Winter 2012
CYCLE INK MAGAZINE The quarterly magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling in Bournemouth. www.wessexctc.org for all CTC Wessex Cycling activities
Calendar Dates For 2013 Apr 6th Apr 7th
Hardboiled 200km Dorset Coast 200km Dorset Coastlet 100km
Shawn Shaw Peter Loakes Peter Loakes
01202 685014 01305 263272 01305 263272
Apr 7th May 5th May 12th May 12th May 12th May 12th May TBD May TBD June 6th Sept 1st Sept 1st Sept 1st Sept 1st Sept 8th Oct 13th
Porkers 400km New Forest Challenge 50km New Forest Day Out 100km New Forest 150km New Forest Excursion 200km Dorset Downs 100km Dorset Downs 150km Brimstone 600km New Forest Challenge 50km New Forest and Coast 100km New Forest Century 150km New Forest On/Off Shore 200km Dorset Dirt 50km offroad The 21st Gridiron 100km
Shawn Shaw John Ward John Ward John Ward John Ward Justin Oakley Justin Oakley Shawn Shaw John Ward John Ward John Ward John Ward Ken Reed John Jackson
01202 685014 01590 671205 01590 671205 01590 671205 01590 671205 07968 213833 07968 213833 01202 685014 01590 671205 01590 671205 01590 671205 01590 671205 01305 772654 01590 683815
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
WINTER 2012
The Magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling The picture on the cover came from an old Meccano Magazine from the early 1960s. My eye was drawn to it by the make of the lightweight it was advertising. However, I too have expunged this name from the record here . . . it was Armstrong. I don’t hero worship at all, Lance Armstrong was not exactly a rider I liked, but do you, like me, feel a bit let down by him? Some riders you always suspected doped, it was expected, but Lance always presented the heroic clean cut image and no matter how much the French particularly tried to implicate him, he denied it over and over. I can’t help feeling that Lance Armstrong has dealt cycling a deadly blow from which public support for it will not easily recover. Wait for the repercussions when next year’s pro season starts. We have this time a busy little issue, and once again I was able to tell the committee that I had plenty of contributions. Those of us that edit these club Magazines often wonder why we do it as we suspect that few members actually read it. The evidence is in the statement often received; “I didn’t know about that, I wish I had heard about it.” To which the reply is “Well it was in the Magazine.” The contributors probably feel the same. But we should take comfort in the knowledge that these words do not go away. They are stored carefully on paper and in soft copy and will end up in the local records office. Our present club mates may not read it intently but future ones 100 years away will appreciate them better as social history. Happy Christmas and good cycling in 2013
Keith
Birthday Rides 2012
By David Chesworth
This year the Birthday Rides took place in Shropshire, a lovely part of the country with interesting cycling going across the border ( no passports needed! ) into Wales.The Oct/Nov issue of Cycle gives the overview of the event and this little piece simply indicates briefly our own experience of the week. Birthday Rides HQ at Ellesmere There were a number of Bournemouth riders but there were 5 in our group, me, Colin and Sarah, Mike and Ralph. I think that the best ride was our first ride, the World’s End ride, which included the aqueducts of Pontysyllte and Froncyllte ( not sure if I’ve got the spelling correct ). After an interesting look at the abandoned slate mines at Minerva we struggled up the steep hill to reach the plateau with the mountains of Ruabon and Esclusham laid out before us. The views were extensive and fortunately for us the weather that day was kind as the terrain was very exposed. There were a number of others on that route and after a breather we all rolled on along the rough narrow single track road looking for the cafe stop at the Prospect Tea rooms. What we hadn’t been told was that it was closed on Tuesdays! It was a question of forget coffee and let’s go on to the Shropshire Union canal and the aqueduct for lunch. The Aqueduct
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We had been warned about the ford en route and the danger it posed. This had not been exaggerated. The water was not deep but the footing was treacherous. There were a couple of other riders there with cameras waiting for disaster (sadistic lot ) but we disappointed them and walked very gingerly across to reach safety on the other side. After that it was a hairy downhill ride to reach the canal where we found a little cafe and something to eat. It was then very interesting to walk across the aqueduct which features very often in magazines to then continue to the next aqueduct at Froncyllte. That was all the excitement for the day with the remainder of the ride being along quiet lanes back to the college. The next day we decided to go to Sleap Airfield to see how it compared to Compton Abbas. It is smaller but the welcome was warm. I gather that the previous day the owner had been expecting some 15 or 