourne Grove) in January 2016. Velo Domestique is not just a cafÊ, not just a bike shop, it’s a hub for cyclists in the greater Bournemouth conurbation. Stop by for some delicious coffee, food or company. They also host film screenings,
talks, music, roller competitions and supper evenings.
CTC Wessex Cycling
By Mike Walsh By Tony
The Club is still offering kit at heavily subsidised prices. Quality kit at bargain prices! Take a look at the website under For Sale and check out the order form to see what's available. Go to: www.bournemouthctc.org/clothing.htm to download the sizing chart
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Cycle Ink #189
CTC Wessex Cycling
By Alan Baker
Committee Meeting Minutes 14th February 2018 1. PRESENT:- Paul Rush (Chairman); Keith Matthews (Welfare Officer / Registrar / Membership Secretary / Website Master); Jim McDonald; Mike Walsh (Secretary / Treasurer) and Alan Baker (Minute Secretary). 2. APOLOGIES:- Bob Chittenden; Bob Courtney; Stephen Gray (Cycle Training Coordinator); John Jackson; and Paul Turner (Right to Ride Representative). 3. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:- Minutes of the Meeting held on 15 Nov 2017 were APPROVED. 4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:Minute 12(iii):- Jim McDonald reported that he had arranged two first-aid courses with the British Red Cross in Poole, to be held Tuesdays 27 February and 13 March. Twenty Group members had registered to attend. The courses are being offered free of charge but it was AGREED to make a donation of £200 to the BRC branch. 5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:- Paul Rush (i) thanked Bob Chittenden for agreeing to organise the Group Picnic this year, to be held on Sunday 08 July at Damerham Village Hall; and Jim McDonald for organising the two first-aid courses reported above. (ii) reported that Wayne Sayers and Kevin Humphreys of Dorset County Council were arranging a cycle users liaison meeting with user groups in the east of the county. He and John Surowiec, Chairman of West Dorset CTC, had been informed of the proposal, and Paul said he would consult Paul Turner about attendance at the meeting, for which there was as yet no firm date. (iii) reported that all Sunday riding groups were to be invited to participate in the Reef Rides to be held on Sunday 17 June based at the Reef Centre in Colehill. Two rides of around 60 and 30 miles were being offered and refreshments would be available at the Centre. Nearby CTC Groups and local clubs would be invited and the event would also be offered to CTC/CUK as a Challenge Ride. 6. SECRETARY’S REPORT:- Alan Baker reported that the 2018 Group Christmas Lunch and Awards Presentation would be held at Bournemouth Sports Club on Thursday 13 December. Dave Langley would once again be the event organiser with help from Denis Eveleigh. 7. TREASURER’S REPORT:- Mike Walsh once again reported that the Group’s financial position was healthy, with sufficient funds available to meet foreseeable requirements.
Cycle Ink #189
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The balance at the Bank was about £2,000 and there would shortly be the surplus from The Gridiron 2017 to add, as well as the £200 annual contribution from CTC/CUK National Office. Future committed expenditure included £1,500 to pay for Bikeabiity Instructor training. It was AGREED to purchase a memory stick at a cost of £30 to enable the Minute Secretary to maintain an electronic copy of all his Committee and other Group paperwork remotely from his laptop. 8. RIGHT TO RIDE REPORT:- Paul Turner was unable to be present at the Meeting but he had notified the Editor that his Right To Ride report would be forwarded as usual for publication in the Newsletter. Mike Walsh reported that Paul had received a questionnaire from National Office, the length of which had disheartened him, and he had considered resigning from his position as Right To Ride Representative. National Office had later clarified that completion of the questionnaire was not essential, and Paul had agreed to continue in post. 9. NEW RIDE LEADERS:- Keith Matthews reported that Jackie Courtney proposed to stand down as Sunday Inters Ride Coordinator and that Colin Hall, a current Ride Leader for the Sunday Inters, would take over. Colin’s appointment as Inters Coordinator was AGREED. Minute Secretary’s Note: it was later clarified that although Colin will keep the Inters Rides List on the Group website up to date he does not wish to take over as Coordinator and this post remains unfilled at the time of writing. 10. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:(i) Mike Walsh reported that the film “Battle Mountain” had been purchased together with rights to screen it in public for a two-year period. It was AGREED to advertise the availability for loan or hire of both the DVD and the competition rollers that are already in store at Velo Domestique; that Dan Armstrong, joint proprietor of Velo Domestique, should be custodian of the DVD and that Alan Baker should discuss with Dan a tracking procedure to monitor requests for the hire or loan of both the DVD and the competition rollers and for monitoring the collection and return of these items. (ii) Mike Walsh also reported that the Group’s Basic Bicycle Maintenance Courses now held at Velo Domestique were well-supported; and that Bournemouth Borough Council had also commenced offering a similar course. (iii) Mike reported that Andrew Preston had taken over from Peter Loakes as the organiser of the “Coast” and “Coastlet” Audax events, although for this year Peter would continue to be involved as Andrew’s advisor.
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Cycle Ink #189
(iv) Finally Mike Walsh reported that the first of this year’s Gridiron planning meetings would be held on 23rd of this month. It had already been agreed that although Hyde Village Hall would continue to be used as a refreshment point, catering would be undertaken by the Fordingbridge Scout Group. (v) Paul Rush informed the Meeting that it was very unlikely he would be available to chair the next Committee Meeting. 11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING:- It was noted that the next Committee Meeting will be held at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 09 May 2018 at Kinson Conservative Club.
