Vacancies Group Secretary The officer in contact with CyclingUK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vice Chair To fill in for the Chair as needed ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Kit Master Caring for all aspects of club kit provision ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Event Helpers?
Always!
Event Diary April 4 Hard Boiled 300km April 4 Bike Jumble Salisbury (5:30pm) April 5 Dorset Coast 200km & Dorset Coastlet (100km) April 10 -13 Inters Easter Tour April 23 - Rouleurs Spring 100 May 2 Porkers 400km May 23 Brimstone 600km May 24 Inters Bank Holiday Trip June 7 New Forest 100km & 200km June 18 Rouleurs Summer Solstice June 26 Crackpot 1000km June 27 Bike Jumble Burley (08:30 - 11:00) July 5
Cyclist Picnic, Damerham
20:02PM 20/03/120 File Covid-19.dtp, page 1. Adobe PDF
We went to press on Monday with a positive, vibrant and exciting issue detailing the full and readily accessible range of CTC Wessex Cycling group rides and events planned for you throughout the Spring season. On Tuesday we were given this guidance in line with Government Covid-19 thinking and statements.
To keep up with the ever flexible position check with the CTC Wessex Cycling website www.wessexctc.org and Facebook page before setting out. Stay well & keep safe everybody!
CHAIRMAN / PRESIDENT: Julian James VICE CHAIRMAN - Vacant SECRETARY: Vacant MINUTES SECRETARY: Alan Baker TREASURER: Mike Walsh AUDITOR: Ralph Huckle KITMASTER: Vacant WEBSITE & COMPLIANCE: Keith Matthews RIGHT TO RIDE: Paul Turner CYCLE TRAINING: Steve Gray 07710 201358 Cycle Ink EDITOR: Shawn Shaw Elected at the Annual General Meeting in October our committee meets four times a year and co-ordinates the group’s cycling activities and the clubruns of the various sections. Next committee meeting: 13th May 2020 - Kinson Conservative Club
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bituaries: reminders that our time is transient. We remember 3 in this mag who each left their mark on our cycling community: their talent for organisation, their riding skills, their joyful sharing of cycling - all gift-wrapped with a little of their time. They would, no doubt, say ‘It’s what we do’. Let’s hope we never run out of their kind.
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pologies to all for the errors with the published runs lists last quarter. Reasons but no excuses. Have tried to do much better this time! Do remember to check the web page for ride updates as they occasionally have to be (legitimately) revised.
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onder our highlight rides. A bluebell run with the Thursday Riders - the Spring 100 miles with the Thursday Roulleurs - Coffee in open country on a BunRun - Topping the Purbeck Hills with Jim’s Dawdlers. Something more? The Inters are organising an Easter Tour in the Cotswolds and a mini break in May. Take your pick.
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ome say, ‘It’s what we do’. Suggest ‘Why don’t we . . ?’ , talk it through, make it happen. Perfick, lubbly jubbly, just like magic and off we go running our wheels o’er hill and dale, sucking in the atmosphere, basking in the companionship of other like-minded enthusiasts. Whether PBP or a Dawdler Ride let’s keep doing ”What we do”! Cycle Ink is the Newsletter of CTC Wessex Cycling, a Member Group of Cycling UK (Cyclists’ Touring Club) Views expressed in articles are personal to the writer and not necessarily those of the organisation. The deadline for contributions for the following quarters Cycle Ink :1st June 2020 Send your contributions to: editor@wessexsr.org.uk
Cycle Ink #196
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CTC Wessex Cycling’s Christmas Lunch Thursday 12th December 2019
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day of pouring rain - but several riders ‘braved it’ joining approximately 25 other CTC Wessex members (car assisted) at Stewart’s Garden Centre, God’s Blessing Lane, Broomhill for Coffee and Cake. Those cycling left Stewarts at about 11.15am for the Bournemouth Sports Centre (still raining) the rest left about 11.45am by car, arriving at Bournemouth Sports Club around 12 noon, where everyone enjoyed a chat over a pre-meal drink catching up with friends not seenin a while. Lunch was served at 12.30pm and was delightful. After lunch the CTC Wessex Cycling club trophies were presented by Julian James and Mike Walsh. The Riders Cup was presented to Cathy Cottenham, This award goes to a rider who in a short space of time has shown considerable achievement and improvement, riding the Dorset Coastlet 100km Audax last year, and later the same year completing her first imperial Century+ ride with 120 miles on a Group ride to Avebury. This year’s rides included a visit to Stonehenge and she has written articles and submitted photos in the Group’s Newsletter about each of these ventures The Tourists Shield goes to Christine Ratcliffe, for undertaking an ambitious 27-day tour which included the southern half of LEJoG, from Lands End to Carlisle. This tour included 1263 miles and 71,808 feet of climbing, the award goes to a rider well known for her support of Christchurch Bicycle Club The Sartain Trophy goes to John Hayter, John has been Ride Coordinator for the Thursday Ride Group for a number of years and is stepping down at the end of this month. In addition he is a champion of cyclists’ rights and attends meetings in the area, making his views and the needs of cyclists known to the decision-makers. John was also a member of the Group Committee for 12 months, stepping down at the last AGM in October. The Ron Cook Rose Bowl goes to Paul Turner Our Right to Ride