Pedal Your Cycle West Midlands & Wales - Summer 2015 by lakewoodmedia

Will Ford’s Diary Of A Beginner

Power to your pedal

California Part 3 Follow Dawn Farnworth as she continues the US West Coast adventure.

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I’m Free WEST MIDLANDS & WALES

SUMMER 2015 ISSUE 05

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Will Ford takes on Mud Runner Icebreaker.

Ann’s USA Transcontinental Record Ride – RAAM P.20

Hopton Trail

Check our the Shropshire trails

Pedal Your Cycle P.10

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The Free cyclists’ paper for West Midlands & wales

Sarn Helen Expedition

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In our opinion the 270 mile Sarn Helen North to South Wales MTB Expedition is the best long distance ride in Wales, if not the UK. With height gain of 29,000ft it’s a demanding route and whether the rider opts to complete it over a week or so of P.4

continuous riding, or chooses to tackle it section-by-section, it’s an experience that’s well worth the planning and physical undertaking.

St Michael’s Hospice

Wheelie Big Cycle

1 7- 1

Red Kite Events

01597 825151 www.llandodcyclefest.co.uk

“Wheelie Big” fun for everyone Sunday 19th July 2015

2015 OD LA N D

L E F E ST CYC9 LJULY BOOK TODAY

Continued on page 14

Registration 8am: event starts from 9am

16, 32, 60 and 93 mile circular routes Plus the ‘Wheelie Little Cycle’ for youngsters Enter online:

www.st-michaels-hospice.org.uk/wheeliebig or call the Events Team on 01432 851000

851000

Supported by South Hereford Garages

WWW.REVOLVE24.COM

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Charity No. 511179

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

News

Pedal Your Cycle is the UK’s only free newspaper for cyclists. With articles for all levels of riders, from professional cyclists to parents looking for a route suitable for the whole family, our aim is to create a newspaper and hub for all who love cycling. In each issue you will find local news, trails and events along with reviews and cycling adventures. Discover cyclists from all over the world in our interviews and check out the centre map to find trusted local places along your cycling route. We hope you enjoy your copy of Pedal Your Cycle as much as we enjoy making it. Missed something in the newspaper? Check out our website www. pedalyourcycle.com for all the latest cycling news and videos.

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2015

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Jamie Booth

Managing Director jamie@pedalyourcycle.com

Adam Haworth

Managing Editor adam@pedalyourcycle.com

Neil Coleman

Chris Palmer

Spaces are limited

Jeni Hughes

News & Copy Editor jeni@pedalyourcycle.com Advertising & Sales Director neil@pedalyourcycle.com Oxford Editor-in-Chief chris@pedalyourcycle.com

Book online:

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ADVERTISING

Contact Jamie or Jeni to discuss advertising in PYC: Jamie Booth - 07823 325099 Jeni Hughes - 07585802042 advertising@pedalyourcycle.com Get in touch with Chris to discuss advertising in the Oxford edition: Chris Palmer - 07747015827 ads.oxford@pedalyourcycle.com

Pedal Your Cycle LTD

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Registered in England & Wales 09472887 In association with Lakewood media Limited.

For a cyclist, emotion is closed-roads, smooth asphalt, arduous climbs, exhilarating descents and fast sprints. Revolve24 have searched the planet to deliver the perfect package of emotion and competitive conditions for you to challenge your fellow racers on closed-road motor racing circuits.

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INTRODUCING THE LLANDRINDOD FESTIVAL OF CYCLING Llandrindod Cycle Fest is a new event taking place on July 17 - 19. This is coming to our neck of the woods in July 17 - 19 and promises to be more than just another provincial bike fest. Does your local cycle festival have the following? •

Awesome site on the town lake, with Cycle Village, trade stands, bouncy castle, climbing wall and competitions for children. Sealed perimeter road for children's cycling and access.

•

National Cycle Collection near site with 200 bicycles from 1819 to present day (providing a an indoor attraction in the unlikely event of inclement weather).

•

Pig roast on site with locally reared pork and other authentic food from Pigs Folly.

•

CAMRA beer stall on site selling real ale on draft. Avon Ales micro pub with 5 draft beers and local draft cider, 1/4 mile from the site can take over after the site closes.

•

The region’s liveliest carnival takes place that weekend in the adjacent town of Rhayader for even more fun (Hubjub leading the ride-out).

You notice that is before we get to the actual cycling. Yes, we actually expect you to get up in the morning and ride your bikes too! Hubjub are quite happy for you to turn up and take the day as it comes, setting off when the fancy takes you and coming back to the fold after a day spent exploring in the hills. Youngsters will find enough on site to keep them occupied through the day. The festival has brought together the best bike promoters in the mid wales area and given them carte blanche to run the events they do best. Should you wish to step up to an organised event, here are the highlights:

John Lloyd Events John Lloyd having run a successful bike shop in Builth Wells and Brecon since 1994, identified another opportunity and in 1999 launched John Lloyd Racing Events. The event company organised mountain bike marathons all over the British Isles. The MTB Marathon Series is now an acknowledged ‘must do’ for any mountain bike enthusiast from the UK and abroad. John also organised acclaimed Trans Wales MTB Stage Race for 7 years.

Red Kite Events Best known for their various “Devil” rides, Red Kite Events organise a wide range of Mountain Bike and Road Cycling events across the UK, and they pride themselves on providing a really enjoyable and rewarding rider experience. Expect dramatic, challenging routes, excellent route-marking and rider support, accurate timing, and a very friendly, relaxed atmosphere. All their event routes this year have been designed by Red Kite Events’ Neil Delafield, an experienced national downhiller and trials rider, so riders can expect to be challenged.

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Mucky Breaks With over 27 years of mountain biking experience within the surrounding countryside of Mid Wales, Mucky Breaks has gained an in depth knowledge of the natural terrain and trails in Llandrindod Wells and Radnorshire. Their aim is always to give riders a fun, challenging and rewarding mountain biking experience that they can take away and wish to return to. They are keen to encourage beginners especially to try mountain biking in this area as it is challenging but very rideable in all weather conditions. They promise that riders will learn a lot about mountain biking in a very short space of time.

Clive Powell Mountain Bikes Part of the mountain bike scene since the very start, Clive Powell Mountain Bikes runs Dirty Weekends which are fully packaged mountain bike and road bike weekends. The Weekends are complete with accommodation, food, guiding and support and are run from Rhayader near the Elan Valley in Mid Wales, an area renowned for its spectacular dams and reservoirs. Clive also finds time to run the Trans Cambrian sportive.

Drover Cycles Fresh from running their own Hay-on-Wye cycling festival in 2014, Drover are premier activity holiday operators and bicycle shop in the “Town of Books”. Specialists in touring and exhibition bikes, Drover are also active in the community encouraging bicycle use.

Daisy Chain Offering everything from full Sportives to the social “Breeze” leisure rides, with a supportive and fun atmosphere. With John Lloyds experience on hand, Daisy Chain founder Bonna has quickly made Daisy Chain into the premier promoters of ladies only cycling events.

Hubjub Cycling The first online UK retailer of single-speed and fixed-wheel specific cycling goodies, Hubjub has been trading for over 10 years. Current owners Drew and David took on the business and trade out of a bike shop in Llandrindod Wells serving the bike messenger scene as well as others who appreciate the elegance and performance of track inspired bikes.

5 1 20 OD D N LA

L E F E ST L C Y C 9 JULY BOOK TODAY 1 7- 1

Red Kite Events

John Lloyd Racing Events

01597 825151 www.llandodcyclefest.co.uk

Oxfordshire & The Chilterns - Issue 02 - Summer 2015 5twitter.com/pedalyourcycle

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THE UK’S NEWEST & MOST EXCITING DOWNHILL & FREERIDE CENTRE 1 Day Push & Ride Pass

£5 Pay On Arrival

The ultimate mountain biking experience set in the heart of the breathtakingly natural beauty of The Black Mountains. Situated just five miles north of Abergavenny, the centre is designed to inspire, excite and is guaranteed to take your breath away! The BMCC is predominantly a downhill and free ride centre which has been designed by renowned riders and trail designers Shaun Bevan and Gary Broad. They have joined forces to design a course which is unique to the UK. We can boast a trail that features a dramatic bridge, large table tops, flowy berms and the country’s best jump line, set on a working hill farm in beautiful unspoilt rural Wales. We aim to challenge enthusiasts of intermediate and advanced ability.

1 day ride pass with uplift

Midweek Group uplift service

Contact for availability

£25

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Available every day from 10.00 – Dusk

Great Llwygy Farm Abergavenny NP7 7PE

07779 243099 gwenda@blackmountainscyclecentre.com

www.blackmountainscyclecentre.com

UPLIFTS:

10.00 – Dusk on Saturday and Sunday (Summer + Winter Months)

Book Ahead To Avoid DISAPPOINTMENT.