By Alan Baker
Kingston Lacy Trail 6th May 2018
By Keith Matthews
“As I was out riding one day in May … tra la.” I’d ridden out to KL from Ferndown, nicely settled into the saddle. The object of my affections? Kingston Lacy have installed a new 4km multi-use trail in the grounds and I thought I’d try it out. It had only been open a week and the staff were not totally sure if you could use it free, which I’d heard was the case. I’m an NT Member anyway, the issue didn’t arise. I remember some of these tracks around the KL estate, some were barely defined, but the NT have tidied all this up nicely with hard-pack surface. It is designated oneway clockwise which worked well. Lots of loose gravel just now, with risk of skidding for my narrow tyres but that will clear very quickly with use. Too many gates for cyclists, but one barrier near the ‘natural play area’, was a nice ride-through jiggle. Why only this one? This is a shared path, strollers and dog walkers abound but I found them more good-natured than is average at Moors Valley and didn’t once get ‘ring your bell’ called at me. (I have one.) The terrain looks easy, but I found myself dragging a bit a quarter way round, explained when I reached a little sign cautioning ‘downhill’ to cyclists which made me chuckle; not exactly a cliff-edge! The climb had been 20+ metres without realising it, you know that false-flat feeling? I enjoyed the Beech tunnel, the closed-in woodland and the open views across the estate. Two strollers held gates open for me and one dog walker raised her long dog lead arm high for me to ride under it. Coffee at the stables afterwards. Oh yes, and perfect sunny weather. Live the dream! Keith Matthews. CTC / Cycling UK Member By Keith Matthews www.wessexctc.org
Cycle Ink #189
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09:00 Sandbanks Ferry
Sunday Rouleurs
09:30 Wimborne rec. 08:30 SANDBANKS FERRY
09:00 Wimborne Square
Old Farmhouse Burley 09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 14:00 Upton House, Upton Country Park
Dorset Dawdlers
Saturday Morning 60s
Saturday BunRuns
Terry's Sat Ride Poole Leisure Cycling
5 Jul
7 Jul
7 Jul
7 Jul 7 Jul
Sat
09:30 Sandbanks Ferry 9:30 for 9:40 Ferry
Thursday Potterers
5 Jul
Blandford-Brasserie 65 BRIANTSPUDDLE - VILLAGE HALL Fontmell Magna Tearooms
08:30 09:45 09:30 09:30
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday Tuesday Toasters Thursday Rouleurs
1 Jul
Coffee Kimmeridge, Clavell's Cafe. Tel: 01929 480701 Dorchester Bashley Redcliff Garden Centre Blandford Airfield Compton Abbas 01747 811767 RSPB Arne
1 Jul 1 Jul Tue 3 Jul Thurs 5 Jul
Sun Upton House 09.45 Hurn Village Stores Wimborne Quare Wimborne Square
Time Start
Day Date
Group
Pamphill
Joy H Sturminster Newton
Ali Mc
Geoff
Leader
Maggie R
West Holme
Tea
East Knoyle The Green Kimmeridge
West Bay Lymington
Lunch
RUNSLIST FOR July 2018
The ride attracts cyclists from all disciplines and all abilities you are sure to find someone to ride with, contact Terry Walsh on 01202 247888 for more details. There is no leader and no back up, but generally there is an experienced cyclist in the group. The route is designed for beginners but joined in by all abilities. Start 09:00 at Waitrose Supermarket, Christchurch or just make your own way to the Old Farmhouse Tearooms, Burley for 10:0
We organise gentle and more demanding rides. Please join one of our groups who ride Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Each group has a different style. Choose the group that suits you best.
CTC WESSEX CYCLING RUNSLIST FOR Third Quarter 2018
Hockleys Farm Blandford East Creech Wilton Meet in The Square, Wilton Wonderfully Wessex 300km
10:00 Velo Domestiqe
09:00 Broadstone Underpass
09:30 Waitrose, Christchurch
09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Sandbanks Ferry 09:30 Verwood cross roads. GR084093 00:00 Car Assisted Ride,10.00
05:30 Rowlands Castle
Velo Domestique
The Cake Crew
The Cake Crew
8 Jul
8 Jul
8 Jul
09:00 09:30
15 Jul Sunday Inters 15 Jul Pedal Sunday
09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Merley, Willett Arms C.P.