officer, for service to the Group. This year the award goes to a member whose valuable contribution to the Group is made away from the public gaze, representing all cyclists in this area, CTC member or not, and fighting the cyclist’s corner when it comes to our right to ride our bikes. Life Vice-Presidency Award to Keith Matthews. Many of you will know that Keith Matthews is a Life Vice-President of the Group, having had this award bestowed upon him in 2003 when he stepped down as DA Secretary after 25 years unbroken service in that role, 16 years on we now have the opportunity to present Keith with a CTC medallion as a permanent momento. We would also like to bestow the honour of Life Vice-Presidency on another long-serving Group Member. He, too, was Group Secretary (for 8 years). He was Editor of the Group Newsletter for 4 years. He has been a driving force behind many of the Group’s initiatives and he continues to serve as Group Treasurer Mike Walsh. Distinguished Service A brand-new Group award and it could be said that we are making up for lost time. We are making two awards and the first is to a man who, for several years, served not only the DA and the Group, but also the wider cycling community, in many ways. He ran The Gridiron for 5 years, doubling participation from 500 to 1,000. He was committed to opening doors into our world of cycling, making it as easy as possible for would-be cyclists to experience cycling for pleasure. He instituted Terry’s Saturday Ride to Burley. He is, of course, Terry Walsh. The second Distinguished Service award goes to a man whose name has already been mentioned. We said then that he had been DA Secretary for 25 years but he, too, is also a past organiser of The Gridiron as well as a former Editor of the Group Newsletter, and he continues to be Webmaster of the Group’s website. He is Keith Matthews.
© Mike Walsh
About thirty three members attended the lunch which was organised by Dave Langley (right of picture) and Denis Eveleigh, and we would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to them both for their efforts in giving our members this opportunity for a seasonal gathering.
On behalf of everyone there and myself a huge thanks to them both.
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By Mike Walsh Cycle Ink #196
New Forest Audax Events on 7th June 2020
Starting from: The Lymington Community Centre. (The Gridiron HQ)
exploring every corner and all of the varied New Forest landscapes this route visits Burley, the western escarpment of the Forest along the Avon Valley, the edge of the Wiltshire Downs and Cranborne Chase, before returning through the heartlands of the New Forest over Stoney Cross plain, through Lyndhurst then Beaulieu to the North Solent coastal nature reserve at Lepe Country Park. Then it’s a loop back northwards to Redlynch and Hale before a grand finale down the Ornamental Drives, into Brockenhurst and taking in more coastal fringes to the Arrivée.
Entry fee: £8
(+ £3 temporary membership fee, if not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card, refreshments at the finish and AUK validation fee. Medal (£2) or cloth badge (£1) available for successful finishers Enter via the Audax Uk Website: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-493/
venturing deep into the New Forest the turn is over west at Breamore House & Countryside Museum Tea Rooms near Fordingbridge.
Entry fee: £7
(No SAE required for postal entries.) (+ £3 temporary membership fee, if you are not a member of AUK or Cycling UK) Includes: Route sheet, gpx track, brevet card, refreshments at the finish and AUK validation fee Medal (£2) or cloth badge (£1) available for successful finishers Enter via the Audax Uk Website: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/20-494/
David Smethurst Cycle Ink #196
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To have your hard copy of Cycle Ink, the Club runs-list and newsletter, sent by post
Subscribe online at www.wessexctc.org select “Subscribe” and complete the form. The cost for receiving Cycle Ink for 1 year (4 issues) is £2.50 or £5.00 for 2 years (8 issues) toward the postage and handling expenses.
-ORPay £2.50 / £5.00 direct to: CTC Wessex at Lloyds Bank sort code: 30 80 89 account number: 23925060 and confirm by e-mail, giving your name and mailing address to: jmichaelwalsh@aol.com
-ORCycle Ink Subscription Form complete this form clearly and, together with your cheque, mail it to:Mike Walsh, 17 Grove Gardens, Southbourne Road, Bournemouth. BH6 3QJ
Name:___________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ Town:_________________________ Post Code:_________ E-mail address:____________________________________ Signed:__________________________Date:____________ CTC/CUK Membership number:________________________
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Cycle Ink #196
A view from Within. . . Some thoughts to consider - Every generation in history has tut-tutted about the failings, flakiness, and yes, snowflake characteristics of the up-coming generation. That should tell you that these gripes are flawed. Can't possibly be true, the human race would have died out centuries ago. The up-coming generation just have different ways of doing things is all. The problem is I think that the generations do not communicate and worse, don't see the need to communicate. It would be really nice if we in CTC Wessex could put the lie to this and so I urge you to read on. Please. Keith Matthews, Life Vice-President, CTC Wessex Cycling ******* s I get older I spend more and more time doing less and less. I tell you this with neither regret nor satisfaction. As a 75-year-old I accept it as a fact of my life.