Book Now

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Power To Your Pedal

CALIFORNIA PART 3 By Dawn Farnworth

“Nothing compares to the simple pleasures of riding a bike”

o here it is then, Los Angeles. We had all made it safely this far from San Fran, so bring it on! That was everyone’s thought this morning as we had all heard many scare stories. The megalopolis that is LA houses 4 million people in an area of 342 miles, the second largest city in the US. Opinion was just to get through it and meet up at the other end. We wished each other good luck and good legs. Malibu was only 12 miles so that was the ideal breakfast stop, then bring on the sunshine and the beaches! The weather had changed a little over the past few days, people were talking of the Santa Ana winds so our journey could be a fast one. Fuel tanks filled, we

- JF Kennedy

headed off again. It took a little while to get through Malibu, the route being roughly 27 miles of mostly large urban sprawl with some very impressive houses. Through Santa Monica, we hit one incredibly long beach. Fine, golden sand that stretched as far as we could see, Malibu, Venice, El segundo, Manhattan, Redondo and of course Muscle! peppered with life guard stations and oil rigs and alongside huge car parks ready for the giant RVs that litter the roads in the height of season. They really are the monsters of the motor world and you only need a standard licence to hire one. We were overtaken one day by an RV towing a 4x4 jeep towing a speedboat, the whole thing must have been eighty foot long! Many smaller towns and cities display

the signs ‘NO RVs’. A few of the gang thought they might try the YMCA for tonight’s bed as campsites were a little daunting. We did enquire but they wanted $80 to share a bunk room so we peddled on to Redondo Beach. We found a great little motel for just $90 a room with a king size bed and cycle lock up. We were given a tip early on that the places on the front in all of the towns are more expensive than those just a few streets back. LA was fascinating and not intimidating at all. You do need your wits about you but as long as you’re sensible it’s fine. We spent a couple of days here taking gentle rides out and people-watching, Venice beach was the best for this. Done with the big city lights we took to the Tarmac again,

tonight’s destination Doheny, 60 miles away. It was more than a little tricky leaving LA, our Bible says that this section is mentally exhausting and you need to be alert at all times. It seems there are two main routes out and we took the one through the oil refineries. Interesting in themselves but the traffic was very heavy and we did too many miles on a six lane freeway. The shining light of the day was a little extra trip we made to Balboa Island, a man made area off Newport Beach. We had been told to hunt out frozen bananas and corn dogs here and not to miss them. Hopelessly lost and asking for directions, a passing stranger offered to take us to the best banana shop in California for no other reason than he could. Obviously this was lunch and

pudding! Next stop was San Elijo, the last public camp site North of Mexico and around 50miles of gently rolling terrain – lovely. The high spot of the day was riding through Camp Pendleton, a large Marine training facility. There is no other way around, it is just straight through. Security at the main gate inspected our passports and checked us over. We were told to wear our helmets throughout the area and not take any photos. A Chinook tailed us for a while as little ants in the distance ran around shooting each other and throwing explosives. There were tanks thundering about any which way and us, quietly rolling along trying not to look too interested. On to San Diego, with the road gently undulating, we set off,

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passing Cardiff by the Sea, the beach busy and crowded with surfers. This was our favourite beach of the whole route and overlooked by a lovely little campground. Then a climb out through Torrey Pines, more breathtaking scenery and the air filled with the scent of pine cones. San Fran is all about ‘retro’ bikes and not very whizzy but here on this stretch all the racing snakes on their carbon made us acutely aware of how the fashion had altered further south. Soon the city sprawl of San Diego was upon us. We had arranged to meet up for a celebratory meal with the others later but first a bed for the night. We rode around the massive harbour and 2 blocks in

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we found a nice motel. At dinner, the feelings were bitter sweet, the adventure would soon be over and none of us wanted to stop. So many stories of people met and lives recounted. Here I need to tell you about Jimmy. Obviously there had been some trauma as Jimmy left home on his dad’s aged bike. Having little cycling experience he had been bothered a lot by punctures, as many as six a day, but he had discovered that a mixture of super glue, gaffer tape and very importantly, a lighter would fix the problem just fine. Jimmy’s world changed when he was given a glueless patch and told to buy a new tube and tyre. There is a saying, ‘It’s the special ingredients that

change an ordinary ride into an extraordinary experience.’ We arranged the run to the border for thanksgiving day, it seemed appropriate. The final leg, Tijuana, and a unanimous decision meant that we would not cross over but just go and get the photo; south of the border is not the place for gringos on bicycles! Deciding on a circular route we headed for the ferry to Coronado Island, then picked our way through the busy streets until finally an end to the concrete and more of the dry brown that had been with us all the way. Reaching the boundary and being followed by Border Patrol, we set aside the bikes. After a brief chat about our presence there,

we took our photos, stared at the Mexicans staring back at us and quietly left. The borderline runs for 1954 miles from here, Imperial Beach CA to Texas. It was paid for entirely by the US and is the most dangerous and most frequently crossed boundary in the world. It is watched along its entire length every minute of every day. We had to figure out how to get the bikes back to SF as our flight home was approaching. Originally I had planned to get the Surfliner but the timetables wouldn’t work, so we chose to take the overnight greyhound bus. The station was scary with its own security and resident homeless family living out of a suitcase at the far end. Steve packed down the bikes

and for an additional $10 for the boxes, they would be coming with us – safe. Arrival in San Fran, 5.30am and in desperate need of coffee. It was freezing properly, frost on the ground and the cold burning our ears. The agenda for today was simple, ride across the Golden Gate Bridge, our reward for our journey and the inspiration for the trip. Back home we’d seen it on the TV and thought we’d like to do that one day, then all of a sudden we were there. The sun was just coming up as we rode for the last time through the city.

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

News

A spotlight on

GET IN GEAR CYCLEWEAR Sarah Murray talks with the owner, Suzie Robinson www.getingearcyclewear.com Cycling is in Suzie Robinson’s blood. As a child, she cycled the lanes around Bodenham in Herefordshire and when living in Bristol as a young adult, cycling was Suzie’s preferred mode of transport. When she worked for Harvey Wine Merchants and studied for a Wine Diploma, Suzie would frequently cycle up and down Park Street in Bristol with wine in her panniers. “Cycling is about getting out and about. Born and bred on a farm, I’ve always realised how incredibly lucky I am being in the countryside and even when I lived in Bristol for 18 years, although I loved the luxuries of living in the City, I still loved the great outdoors.” Suzie is the creator and owner of Get In Gear Cyclewear, which specialises in high spec cycle clothing for adults and children. The cyclewear produced by Get In Gear boasts original and bold designs with a nod to classic retro roadie styling. The jerseys are made from lightweight fast wicking fabric with strong zips and a high quality finish. Husband, Mark is also a very keen cyclist. He bought Suzie a road bike and developed her interest in cycling as a serious hobby. After their children were born, Suzie was keen that they too would ride bikes for health and fitness. Their youngest son,

Harry has gone absolutely ‘bike mad’, particularly with mountain biking. It was whilst trying to find kit for Harry that Suzie came up with her business idea. “I soon realised that what was out there was really plain, just red, yellow or blue. That’s all there was.” Suzie recognised there was a gap in the market. “When kids really get into cycling they want to look cool and look like the guy on TV. At 10 or 12 years old, they don’t want to look the same as a 4 or 5 year old; they want to look more like Dad … or Mum.” The more Suzie looked into it, the more she realised she had found a good business idea. Initially Suzie’s intention was to set up a nice online business supplying other people’s clothing. “However, what I found was so dull and I thought I could do something better.” At first, Suzie hoped to design the clothes herself but soon realised she needed a designer. Suzie wanted somebody who was creative and understood cycling. After a time consuming search, Suzie found Matt Hemmings who is also a keen cyclist and originally from Herefordshire. “I told him I wanted the designs to look more

adult and move away from the ‘cute kid’ look currently available. I wanted the parents to say, I want that in my size.” Matt took Suzie’s brief to heart and came up with some cracking designs, so good that Suzie does indeed now have to produce them in kids and adult sizes because the adults said ‘I want that in my size’. “Matt couldn’t have been more enthusiastic or more in tune. He is somebody I see myself having a long term business relationship with.” Get In Gear Cyclewear launched at the Cycle Show at the NEC in September 2014. “We got a great response from public and trade and plenty of customers literally buying into our new

brand.” Up until now Get In Gear has just been an online business but is now looking to expand into the retail sector by targeting a handful of independents who will like the quirkiness of a small, niche brand such as Get In Gear. Get In Gear was launched at a fashion show on 17th April in Malvern Cycles, a social enterprise which incorporates a café in a bike shop in Malvern Link. They will stock kids sizes and hopefully some adult sizes too. I asked Suzie about her hopes for the future with Get In Gear. “I would love to expand the range and have new designs every year, winter kit and cycling tights, gillets, socks and all sorts of things. I’d also love to have base layers to complement the range

In Memory of Matthew Matthew Gerard was a 34-year-old who attended school in Hereford and went on to gain a GNVQ in Leisure and a Masters Diploma in Personal Training and Sports Massage Therapy. He worked at Hereford Leisure centre, then in Malvern and eventually to London, managing a larger gym as well as being a sports injury therapist and sports performance coach. In January 2011, this fit young man went for a run and a swim in his local gym. On leaving the gym he collapsed and was taken to Charing Cross Hospital and diagnosed with epilepsy. 12 months later he was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Glioma cancerous brain tumour. Matthew was operated on at Queen Elizabeth hospital and had chemotherapy at the McMillan Renton Unit in Hereford. Through sheer

determination he made wonderful progress, embracing the ‘Live Strong’ lifestyle and seeking alternative health methods and nutrition. Sadly, in February 2013, whilst this active and inspirational man was fighting his battle with the debilitating disease, Nick, his 57-year-old father was diagnosed with a Grade 4 Astrocytoma brain tumour. Nick passed away at St Michaels Hospice on the 2nd May 2014. Matthew was unable to attend his father’s funeral because he had contracted a severe case of shingles on the face which attacked the optical muscles. Matthew’s determination increased and he regularly went walking in the local mountains and progressed to running and in October 2014 he completed the mud runner competition at Eastnor Castle.

Matthew believed in the Live Strong way, following Lance Armstrong with his determination to fight and beat this cruel disease. Before diagnosis, Matthew was a keen cyclist, regularly cycling to Malvern for work. Unfortunately after the diagnosis of epilepsy he was unable to cycle any more on the roads, but he cycled many miles on a spin bike at home. He always wore the yellow Livestrong band and had numerous t-shirts with the logo on. He read many of Armstrong’s books and took comfort from knowing that this illness could be beaten. Sadly earlier this year Matthew began to lose mobility in his left leg and arm and gradually he lost the use of the arm. In February 2015, following a scan, the bad news came that the tumour was growing and radio therapy was needed. Unfortunately Matt lost

his battle and on the evening of Friday 13th March, he passed away peacefully in his flat in Hereford. With his strong feelings for Livestrong, everyone wore yellow at his funeral along with Livestrong armbands. A beautiful flower pillow with the words ‘Livestrong’ was sent from his employers. The park run in Hereford that he also attended ran in memory of Matt wearing yellow jerseys with a picture of him on the front and ‘Armsey’ (his nickname) on the back. Matthew was a strong advocate of the Yeleni support centre and a justgiving page has been set up in his name, so far raising over £1000: www.localgiving.com/ mattyg

along with hoodies and different t-shirts. Suzie wants to encourage kids to enjoy cycling and get out and about in the countryside. “My way of endorsing that is getting out there and supporting events. Get In Gear was a sponsor at Pedal Your Cycle’s recent Cyclocross series in Hereford. We’re also going to be at some sportives and cycling festivals during the summer and autumn. “The most exciting thing is seeing someone wearing one of my jerseys. The other day my son found a well-known MTBiker on Instagram wearing one of my jerseys. It was so exciting!” Summer is almost upon us and the shelves are full. The calendar is busy and Get In Gear is most certainly in the right gear.