19 Jul Thursday Potterers
19 Jul Dorset Dawdlers
09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Moyles Court
09:00 09:00
14 Jul Terry's Sat Ride 15 Jul Sunday Rouleurs
Tea
Dewlish Stonehenge, Tea at Salisbury Warminster via the Wylie Valley
Blandford Setley Ridge Rosie Lea Kitchen Hamptworth 01590 622908 Puddletown or West Bovington Stafford West Holme, Orchard Tea Rooms Chaldon Herring
Blandford
Ian M
Stephen M
Ali Mc Denis E
Nicky
Paul Whitehead
Jim
John H
Ali Mc
Maggie R
Peter Roberts
Sue Barber
Colin
Rob Ward
Leader
Damerham, Wesssex CTC Picnic. Lytchett Minster Damerham Inter Group Picnic Damerham Village Hall 12.30 + Picnic Damerham Village Hall Picnic Damerham Village Hall Picnic Damerham Village Hall
Lunch
STURMINSTER NEWTON JOSHUA'S / SWEET PEA Old Farmhouse Burley Waitrose, Christchurch West Holme, Orchard Tea Room. Merley Bridge Tel: 01929 554716 Sherborne Shaftesbury Wimborne Worth Matravers Sandbanks ferry north slipway Swanage
08:30 WIMBORNE SQUARE
14 Jul Saturday Morning 60s
14 Jul Audax
Tue 17 Jul Tuesday Toasters Thurs 19 Jul Thursday Rouleurs
Sun
Sat
12 Jul Dorset Dawdlers
The Cake House
Cranborne Garden Centre
09:00 Hurn Stores 09:30 Wimborne Rec
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday
8 Jul 8 Jul
West Wellow Cranborne Garden Centre
09:00 Hurn Stores
Coffee
Sunday Rouleurs
Time Start
8 Jul
Group
Tue 10 Jul Tuesday Toasters Thurs 12 Jul Thursday Rouleurs 12 Jul Thursday Potterers
Sun
Day Date
Wimborne Rec Wimborne Rec. UPTON COUNTRY PARK MAIN GATES Waitrose, Christchurch Wimborne Rec Wimborne Merley Willett Arms C.P. Wimborne Quare
10:00 09:30 09:30
09:30
09:30 08:30
09:00 09:00
09:00 09:30
09:30
PHSG GROUP Tuesday Toasters Thursday Rouleurs
Thursday Potterers
Dorset Dawdlers Saturday Morning 60s
Terry's Sat Ride Sunday Rouleurs
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday
Tuesday Toasters
22 Jul Tue 24 Jul Thurs 26 Jul
26 Jul
26 Jul 28 Jul
28 Jul 29 Jul
29 Jul 29 Jul
31 Jul
Sat
Sun
Sat
Time Start
09:30 Hurn Stores 09:45 09.45 Hurn Village Stores 08:30 WIMBORNE SQUARE
09:00 Wimborne Square 09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 14:00 Upton House, Upton Country Park
4 Aug Saturday BunRuns 4 Aug Terry's Sat Ride 4 Aug Poole Leisure Cycling
09:30 Hurn Stores
2 Aug Thursday Potterers 2 Aug Dorset Dawdlers 4 Aug Saturday Morning 60s
Thurs 2 Aug Thursday Rouleurs
Day Date
Tue
Group
Hurn Stores Ferndown junc. Wimborne Rd.E. & West Moors Rd Downton Wimborne Quare Merley Bridge
09:00 09:30
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday
22 Jul 22 Jul
Sun
Coffee
Hythe Breamore
Lunch
Blandford
Old Farmhouse Burley Compton Abbas Airfield. Tel: 01747 811767 Cranmore Semley West Holme Orchard Tea Rooms West Knighton
Iwerne Minster Compton Abbas Air Field DORCHESTER - ENGINE ROOM
Salisbury Blandford Moreton Dovecote Cafe 01929 Upwey 462243 01929 405685 Cranborne GC Tel 01725 517546 Broad Chalke
LEPE - BEACH CAFE Old Farmhouse Burley Owermoigne, Galton Garden Centre. Tel: 01305 852324 Lymimgton Wolverscroft Sticky Bun
Fordingbridge Bridges Cafe 01425 654149 Brockenhurst Crow Farm Shop CHILD OKEFORD - GOLD HILL FARM Bowerchalke Village Hall Old Farmhouse Burley
Coffee
Pamphill
Hythe Fritham
Tisbury
Lunch
RUNSLIST FOR August 2018
HURN STORES Waitrose, Christchurch Upton House
Time Start
08:30 09:00 09:00
Group
Saturday Morning 60s Terry's Sat Ride Sunday Rouleurs
21 Jul 21 Jul 22 Jul
Day Date
Sat
Tea
Stourpaine
Fordingbridge
Tea
Cathy C Alan H
Keith G
Leader
Ali Mc
Steph
Paul M.