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There are lots of CTC Wessex members in exactly the same situation, and some of us sit on the Group’s Committee, trying to oil the wheels of our progress as an organisation. Some of our actions help to promote our primary function as a cycling club that caters for all levels of ability in the touring and leisure cycling world, and some other actions have an altruistic goal, such as the Group’s contribution to the “Bikeability” project. In this, the Group finances the training of Group members as Cycling Instructors. They, in turn, train school children in the skills required to ride a bike safely on our roads. In a related venture, the Group has also financed the training as Cycling Instructors of teaching staff at a local school for children on the autism spectrum so that the pupils may have the quality of their life experiences enriched by cycling. It is only possible for the Group to afford to engage in these altruistic programmes because it organises the Gridiron event which, in a typical year, is fully-subscribed with 1,000 entrants and raises a substantial sum of money. Organising the Gridiron is a team effort. At the head of affairs are two or three Group members for whom the event is a year-round project. There are many more examples I could mention in more detail than this brief article permits, two being our participation in Right-to-Ride representation, influencing where possible the provision and improvement of facilities for safe cycling, particularly in urban settings; and our contribution to the organisation of Audax events in the area. All the aforementioned activities take place alongside the more familiar features of club life: the planning and leading of, and participation in, group rides, of which there are some 8 or 9 each week. Where am I going with this description of what we do as a Group? Well, a lot of the back-room activity may be drawing to a close because so many of the Committee members and other Group volunteers (I don’t like the term but it is a fashionable word at CTC National Office) are – inevitably – getting older but are not being succeeded by younger replacements. The Group needs new, younger blood to join the Committee to inject new ideas into its thinking and to influence the direction of our efforts. In addition, later this year the Group will need to find both a Group Secretary and a Treasurer. These are not particularly onerous jobs but they are essential to the Group’s existence. And if we don’t get younger members coming forward? Inevitably and sadly, one day the Group would cease to function and then cease to exist. Some Group rides might continue, but little else would. If you are willing to help avoid this, or wish to find out more, please contact me, Alan Baker, preferably by e-mail: alan.baker.0@gmail.com or by ‘phone 01425-476043.
Alan Baker, Minutes Secretary to the Committee Cycle Ink #196
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Three Generations in the Saddle New Forest Gridiron 100 - 13th October 2019
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t was during a meal at a pub in Bransgore one Friday evening in September that my dad, my son and myself (Russell Phillips junior) ended up discussing whether we should all do this year’s New Forest Grid Iron. My dad, Russell Phillips senior, is a keen cyclist and does thousands of miles a year and my son does a fair amount of cycling as well; I used to be a keen cyclist in the late 70’s/early 80’s but am out of practice and having had a new hip in March this year I was keen to get some miles in the legs! I got up early on the day of the ride to check the conditions outside and although it was raining it was only light rain. We left it up to my 17 year old son Jason to make the final call. He was keen to go ahead, so off to Lymington for the start. As a result of the uncertainty about the weather, we were late starting and also bacame slightly lost before the first stop at Copythorne. I think we did about 6 miles extra, but we eventually found the first control. By this time the control was closing up, however the volunteers were kind enough to still make us a drink and supply some biscuits. The weather had not been as bad as expected and we only got slightly damp on this first section of the ride. I think the earlier riders might have had worse weather. © Mike Walsh After this stop I was starting to tire and we decided that I would try to reach the second checkpoint at Ibsley and if I couldn’t carry on my dad and Jason would continue and I would find a suitable pub where I would wait for a lift home! I enjoyed the scenery on this section through the new Forest which was amazing with all the autumn colours. However as predicted my Gridiron ended at Ibsley, where I had a coffee at the Hockey’s Farm Shop before my brother Clive kindly offered to pick me up and take me back to Lymington where my car was. The second checkpoint had closed by this time. So my dad and Jason then continued and completed the ride back to Lymington. Unfortunately the final control had closed by the time they got there but at least they had completed the 2019 Gridiron! We all met up again in Lymington and had a pub meal. All three of us had a great day and are glad we make the decision to go for it despite the weather warnings. A couple of days after the ride, Mike Walsh kindly agreed to come round my house and stamp the cards for my dad and Jason and he also gave me some other goodies and a medal for each of them, so thanks again for that. This was Jason’s first ever ride of this type so he was particularly pleased to get his card stamped and the medal. I am intending to do more cycling and get fitter and fully complete some more Gridiron rides in the future!