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WORLD Bike Girl

By Ishbel Taromsari

’ve been cycling for 10 months now of a world tour and I’ve pedalled through France, Switzerland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania and Greece, all on my own, with no definitive route or schedule. Reaching Turkey was my tenth country and I began pedalling hundreds of miles towards Gallipoli in remembrance of the 44,000 men who lost their lives there in World War 1. My journey to remembrance crossed paths with a street dog the world now knows as Lucy, who at the time was being attacked by 4 other dogs. Without thinking I threw my bicycle to the ground and ran to put a stop to the horror I was witnessing. Lucy was so thin her bones were sticking out and she had a limp caused by previous injuries: a broken hip, fractured leg and one of her paws being destroyed. She also had 31 shotgun pellets lodged throughout her body. When no one would assist me in helping her, I fashioned a box to the front of my bicycle and cycled over 200 miles with a 20kg street dog in it until we got help. The story of Lucy’s rescue quickly spread throughout the world. A family in the UK offered Lucy a home through the World Bike Girl Facebook page and the next weeks were filled with a world of international animal quarantine rules, veterinary procedures and pet passports. I would be flying Lucy to her new home in England in 3 months time when her quarantine had ended. This winter saw the worst storms and flooding Turkey had seen in over 10 years. Lucy had to be protected from this as the shotgun pellets inside her caused her pain when they cooled down. We sheltered from the worst of this weather in the nature’s paradise of Calis, where loggerhead turtles nest on its sands, surrounded by islands and green mountains. A Scottish bike shop kindly organised a dog trailer which attaches to the back of your bicycle and enables you to cycle with your dog. People are cycling around the world this very moment with their dogs! When the weather improved

we set off on our 1400 mile cycling adventure through Turkey. Days were spent pedalling, sightseeing and stopping off at beautiful places to rest and play along the way. Nights were spent setting up camp and cooking dinner. Lucy had her own sleeping bag in my tent but it was common for me to wake up face planted on the ground whilst Lucy’s head rested on my small travel pillow. I never did work out how she did this. We educated as we pedalled, teaching locals and children to respect and love their street dogs and not to hurt them. Two days were taken up at a university giving talks on cycling and street dogs. Lucy’s popularity spread throughout the world and she quickly became the voice for the street animals of Turkey. Sharing such an incredible journey forged an equally incredible bond between a cycling human and her dog companion. Pedalling with Lucy has been the happiest cycling experience of my life. Much to my sadness and to all of her followers Lucy only made 700 miles of the journey. Within hours of developing an intestinal problem common to dogs her shape and size, she passed away in Hatay, a town 30km from the border of Syria. Lucy’s trailer is still attached to my touring bike and I’m not quite ready to remove it yet. The urge to take a break arising after times of hardship is common and that is no different for someone cycling around the world. I’ve enjoyed road, track and touring cycling throughout my life; now it’s time to try another form of cycling. I’m replacing the touring bicycle with a rucksack and heading to the mountainous country of Iran to learn the art of mountain biking. When I’m ready I’ll return to Turkey to remove Lucy’s trailer and begin pedalling around the world again.

Follow Ishbel’s journey at www. worldbikegirl.com

World Bike Girl

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Will Fords Diary of a Beginner Jan-March ‘15

T The Square, Kington Herefordshire HR5 3BA 01544 239407 We offer a great variety of locally sourced delicious hot or cold food and drinks to eat in or take away. Panini, pierogi, salads, soups, jacket potatoes, filled rolls, bacon and sausage baps, cakes, smoothies, specialty teas, freshly made barista coffee, hot chocolate and much, much more! Situated in the historic market town of Kington on the English/Welsh border, Kington is renown for it’s scenic countryside, which is excellent for leisure cycling. Walkers and cyclists welcome! Large parties easily catered for with prior notice. Easy parking.

he roads of Herefordshire remained icy as January’s short days slowly passed by. I spent any free time available for riding utilizing my CycleOps Mag indoor trainer, it’s quick and easy to set up and definitely worth the £100 I bought it for. I would spend sessions either in an easy gear, at a good cadence putting the miles in or if time was short I’d keep the cadence high, spinning the pedals quickly but changing to harder gears to simulate hills for 3 to 4 mins every 15 mins of riding. As February drew near, my mind wandered to the Mud Runner Icebreaker event held at Eastnor Castle. You can either enter a single event, or complete the series and gain the title of ‘Mud Master’! Having completed the 10K Mud Runner Classic event in October last year, the Ice Breaker is the second in the series. It comprises a 10k run, 20k MTB and a 2k run to finish. Having run the Classic, I knew the course was going to be using the same 4x4 course that Landrovers have been developed and tested on over the years. With this in mind I knew it was going to be a real challenge, more so than a ‘normal’ duathlon that is run and biked on roads. Although I knew I could complete each of the component parts quite happily, putting them together into one event was another matter. Filled with apprehension for the up and coming event, I wanted to test myself so that mentally, I knew I could achieve my goal, before getting to the start line itself. Unfortunately whilst competing in events, I suffer from a voice in my head telling me to stop, that everything hurts and I know this makes my performance level drop. One way of shutting out the voice is to do the distance before the event, then I can mentally ‘lock the chimp in the cage’ (A good friend of mine taught me this). My local running club, the Hay Hotfooters, was planning a night run on the Begwyns, a National Trust owned area that is approximately 400m above sea level and has spectacular views of the Brecon Beacons. My plan was to cycle the 14 miles to the Begwyns from home, run the 10K training run and cycle home again. Not a bad training session for the main event. The evening soon arrived and I shot home from work, kissed my two girls hello as I dashed passed them to get changed and grabbed a rucksack for my running shoes. I kissed my wife goodbye and started out. It was 17.30 and starting to get dark so I turned my lights on and set off into the gloom. I pedalled hard and reached Clyro, a little village at the bottom of the Begwyns, by 18.00, pretty quick for me. It was drizzling by now and I was wondering if the whole idea was a mistake. I ate a gel (Apple Crumble flavour, yum yum) and

started on the ascent. Whilst I know the hill I was climbing isn’t Everest, it was the most challenging height and gradient I have attempted so far and it was hard on my legs. By now it was pitch black with no cars, street lamps or houses and I was regretting buying the cheaper of the two front lights I had been considering on the internet! If you have ever tried cycling at night holding a candle out in front of you, that was about as effective as my light was. On the upside, it was a beautiful clear night with the stars twinkling and not a soul about. Soon enough I heard car engines in the distance and before long I was running around the Begwyns with 20 other mad folk in snow showers and sleet. The ground was undulating, covered in ice and snow and quite treacherous. I thought at the time that it probably wasn’t the best preparation for a big event as if I turned my ankle, I wouldn’t be participating at all! An hour later I donned my cycling shoes and set off back down the hill towards Clyro. The cycle home was a much different affair. I thought heading downhill would be a breeze and it would’ve been had the roads not been so icy and if I’d brought my clear glasses with me. I kept the speed low and spent the descent wiping the tears away from my eyes as the cold air stung my contact lens filled eyes. The remaining 11 miles of the journey were very laboured, my legs felt like lead weights and there was no power left in them. Pressing on, I ate my last gel and continued to curse my light choice. It was a long journey home but by 21:45 I walked through the door looking slightly worse for wear. My wife gave me a slightly rueful look and asked how it went. As if I needed to say anything. The big lesson from that experience was nutrition. I learnt the hard way that you need to keep fuelled up to keep your energy levels up and your body performing. I was pleased that without the nutrition I managed to complete the distances, just not as quickly as I’d hoped. Four indoor training rides later, the weekend of the Mud Runner Icebreaker arrived. Having eaten a large bowl of porridge, my wife and I left for Eastnor Castle, ready to pick up my hired mountain bike at the race site. I decided to wear my Tri-suit for the event with a long sleeve base layer and cycling jersey on top, mainly for the pockets but also for body warmth. We went to the transition area and I stowed my bike, attached the race number and checked my gear: Plenty of gels, nutrition bars and energy drinks. Since it was going to be so muddy, I opted for standard pedals so only needed my trail running shoes. I was ready to go, aside from a toilet stop. Another lesson learnt, the practicalities of using a