20 people but was shocked when when 150 turned up over the day. He welcomed the business but subsequently asked to be warned of the arrival of cyclists each day. The rain had commenced when we left the airfield and we decided to go straight to Wem for lunch. We sat in the Town Hall cafe for quite some time before deciding to make a dash for it back to base , only about 10 miles. No sooner had we left when the rain started again and we spent about 15 minutes in the Fire Station doorway while it hammered down. Then it was heads down and as fast as we could go along flooded roads back to base. Thursday was the picnic day but the main ride was too long and hilly for us so we took the recommended option of the car assist route to finish for lunch at Pittescott Village Hall after a 4 mile climb. The lunch was provide by the local WI and good and plentiful it was too. After that the way back seemed very easy almost all down hill or flat. The weather that day was fine and we were able to appreciate the countryside and the quiet lanes. It was a good route but there did seem a dearth of cafes. Friday’s forecast seemed miserable and so we all decided to go to Chester by car to ensure we had sufficient time there to see the sights. It was a really good day with a walk around the city walls, lunch in the Cathedral with an audio tour thereafter and finally a walk through the Rows, the double banked
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shopping streets in the centre. I was surprised at the number of jewellers there, and not just the High Street chains. There has always been money up there but perhaps the proximity of well paid footballers and footballers’ wives in the leafy Cheshire towns and villages add to the demand. Saturday was our last day and we decided to take the Llansilyn ride as it involved a canal and some very rural routes. The canal tea rooms were popular with other cyclists but after that we missed our route for some reason and had to create our own to pick up the official route a bit further on. This also led up to the Old Racecourse at Oswestry via some really nice lanes with a subsequent long descent from the top to Gobowen and more gentle riding to Ellesmere.
Our Heroes at Oswestry Racecourse
Evening entertainment was excellent with a very popular choir , an hilarious evening with Three Men in a Bow Tie, a jazz band and an instructive evening on GPS systems. We didn’t do a great mileage but took the view that we were there to see local sights and different countryside. It did seem quieter in Shropshire with less traffic on our routes and thanks must go to to organisers and local cyclists for the work they put in to make this a good week.
David Cycle Ink #167
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Right to Ride Report
Paul M. Turner
November 2012 Poole
Borough of Poole has passed a plan for Local Sustainable Transport Fund the corridor of Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole. The plan is around Constitution Hill, Ashley Road and Sea View Public House. There will be a bus interchange and cycling and pedestrian friendly layout. Another scheme is at west of Poole Station, Vanguard Road, around Hunger Hill and Holes Bay. There will be bike racks for Poole Station on the west side of the Poole Station.A proposed link for cyclists from Holes Bay Road underneath the road next the railway, has been also been passed, Work has been started on this, see map and photo on next page. Poole - North Road and Danecourt Road. This would involve the removal of parking on both sides of North Road between Ashley Road and Danecourt Road by marking double yellow lines.
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A provision of a pedestrian refuge to assist crossing the road to the north of Cotes Avenue with cycling lanes on both sides. Between Danecourt Road and the Civic Centre, the restrictions on the Ashley Road bound (uphill) side would remain unchanged, whereas the Poole bound (downhill) side of North Road would permit evening parking only. This is an example of a scheme, which seeks to achieve a compromise of providing sufficient width for through bus traffic during the busy part of the day, but allows more parking during the evening in order to minimise inconvenience to residents. There is resistance from local residents because loss for parking on North Road! Poole - Twins Sail Bridge - A “damning” report has criticised a controversial £1million road scheme to feed Poole’s two bridges for providing a “poor” environment for walkers and cyclists. An independent report has mirrored their concerns. Basically it is racetrack for motor vehicles not pedestrians and cyclists. On 21 November a Borough of Poole Select Committee will meet to hammer out the problems but it seems that more motor vehicles will reign! I did make representations in about cycling situation in September. Bournemouth Bournemouth Council has established this new cycling route. Also in Ringwood Road, there are plans to upgrade the path for cycling from Wallisdown Road to Poole Lane & Turbary Park Avenue.