Ann E
Ali Mc Paul Sgt
Michael
Rob Ward
Leader
09:30 Sandbanks Ferry 9:30 for 9:40 Ferry 09:30 Wimborne Rec. 08:30 SANDBANKS FERRY 09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 09:00 Hurn Stores
09:00 Wimborne 09:30 Wimborne Rec. 10:00 Sandbanks Ferry 09:30 Wimborne Quare
16 Aug Thursday Potterers
Dorset Dawdlers Saturday Morning 60s Terry's Sat Ride Sunday Rouleurs
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday PHSG GROUP Tuesday Toasters
19 Aug 19 Aug 19 Aug 21 Aug
Sun
Tue
Sat
16 Aug 18 Aug 18 Aug 19 Aug
12 Aug 12 Aug Tue 14 Aug Wed 15 Aug Thurs 16 Aug
Semley Martin
Lulworth (Tyneham and Ranges Open) Tollard Royal
Cerne Abbas
Hazelbury Bryan Boldre Church
Cranborne
Blandford
11 Aug Terry's Sat Ride 12 Aug Sunday Rouleurs
Sun
09:00 Sandbanks 09.45 Hurn Village Stores 09:30 Wimborne Quare 19:30 Kinson 09:30 Wimborne Square
09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 09:00 Sandbanks Ferry
11 Aug Saturday Morning 60s
Sat
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday Tuesday Toasters Committee Thursday Rouleurs
Peter L Bob.Chit
Kings Stag Whitsbury
Blandford Fordingbridge Belinda's Cafe
Thursday Potterers Dorset Dawdlers
9 Aug 9 Aug BEAULIEU - STEPH'S KITCHEN / PALLET'S Old Farmhouse Burley Arne, RSPB Café. Tel: 01929 553360 Moreton Bransgore Macpenny's Blandford Kinson Con Club Milton Abbey Tea Rooms 01258 880850 Corfe Castle Courtyard Cafe Tel 01929 481234 Cranborne Garden Centre LULWORTH - FINLEY'S Old Farmhouse Burley Sherfield English, Gilberts. Tel: 01794 322566 East Stour Cranborne Garden Centre Swanage Blandford
Ali Mc Mike G
Langport
Sturminster Newton
Blandford Brasserie 65 Blandford Ryme Intrinseca
Ali Mc
Geoff
Rob Ward
TBA
Maggie R
Ali Mc
Michael
Anna and Graham
09:30 Wimborne Rec. 09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Car Assist Sturminster Newton Mill Car park 09:30 Wimborne Rec 09:30 Ferndown, Junc.Wimborne Rd.East & West Moors Rd. 08:30 X- CHURCH - WAITROSE
Minstead
Pedal Sunday Tuesday Toasters Thursday Rouleurs
Winchester
5 Aug Tue 7 Aug Thurs 9 Aug
Sun
09:00 Hurn Stores
Rob Ward
Leader
Sunday Inters
Tea
5 Aug
Lunch
Lymington, The Buttery. Tel: 01590 672870 The Borough, Downton
Coffee
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
Time Start
Sunday Rouleurs
Group
5 Aug
Day Date
Day Date
Group
26 Aug Sunday Inters
Thursday Potterers Dorset Dawdlers Saturday Morning 60s Terry's Sat Ride Sunday Rouleurs
09.45.. Hurn Village Stores
HURN STORES Wimborne Square Waitrose, Christchurch Upton House, Upton Country Park 09:00 Upton House 09:00 Upton House 09.45 Hurn Village Stores
09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Wimborne Rec 09:30 Wimborne Rec.
Sunday Rouleurs Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday
Tuesday Toasters Thursday Rouleurs
Thursday Potterers Dorset Dawdlers
2 Sep 2 Sep 2 Sep
Tue 4 Sep Thurs 6 Sep
6 Sep 6 Sep
Sun
08:30 09:00 09:00 14:00
Saturday Morning 60s Saturday BunRuns Terry's Sat Ride Poole Leisure Cycling
1 Sep 1 Sep 1 Sep 1 Sep
Time Start
Sat
Group
09:45
30 Aug Dorset Dawdlers
Merley Bridge
Corfe Castle Blandford Corfe Castle The Courtyard Cafe 01929 481234 Wareham Harrys Bar Tel 01929 551818 South Holmsley Station Tea Rooms.
Whiteparish Courtens Garden Centre 01794 884489 Cadnam Corfe Castle SHAFTESBURY - UGLY DUCK Old Farmhouse Burley Poundbury, Engine Room Cafe. Tel: 01305 257250 The Borough, Downton
Coffee
Brockenhurst
Durdle Door
West Stafford
Tynham
Salisbury
Woodgreen Kimmeridge
Amesbury
Lunch
Lulworth, Main Car Park Café: Dorchester Burley Old Farmhouse Tea Rooms Blandford Moreton Dovecote Cafe 01929 462243 01929 405685 Larmer Tree Blandford-Brasserie 65
FORDINGBRIDGE - FIGTREE Manston Village Hall Old Farmhouse Burley
Coffee
Semley Milton Abbas
Sydling St. Nicholas
Portland Brockenhurst
Pamphill
Lunch
RUNSLIST FOR September 2018
09:30
Day Date
Hurn Stores
09:30 Merley Willett Arms C.P. 09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Sandbanks Ferry
09:00
09:45 Moyles Court 09:30 Merley Willett Arms C.P. 08:30 WIMBORNE SQUARE 09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 09:00 Merley Bridge