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Diary Of A Beginner

toilet wearing a tri-suit was many times more difficult than wearing bib shorts/tights! I kissed my long suffering wife goodbye and headed to the start line. I wanted to head off in the first wave as I knew I could run the distance sub 1 hour so made my way to the front. With a few minutes to go I mentally set about locking that chimp away and throwing the key as far as I could. The countdown started and soon we were off, running at a slowish 8 min mile. I picked up my pace and started to slowly overtake some of the competitors in front of me. Settling at about 7 min mile pace I concentrated on my breathing, stride length and settled in to the first few miles. The course

began by running across several fields, slightly slippery underfoot but nothing too testing. We ran through Eastnor on some tarmac and rough trail and started to ascend one of the many hills surrounding us. It became more difficult when we hit the 4x4 track itself with deep ruts and pools of shin deep water and mud. Often the track was off-camber making me slide more often, forcing me to drop the pace. Much of the 6-mile course was a bit of a blur of steep ascents, descents, thick oozy mud in many sections that made it hard to keep your shoes on let alone run in, long muddy puddles on a gravel base and a little open flint track. There were two notable exceptions that

made the whole experience more tricky, if that were needed. The first was two pools of waist deep water, one 10 metres in length and the next one was so cold that I couldn’t feel anything from the waist down. The second difficult section for me was the final steep downhill over grass and tarmac back to the village. It was a real opportunity to make up some time but I found myself slowing up as my feet were swollen and my toes rubbing horribly in my trainers developing into painful blisters with all the mud and grit still in my shoes. I grimaced and made my way down as best I could. I reached the transition area and to my surprise I found it quite

full of bikes. I couldn’t believe that so many runners had managed to complete their cycle already and had commenced the 2K last leg run!? It slowly occurred to me that maybe I had run a reasonably quick phase and not that many people had arrived at transition yet. That really spurred me on as I found my bike and saw my beautiful wife beaming at me from across the barrier. I hopped on the bike and headed off across the field towards the next 20K. The beginning of the ride was arduous; I’m a road cyclist, not a MTB’er... I couldn’t get the right gear on the initial uphill and had scores of people pass me. Soon I got in the groove and found it easier, especially

enjoying the wooded sections, allowing me to get the power down. I found the downhills quite tricky as I forgot my cycling glasses, and being a contact lens wearer found the mud in my eyes difficult to cope with... another lesson learnt. I was really pleased that my training and many miles of road cycling came into play as I passed many fellow competitors enroute and managed to finish an incredible 65 out of 448!! I was as amazed as my wife was pleased to have me back alive! The following week I broke my 2nd and 3rd metatarsals in the garden at home. Cycling, running, and just about everything else came to an abrupt halt.....

PEPPERS CAFE AND TAKE AWAY

2 Bull Lane, Gloucester, GL1 2HG

01452 384343

www.peppers-cafe.co.uk

WHERE TO STOP & THINGS TO

www.hubjub.co.uk

10, Headbrook, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3DZ

Cycling In The MID

01597 825533

SALLY’S PANTRY BAKERY AND TEAROOM

01544 239000

HUBJUB

High Street, Llandrindod Wells, Powys LD1 6AG

Shr

Welshpool

GLYNFIELD HOUSE B&B

Glynfield Rise, Ebley, Stroud, Glos. GL5 4QP

07788 985764

BLACK MOUNTAINS CYCLE CENTER

www.glynfieldhouse.co.uk

Great Llwygy Farm, Abergavenny, NP7 7PE

07779 243099

www.blackmountainscyclecentre.com

RALPH COURT GARDENS

Edwyn Ralph, Bromyard, Herefordshire. HR7 4LU

01885 483225

THE LITTLE CAFE

www.ralphcourtgardens.co.uk

The Square, Kington, Herefordshire, HR5 3BA

01544 239407

8 9

CLIVE POWELL MOUNTAIN BIKES

PUZZLE WOOD

01594 833187

West Street, Rhayader, Powys, LD6 5AB

www.puzzlewood.net

01597 811343

www.clivepowell-mtb.co.uk

10 11

Perrygrove Road, Coleford, GL16 8QB

MAC AND JAC’S

HEREFORD SKATEPARK & BMX TRACK

Rhayader

Holmer Road, Hereford. HR4 9UD www.herefordskatepark.co.uk

44 Friar Street, Worcester, WR1 2NA

01905 731331

www.macandjacs.co.uk

12 13

www.bodenhamforge.co.uk

01594 860065

www.pedalabikeaway.co.uk

2 Llandrindod Wells

LITTLE BLACK DOG CAFE

No. 5 The Mews, St Owen Street, Hereford, HR1 2JB

01432 263451

Pembridge

The Forge, Bodenham, Herefordshire, HR1 3JZ

01568 797144

PEDALABIKEAWAY

Cannop Valley, Nr Coleford, Gloucestershire, GL16 7EH

BODENHAM FORGE

Hay-on-Wye

Brecon

5 Abergavenny

The Start B&B Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5RS

Gateway to Wye Valley, Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains. 3 ensuite rooms. Secure bike storage. Off road parking.

Free Wifi. Drying room. Bike tools.

www.the-start.net | 01497 821391 dawn@the-start.net ncn 8 & 42

Do you know of or own

Advertise your place on our map of happy cyclists. Want to know m Contact us at advertising@pedal

DLANDS & WALES DO

01497 822419

www.drovercycles.co.uk

rewsbury

DROVER CYCLES

Forest Rd, Hay-on-Wye, Powys, HR3 5EH

HAMPTON COURT CASTLE & GARDENS

BLACK MOUNTAIN ACTIVITIES

Three Cocks, Brecon, Powys. LD3 0SD

01497 847 897

Hope-Under-Dinmore, Leominster, Herefordshire, HR6 0PN

www.blackmountain.co.uk

01568 797676

www.hamptoncourt.org.uk

20 27

BARBOURNE BICYCLES

35 Barbourne Road, Worcester, WR1 1SA

01905 729 535

SHROPSHIRE HILLS MTB & OUTDOOR PURSUIT CENTRE

www.barbournebicycles.co.uk

Station Inn, Marshbrook, Church Stretton, Shropshire, SY6 6QE

Kidderminster

01694 781 515

www.mtb-shropshire.co.uk

CAFE MIRO

43 Saint Owen Street, Hereford HR1 2JB

01432 267987

Ludlow

www.cafemiro.co.uk

HOPTON WOODS

Hopton Woods, Shropshire, SY7 0QF www.tiny.cc/hoptonwoods

23 24 11

Leominster

www.thetraminn.co.uk

01584 879288

www.pearcecycles.co.uk

25 26

18 10 21

01544 327251

PEARCE CYCLES

Fishmore, Ludlow, Shropshire. SY8 3DP

Worcester

THE TRAM INN

Church Road, Eardisley, Herefordshire. HR3 6PG

ROYAL HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Palace Pound, Ross-on-Wye, Hereford, HR9 5HZ

STOURPORT SPECIALIST CYCLES

01989 565105

106-107 The Birches, Stourport-onSevern, Worcestershire. DY13 9NR

www.oldenglishinns.co.uk

01299 826470

www.stourportspecialistcycles.co.uk

Malvern

Hereford

DAVE MELLOR CYCLES

9a New St, Frankwell, Shrewsbury, Shropshire. SY3 8JN

ROWBERRY’S NURSERY

Lower Chaddesley, Corbett, Kidderminster, DY10 4QN

01562 777 017

www.rowberrysnursery.co.uk

01743 366662

www.davemellorcycles.com

25 Ross-on-Wye

Gloucester

MAP LEGEND MTB CENTER

BIKE SHOP

Monmouth

4 BIKE FRIENDLY CAFE

PLACE OF INTEREST

n a place that is cyclist friendly?

in the next issue and reach a broad audience more? lyourcycle.com

CYCLIST ACCOMMODATION

Do you know of a place or bike shop that you trust, or maybe a business that is bike friendly? If so we would love to find out more and even feature your suggestion on our map. advertising@pedalyourcycle.com

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Sarn Helen Expedition

Continued from cover

Sarn Helen Expedition By Bob Thomas

Day 1 – Conwy to Dowyddelan 57km The journey begins in Conway in North Wales then takes quiet country roads through the Valley before venturing into the mountains proper, via a 420m climb to the area of Llyn Cowlyd. The initial riding along Cowlyd is great, and you get a true feel of wild, single track, although it gradually gets harder, with some cheeky technical sections that can be rode or negotiated on foot. That said the track has the last laugh, and there’s a nasty sting in the tail at the end of the lake, where you have to dismount, then carry

and push before you reach good tracks. Next onto the Leats (artificial irrigation streams), which take you to Helyg in the Ogwen Valley. Then the rider takes the cycle path that passes below the Glyderau. Shortly after it’s the villages of Capel Curig and Pont Cyfyng, then cross country once more, descending into the Lledr Valley and towards the comfort of the campsites and accommodation offered in Dolwyddelan. A fitting end to a day’s cycling.

Day 3 – Dolgellau to Machynlleth 33km Day 3 features some of the best riding to be had on route. Initially you make for the Mawddach Estuary Trail, something well worth visiting in its own right, after which the ride is slightly reminiscent of the first day’s climb to Llyn Cowlyd, steep and unremitting, but offset by the odd downhill section and views of ancient oak wood and moss-lined streams, which lends a magical quality to this section. The uphill section ends at the foot of the Cadair Idris Massif. Further on there’s a terrific stretch of dirt and single track riding with stunning views onto Barmouth and the

coast. This leg is a joy to cycle, with few uphill sections and lots of downhill through rolling green countryside. Eventually you descend into Bryngrug and then it’s cross-country riding above Machynlleth. The last length of the track below the summit proves unrideable for even the most skilled of riders but it’s only a short push before an exhilarating roller coaster ride into the Dovey Valley. Rocky outcrops combine with deep puddles and streams to make for an exciting descent. There’s a welcome section of flat tarmac to calm down prior to arriving in Machynlleth.

Day 2 – Dowyddelan to Dolgellau 47km On the 2nd day you can visit the castle in Dolwyddelan, before taking the road to a crossing over the River Lledr. After an hour going cross country you pop out on the edge of the Penmachno Trail centre and take advantage of the superb single track to make good time to the edge of the village. Shortly after, there’s a gruelling uphill battle from Cwm Penmachno to the high ground above Blaenau Ffestiniog. From this point it’s mercifully downhill and on to the Roman ruins of Tomen y Mur

which is a good place for a snack before heading south along the valley. Taking minor roads on the eastern side allows great views of the Rhinogs, Dolgellau and Coed y Brenin. Just north of Coed y Brenin you’re onto a steep forestry track which can be quite stream-like. Eventually you’ll find a narrow B-Road and pick up speed towards Dolgellau. Before you realise it you’re on the outskirts of the town, with bed and food but a stone’s throw away.