By Russell Phillips (junior) 7
Cycle Ink #196
Paris Brest Paris 2019 -
from the saddle (pt1)
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aybe it is because it only runs once every four years, or maybe it is because it is such a historic event on the French calendar, I’m not sure, but either way the French people really embrace this event with unparalleled enthusiasm and warmth and it is this which makes the event what it is. Ride it and prepare to see people enthusiastically clapping and cheering on the roadside even in the smallest villages and even in the dead of night. Some set up tables with coffee, cold drinks, snacks and fruit. When they finally have to retire to bed (not everyone does but I guess some have work the next day!) you might well see a little table loaded with goodies and a sign saying ‘help yourself’. The default is to ride the 1,200Km within a time limit of 90 hours, although there are options to sign up for shorter elapsed periods in which to complete the ride. The deal is that if you opt for the alternative 80 or 84 hour time limits and fail to complete the ride in the allotted time, then you don’t achieve any accreditation for the ride (even if you are still within the default 90 hours). Why sign up for a shorter time period? Well, apart from challenging yourself a bit more if that is your thing, you end up in start groups which give you a quieter ride away from the main groups of cyclists. More of that later. Such is the popularity of the event these days, to have a reasonable chance of getting a place you need to ‘pre-qualify’ the year before. The longer the pre-qualifying ‘audax’ you ride the year before (peaking at 1,000km, I think), the sooner you are able to log onto the website and secure a provisional place. For the 2019 edition, the word on the street was that you would need at least a 400k in the bag to have a reasonable chance of getting in. I chose to do a 600k. Simple eh – ride a long one in the preceding year, get a place and stick your feet up and relax in front of the telly carbo loading on chips and beer for twelve months or so!? Well, not quite; if all goes well the pre-qualifier gives you the provisional place but then within the season leading up to PBP each provisional entrant needs to ride a qualifying 200, 300, 400 and 600km event, each one within a specified time window. Realistically you would need to do this anyway, since not preparing with a series of decent length rides would almost inevitably lead to a lot of discomfort and likely failure on the event itself. I imagine that if you have read this far that you might be thinking… “hmm, six thousand riders – that is a lot of cyclists to all be on the same out and back road at broadly the same time”. Quite so. The 80 and 90 hour riders are started on the Sunday late afternoon and evening at quarter hour intervals, then there is a cessation and the 84 hour people go off early on the following (Monday) morning. Last time around (2015), I was in quite a late start group on the Sunday evening. It is something in the region of 120Km to the first official food stop and by the time I turned up it was completely rammed. Queuing for food, water, toilets etc. seemed to take forever. This time around, my decent pre-qualifier meant I was in an earlier start group and this allowed me to stay ahead of what people call ‘the bulge’ of riders. As a result of my earlier start time, food / control stops were really a lot less busy. Don’t get me wrong – these places (run by volunteers) are very large and very well organised but when ‘the bulge’ descends on them they can become overwhelmed. If you plan to have a go at PBP see my ‘top tips’ at the foot of this article. I mentioned that there are all manner of craft – the vast majority will be astride conventional bikes ranging from the lightest carbon machines to fat bikes (I saw one or two of those) – most are somewhere in the middle. Some people seem to carry an awful lot of luggage, others hardly any at all. There are tandems, trikes, tandem trikes, various types of recumbent bikes and velomobiles. Feel free to Google for a full description but most velomobiles I have seen seem to be recumbent trikes with an enclosing fairing – they are very fast on the flat and especially downhill – less so on the uphill. Last time around there were quite a few elliptigos (a kind of standing-up bike) but I didn’t see any this time so maybe they are no longer allowed. For this 2019 event it rained persistently for the couple of days before the event but magically dried up when it was time for me to head off for the start. Once under way, it remained fine and dry for the whole ride – the weather was pretty much perfect apart from a bit of a pesky headwind on the outbound ride which turned to also become a headwind for some of the return! The nights were cool and clear but not too cold and there was a good moon and a few stars. I managed to ride the whole way to Brest with just one 20-minute cat nap, with my head on the table in a control. At Brest I had a shower and then a proper 3-hour sleep in a bed – bliss. On the return (wearing broadly the same cycling kit because I chose not to carry a change), I had two further 20-minute cat naps and that saw me home in 74 hours and 10 minutes (about 10 minutes quicker than last time – at least I am consistent). This meant I rode through the Sunday night and part of the Monday night (sleeping for the latter part) and finally the Tuesday night. I became fixated on completing before nightfall on the Wednesday but then I went through a low patch with about 100 miles or so still to go. At this time I had plenty of time in hand, and could easily have stopped for a long sleep without prejudicing my chances of completing
Cycle Ink #196
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in the 90 hours but I also just wanted to ‘get it done’, so I pressed on despite a general feeling of discomfort on the bike – uncomfortable shoulders and painfully numb hands and particularly feet. Some encouragement from home helped a lot and a bit further down the road I felt fine again. I stopped on the roadside every now and then to take off my shoes and massage my feet. There are motorcycle riders who rove along the route to keep an eye on proceedings and on a straight stretch during the depths of my last night on the road one of them slowed and pulled alongside me. I wondered if I was about to get a penalty for my back light having failed but he was just checking I was OK and, once given the thumbs up, he shot off to check the next rider a little way ahead of me. After the formalities at the finish I rolled into the campsite (where I left a tent pitched throughout) with about 30 minutes to spare before the campsite bar closed for food and drink. Luckily, David Smethurst, who had been off for a three day bike tour starting a short drive away, turned up back at the campsite about the same time as me, so David went off to the bar and got some food and beers ordered for us both while I rushed off to the shower for a lightening freshen-up and change into casual clothes. Words can’t describe how good that food and those beers tasted or how good it felt to cast off somewhat smelly cycling kit after being on the road for the vast majority of 74 hours – pure bliss. Once fed and watered I crawled into my tent and slept the sleep of the dead but only until 06:00 hours when I rose more or less fully refreshed for a day of eating and drinking. After effects of the ride for me (and many others according to YACF and YouTube) were residual numb fingers and feet for quite a few days afterwards and, despite a promising start, it took a while before my sleep pattern returned to normal. I escaped any problems with my bum which many other riders reported. As for whether I will be on the start line in 2023 – that remains to be seen. In the build up to the 2019 edition I was adamant that this would be my last but, as is often the case post event, now I am not so sure.