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And You Thought the Gridiron . . . . was just a Bike Ride In this paper we show how a seemingly unremarkable object – a cattle grid – has come to presence climate change in partial and contingent ways on the Lizard Peninsula, Cornwall, UK. We identify the cattle grid as an ‘anticipatory object’ through which conservation organisations seek to manage the future and adapt to climate change, but one which at the same time presences that unthought-of future for others in the landscape. We explore the ways in which the cattle grid acts to presence something that is not only absent – climate change – but has uncertain imminence . . . [continues] “Anticipatory Objects and Uncertain Imminence: cattle grids, landscape and the presencing of climate change on the Lizard Peninsula” C. Leyshon & H. Geoghegan Department of Geography, University of Exeter. I thank Private Eye’s Pseuds Corner for pointing this out. Jeez, who funds these people to write this stuff? Furthermore who peer-reviews it? Not to mention the use of the word “presence” as a verb.
Keith
John Stobart Memorial Ride 8th Nov 12
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A Brief Sojourn
Shawn Shaw
7am BST. Time to go. First stop Wilton and a fry-up probably, possibly; doubtful. Cold and frosty this, the morning of the day before the clocks ‘go back’. Through Wimborne and Cranborne with the stars for company, to Damerham and Rockborne as the sun just winked on the skyline. My rhythm was set and regular as I readied myself for the lump into Coombe Bisset then over the top to breakfast. Settled in the valley road gliding between the white frosted fields there was recall from the mind’s depths of a rhyme;
When I set out for Lyonnesse, A hundred miles away, The rime was on the spray, And starlight lit my lonesomeness When I set out for Lyonnesse A hundred miles away. Thomas Hardy was off to Cornwall and I was headed for Hungerford; he to work; me for the pleasure and the level of fitness it sustains. A hundred miles for him; a hundred K for me. The conditions, of frost and starlight, we did share. Those thoughts rolled for only a small way as I drifted to think that there was not much else about. True, there had been comuter traffic out of Poole, a little traffic on the Cranborne road and one or two dog-walkers in Rockborne, but I was thinking of deer and expecting to catch a glimpse before the sun was full above the ridge line. Scanning the land to left and right nothing was obvious. The fields were now clear of the summer crops. I recalled the large pink poppies growing in that field there where now just stubble and … what? I stopped the bike and put both feet to the ground. What is that? I was looking for deer but this was avian. Standing as tall, but on two legs, and dark and grey in the broadening dawn light just atop a mid distance ridge I now know to be Duck Nest barrow there were three … Cranes? Storks? We exchanged a long stare us four and then I thought to reach for my camera. Before the winter gloves could come off and have the camera out of the saddlebag the birds, full of grace, lifted into the air. Silhouetted in flight the beaks were short the neck held long and the wings beat rhythically. I shadowed these three for as far my path would allow then watched from the rising road as they tracked the vale bottom heading West of North towards Shaftesbury. I was in Wilton at 10 am full of the joy of the priviledge of that once in sixty years sighting. And no, no fry up - but scrambled eggs on toast with mushrooms and tea were very welcome. It still was not warm when I left Wilton
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and entered upon the Woodford road with the Avon for company. The sun was bright but the wind from the North carried a chill sustained in the Cairngorms and swept along the Pennines was yet to be warmed by the plains inbetween. Amesbury then Tidworth showed some mercy against the incessant blow and in Collingbourne Ducis there was for the briefest of moments a tail wind. Short lived the relief was profound but soon the pub and the left turn was made, back into the face of it. The road goes up from here and passes a brick beehive before dropping down to rejoin the A338, the road to Hungerford. Descending with care, and traffic permitting, one may catch a glimpse of the windmill sails which fix the position of the village, the other Wilton, into the landscape. 