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Continued From Cover Day 4 – Machynlleth to Devil’s Bridge 36km Over the years we’ve taken a number of routes out of Machynlleth to Devil’s Bridge, but the route that we prefer avoids tackling Foel Fadian directly. After Glasspwll there’s a path running along the Rhiw Goch ridge making for a great descent through open fields and woods then tracks to Hyddgen, one of the UK’s most isolated battlefields. It was in this area Owain Glyndwr’s Forces routed a Flemish Army of some 1500 men. (At grid 783397, OS Map 135, two white stones mark the spot where Glyndwr is

said to have raised his standard before the battle). From the moorland of Hyddgen, a single track passes Esgair Gorddi, then skirts the shores of the Nant y Moch Reservoir. The descent into the Visitor centre isn’t to be missed and after the rugged nature of the terrain around Hyddgen, the manicured trails make for a good respite from navigation and the more unforgiving ground. The Tarmac ‘A’ road into Devil’s Bridge is a fine end to the 4th day on the trail.

Day 5 - Devil’s Bridge to Rhayader 50km Most people rate Day 5 as the best day of riding. A combination of good trails, the barren beauty of the Elan Valley and an awesome descent into Rhayader seems to reinforce this belief. Through the wood is pretty scenery and the gradients not too steep, so there’s every chance to take in views. Then onto open rolling moorland towards Elan Valley where there’s a true sense of isolation. After Llyn Tefi the ground rolls out for miles in front, the only evidence of man being the odd farm dwelling and the thin ribbon of dirt road that disappears off into the distance. At the Claerddu River, the choice is to continue on the easier route past the Claerwen Reservoir and on to Rhayader, or

taking the harder route across high ground on the Ancient Monks’ Path, which after heavy rain can be difficult going and is not for novice riders. That said, the difficulties in negotiating the mud and bog section is rewarded by a delightful descent on the run-in to the River Elan crossing. A final obstacle remains in the guise of a short but brutal climb, but the prospect of riding one of the best downhill sections in the whole of Wales lends strength to tired legs. The descent over rock pavement and loose dirt seems to last forever but it’s not long before you’re in Rhayader.

Day 6 – Rhayader to Builth Wells 26km This section, between Rhayader and Builth (home of the Royal Welsh show) follows the River Wye, on the Wye Valley Trail, with only the occasional detour crosscountry. It’s gentle riding and a

welcome rest day in the saddle, passing through some great scenery and for once you can take a little more time to savour the views.

Day 7 - Builth Wells to Ystradfellte 58km

Day 8 – Ystradfellte to Worms head 85km

On leaving Builth there are several route permutations that all eventually arrive in Brecon. Some take a direct route taking on the high ground towards Llaneglwys wood before arriving in Brecon. Others choose to go cross country to Llaneglwys. It may seem easier, but the cross country section is difficult and good navigation skills are called for. The ground is very boggy here, so any time saved will be lost during the traverse of the marshy section. Whatever route you decide, you’ll eventually arrive in Brecon, where there’s time for a rest before heading onto Ystradfellte. The route runs past the Beacons Mountain & Visitor Centre at Libanus, so if you’d

The final day’s cycling is the longest. You go through woodlands before picking up the course of the Sarn Helen and once you’re on the wooded ridge line it’s a nice undulating ride. An added bonus is the great section of downhill which passes through a series of fields and meadows. There are more great views of the coast, as well as Swansea itself, which comes as a shock to the system after spending the bulk of the ride in countryside and small market towns. Good progress can be made during this stage and the 80 km target and Worms Head doesn’t feel too far. From the Mumbles you go through the village of Penmaen and then Bryn Ridge, one of the Gower’s

prefer to avoid the masses in the town then a refreshment stop can be taken here. There’s a lot to see and there’s fantastic views onto the highest peak in South Wales: Pen-y-Fan. After Libanus, the trail takes us along the original Roman Road and it’s not too long before the final descent into the village of Ystradfellte, famous in the area for the caves and waterfalls.

high points, and after Bury Green there’s the last obstacle: The Rhosilli Downs. Two options here – avoid the steep or push onto the top of the downs. It isn’t far, and the view is fantastic, as is the riding. The advantage of taking the high road is that there’s one more great descent before the end at Worms Head. It’s a fitting end to the journey and well worth the initial climb. So it’s time to prop the bike against the wall of the local pub, and take a moment to reflect over the week or so riding with a well earned pint in hand, whilst watching the sun sink into the sea.

Contour Outdoor undertakes an annual supported Sarn Helen Traverse. This year’s ride is scheduled for late August 2015. Contour also offer a bespoke guiding service for the Sarn Helen between April to September. Please see the website www.contouroutdoor.co.uk for more details on booking your Sarn Helen Experience.

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Hopton Woods Trail

Hopton Trail Hopton Woods was set aside by the Forestry Commission as a location for mountain biking many years ago. In its original format there were no sculptured trails or way marked routes. You had to have an official map that had numbered posts marked on it and you had to choose your own route. This meant if you didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know the area, it was hit or miss whether you chose a good route or not. We found that locals were using the forest but people from further away were not travelling to the venue for a day out and travelled past Hopton out to the Welsh trail centres. It soon became apparent that there was a huge gap in the market in Shropshire for a trail centre. We needed a way marked route that was easy to follow, technical to ride, fun, and usable in all weathers. We approached the Forestry Commission and struck a deal to work with them to design and build a red graded XC trail around the forest. We hoped that investing in a trail centre near the shop would benefit us by bringing in more business. Following 12 months of hard graft we then had a new trail in place. We learnt a lot on the way and still have lots of ideas how to improve and extend it further. Considering the amount of use the trail has had, it is standing up very well. We are lucky that the ground has a lot of stone in it, so 90% of the trail is naturally surfaced. We have also found that holding events which utilise parts of the trail, have helped to put

Hopton on the map. This included the National XC Championships and our own Gravity Stages event. Alongside the XC Red trail we have 3 downhill black trails that we have built and use for both racing and organised uplift days, where we provide transport for bike and rider back to the top of the hill. Now we have these trails in place and have built a good following, it would be good to expand the site, to offer more to

the visitor. We would love to see some facilities on site with toilets, cycle hire and a cafĂŠ. Without dreaming too much, we need to start by keeping on top of general maintenance and improve the taster blue loop, so it is more fun for all the family. www.pearcecycles.co.uk See trail map: tiny.cc/hopton

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Supporting Charity

Wheelie Big Cycle 2015 in aid of St Michael’s Hospice, Hereford

hy not get together with your family, friends or colleagues for a great day of cycling on Sunday 19th July. There are four different routes: 16, 32, 60 and 93 miles (93 miles: pre-registration only), all taking in different aspects of the beautiful Herefordshire countryside and offering a challenge for novice and serious cyclists alike. All routes start and finish at the Hereford Livestock Market on Roman Road, HR4 7AN. There will be timed starts between 9.00am and 10.15am, and plenty of water and snack stations on all routes.

Please note: you MUST preregister for the 93 mile route.

Sunday 19th July

Your sponsorship is important to help raise enough money to fund all of the services St Michael’s Hospice provides each year for over 1,300 patients and their families. As well as a finish medal and water bottle, cyclists who raise £30 or more in sponsorship will receive an exclusive discount booklet. This will include cycling themed discounts from some of Herefordshire’s local cycling outlets and other exciting offers.

Advance entry:

On the day:

Adult - £17 Child - £9 Family - (2 x adults + 2 x child) £45 Tandem - £30

Adult - £20 Child - £10 Family - £45 Tandem - £30

**All children under 16 years must be accompanied by a paying adult (over 18 years) and remain the responsibility of that adult throughout the event** For more information or to enter online visit: www.st-michaels-hospice. org.uk/events/wbc

St Michael’s will also be holding the Wheelie Little Cycle for youngsters again this year. Children aged 2 - 10 years can take part on their trike, bike or scooter (don’t forget your helmet!) and will cycle a number of laps around the specially designed course at the Hereford Livestock Market.

Registration opens at 9.30am and the event starts at 10.30am, after the last Wheelie Big Cyclist has departed. All children taking part will receive a medal upon reaching the finish line. Entry is £2 per child.

Lessons Learned...

By Kim Riddell

t’s been almost 4 months since 5 of us signed up for the ‘Ride the Night’ Charity bike ride in aid of Women’s Cancer Charities and a lot of miles have passed under our wheels since then. We are all ‘Women of a Certain Age’ and with work, family and other commitments it hasn’t been easy to find the time to train together as often as we need. So we have trained solo or in groups of 2, 3 or 4 but not yet managed a fiver, and probably won’t before the event itself. But Kaye (The Triathlete) has her own gym and a willing partner in Mark to train with her, Vanessa (The Working Mum) and Caroline (The Trainer) are both fit from lots of dog walking with 4 great Labradors between them. Which leaves me and Susie, 2 complete novices in almost any kind of fitness regime to be honest and many of our acquaintances expected us to have given up long before now. It is no less a surprise to us that we haven’t either; Myself, because I have never stuck to anything sporty ever in my life before and Susie, you may remember, fell off on day two and ended up in hospital with a torn artery in her upper thigh (viewings by appointment only!). She has since

had the all clear and couldn’t wait to get back in the saddle. Last Monday we completed a 40 mile route, achieving our target for April, and as we look back at our progress we feel very pleased with ourselves. It has been an amazing rite of passage I can assure you and I personally have learned many things. Without wanting to sound too Zen or anything, I have learned that: • if you cycle 20 miles, 3 times a week, your fitness levels will improve; however, if you keep stopping for pub lunches and/or afternoon teas, and eating jelly babies “for energy” you will almost certainly not lose any weight. • being a cyclist makes you a lot more tolerant and considerate of other cyclists when you are in your car. • bike seats - even gel ones - are in fact instruments of torture. That picture of me ‘peeling myself off’ said bike seat after a 2 hour ride is not faked, and in actual fact excellent timing by Susie who was in recovery from her op that day, but still managed to meet us for lunch. • four layers of foam padding are still not enough to alleviate the situation! • an English Spring is even more lovely when seen from a bike.