By Graham Dore
Jim Pitt
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supporter of Cycling Opportunities Group Salisbury, organiser of time trials for the SW Region of The Tricycle Association, his family said Jim “lived and breathed cycling”. He also found the time to stand in the 2013 Amesbury East Council Elections and was duly elected. After the death of his daughter Helen (32) in 2017 following an epileptic seizure suffered in New Zealand, Jim co-founded the Amesbury (UK) Epilepsy Support Group to her memory. Enthusiastic supporter of all things cycling, Jim was there, working hard, helping the COGS contingent provide a R&R control point in the early morning (4am) at Amesbury for the Wessex Super Randonneur event, The Hard Boiled 300. Jim tragically died last September aged 71 resulting from a collision with a lorry on the A303 near Solstice Park whilst riding his tricycle. A sad loss to his family and many friends.
Cycle Ink #196
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Basic Maintenance Workshop
Steve Coombes, an experienced trainer and cycle mechanic, will deliver a basic maintenance workshop on a weekday evening in B’m’th/Poole. He will cover punctures, snapped chain, broken spoke, checking and adjusting brakes, gears, saddle, handlebars, headset, wheel hubs and bearing. Cost £20. For more details and booking contact stevecoombes@hotmail.co.uk or FaceBook Skills and Trails Roger Bacon
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ew Forest CC club president Roger Bacon sadly died on Sunday, December 1, 2019 just short of his 80th birthday (Christmas Eve) at the Bournemouth Hospital. He had been ill since late July and after medical investigations at Southampton General Hospital, was diagnosed with leukaemia. Later the cancer spread to his lungs and brain. More recently noted as the organiser of New Forest CC's Boxing Day 10, Roger had, in the past, been a top level cyclo cross rider, enthusiastic time triallist & keen Audax rider. Roger also staged cyclo cross races, organised many club tours and was the club's time trial secretary. He was a regular with the stopwatch at time trials throughout the area. Despite his illness, he organised this year's club Christmas Lunch in Burley. Until he suffered balance issues almost two years ago, Roger had been a regular attendee of the Scrumpy Wheelers' Wednesday lunch meets in both the Bournemouth and Southampton areas. He was also a keen ornithologist, a member of the Hampshire Ornithological Society. Roger is survived by his wife Rosemary, their two daughters Jenny and Karen and a grandson, Cameron.
By Bob Joliffe Cycle Ink #196
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Cyclist Picnic - 5th July2020 - Damerham Village Hall
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estling alongside the Allen River the Village Hall at Damerham provides a resplendent country setting for our annual Cyclist Picnic Lunch.
Out for a ride? Then call in and have a drink with us ‘on the house’. Bring your lunch or buy a sandwich at the hall. Relax and enjoy the delightful setting. A more substantial lunch may be had at The Compasses public house close by. Many clubs have received an invite so your club may well be organising a group run to join us too. Check with your club. We will host organised rides out to the hall and back, details in the runs list section in the centre of our next Cycle Ink. You are welcome to come along with us and you’ll surely make a few new chums along the way and then some more over lunch. Damerham village lies at the heart of a network of leafy lanes of the kind that time seems to have forgot. Pleasing gentle rural riding abounds through field patchwork and ancient copse. Open noon to 4pm to all cyclists (not just our members) and offering the chance to exchange chat, natter, and swap anecdotes over a bite and a drink in a beautiful spot.
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Cycle Ink #196
Cycle Ink #196
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CTC WESSEX CYCLING RUNSLIST We organise gentle and more demanding group rides each week - to suit most tastes. Each group has a different style and meets different needs. * * * For beginners, and those returning to cycling after a long break - No membership required. ERRY’S INFORMAL RIDE TO BURLEY every Saturday is along a route intended for beginners but attracts cyclists from all disciplines and all abilities as a social activity. There is no designated leader and no back up provided. Start 09:00 at Waitrose Supermarket, Christchurch or just make your own way to the Old Farmhouse Tearooms, Burley for 10:00 ( Contact Terry Walsh on 01202247888 for more details) * * * For an introduction to club riding: EDAL SUNDAY. The runs are approximately 30 to 50 miles, depending on the season, at an easy pace suitable for solos and tandems where the beautiful scenery can be appreciated. With stops for morning coffee, a picnic lunch and occasionally an afternoon cake stop group members will make you most welcome and be very happy to natter on matters cycling.
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HURSDAY DAWDLERS Rides are at a modest pace but don't really dawdle. Most members are seniors but all are welcome. The members share an interest in the countryside, coast, buildings and views. The ride stops at cafes for elevenses and tea but members always carry their own picnic lunch. * * * Moderate Paced UESDAY TOASTERS. A 20 to 25 mile ride from Wimborne Square to Blandford using quiet roads at the pace of the slowest riders, making it ideal for newcomers to group cycling.