1pm Hungerford and lunch down by the bridge in the well known cyclist’s watering hole The Tutti Pole. Beans on toast and tea – I was in a traditional mood and still aglow from the avian encounter. It was now warm enough to take a layer or two off especially as the cold wind was now anticipated to be propelling rather than erasing effort. And so it was. Having carried the ‘big ring’ all that way I now had the chance to use it. Retracing my outward route the first reminder of head wind came at what was now a right turn by the pub toward Collingbourne Ducis; a minor stutter to rhythm and power tarnsfer lasting perhaps 10 mins. Once back on the A338 the push returned passing the military cemetary and the civil engineering project into Tidworth across the open spaces toward Bulford. The hills along the roadside produced a taste of headwind again which persisted through Larkhill into Shrewton. I stopped here on the business of arranging a breakfast control for an Audax event (300km – 6th April) next year. A swift half of cider (and business done) I set out for the Wylie Valley and Wilton and Poole. Half light of dusk is not a favourite time to be on the road so I took the opportunity to escape by diving into The Fox and Goose at Coombe Bissett for a baguette and coffee. Proper dark now I quilted up against the proper cold and set out for home. Rockborne and Damerham passed by as sleeping with their residents tucked up behind curtained windows under black thatch. Probably dining, watching telly. Cleaning their bike? Perhaps. I was still going well approaching the hill before the Phillip Green school when Mr Barker broke into song and offered unneeded and unheralded assistance with my hill climbing technique. Unneeded as I don’t see hills as the weakest aspect of my riding repetoire; unheralded as thus far the conversation was all his, one sided. Mr Barker ran and I sprinted; his feet scratched the tarmac and his bark was insistant; I slipped down a gear and sprinted harder. It was then I decided to change my tactics. Rudely interupting him in mid bark I thundered “Get the hell out of it!” The half bark hung in mid air; the scratching feet stopped; silence; the warm dog-breath feeling in my ear faded away. Mr Barker had melted into the night and I settled back into my steady Audax rhythm through Cranborne and Wimborne onto the Chinese Takeaway to pick up a late celebratory supper and my own Lyonnesse.
Shawn
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Yo Ho Bloody Ho
By Big Bob
Here we go again; why me? Every year at Christmas here at “Le Hotel du Velo Sportif” country cyclists’ retirement manor I get shoved into the Father Christmas outfit. The damn thing is far to small with red trousers that look like Roubaix Tights on me and make getting my leg over the saddle to participate in the Christmas morning sprint for the village Pub sherry session a painful and arduous activity. I feel I am but a short step away from fixing a ring of bells around my calves and joining Pete D, and his Morris men jumping up and down knocking our sticks together . . . no Wendy, get up, I said “sticks”. But I cannot complain when others have worked so hard to transform our lovely old stone manor house into a glittering castle of seasonal celebration with coloured lighting sparking silver and gold reflections everywhere and have you seen how the big log fire in the library makes the Holly berry’s shine. Here I must confess a childlike delight in the strings of lighting down the driveway so skilfully manufactured by our own Mike B, out of perforated empty Stella Lager cans. The effect when returning home in darkness from an extended ride and turning into the driveway can only be described as magical and shows the mans dedication to the job in hand. So much so that we had great difficulty in preventing him from continuing the display up the lane, across the meadow and on to the “B” road! A highlight for me on Christmas Eve on the stroke of midnight will be 4 pints Dave’s intended daring abseil down the outside and the full height of the North West Tower encased in lit candles while singing “Once In Royal David’s City” in a quivering falsetto voice which tends to come upon him in moments of tension I’ve noticed in our village ale house. On sober reflection there are opportunities for malfunction here but I think it pays to be an optimist on these occasions. On the cooking front Jean B, our catering manageress has accepted additional help on the day from two of our stalwart residents. Jim Mc, who’s enormous Plum Duff , when he can be persuaded to show it, has drawn many a strangled gasp of astonishment and Keith our esteemed Newsletter Editor who possesses