• cyclists are very badly catered for in the UK compared to say, Holland where every mile (or kilometer) of road has a parallel cycle path, priority at crossing etc. Mind you, not sure about the Dutch tendency to ride around at night without lights on! • I don’t like hills, or, as Caroline – trainer in chief – insists on calling them: inclines. • looking at our little band – recently acquiring the Team Name of the Warwickshire ‘BOBs’ (Babes on Bikes, or on a bad day B*****s on Bikes!) I feel that cycling has become an Allegory of Life: Some of us pedal like mad, change gear a lot, slow right down, swear a lot, grit our teeth and struggle, cursing and whinging ‘til we get to the top of a hill, then scream with joy as we freewheel down the easy bits. Others set off at a strong steady pace, keep calm and collected, meet every obstacle with quiet determination, do not get distracted by pretty lambs or tweeting birds and barely even break a sweat on a hill, but wait patiently at the top, like the good friends they are, and only occasionally laugh with derision at said friend’s ‘sense of humour failure’. Between us we are keeping a

certain bike shop in business as we have spent enough on equipment and gear that it would have been cheaper to just donate to the charities. I feel personally responsible for getting two friends interested in cycling and one has purchased and another threatening to purchase a bike. They have seen and heard how much fun we are having and they want in. Even my 84-yearold father is talking about getting on board - no Dad we are NOT getting a tandem. It has been and continues to be fun, and surely that is the point. Marathons, Charity bike rides, races and competitions are all very well but it has to be pleasurable for all concerned. Finding a fitness activity which is enjoyable, that you can do with or without friends, has to be the Holy Grail for all those dogooders around us, despairing of the modern couch potato lifestyle. I enjoy my solitary rides as much

as my communal ones, and we are thinking of joining a cycling group once the Charity ride is out of the way. Watch this space... Four more weeks to the Big Night and training will be difficult as my season as a Tour Guide has started, which has led to another first: This week I am in Lisbon and only a lunatic would cycle these streets - potholes you could sink a ship in and narrow cobbled streets - so I have made use of the hotel gym’s cycling machine; iPad propped on the handle bars and off I go! Taking up cycling has truly been a revelation to me, and I look forward to exploring not only the countryside here and abroad, but my own abilities, and learning more from life on the road. You can donate to Women V Cancer Ride The Night: justgiving.com/kim-riddell

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Veteran Cycling Club

Veteran Cycling Club - Hereford Section

Elgar Tribute Ride, 11th April 2015

By Alvin Smith

his ride was the first of two rides put on by Hereford Section as our contribution to the Veteran-Cycle Club’s Jubilee Year celebrations. The second part will be two rides to be held in the summer where we retrace some of the other rides that Elgar made. Our riders met at the inspiring statue of Sir Edward Elgar in a quiet corner of Cathedral Close, Hereford on the first day of our traditional Madley Foolish weekend of cycling. The day was beautifully warm and calm and we relaxed in late spring weather with the spring flowers out in the lanes. We are very grateful for the assistance we received from Derek Foxton, who has been in the Club since 1958 and whose own Sunbeam has been fully

restored these many years – it came from the home of a military man who lived close to Elgar and was reportedly ridden by Elgar on occasion. Derek not only took the photographs at the statue and at Elgar’s house but was also kind enough to introduce us to the current owner of the property. The room on the right of the house with the bow window is where much of Elgar’s composing was done – many a time following the inspiration he found from his bicycle riding in the country lanes – his house was then just on the outer eastern edge of the town. We left Elgar’s home and slowly wended our way past some more elegant Victorian town houses and into more countrified areas with old orchards and thatched half timbered houses, on our right the Wye meadows stretching to the river. After about 5 miles we detoured slightly to pass through

Hampton Bishop village with quiet lanes and more beautiful old homes. A few miles later we reached Mordiford with the road bridge across the River Lugg before it joins the larger River Wye. Elgar is said to have laid on the river bank here listening to the tinkling of the two rivers. We retired to the Moon at this point to quench our thirsts and a mid-ride chat. Reluctantly the group reformed and headed along the Wye until turning off to cross the river and climb that most unkind feature: the hill entering Holme Lacy village. What Elgar did at this point is not recorded (unless it is as one of his trumpet outbursts in Pomp and Circumstance) but the red line marked on his own maps guarantees he did travel this road. I was riding Richard’s 2 speed bottom bracket geared Royal with its 28 inch Roman rimmed

Here are some of the Sunbeams in attendance, seen keeping the composer close company.

wheels at this point, but it was not going to suffer the indignity of honking up that hill! Recovering, we quietly passed over the disused railway line that in Elgar’s day might well have taken him to the then resort town of Ross-on-Wye and rode instead to the Holme Lacy Hotel, once a family home of a branch of the Scudamore family from the 1300s to Victorian times and whose Edwardian gardens were elegantly restored in Elgar’s time. He may well have played in the splendid concert room cum dance hall in the property, the famous suspended floor is now a dining room for the hotel. What a shame that Elgar missed, by about a century, the discovery of the Rotherwas Ribbon, a 3000

year old site of human habitation that surely would have inspired some more of his music, driven as much of it was from his feel for the landscape and its history. We stopped to examine Rotherwas Chapel, rebuilt for a Roman Catholic family in Elizabethan times on the remains, it is said, of an original medieval chapel. Over restoration at some time and modern real estate development has made a mockery of what at one time might have been worthwhile keeping. We returned to the town crossing the River Wye for a final time on the new elevated cycle bridge.

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Cycle Touring Tips

Drover Cycles’ top picks for cycle touring

ut-downs from lycraclad roadies aside, cycle touring is enjoying something of a renaissance. And with the UK’s first Cycle Touring Festival kicking off in May, it’s easy to see why legions of tarmac speed freaks are

By Rob Eveleigh ditching the carbon wheelsets and aero frames for bump-taming steel steeds and a set of sensible panniers. But the owners of Wales-based Drover Holidays and Drover Cycles must have been well ahead of their time, as their own cycle touring adventures began way

back in 2004 with an epic twoyear expedition that took them a staggering 30,000km from London to Cape Town. Along the way they had run-ins with elephants and bandits, and were overwhelmed by the kindness and hospitality shown by local people. The ride proved to be a life-changing

voyage of discovery as the idea for their business was slow-cooked on the dusty trails, inspired by a love of cycling and the belief that the world is best experienced at a slow pace – preferably on two feet or two wheels. Since then, they’ve clocked up several thousand more cycle

touring miles on route recces and trips to France, all of which makes them more than qualified to offer their top picks for cycle touring equipment. Over to Anna and Luke…

Bike Your two wheeled adventures start with…two wheels! And a frame, and all the other bits that make up your touring bicycle. Just as mountain and road biking has its little sub-disciplines, so too does touring. Your choice of bike will be largely dictated by the scale of your undertaking, so it’s well worth talking through

your plans with your local bike shop and getting some expert recommendations. For road touring, we’d recommend the Genesis Tour de Fer, which comes expeditionready and equipped for longdistance load-carrying. Another one to consider is the Long Haul Trucker from Surly.

For rougher stuff, the Genesis Longitude is equally at home ripping up singletrack trails as it is on backcountry bike-packing outings. A rigid fork and smoothrolling 29” wheels mean it’s built for adventure.

make bombproof panniers built to last a lifetime of travels. The attachment system is reliable and hard-wearing, clips don’t snap, and the waterproof fabric keeps dust, water and muck

out the bags. We’d recommend Ortlieb’s Bikepacker Plus paired with the Front Roller.

a headtorch that will strap to your helmet - and can also be used for negotiating campsites and hostels in the pitch black! Petzl Tikka headtorches are legendary. The rechargeable

Tikka R+ sadly wasn’t around for our big adventure, but if we did it all again today, it would definitely make the kit list.

comfy undershorts which are easy to wash and very quickdrying. Steer clear of fancy stuff with gel liners and clever foam - it’s bound to go wrong. Altura’s

Tempo undershorts keep things simple, and they’re easy to wear under ‘normal’ shorts and trousers.

inclines!) You’re going to want to log your miles, and a cycle computer is also an important navigational aid. Again, go for something simple, preferably with heavy-duty wiring to cope

with harsh conditions. The Cateye Enduro computer hits the spot.

Luggage Backpacks are for backpackers. No one wants to wear a pack on a bike - it’s uncomfortable and unstable. Get the weight down low by fitting the bike out with a set of panniers. Ortlieb

Lights Versatility is the name of the game when selecting your kit. Look for equipment that can serve a purpose on the road and off. Instead of dedicated cycle lights, consider going for

Undershorts All those miles in the saddle are inevitably going to take their toll on the old nether regions. When you’re on road for days or weeks at a time, you need

Cycle computer There’s nothing like a big, juicy three-digit number displayed in LED at the end of a hard day’s riding (and nothing quite as disheartening as a small one after hours battling head winds and

Tyres and spares Give some thought to your choice of rolling rubber and, again, involve an expert for the best advice - you need something suited to the ride you’re planning. There’s no point heading into the hills on slicks, and equally if you’re going to be on tarmac you’ll find deep-tread tyres a drag - literally!

We used the forerunner to Schwalbe’s Marathon Mondial, which are amazingly puncture resistant and long-lasting. They can be hard work to get off your rim, though, so chuck some tyre levers in your bag. Pedro’s are fantastic, and virtually indestructible. For those inevitable road or

trailside repairs, you’ll need some tools. Topeak’s Survival Gear Box has everything you’re likely to need. And for lubrication duties, we’d recommend Green Oil it’s all-purpose, long-lasting and environment-friendly.