Moyles Court
Time Start
09:30
30 Aug Thursday Potterers
26 Aug Pedal Sunday Tue 28 Aug Tuesday Toasters Thurs 30 Aug Thursday Rouleurs
Sun
Sat
23 Aug 23 Aug 25 Aug 25 Aug 26 Aug
Thurs 23 Aug Thursday Rouleurs
Moreton
Tea
Lawrence S
Grahame B
Ali Mc Steve S
Colin
Bob McI Bob.Chit
John J
Leader
Shawn S Ian M
Ali Mc
Rob Ward Tristram
Leader
Wimborne St. Giles
Tea
Lulworth Castle Wareham Sports Centre SHERFIELD ENGLISH DANDY'S FORD Old Farmhouse Burley Corfe Castle, Model Village Café. Tel: 01929 481234 Semley Fordingbridge
Merley Willett Arms C.P. Wimborne Quare Hurn Stores Wimborne Rec Merley Willett Arms C.P. X - CHURCH - WAITROSE Waitrose, Christchurch Sandbanks Ferry Hurn Stores
09:30
09:30 09:30
09:30
09:30 08:30
09:00 09:00
09:00
10:00
16 Sep Pedal Sunday
Tue 18 Sep Tuesday Toasters Thurs 20 Sep Thursday Rouleurs
20 Sep Thursday Potterers
20 Sep Dorset Dawdlers 22 Sep Saturday Morning 60s
22 Sep Terry's Sat Ride 23 Sep Sunday Rouleurs
23 Sep Sunday Inters
23 Sep Pedal Sunday 23 Sep PHSG GROUP
Sat
Sun
09.45 Hurn Village Stores Ringwood Underpass
Blandford Salisbury Landford Garden Centre 0844 288 5032 Cranborne GC Tel 01725 517546 Woodfalls
Wimborne
09:00
16 Sep Sunday Inters
Sun
Sat
Crow Farm Shop Fordingbridge
Breamore
Cole Manor Tea Rooms, Bruton West Holme Orchard Tea Rooms West Stafford
COMPTON ABBAS - AIRFIELD Old Farmhouse Burley Alderholt, Sticky Bun. Tel: 01425 625437 Shaftesbury
08:30 09:00 09:00
15 Sep Saturday Morning 60s 15 Sep Terry's Sat Ride 16 Sep Sunday Rouleurs
Tarrant Keyneston Mill
Blandford
TBA
Breamore
Wolverscroft Sticky Bun
09:30
13 Sep Dorset Dawdlers
Maggie R
Moreton
Sandbanks Ferry 9:30 for 9:40 Ferry Ferndown, Junc.Wimborne Rd.East & West Moors Rd. WIMBORNE SQUARE Waitrose, Christchurch Christchurch Waitrose
09:30
13 Sep Thursday Potterers
Anna and Graham
Dave W
Dave M
Ali Mc Denis E
Steph
Rob Ward
Nicky
Rob Pilato
Leader
Ali Mc Tim S
09:00 09:30 09:30 09:30
Sunday Inters Pedal Sunday Tuesday Toasters Thursday Rouleurs
Weekend
Tea
Gillingham
Wimborne Wimborne Rec Wimborne Quare Wimborne Square
09:00 09:00
Terry's Sat Ride Sunday Rouleurs
8 Sep 9 Sep
Sun
9 Sep 9 Sep Tue 11 Sep Thurs 13 Sep
UPTON COUNTRY PARK MAIN GATES Waitrose, Christchurch Wimborne Rec
08:30
Vale Alverdiston
Lunch
BLANDFORD - FORUM / YELLOW BICYCLE Old Farmhouse Burley Shafetesbury, Ugly Duckling Café Tel: 07772 327559 Batcombe Compton Abbas Air Field Blandford Broadchalke Chalke Valley Stores 01722 780998 Swanage
Coffee
Saturday Morning 60s
Time Start
8 Sep
Group
Sat
Day Date
Group
29 Sep Terry's Sat Ride 30 Sep Sunday Rouleurs
Sun
30 Sep Pedal Sunday
30 Sep Sunday Inters
27 Sep Dorset Dawdlers 29 Sep Saturday Morning 60s
Sat
27 Sep Thursday Potterers
Tue 25 Sep Tuesday Toasters Thurs 27 Sep Thursday Rouleurs
Day Date
tarr6073@gmail.com 01202 429985 davelangley92@gmail.com
Roland Tarr Mike Walsh Dave Langley
Committee Meeting Mildenhall Cycling Festival 300 200 160 100 52 km rides Dorset Dirt 50 Gridiron Group Christmas Lunch
15th Aug 25th Aug 2nd Sept 14th Oct 15th Dec
info@mildenhallfestival.bike
07941 245435 Paul Whitehead
Wonderfully Wessex 300k Audax
14th July
Andy Terry
0129 550390
Tristram
Bob Chittenden
Whitsbury
Wolverscroft Sticky Bun
Hockey's Farm Shop
Damerham Village Hall Picnic
Salisbury
Ray P.
Gussage St.Andrew
Rob Ward
John H
Eling Tide Mill
Leader Ali Mc John J
Tea
Longstock
Lunch
Blandford Sherfield English Gilberts 01725 884803 Lyndhurst Mad Hatter Tel02380 282341 Sturminster Marshall Golf Club BRIANTSPUDDLE - VILLAGE HALL Old Farmhouse Burley Lyndhurst, Mad Hatter. Tel: 02380 282341 Mere
Coffee
8th July
09:30 Ferndown junc.Wimborne Rd.E & West Moors Rd
09:00 Wimborne
09:00 Waitrose, Christchurch 09:00 Hurn Stores
09:30 Merley Willett Arms C.P. 08:30 SANDBANKS FERRY
09:45 Moyles Court
09:30 Wimborne Quare 09:30 Moyles Court
Time Start
Cycle Ink
By Mike Walsh
CTC Wessex Cycling’s Quarterly Newsletter is available by mail for an annual subscription of £2.50. Please contact me by e-mail jmichaelwalsh@aol.com for details of how to subscribe. It is also available on line free of charge at http://www.wessexctc.org/index. htm .
