Racer for all occations P.5
I’m Free OXFORDSHIRE & THE CHILTERNS
AUTUMN 2015 ISSUE 03
www.pedalyourcycle.com
Interview
Uptonogood Mountain Bike Festival in pictures
Maxine’s Diary
Spirit Bikes Race Team The Season So far
Pedal Your Cycle P.14
P.8
P.16
The Free cyclists’ paper for oxfordshire & the chilterns
CALIFORNIA PART TWO Power To Your Pedal
S
an Francisco to Monterey done, hoping to catch our new found fellow cyclists, we were back on the tarmac. First stop Carmel, an unusual, enchanting town where apparently ladies need a permit to wear heels over 2 inches because of the irregular pavements; whose mayor was Clint Eastwood back in the eighties and rated a top 10 US destination year on year. The coastline was beginning to
change becoming more rugged, more winding, more hilly – the giant redwoods were calling. Here through Big Sur the mountainous cliffs drop at vertical angles into the tumbling surf, so the road is narrow and the terrain mentally and physically strenuous. We rounded one corner aptly named Hurricane Point and I was blown completely across the highway. Luckily there was no traffic, I regained my composure and set
Cycle, Stop and Stretch....P.18
off again battling the side-wind. That night’s camp was PfeifferBig Sur, a fabulous back-to-nature park where you pitch up right in the ancestral redwood forests with plenty of fire pits for cooking and keeping warm. First to greet us were the fixies, Elvis and Zeb, who had decided to have a rest day, their aching muscles needed time out. Now the reason you go North to South is simple - THE WIND,
My RideLondon Weekend....P.20
which blows strongest in the afternoon. At best it will rain dirt into your face whilst deafening you as it whistles through your helmet and at worst it will attempt to push you all the way back to Mexico should you ride against it. We had it on our side and by the end of the evening when stories where exchanged, we very nearly convinced two newcomers to turn around and come with us. Going south to north, their overriding
Club Column....P.23
memories were the wind and the fact that they pretty much were on their own for the journey. Next day, Big-Sur to Kirk Creek campground, destination decided only 30 miles today, minus side trips. According to our Bible, more demanding than the previous day. We set off first, the newbies still undecided, then slowly the rest of the gang gathered up Continued on page 4
A Hero In The Shaping....P.19