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the fastest rising souffle I have ever seen. So our celebration Christmas day dinner should see us well catered for. Only one of our number will be somewhat frugal on the day and that is our Hon House Committee Treasurer Mike W, who, thanks to the close attention of his personal Lady Trainer has lost so much weight, in order to participate with distinction in our Christmas Hill Climb, that his new name of “Mick the Stick” is entirely appropriate. To add glitter to the evening Lord Compton and his good lady (she, if you remember, was almost carried to destruction on the handlebars of Alan D’s, tandem trike at our inaugural Track Meeting) will be there. While on this subject I was gratified to learn Alan has agreed at last to trim his beard in order to look a little less like Ben Gunn at the top table. I am sure we will all breathe a little easier with this knowledge. So under the benign twinkling eyes of Terry, our Pickwickian House Chairman, the Dinner I am sure will be the usual great success with kind cyclists banter in abundance and raised glasses to past cycling companions who cannot be present. A true celebration of the bond that joins Bikies on the road and off. Oh! And before I forget, I have just heard a whisper that as part of the after dinner entertainment Wareham Bob has agreed to give a thrilling demonstration of his “ Paso Doble “, complete, and I say this with a tremble in my voice, complete , with thigh mounted castanets. Now I dare you to say that our cup does not runneth over. As last year all those who for one reason or another are at a loose end this Christmas are more than welcome to join us in our festivities. So no excuses, throw a few things in your saddlebag and cycle over for the dinner or better still stay a few days and enjoy the warmth and companionship of our very own “Le Hotel du velo Sportif”. As a break, should a little me time be required during your stay, can I suggest an evening ride through the cold winter air up onto the downs and while stopping in the saddle look up and be surrounded by stars in the clear atmosphere we enjoy in the countryside. It never ceases to amaze me what a parallel to life the bike journey is. It has its hills, its adverse winds, rain and associated problems just like life but there are also good companions, warm sunny lanes and being swamped in flowers in the springtime. All of us occasionally have to cycle through the darkness alone. Not quite knowing where we are, but confident that come the dawn the sun will shine and braking to a standstill in some pretty village in a quiet valley on the journey a voice will say “Welcome stranger, all is well, you are home”. Have a peaceful and merry riding Christmas.
Big Bob 13
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Burnham-on-Sea 2012
By David Chesworth
Last year I wrote a short article on the trip to Pagham organised by Tony Silver. This year he set up another short break, this time to Burnham-on-Sea and staying once more on a mobile home site. All in all there were 20 participants with 14 of us cycling. We made our own way there with Colin being dropped off by Sarah (having come direct from a family party “up north”) and Mike, Ralph and I travelling in Ralph’s car. The five of us arrived a little later than the others who were on their way out for a short warming up ride to Brean Sands along the coast. We hurriedly had something to eat and shot off ourselves passing them on their way back. The ride was along the coast but the views were of many more caravan sites, quite a few advertising vacancies and special deals - not very attractive. It was a quick 16 miles and we all piled into John and Christine’s caravan for afternoon tea. This group tea and cakes in a different van each day was to set the scene for the rest of the break and successful the idea was too. The next day was a ride to Glastonbury on quiet lanes via Catcott for our coffee break in a roadside pub which had a glass covered well in the dining room. We sat outside and as is often the case a former cyclist turned up to talk. It turned out he had ridden for the Great Britain team in the Tour de France in the early 60‘s. He had been sponsored by Condor Mackeson and we had to rely on Colin, our resident ex-racer, to reminisce about former glories and personalities. We then cycled on to Glastonbury where we found it was market day. The town was busy and buzzing and it seemed the Olympic torch had passed through earlier in the day after having been to Wells. Sandwiches were duly purchased by those who hadn’t made them up back at base and after having eaten them in the grounds of the Abbey we continued to Glastonbury Tor. The day was perfect weather-wise for our visit and most of us left our bikes at the bottom and climbed to the top of the Tor where we had extensive views and where another visitor took our photo. Then it was back to the town. Glastonbury is a funny, quirky sort of place and I could not be quite sure if the heavy smell as we rode through the High St was incense, cannabis or something else. We meandered down the road listening to the odd guitar, noticing the ladies wearing long flowing dresses, past the Psychic Pig shop (don’t know what that was about), past large adverts in windows offering meditation courses and also courses to “get in touch with your inner chakra” whatever that means. All very entertaining. The return was via a couple of Nature reserves on well tended gravel paths with the added excitement of lifting the tandem trike and tandem over a couple