By Mike Walsh
Right to Ride Report - May 2018
By Paul M. Turner
Bournemouth Town Centre Schemes. The remainder of the improvements to the western side of the town centre will recommence shortly and are expected to be completed by mid July. This includes traffic calming features on Bourne Avenue and Braidley Road. Some background design work continues on Beale Place in connection with the current closure to motor traffic. The experimental order has now been made permanent. The project does not, however, have funding and consideration is being given to develop a simplified scheme to make it more affordable. Curzon Road contraflow has now been fully signed. Tuckton Roundabout scheme has now been approved and will be constructed between March and September with a break during the summer season. In association with this, cycle symbols will be placed on the centre of the carriageway over Tuckton Bridge to emphasise the presence of cyclists and their ability to take the lane on this section of road. The Riverside Avenue Toucan crossing has been delayed slightly while the implications for traffic flows are considered in more detail. The Jewell Road cut-though connecting Jewell Road to Cooper Dene Roundabout is under construction and should be completed imminently. This creates a quiet alternative route to Castle Lane West, improving links between the residential areas the north and the hospital/Wessex Fields. Iford Lane The replacement of the chicanes by speed cushions on Iford Lane, to address issues raised by the forum is complete. The Queens Park (Soberton Road) subway link has been largely completed, allowing access for mobility scooters, large buggies and cyclists. The Larksfield Avenue to Durweston Close cut-through is complete, although a tweak is being considered to deter motorcycles. Alumhurst Road to Seamoor Road to allow cycles to turn right into Seamoor Road is expected to be completed within 4-5 weeks. Alum Chine suspension bridge are largely completeworks to permit cycling across the bridge. Bournemouth Library -The cycle parking at the library by the Triangle has been improved. The poorly sited stands at the side of the library, which resulted in bikes falling over, have been replaced by better sited stands on level ground. Additional cycle parking along Avenue Road and Pier Approach.
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Poole Proposed schemes for 2018/19 capital programme: Ringwood Road – complementary scheme for proposed resurfacing work. NCN25 direction signing – joint scheme with Bournemouth, to include route via West Cliff Road. Holes Bay – realignment of existing cycle track, to ease right-angled corners. Alder Road corridor – routes to help cyclists avoid main road. Canford Heath Road – proposal to reduce speed limit from 40mph to 30mph. St. Aldhelm’s School route to school – scheme to improve path surface between Dalling Road and Winston Avenue Cycling Events - Possibility of arranging some events during National Bike Week 9th – 17th June 2018 in collaboration with Bournemouth & Poole, local cycling groups and volunteers. Christchurch Health Rides · every Monday meet: Highcliffe Castle, BH23 4LE - 9.45am for 10am start - These rides use predominantly quiet roads and cycle paths and are generally flat ride is free, cycle hire £2.50 (pre-booking of bikes is essential, 01425 470721) - parking charges apply at Highcliffe Castle Ferndown Health Rides · every Tuesday meet: Ferndown Forest Golf Club, BH22 9PH · 9.45am for 10am start ride is free, cycle hire £2.50 (pre-booking of bikes is essential, 01425 470721) Moors Valley Health Rides · every Wednesday - meet: Visitor Centre, Moors Valley Country Park, BH24 2ET · 9.45am for 10am start (9.30am start during the school Summer Holidays using entirely off-road tracks around the Park and Forest ride is free, cycle hire £2.50 parking charges apply at Moors Valley (parking is free for your first three consecutive rides) Wimborne Health Rides · every Thursday - meet: Kingston Lacy House, BH21 4EA · 9.15am for 9.30am start using off-road tracks and quiet roads, the terrain for these rides is more undulating than either Moors Valley or Christchurch so at times can be harder ride is free, cycle hire £2.50 (pre-booking of bikes is essential, 01425 470721) Right to Ride Representative CTC Wessex Cycling
Brimstone (Facebook Extract)
Paul
By Shawn Shaw
Shawn Shaw 6am in a pub near you: feeding: faffing: foreboding: firing and off. Last leg of the Wessex Challenge Series, The 600km Brimstone, has 19 set out for the wilderness of Wessex. Four may complete their first series with this ride coming from Somerset, Staffordshire, Kent and Cornwall. Dave Smethurst and Dorchester based Andrew Preston are carrying the Wessex colours. Wishing a good ride for all and a safe return tomorrow evening Shawn Shaw 10:30 and all are through the first control at 80km (Amport, The Hawk Inn)
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Shawn Shaw First rider through Beaminster 15:18 and rolling nicely, That tail wind . . . makes all the difference! Shawn Shaw Lantern Rouge now feeling recovered and has made up some time heading into Beaminster. Will need to build the time for the climbs to Exmouth if he is to get some sleep at Priddy Village Hall control Shawn Shaw Lantern rouge has been passed on as he has decided to abandon the attempt and train home. Thunder storms and failed electronics helped make the decision Shawn Shaw Yellow Jersey reports broken BB at Exmouth and abandons Shawn Shaw Meanwhile near Priddy the control hosted by Nigel Graham Brodie I'd expect Cheddar to be yellow :-) Good luck to all riding. Shawn Shaw Everyone later arriving at Priddy but all in good spirits and pushing on. Mells controller reports heavy showers and localised flooding. I woke to heavy showers and strong winds; now we are becalmed in sunshine! :) Shawn Shaw 14 completed with four gaining their Wessex SR award. Shawn Shaw 1 was in the wind come 22:00 with no word 'cept the rumour he had abandoned. Without phone power Bob trundled on doggedly following the route (though out of time at Mells) arriving at 03:30 Monday
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Abergavenny Weekend
By Steve Gray