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HURSDAY RIDERS. This group aims to provide moderately paced sociable rides of approximately 40 to 50 miles using minor roads, to explore Dorset and the New Forest. We stop for coffee, picnic or pub lunch and often afternoon tea. A good friendly day on the bike
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ATURDAY BunRuns are for improvers: those looking to extend their touring range wherever the road may lead . 50 mile at a moderate pace (av 13mph) up hill, down dale stopping once for coffee & cake. * * * Medium Paced HE “INTERS” are a happy go lucky bunch who look forward to Sunday rides of 60-80 miles in the winter and 80+ during the summer enjoying sociable stops for morning coffee, lunch (own packed or pub/cafe where available) and for afternoon cake. A group with a fairly wide range of ages and abilities there is a relaxed attitude should a break "go off the front." Occasional weekend trips are organised too. * * * Somewhat quicker HE SATURDAY Velos and both ROULEURS groups take their riding that bit more seriously and produce a quicker riding experience whilst still taking in the joys of being ‘tourists’. Destinations: Coffee only Sat & Sun, while Thurs lunches and on occasions raises the bar to 100+miles for the day.
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Group
09:00 Wimborne Square
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
04 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
11 Terry's Saturday Ride
12 Pedal Sunday
12 Sunday Inters
Lyndhurst - Mad Hatter
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Beaulieu - Steph's Kitchen
Blandford - Cafe Velo
Milford-on-Sea
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
Cranborne G.C
Easter Tour Cotsw olds April 10 - 13
09:00 Hurn Stores
08:30 Christchurch Waitrose
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
11 Saturday Velos
09 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 12 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Hurn Stores
09 Thursday Riders
Moreton - Dovecote Café
Blandford Forum
09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Wimborne Square
07 Tuesday Toasters
Thu 09 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
Wareham - Sports Centre
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
05 Pedal Sunday
Salisbury
09:00 Hurn Stores
Lulw orth - Car Park Café
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Pulham Village Hall
Kimmeridge - Clavell's
05 Sunday Inters
09:00 Sandbanks Ferry
08:30 Wimborne Square
04 Sat BunRun
Lyndhurst
Nigel Steel
Big Bob C
Basil F
Mike G
Rob Ward
Michael
Rob Ward
6d Handley
OR Saturday/Sunday Car Assist - Cirencester Steph
Manston
Beaulieu
Portesham
Moreton
Romsey
Shaw n
Jim McD
Damerham
Denis E
Leader
Henrietta H
Rockbourne
Woodlands - Spot in the Woods
Tea
Fritham
Lunch
Coffee
09:30 Wimborne Rec Alderholt - Sticky Bun Ferndow n - West Moors Rd Moors Valley C.P. 09:30 lights
09:30 Moyles Court
Time Start
04 Saturday Velos
Sun 05 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
02 Dorset Daw dlers
02 Thursday Riders
Thu 02 Thursday Rouleurs
April
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
21 Tuesday Toasters
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
09:00 Merley Bridge
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
26 Sunday Inters
26 Pedal Sunday
09:00 Upton House
08:30 Wimborne Square
25 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
08:00 Hurn Stores 09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Wimborne Square
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Dorchester
East Knighton - Rainbow Café
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Shaftesbury - Salt Cellar
Wareham - Harry's Bar West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Blandford Forum
09:00 Hurn Stores Furzey Gardens Ferndow n - West Moors Rd 09:30 Ringw ood - Cafe Velo lights
25 Saturday Velos
Sun 26 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
23 Dorset Daw dlers
23 Thursday Riders
Thu 23 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
19 Pedal Sunday
19 Sunday Inters
09:00 Merley Bridge
Hazelbury Bryan
09:00 Wimborne Square
18 Sat BunRun
18 Terry's Saturday Ride
Burley - Old Farmhouse West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Lulw orth - Finley's
Burley - Old Farmhouse
08:30 Sandbanks Ferry
18 Saturday Velos
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
16 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 19 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Merley Bridge
16 Thursday Riders
Blandford Forum Corfe Castle West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
09:30 Wimborne Square
09:30 Sandbanks Ferry
14 Tuesday Toasters
Thu 16 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
Coffee
Group
Time Start
April
Brockenhurst
Bov'ton Tank Museum
East Lulw orth
Lulw orth
Spring 100
Wood Green
Whiteparish
Lymington
West Stafford
West Stafford
Lunch
Studland
Ringw ood
Tea
Colin
T.B.A
Stephen M
Rob Ward
Geoff
Sue Ward
Shaw n
Paul M
Steve Ch
Rob Ward
Leader
09:00 Wimborne Square
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
02 Sat BunRun
02 Terry's Saturday Ride
05 Tuesday Toasters
09:00 Upton House
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
10 Sunday Inters
10 Pedal Sunday
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
09 Terry's Saturday Ride
Lunch
Boldre - Shallow meads, Mabel's Café
Dorchester West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Lymington - The Buttery
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Briantspuddle - Village Hall