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of gates. After our experience last year though at Pagham that was no problem. We’d had a lovely day duly finished off with afternoon tea back at the site. The next day was a ride to Cheddar Gorge with our coffee stop at a pub as we hadn’t been able to find any cafes en route. After our sandwich lunch 7 of us rode up Cheddar having agreed to meet the others at Wedmore and the Pumpkin Deli for tea. The 5 solos and Clifford and Ann’s tandem duly made the climb up Cheddar to turn right a little way after the top. The minor road we took descended very steeply on a poor surface. The 5 solos reached the bottom and we awaited the tandem which we knew would be a little slower. Suddenly BANG! We knew what it was and we started back up the road to see if all was OK. Fortunately it was only a puncture. The wheel rims were quite hot but the tyre seemed alright. Not finding any flint or thorn a new inner tube was inserted before we rode on again to Wedmore. The others were getting a bit worried about our non-appearance and were glad to see us. They waited while we indulged in some excellent cakes during which time a young girl asked if we could help her as the tyre on her bike was soft. Mike was there, pump in hand, before you could blink. Her name was Nina (and for Barry Manilow fans not Lola and she wasn’t a show girl) .However, Mike’s flamboyant style, enthusiasm and chat seemed to unnerve her and when the tyre was inflated she pedalled off with a cheery goodbye saying she was going to meet her husband. Such is life eh? Continuing on our way it was only about 5 minutes before the tandem punctured again. Nothing was obvious in the tyre again but some swarf was
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removed. The tape seemed fine as well. Off we went again. !00 metres further on the tyre was flat for the third time. This was now more serious. Everything was dismantled, tape and spokes checked , more swarf removed when suddenly a small tear in the tyre was spotted right by the bead. That seemed to be the culprit. Our Senior Mechanic, Alan,who has seen and solved more cycling problems than we’ve all had hot dinners brought his expertise to bear and carried out a temporary repair to enable us to finish our ride. No problem after that. Cliff, on arrival back at site went back to his car to change the tyre and ensure that there was no further difficulty the following day. For the rest of us we enjoyed another session of tea and cake and deep discussions on tandems, steep hills, heavy braking and hot rims. What a day. Next day was our ride to Wells to visit the Cathedral. Colin was leading this along some fantastic little lanes with the benefit of his Garmin. En route to Wells we stopped to check the route. I looked back to see Colin , who had stopped to check his bearings, take a step to the side on the grass verge and all of a sudden disappear into the ditch. Some of these ditches were deep drainage ditches and I ran back a few steps wondering where Colin had gone to: I couldn’t see his bike or him. I heard a shout and peered through the nettles and cow parsley to see him lying at the bottom of the ditch with his bike on top of him. The ditch was about 4 or 5 feet deep but luckily Colin wasn’t hurt and it was a question of getting him out as he was virtually upside down. I dropped down into the ditch and pulled at the bike which with the help of Cliff we got out of the ditch. Good job it was a carbon bike! I cut and broke brambles and nettles and Colin was then able to move while Cliff helped me out of the ditch before we then pulled Colin up. All was well apart from nettle stings all over our legs. It could have been much worse though. A rider falling into a 5 foot ditch was something of a first I think but all this activity was almost too much for a group of cyclists who could have come straight from the set of “ Last of the Summer Wine” so after some excitable chatter we staggered on to Wells for a restorative coffee. Wells Cathedral was beautiful and we spent some time meandering around before deciding to wend our way back over the Levels. Needless to say our tea and cakes session involved considerable talk over “THE DITCH INCIDENT”. Fred said in his usual inimitable way that it was a good job that Colin was slim and athletic as distinct from obese as there was no heavy lifting gear in the vicinity! We had all had a great few days - good weather, good company, a new, interesting and quiet riding area, difficult punctures, a rider falling down a drainage ditch - what more could you want? Were we glad we went? Definitely.
David
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John Evans - Sartain Trophy
By Big Bob
At a convivial Inters coffee stop on a recent Sunday ride at the appropriately named “Madhatters Café” all were for once happy to remain silent to honour one of our longest serving members John Evans. Our CTC Wessex Cycling Committee had unanimously awarded him the Sartain Cup for his outstanding contribution to the group.