What: Stemic Cycling Club Training Weekend Where: Abergavenny. When: 9-11 May 2015 Who: Michael Walsh, Andre Barber, Paul Rush, Stephen Gray. Saturday a.m. The weekend started with Michael Walsh driving around to pick up the rest of the participants starting with myself at 07:30 followed by Andre at about 08:15 and then Paul at 08:30. After some misdirection (by me) found us at the back of Andre's house with an impassable alley to get to the front (it looked passable on the map, honest), we collected Andre with his bike and pretty little green sports bag. We found our way easily to Paul's (because Andre knew the way) and loaded up his bike and two large bags. Paul never travels light. We stopped near Warminster where Mike downed an American breakfast the rest of us sticking to coffee. We arrived at "The Guest House" in Abergavenny at around 12:15, checked in dropped bags and those in civvies changed ready for our afternoon ride. Saturday p.m. A fairly steep ascent north out of Abergavenny to pick up the Old Hereford Road soon woke up sleepy legs and warmed our lungs. Continuing through Pantygelli, we nearly missed our left turn just before Llanvihangel Crucorney. After a shouted warning, a u-turn for myself and some violent braking by the rest, we negotiated the turn to cut a corner and avoid the A465 main Hereford road. Continuing our steady climb up this delightful quiet valley we had glimpses of the Afon Honddu to our right sparkling through the shady greenery. Eventually we crossed the river and just before reaching the village of LLanthony we rode up a steep drive to LLanthony Priory to the east of the road. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanthony_Priory The ruin is impressive so the Priory must of been even more so it's a day. Avoiding the cafe, Andre, Paul and I had a wander round reading the
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various information placards and attempted to take atmospheric photographs while waiting for Mike to catch up. Then we ate the remainder of our lunch sandwiches and after making use of the conveniences, we headed off again retracing our tire tracks at a much quicker 20 mph back down the valley to Pantygelli from where we turned right heading north west towards Forest Coal Pit and then south west to Crickhowell. According to the map, we should have been following a fairly flat profile along a river valley but it turned out to be fairly lumpy terrain, resulting in a split in the group with Andre and Paul forging ahead, me trying in vain to keep up but losing ground on every hill and Mike bringing up the the rear. At one point, we found a strange road signs we we struggled to interpret. Can you? We regrouped at the bottom of the hill just before turning right on the A40 toward the centre of Crickhowell in search of refreshments. After a brief search, we found the upstairs cafe above a small covered market alcove where we replenished our depleted reserves with tea or coffee and cake. Paul looked longingly at the sausage tart but managed to restrain himself (at least for this visit). Rather than take the easy route back to Abergavenny along the busy A40 We decided to challenge ourselves further and headed for minor roads on the south side of the Afon Usk valley. The first challenge was to get to the bridge across the river which, from our end of town, was the wrong way down a one-way street. Having spied a police patrol car ahead of us we decided to play safe and walk to the near end of the bridge then jumped on for a strenuous climb out of the valley up the appropriately named Hillside Road. We turned south west onto minor roads roughly parallelling the Crickhowell Road to the south of the river but higher up the valley side. This had us negotiating several serious hill requiring even Paul to change to his small ring. How he manages to ride up steep hills on his big ring in the middle of his cassette I will never know. Eventually we reached our last descent into Gilwern. Finding the B4246 Abergavenny closed for roadworks, we braved the a A485 heads of valleys Road for about 3 miles keeping to the fairly
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broad side strip. Taking the first exit for Abergavenny we crossed the river Usk again but as we negotiated a roundabout Mike hit a plastic desert pot in the middle of the road and got a snakebite puncture in his rear tire. Following a quick repair we made our way into the centre of Abergavenny town to suss out possible venues for our evening meal before wending our way back to the guesthouse. We had done approximately 35 hilly miles in four hours. Having arranged to reconvene in the guesthouse lounge at about 7 o'clock we parted for our rooms to shower, change and rest. Saturday Evening At 19:00, we headed out and found a nice pub for a drink but didn't fancy eating there and moved on. We found a suitable establishment and relaxed with our meal and some gentle banter. Paul said the special was good. Andre and I opted for liver and bacon both ordering it pink. Unfortunately it came overdone and a little leathery as a result. Paul, Andre and I indulged in the desert to reply sugar levels then we sauntered back to the guesthouse. We arranged to meet at 08:00 all having pre-ordered a full English (shouldn't that have been Welsh) breakfast and retired for the night. I didn't even bother trying to read my Kindle. Sunday a.m. Eight o'clock on Sunday morning found us all assembled for breakfast and then lingering longer than we should have over toast, tea and coffee. We were supposed to ride the Monmouth Meander 100K together. However, although Paul was still up for it, I had decided that I couldn't do 100K in the type of terrain encountered around Abergavenny without taking over eight hours and had already identified a shortcut to reduce it to about 40 miles. Andre also liked the sound of that and decided to join me. Mike who had started a cold overnight said he would set out a bit later and do a short ride on his own. So at 9:30 Andre, Paul and myself set off together for the first few miles of the route. The climb out of Abergavenny on NCN 42 was steep with over 100 m climbed in the first mile. That certainly woke the legs up. After about 4 miles of continuous climbing, Andre