Ow ermoine
Sturminster New ton
Martin
Calshot
Alderholt - The Sticky Bun
Belcherw ell
Milton Abbas
Lunch
Broadchalke - Chalke Valley Stores
Blandford Forum
Blandford - Brasserie 65
Lulw orth Cove
Cranborne - Garden Centre
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Manston Village Hall
Dow nton - Borough Café
Coffee
Tarrant Gunville - Home Farm Kings Stag Dew lish via Bulbarrow Blandford - Brasserie 65 and bluebells! Blandford - Brasserie 65 Winterborne Tomsom
Blandford Forum
Coffee
Ferndow n - West Moors Rd Verw ood Heath Centre lights
08:30 Upton Country Park
09:30
09:30 Hurn Stores
09 Saturday Velos
Sun 10 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
07 Dorset Daw dlers
07 Thursday Riders
09:30 Hurn Stores
09:30 Wimborne Square
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
03 Pedal Sunday
Thu 07 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
09:00 Sandbanks
03 Sunday Inters
09:00 Wimborne Rec
08:30 Hurn Stores
Time Start
02 Saturday Velos
Sun 03 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
Group
09:30 Wimborne Rec
30 Dorset Daw dlers
May
09:30 Wimborne Rec
09:30 Wimborne Square
30 Thursday Riders
09:30 Wimborne Square
Time Start
28 Tuesday Toasters
Group
Thu 30 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
April
Blandford
Pamphill
Tea
Tea
Michael
Nigel Steel
Dave W
Nigel S
Denis E
Rob Ward
Graham
Rob Ward
Shaw n
Leader
Ian M
Basil F
Rob Ward
Leader
12 Tuesday Toasters
Group
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
16 Terry's Saturday Ride
19 Tuesday Toasters
09:00
09:30
24 Sunday Inters
24 Pedal Sunday
Sw ay
Eastleigh
Milford on Sea
Kimmeridge
Salisbury
Lunch
Fordingbridge - Bridges
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Compton Abbas Airfield
Dow nton - The Borough Café Salisbury West Holme - Orchard Moreton/W. Stafford Tearooms
Blandford Forum
Sherfield English South Holmsley - Station Tea Room
Burley - Old Farmhouse Corfe Castle - Model Village Café
Bow erchalke Village Hall
Arne RSPB South Holmsley - Station Tea Rms Landford - Lavender Tea Room
Sherfield English - Gilberts
Blandford Forum
Coffee
Ferndow n - West Moors Rd Verw ood - Morrisons S.M lights
Rockbouirne
Bank Holiday Cycling Trip - East Dorset
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
23 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:00 Hurn Stores
08:30 Wimborne Square
23 Saturday Velos
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
21 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 24 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Ringw ood
Car Assist
21 Thursday Riders
09:30
09:30 Wimborne Square
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
17 Pedal Sunday
Thu 21 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
09:00 Hurn Stores
17 Sunday Inters
TBD
09:00 Wimborne Square
16 Sat BunRun
09:00 Sandbanks Ferry
08:30 Christchurch Waitrose
16 Saturday Velos
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
14 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 17 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Wimborne Rec
09:30 Moyles Court
09:30 Wimborne Square
Time Start
14 Thursday Riders
Thu 14 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
May
Burley
Tea
Nicky
Nigel Steel
John E
Chris B
Rob Ward
Steph
Rob Ward
Shaw n
Law rence S
Steve Ch
Rob Ward
Leader
26 Tuesday Toasters
Group
09:00 Wimborne Square
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
30 Sat BunRun
30 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:00 Wimborne Square
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
06 Sat BunRun
06 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:00 Wimborne
09:30 Upton House entrance
07 Sunday Inters
07 Pedal Sunday
09:00 Upton House
08:30 Wimborne Square
06 Saturday Velos
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
Sun 07 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Wimborne Rec
04 Dorset Daw dlers
09:30 Sandbanks Ferry
Thu 04 Thursday Rouleurs
04 Thursday Riders
09:30 Wimborne Square
Time Start
02 Tuesday Toasters
Tue
Group
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
31 Pedal Sunday
June
09:00 Wimborne
31 Sunday Inters
09:00 Merley Bridge
08:30 Sandbanks Ferry
30 Saturday Velos
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
28 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 31 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Wimborne Square
Time Start
28 Thursday Riders
Thu 28 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
May
Piddletrethide
Lunch
The Green, East Knoyle Tolpuddle
West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Worth Matravers
Broadchalke
Dew lish
Lunch
Iw erne Minster
Marnhull
Shillingstone/Sturminster New ton
Compton Abbas Airfield
Burley - Old Farmhouse Poundbury - Engine Room Cafe
Fontmell Magna
Poole - The Spire Sturminster New ton - Sw eet Pea
Cranborne Garden Centre
Blandford Forum East Creech - The Cake House
Coffee
Tarrant Gunville Home Farm
Blandford
Arne, RSPB Café
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Hale Village Hall
East Creech - Cake House
Blandford - Brasserie 65
East Knighton - Rainbow Café Ansty
Blandford Forum West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Coffee
Rob Ward
Shaw n
Paul M
Basil F
Rob Ward
Leader
Graham
Shaw n
TBA
Alan E
Ade H
Rob Ward
Leader
Wimborne St Giles Colin
Tea
Three Legged X
Tea
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
13 Terry's Saturday Ride
16 Tuesday Toasters
09:00 Wimborne Square
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
20 Terry's Saturday Ride
09:00 Wimborne
09:30 Wimborne Rec.