Drover Cycles stock all their product recommendations. Contact them on 01497 822 419 to order by phone or discuss a purchase, or drop them a line on info@drovercycles.co.uk. Visit the website at www.drovercycles.co.uk. Coming in Issue 6: Discover the 5 Top Cycle Tours in Wales

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

Race Across America

Ann’s USA Transcontinental Record Ride – RAAM 2009 By Ann Wooldridge

AAM 2009, Oceanside, San Diego, 12:00 noon. 14 states to cross. Focused and ready to go. The National Anthem plays, it’s boiling HOT and we depart with a police motorbike escort for the first few miles. The Race of a lifetime, the start of my dream and all alone for the first 22 miles. All is OK as we make our way through the hills and the heat of the day to the first Time Station at Lake Henshaw. A while later at the top of The Glass Elevator we encounter the first WOW factor – wide, spacious desert vistas as far as the eye can see. Racing down the descent into a headwind I look down at Borrego Springs – it is the same as seeing it on Google maps. The RV meets us here - it will be home for my 8 man crew for the rest of the trip. GOTTA GET OUT OF CALIFORNIA! No sleep until Arizona! We race across the desert into the first night stopping at 03:15 at border control to show passports and continue in the warm night. Night turns into day and I ride into my first dawn - a new day lifts my spirits. We reach Arizona – a straight desert road with mirages. “Dust devils dance in the noon-day heat” (James McMurtry). I stop for my first 90 minute sleep after Wenden AZ, 24 hours after starting. Job done. The RV generator is bumped into action to make it cool for me. I awake totally refreshed, shower and set off towards Congress, the Yarnell Grade, Prescott, and Cottonwood – via the Mingus Mountain in the dark. This was to become a feature of my race: long climbs in the dark and of course, the descents. The follow vehicle lit the road at all times so visibility was not a problem. My 2nd long sleep was in Flagstaff at 07:45 after a particularly difficult 40 mile climb in the dark. This was very mentally challenging, due to the cold breeze. After my sleep I awoke to glorious sunshine and was given an i-pod which was updated every day with songs to suit the terrain and my mood. Amongst others James McMurtry helped to power me across the country. We started a 50 mile descent and “Free Bird” began to play – this was perfect with the wide vistas of the high plains and I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to witness such

vast beauty of the Navajo Indian Reservation. It was boiling hot, and getting hotter; stopping at some road construction I was sprayed with water to keep my core temperature down. Through Tuba City to Kayenta, and the start of Monument Valley. This section was breathtaking – we managed to arrive in the late afternoon, just as the sun was about to set. The colours of the rocks showed up red, and I was dwarfed by the size of them. I had to stop to put my sand-proof glasses on and pull my buff up over my face when I encountered a sand storm. And so into Utah and Mexican Hat in pitch black darkness. The next 3 hours were undulating. I stopped for my 3rd long sleep. Continuing uphill into a beautiful sunrise we enter the Rockies and Colorado. A huge amount of climbing and spectacular descents follow as we make our way through Durango (where my shorts were all handmade), Pagosa Springs and Chama. A couple of the solo men pass us, and we nip in and out of New Mexico and Colorado several times, going up into thin air over 10,000 feet at Cumbres Pass and La Manga Pass. It rains... Up until now the Ladies race had been very close, we overtook each other whilst we had our sleep breaks. One lady had already dropped out, which was a shame, but that is the RAAM – savage, long climbs in the heat and high altitude, after the dry heat of the desert. It rains until Taos - the first 3rd of the RAAM has been successfully completed. 1044 miles in just under 96 hours (103 hours being the cut-off point here: miss the cut-off points and you are out of the race). Only 2 minutes separate myself and the eventual Ladies winner. I find the next section towards Eagle Nest very challenging. I can’t settle into a rhythm. I know I am supposed to find the scenery beautiful, but I don’t – it annoys me. The 20 mile climb up Bobcat Pass takes forever, followed by a very cold rainstorm as we descend to the time station and a short 13 min nap. A weird night section follows, with race officials hiding in pulloffs in the dark. After another long sleep in the middle of nowhere we set off into the sunrise towards

the plains of Kansas and a bit of Oklahoma. I absolutely loved this section – wide areas of ‘BIGNESS’. My crew were constantly spraying me with water, and the US56 went on for 240 straight miles!!! Kansas continued. It was so very hot - in the morning, the afternoon and at night. The crew had to buy more robust water sprayers to keep me cool; the heat was gradually changing to high humidity which was nasty. Two Race Officials pulled the follow car over and informed us that I should be riding in the median (to the right side of the white line and nasty deep-cut rumble strips) despite the fact that there was hardly any traffic. Mindful of penalty points, I religiously followed this “advice” with dire consequences! Next day, 46 miles past Cedar Springs after cresting a roller I was confronted by a pile of gravel on a downhill grade. As I tried to cross the rumble strip to avoid the debris but my back wheel caught some pebbles. I was unable to correct my bike and went careering off onto the grass and landed on my head in a concrete drainage ditch. An ambulance was summoned and I was driven off to hospital. During a lengthy stop I was examined and cleaned up, my chin mended and the Race Directors called out. I had an enormous bump over my left eye and bruising all over. I blocked the incident from my mind – all those years of preparation surely couldn’t have ended in a drainage ditch in Missouri?! I could hardly walk and was very floppy. We went back to El

Dorado to have a night in a motel and evaluate things. Covered in ice packs, I slowly ate and rested. There were many tears of anger, frustration and sadness. The ice, however, seemed to be working, and despite all the bruising, the swelling began to subside enough to put on my spare helmet. I was left with a bleeding eye ball and my head ached. I made the decision to try for the next Time Station and then see if it would be possible to make the 2nd cut-off point at the Mississippi River at 2,057 miles. I had just had an unscheduled 18 hours out of the race and was far from top form! However a wounded tiger is a dangerous animal – I knew it would mean a superhuman effort, not just from me, but from my crew too! Well, I reached the cut-off point the next morning, just in time. Now a long sleep was needed to recover from this huge 275 mile painful effort. I still had another 960 miles to go! The morning was glorious as I raced over the Clark Bridge spanning the Mississippi into Illinois. Continuing at a slower pace I rode into another night and a magnificent thunderstorm with millions of white frogs bouncing around, getting squashed under the wheels of the follow vehicle. On through Ohio and into the dreaded mountains of West Virginia. 380 miles of hills! Just what I needed in my state! I HATED West Virginia and kept needing extra stops but I had to keep rolling. At Cresaptown mid-afternoon my chain broke so I quickly changed bikes. There were 4 major

climbs next, with the comment in the route book “Sideling Hill could be a walker”: I didn’t need to walk, I played Willie Dixon’s “Walkin’ the Blues” over and over until I had crested the top. Job done. Riding into the dawn of my last day I entered Maryland and Pennsylvania. Time Station 49 was the last one that I passed “officially” - I had 131 miles left to cover, but wouldn’t reach Annapolis before the last RAAM cut-off time: CURSE THAT GRAVEL in Missouri. But all was not lost as I had another aim in my sights: an official UMCA Ladies 50+ Transcontinental Record. I had a rather undulating 100 mile section left to complete with a stiff breeze blowing in from the sea. We finally reached the Time Station at Odenton and stopped at a gas station to await the escort vehicle that the race directors provide; this confirms the final finishing time for the crossing. The last 4 miles to the docks went quickly and it was dark as I arrived. My crew was at the Finish, plus a large gathering of people who had turned out to see me, including UMCA officials, Race Directors and the 2 other Lady Finishers. It was a powerful and rewarding gathering for me and my crew. It was announced that I had knocked over 24 hours off the existing Ladies 50+ Transcontinental record set back in 1992 by Bonnie Allison. Was I pleased!!! I had finished and was on the Boardwalk in Annapolis. FINISHING IS FOREVER

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Transcontinental US record, certified by the UMCA: Ann Wooldridge, 50, Gloucester, Transcontinental US West - East Using RAAM start/finish Standard bike June 16-29, 2009 - 13 days 6 hours 9 minutes 3022 miles 9.5 mph Officials: RAAM officials; Mike Roark, Terry Lansdell

Lance Armstrong: The Fall Of My Hero

ance Armstrong: he’s still my cycling hero, but my admiration for him took a severe knock on hearing his confession to doping on the Oprah Winfrey show back in 2013. Prior to then I had defended his denials up to the hilt; how could he be accused when he was drug tested so many times during his Tour de France challenges, even at random at his home and during cycling breaks, but then I’m obviously very naive. I was utterly convinced he would win his 7th consecutive Tour de France in 2005 and planned to be present to see his achievement by being on the Champs Elysees in Paris to see his final crowning glory as he had already announced this would be his last tour. Alas, this was not to be as my husband suffered a heart attack in the May as the tour was to take place in July. The good thing is my husband went on to make a full recovery, but it seems I’ll never see Lance win the Tour again. Lance did ride the Tour one more time in 2009. Unfortunately, in part, this proved to be his downfall, mainly because he was betrayed not only by riders in the peloton but by his own team mates, most notably George Hincapie who had ridden for Armstrong during every one of those seven years, and his fellow