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and I told a much fitter Paul not to bother waiting for us as he had much further to go. As we turned to head south we soon lost sight of him as he forged on ahead. The 15 further miles to Usk required us to descend to the Usk Valley then climb again via Bettws Newydd before descending into Usk. Taking a brief diversion west along the High Street to find a coffee shop we encountered lots of other lycra clad cyclists riding into town or milling about in the square. In the cafe we found out from another group of cyclists that there was a big time trial starting in Usk. Paul later reported that he had tried but failed miserably to jump on the wheel of one competitor who had rumbled by on a disk wheel. Meanwhile, energised by our coffee and Welsh cake, Andre and I followed NCN 43 north west out of Usk heading for Raglan on the Monmouth Meander route. After Raglan, we missed our left turn into Dingestow as I didn't see the NCN sign and we took a short diversion along the B road to the south side of the river Trothy and the A40 rejoining the route at the next bridge over the river. Shortly after this, we arrived at a T-junction with NCN signs pointing both left and right one on the post one on a plate after a few seconds of confusion we realised that the direction on the plate should have been pointing in the direction we have just come from but had been turned 90°. Andre braved a large crop of stinging nettles to correct the sign. We turned right and continued on into Monmouth, passing the campsite and the castle I recognised from my end to end the previous year. In Monmouth, we bought a can of Coke each and sat on the green near the old bridge over the Monnow River to eat our sandwiches. Sunday p.m. As we set off to retrace our path out of Monmouth we asked a couple of local cyclists, resting by the old bridge, what the B4233 back to Abergavenny was like. They told us that it was hard work being either uphill or downhill all the way back but that we shouldn't need to get off. A short while later they zipped past us and disappeared into the distance. Much later on I quipped to Andre that the road should be renumbered the B440 as we were either doing 4mph uphill or
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40mph downhill all the way back to Abergavenny. Amazingly, I managed to ride the whole distance but did have to stop at least once on every steep uphill to get my heart rate back down. Andre, normally a much stronger cyclist than me, had to walk some of the steeper sections of the hills as his Sciatica problem reduces his power to climb hills over a certain grade. The descent into Abergavenny (that we had climbed that morning) was glorious although we couldn't let the bikes run free owing to the many blind bends on an unfamiliar road. We were both pretty well spent when we arrived back at the guest house having ridden a challenging 40 miles. Not long after we arrived back, Paul appeared looking fresh as a daisy. Having completed his 100k by early afternoon (how does he do it?) he arrived back to find none of us yet back at the Guest House, so he had ridden over to Cricklade. He claimed this was to to see if the rest of us were at the cafe visited the previous day (as if) but we all knew it was just an excuse to scoff some of that delicious looking sausage tart. We planned to reconvene at seven for dinner. I managed to catch a short nap by the window in the sunshine before getting ready. Sunday evening Choices for food in Abergavenny on a Sunday evening seemed to be limited to either fish and chips in newspaper or a dodgy looking Chinese takeaway, neither of which appealed to us. However, while looking for somewhere to get a drink and consider our meagre options, we found a Wetherspoons pub and decided to eat there. Monday a.m. For our journey home, Andre, Paul and I had time to cycle some of the way back and decided on a route via Monmouth which would then give us the opportunity to cycle along the picturesque Wye valley and cross over the old Severn Bridge alongside the M48 to meet Mike with the van at the services on the English side. I was keen to ride the route from Monmouth to the bridge, as I had ridden it in the opposite direction the previous year on our end to end but not in happy circumstances. Unfortunately, Jill had come off her bike on the English side of the bridge and hurt her knee which then stiffened
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up, making it very difficult for her to pedal. Added to that my pedal cleat snapped, leaving me trying to cycle with any real power only available from one foot and the other one slipping about on the pedal. We took the direct route out of Abergavenny on the A40 to avoid the strenuous climb of the previous day and picked up the B4598 (running parallel with the A40) towards Monmouth as soon as possible, riding some of the route of the previous day. Having experienced the time trialist of the previous day whizzing past him, Paul was quizzing Andre about time trial technique having never ridden one. So Andre volunteered to give him a demo of a 3 up. Well, mostly 2 up, with me clinging desperately to the back in fear that if a gap opened up, I would be on my own all the way to England. After finding our way through Monmouth and over the River Wye, we followed the A466 south along the Wye valley, mostly managing to stay together despite the brisk pace set by Andre. At the spectacular Tintern Abbey we stopped for a photo opportunity giving me a chance to catch my breath and eat something, having been dropped on the way up the long hill that passes it. We didn't have time to look around properly. That's twice I have ridden past thinking, "I must come back sometime for a proper visit". We continued on to Chepstow and made our way to the Severn Bridge with a few photos taken to mark the occasion. Paul must have actually broken a sweat, as when we met Mike with the van at the services on the other side of the bridge, he decided he needed to change into civvies for the journey home. He promptly stripped naked in the back of the van, with the tailgate open, giving some poor unsuspecting woman parked opposite a good flash of his bare arse. After the initial shock, she seemed to appreciate it judging by her broad grin while the rest of reflected that unfortunately we couldn't “unsee� it. Monday p.m. The first hour of the journey back was largely passed in silence as we snoozed (and perhaps couldn't find words to express what we hadn't wanted to see). We did, however, eventually strike up a conversation about the tanker we followed for a significant part of the route after leaving the M4, appreciating the skill of the driver who
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managed to keep the rig moving along the windy roads at a very brisk pace to the extent that we couldn't find a long enough section of straight road to pass. We surmised that the tanker must have been empty for it to accelerate so quickly. We were dropped off in turn by Mike who had kindly driven us safely all the way there and back. All in all we concluded that it had been a very enjoyable weekend in Wales.
By Steve Gray
For Sale
By John Evans
1 Zero Four, all carbon. Campagnolo gears 10 speed + 2 Neutron wheels excellent condition. £550 o.n.o.
2 Colnago “Dream” Carbon folks 8 speed + triple Campagnolo Wheels All very good condition £500 o.n.o.
3 Van Tuel 22” Carbon forks, mudgards 9 speed + triple excellent condition. £250 o.n.o. Tel John 01202 681441 (evenings)
By John Evans 27
Cycle Ink #189
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