John joined the group over a quarter of a century ago, which was then at an early stage, and his enthusiasm, wide knowledge of the local lanes and unfailing good nature contributed greatly to the fun and enjoyment of our members over the years. Latterly he has been even busier with riding routes, arranging coffee , tea and lunch stops ( where his quiet diplomacy has kept proprietors on side ) not to forget his organization of the serendipity Inters Christmas lunch. Thankfully we have managed to persuade him to take it a little easier and come off the front and join us older members at the back where our easier pace and dignity can be enjoyed but I am afraid we have only been partially successful and the wild boy will break out! Long may we ride together John and the Inters are proud to have you among them.
Big Bob
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AGM & Prizegiving 2012
Michael Walsh
Terence Walsh
Chairman Terry looks happy, while Treasurer Mike looks delighted as the prizes were awarded at the AGM. John Evans could not be present so his award was Dave Proctor Freewheeling
Mike Gordon Tourist Shield
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given by Bob Courtney later as we have seen on the previous page. John & Sheila Ward too received their award later, the Ron Cook Trophy for spreading the fame of CTC Wessex. We see them here being awarded it by John Jackson.
Dave Proctor gets the Freewheel trophy. Mike Gordon has the Tourist Shield for the second year in a row. This is for the highest placed local rider in the DATC listings. Ray Haswell gets the Riders Cup for his Round Britain ride in aid of Gorilla charities this year.
John & Sheila- Ron Cook Rosebowl
Ray Haswell - Riders’ Cup
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Gridiron Report 2012
By John Jackson
This year’s ride was an unqualified success. If that sounds arrogant, let me justify it. Once again the numbers were up on last year’s previous record entry: ● entries up from 942 to 1213 ● numbers riding up from 842 to 1006 ● the mood in the halls at start and finish, and at the controls was simply brilliant ● so many riders voiced their thanks at the finish and subsequently sent emails and texts ● once again we organised glorious weather. Possibly our proudest achievement considering the miserable summer! What’s more impressive about the increased participation is when it’s viewed in context. The Gridiron is now sandwiched between
three Wiggle Sportives on the previous weekend (two road and one mtb) and the Cycletta women only ride on the following weekend. With so many options to ride in the New Forest at this time of year, we must be doing something right to attract so many riders. It could of course be our low entry fee of £5 compared to £46 for the Cycletta ride, even though they did advertise you would do get to
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ride with ‘Queen Vic’. Well that’s what they promised but in the end ‘Strictly’ came first and she didn’t show! The youngest rider to complete the Gridiron was 5 years old, admittedly on the back of a Tag-a-long but the youngest rider to complete unassisted on his own solo bike was a 9 years old boy from Lymington – what an achievement. We changed a couple of things this year: We introduced an on-line entry system, which was well received: ● Charity entries 96 (8%) ● Postal entries 137 (11%) ● Online entries 674 (56%) ● On-the-day entries 306 (25%) We tinkered with the route: eliminating a potential danger spot at Colbury; adding a little distance and a few more metres of ascent, including some of my own favourite lanes, to take the distance to just over the 100k. But we didn’t change everything. The special thing about the Gridiron, as everyone who subsequently spoke or emailed their thanks told me, are the volunteers who work their socks off and give up their chance to ride so that everyone else can. I really can’t thank them enough. Next year the Gridiron finally comes of age, when it is run for the 21st time. It is by far the largest CTC Tourist Trophy event. I think it is something special and we need to do something special next year to mark this – please let me know if you have any ideas. One last and important point, the continued and increasing popularity of the Gridiron means we need to introduce a few important changes for next year: ● entries will be limited to 1,000 ● only on-line entries will be accepted, there will be no postal or on-the-day entries. Although there will be help with on-line. Put Sunday 13th October 2013 in your diary and look on our website for entry details in the New Year.
John 21
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Committee meetings at The Conservative Club, Kinson. Next committee meeting: 20th February 2013 at 19:30 Committee meetings for 2013: 22nd May ; 21st August 23rd October (AGM) ; 20th November
Secretary: Mike Walsh: 17 Grove Gdns, Southbourne Rd, Bournemouth BH8 9JQ TEL: (01202) 429985 Email jmichaelwalsh@aol.com Editor: Keith Matthews: 10 Hill View Road, Ferndown, BH22 9QY TEL: (01202) 855001 Email keithjanet@btinternet.com
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 #167
22
SALES - RENTALS
- REPAIRS
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