By Sue Hughes

countryman Floyd Landis. Landis started a lawsuit on behalf of the US government, believed to be in excess of $100,000,000 which, if successful, he would receive 25 per cent. I believe Lance was used as a scapegoat and punished severely as an example to others. Don’t get me wrong, I have never condoned doping in any sport, but at that time it was generally known that a large percentage of riders were using performance enhancing drugs, the majority of Tour winners since the second world war being amongst them. I have also read of other big-named riders confessing to having used drugs while taking part in the big Tours, such as Richard Virenque, Jan Ullrich, David Millar, Floyd Landis, Marco Pantini and Alberto Contador to name but a few. Some of whom, quite rightly, served limited riding bans, but Virenque was allowed to keep his Polka Dot jersey. Lance’s biggest mistake I feel was in his consistent prolonged denial in the use of drugs; if he had confessed sooner, the resulting aftermath may have been different. I agree that he deserved to be punished, but to strip him of seven Tour de France titles and impose a life ban in professional cycling was in my opinion extremely excessive. I know there are a lot of complicated and

controversial views within cycling circles and amongst the general public around his purported bullying of teams, family and friends, intimidation, being a ring leader and the way he dealt with this issue; some of which I think was unnecessary if true, but isn’t it the same for people at the top of their game in any sport!? Let’s not forget the vast amount of good he has done both for cycling and his cancer Foundation. In cycling he became an inspiration to thousands, if not milllions of cyclists, particularly the younger generation and for the whole gambit of cycling related businesses. He started the Lance Armstrong cancer foundation and has raised over $500,000,000 dollars for the cause and helped over 3,000,000 sufferers. 85 million Livestrong wristbands alone were sold for at least £1 / $1 each. I am proud to say I have one too. Now, what I don’t understand is why the people now running this foundation have turned their backs on Lance and want no further involvement with him after all the time, effort and financial backing he has given. This just seems yet another betrayal and show of ingratitude. In the interview with BBC sports editor Dan Roan in Houston on 29th January this year, his first since appearing with Oprah Winfrey, viewers became clearly

aware of just how deeply this has affected him. Lance also talked about the impact his confession and the aftermath has had on himself, his family, friends and business associates. When asked would he do the same again, he was honest in replying no, not in 2015 as he would not need to, but if it was back in the early 2000’s, probably yes. I suspect if other riders of that time were asked the same question, their answers would be the same, if only to be able to compete on a level playing field. Dutch journalist Raymond Kerackhoffs, chief cycling writer of the Dutch daily paper De Telegraaf, published in July 2014 the results of a survey he did during which he contacted and asked the 25 surviving winners of the Tour de France if they thought Lance Armstrong should be ‘given back’ the seven Tour titles stripped from him by the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale – the world governing body for sports cycling, founded in Paris in 1900 and now based in Aigle, Switzerland). Twelve of the twenty-five said his name should

be listed as the winner. Miguel Indurain, himself a five times winner (19911995) said, “If nobody else can be reasonably declared the winner of the races in those years, it’s clear that Armstrong won those seven Tours.” Even Jan Ullrich, who came 2nd on three of those Tours says, “Armstrong is the winner of those Tours, no one else.” The three main Tours in cycling; France, Spain and Italy are gruelling and challenging events, which take years of dedication and practice to even qualify for selection. Lance himself was diagnosed with cancer at the beginning of his career and battled against the odds to overcome his illness, so let’s not take anything away from any one of the riders, including Lance. Each and every one deserves recognition for even attempting such feats let alone completing the course. Lance Armstrong has been, and still is in my opinion, an inspiration and ambassador for cycling to so many enthusiasts. Give Lance his titles back, he earned them on a level playing field.

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West Midlands & Wales - Issue 05 - Summer 2015

News

Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue

By Sasha Norris

y cat, Tabitha, given to me as a kitten when I was four years old, was a wicked birder. She and I did not see eye to eye when it came to wildlife. That is how I ended up with sparrow after sparrow (we lived in North London) in our shed, dutifully nursing them back to health. It is an unshakeable bug, caring for wild creatures. Years later, (I won’t say how many) back in my family home county of Herefordshire, this early passion re emerged. I was then a single parent, loving my kids, but longing for my career in wildlife filmmaking which was by necessity on hold. To alleviate my conundrum, I took on an orphan. Athene, the tawny owl was found in the middle of a busy road by a member of the public. The chick, a ball of beige fluff, arrived from Leadon Vale vets in spring 2012. This remarkable creature grew and prospered on chicken meat, into a fully fledged and at times, a little intimidating, predator. This process was deeply moving and thought provoking for me with my background in zoological science. Would she eat the food that I offered? Would this animal, raised by a human being, survive in the wild? How could I ensure that she was relaxed enough to flourish, but scared enough of me to not approach humans once released? Would she fly adequately when she had only an aviary to learn in? All of these questions I asked myself as I diligently cleaned and fed and watered her each day. We moved her from a small cage into a shed and then into an aviary and

then she was gone. For several weeks afterwards, we saw at dusk an extraordinarily tame young owl in our garden but she never approached me. She must have been feeding herself and though she did not have the support of her family like other young tawny owls, she stood a reasonable chance. Since then I have, on behalf of Leadon Vale and Holmer Park Vets and wildlife-conscious members of the public, raised and released many other species. In 2013, Costa, the herring gull was found by concerned shoppers alone and exhausted outside the coffee shop of the same name in Hereford high town. She had been calling all day for her parents to no avail. After many weeks of two hourly feeds of cat food and kitchen scraps and a lot of cleaning of very foul smelling bedding, Costa, now in adult plumage and ready to fly was transferred to a rescue centre in Pembrokeshire. From there she was ringed and released off the Gower Peninsula, in a big group of her peers, as part of a research project for Swansea University. Back to the sea. Arrow, the baby wood pigeon found stuck in the mud on the banks of the River Arrow in Kington, proved a challenging child. Pigeon parents feed their young with a special milk milled inside an organ known as the ‘crop’ and regurgitated into their chicks’ begging mouths. To mimic this process I made Arrow a special concoction of rice and oat flour mixed with bird vitamins and some cod liver oil. This pigeon soup had to be siphoned into his mouth using a syringe and a cut-off section of a balloon.

My kitchen was redecorated in the process as were my clothes every hour. Eventually Arrow and I got the hang of it and the feed became less like a Jackson Pollock painting. Arrow flourished and lives in and out of an open aviary in our small holding. Meanwhile we were still caring for a beautiful young fallow deer that we had rescued in the spring. Anna, as she was named by my children, who recently featured on the front cover of the Hereford Times, was found alone and crying for her mother in a paddock in Goodrich, she came to live with us in June. Despite calling several other rescues, the lady who found her was unable to get support elsewhere. Herefordshire remains an unspoilt and wildlife rich county but there are long distances between our wildlife and the existing wildlife rescues. This is one of the reasons that I felt compelled to set up Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue. We will attend wildlife casualties and orphans in our county and we will retrieve animals when members of the

public feel unable to catch and restrain or bring the animal to us. There are multiple threats facing our wildlife from our own beloved pets, cats and dogs, which cause innumerable injuries to wild birds and mammals; from our roads and machinery and of course from nature itself. This latter is rare though, and most of the animals that come into our care are unfortunately here because of something we humans have done. Anna flourished in the company of a little black Hebridean sheep named Elsa and fed on large bundles of forage and twice daily on sheep milk. She is now living happily in the 18 acres of Magdalen College Deer Park in Oxford. Elsa, is back with her sheep friends in our smallholding and we are constantly monitoring Anna with the help of zoologists from Oxford University to ensure that she integrates, is accepted and happy in the herd. The work I undertake helping wildlife is incredibly rewarding and the animals teach me every day. I think hard about how to make the experience the best

Veteran-Cycling Club The Brecon Canal Ride

here were pros and cons to the ride along the Brecon and Monmouth canal towpath. In its favour it was quiet and the few pedestrians and their dogs were friendly. It was picturesque, so much so that there were frequent picture making stops on this bright sunny morning. Above all there were no hills. On the other hand much of it has to be ridden in single file, there are gates to be dealt with and bridges to be ducked under with care. Some of it was muddy and it was possible to fall in, though nobody did.

By Geoff Moore Seven of us tackled it, to be joined for lunch at the welcoming White Hart in Talybont-on-Usk by a further four with sickies, not that it affected their appetites. Most meritorious of the riders was Simon Turner who had cycled up from Abergavenny to join us, covering a distance of twenty miles on his 1947 Selbach to reach the start at the Brecon Theatre, where Dai Buftons Runwell Renown stood looking much as it must have done when it was new in a showroom in 1935. Approaching Talybont I had put in an optional loop of about 4 miles, away from the canal,

which everyone opted to do. After removing an amazing amount of mud trapped in Phillipa’s mudguard, her fixed wheel 1939 Charles Holland Raleigh was deemed fit to accompany us on the metalled road to Talybont reservoir and then, following the route of a tramway opened in 1815 and not maintained much since, to Talybont and lunch. This latter section was unsurfaced. It involved a long climb and descent and some of it was quite rough so I am not sure that I would include it again. Malcolm Lyon on his 2015 Cotic Road Rat, whatever that is, claimed it was the best bit.

Simon whose Resilion Cantilever front cable broke at a time when it was most needed, was not so sure. Back at Brecon, whence we had returned on the towpath, I took stock, noting the mud on Mike Evans fine 1949 Parkes Autograph and on Ross Jeales 1976 Holdsworth. If we do it again, I shall try and combine the best canal bits with some sections of road.

possible and most natural for every animal. All Spring, I am greeted by the high pitch trill of a gull, the squeaky toy chirrup of a fallow fawn, or complex chatter of a jackdaw. These sounds are reserved for other animals than humans and I feel hugely privileged to be part, albeit briefly, of their language and their world. If you would you like to help wildlife, Herefordshire Wildlife Rescue needs you: voluntary carers, people willing to build aviaries and cages, plumbing, people willing to help muck out animals or care for animals in their own homes, drivers, donated cages, newspaper, animal food and money to buy provisions for the animals. If you think you can help in any way, I would be very pleased to hear from you: sasha@ siren.org.uk.

Sasha Norris also works in conservation education and wildlife broadcasting. You can learn more on www.sashanorris.co.uk; www.siren.org.uk.

CYCLING TOURS - SCHOOL ADVENTURE - THE FREEDOM TRAIL - FAMILY ADVENTURE

Quality, all-inclusive cycle tours in the Pyrenees for small groups, April – October. Weekend rides, local sportives and raid training weeks all set in stunning scenery, with great weather and clear open roads.

“I have been involved in outdoor activities for most of my life either as an enthusiastic amateur or in a professional capacity. Having travelled the globe on land and sea, I believe I have now found the perfect environment that provides the opportunity to experience true adventure and to achieve personal sporting highs” Will Burchnall - Owner/Founder/Director of The Pyrenees Adventure Company Ltd

The Pyrenees Adventure Company Ltd

WWW.PYRENEESADVENTURE.COM info@pyreneesadventure.com

Summer 2015

e h T f O t r a P e m o c Be

UK bike sales grew 14% to £745 million in 2013

8% of the population cycle more than 3 times a week

44% of the population own a bike

10% of people cycle recreationally at least once per month

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n o i t u l o v e R Cycling