21 Sunday Inters
21 Pedal Sunday
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
08:30 Upton Country Park
20 Sat BunRun
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
20 Saturday Velos
Sun 21 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
18 Dorset Daw dlers
18 Thursday Riders
08:00 Tbd 09:30 Merley Bridge
09:30 Wimborne Square
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
14 Pedal Sunday
Thu 18 Thursday Rouleurs
Tue
09:00 Hurn Stores
14 Sunday Inters
09:00 Wimborne Rec
08:30 Hurn Stores
13 Saturday Velos
Sun 14 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:45 Hurn Village Stores
11 Dorset Daw dlers
09:30 Wimborne Square
09:30 Sandbanks Ferry
11 Thursday Riders
Thu 11 Thursday Rouleurs
Time Start
09:30 Wimborne Square
Group
09 Tuesday Toasters
Tue
June
Blandford - Brasserie 65
Shillingstone
Dow nton - The Borough
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Hazelbury Bryan
Moreton - The Dovecote
Moreton - The Dovecote West Holme - Orchard Tearooms
Summer Soltice 200k
Blandford Forum
Ringw ood - Cafe Velo
Boldre
Shaftesbury - Ugly Duckling
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Bransgore - MacPenneys Settley Ridge Rosie Lea Brockenhurst
Sw anage
Alderholt - The Sticky Bun
Blandford Forum
Coffee
Ibberton
Sherborne
Chaldon Herring
West Stafford
Summer Soltice 200k
Cadmans Pool
Lepe
Keyhaven
Wareham
Wilton
Lunch
Milton Abbas
Everton
Tea
Nicky
Rob Ward
Shaw n
Ian M
Steve Ch
Rob Ward
Steph
Law rence S
Bob M
Pete D
Rob Ward
Leader
09:00 Christchurch Waitrose
27 Terry's Saturday Ride
Tue
Corfe Castle
Sherfield English
Alderholt - Sticky Bun
Burley - Old Farmhouse
Dorchester - Engine Room
Bovington - Matildas
West Wellow - Carlos
Blandford Forum Broadchalke - Chalke Valley Stores
Coffee
Tw ynham
Amesbury
Milborne St.Andrew
Eling Tide Mill
Steeple Langford The Kingfisher
Lunch
To place an order at our heavily subsidised prices go to https://www.wessexctc.org/clothing.html check the size chart, then either: ● Complete an Order Form and send it to me by post or email. ● Or contact ANTHONY CLEWES to tell him what you want. e-mail: anthony.clewes1@googlemail.com Tel no: 07737 750535
Club Kit
CTC Wessex Cycling
09:30 Wimborne Square Blandford Forum Advance notice - Group Picnic Sunday 5 July 2020 at Damerham Village Hall
09:30 Merley - Willett Arms
28 Pedal Sunday
30 Tuesday Toasters
09:00 Hurn Stores
28 Sunday Inters
09:00 Wimbourne Square
08:30 Wimborne Square
09:30 Upton House entrance
27 Saturday Velos
25 Dorset Daw dlers
Sun 28 Sunday Rouleurs
Sat
09:30 Moyles Court
25 Thursday Riders
09:30 Wimborne Square
Thu 25 Thursday Rouleurs
Time Start
09:30 Wimborne Square
Group
23 Tuesday Toasters
Tue
June
Fordingbridge
Tea
Rob Ward
Graham
Nigel Steel
Joan C
Chris B
Paul Sgt
Rob Ward
Leader
Right to Ride Report - February 2020 BCP - Officer’s Report Cycle parking - Poole College, Lower Parkstone and Poole Hospital, Longfleet made a contribution bike parking. Crossings - Dorchester Road, Foxholes: pedestrian/cyclist crossing. Options still being developed between parallel and Toucan crossings. Buoy Roundabout, Holes Bay: Toucan crossing - BCP are trying to secure single stage option for NCN 25 crossing of dual carriageway and now combined with Holes Bay cycle route realignment scheme. Willis Way access to Broadstone Way are investigating options for increasing visibility of crossing point Courtesy signs - Longfleet Drive, Canford Heath - small number of “Share with care” type signs to address ongoing anti-social behaviour issues. Cycle lanes and tracks (with flow) Barrack Road, Christchurch reconfiguring existing cycle track over the railway bridge to make it clearer that route is continuous. Corfe Hills School, Broadstone cutting back vegetation to expose full width of cycle track, between Council boundary and the school. Fleets Lane, Stanley Green Removal of bollard and kerbing in carriageway; installing protected merge from Christopher Crescent, and installing wider cycle lanes (currently 1.2m wide). Wellington Road, BournemouthRoad resurfacing material has failed and be replaced in 2020, together with wider and more extensive cycle lanes. Cycle lanes and tracks (contraflow) Iddesleigh Road, Winton TRO be will advertised in February 2020. Maxwell Road, Winton will be consulted on during 2020 as part of larger road safety scheme. Portchester Road, Winton. Works to be carried out in February 2020. St. George’s Avenue, Queen’s Park TRO to be advertised in February 2020. Removal of barriers - Labrador Drive, Poole install flush kerbs and realign bollards for easier cycle access to/from Baiter Park. Park Lake Road Poole. Install flush kerbs and realign bollards for easier cycle access to/from Poole Park. South Park Road. Wallisdown - Realign bollards for easier cycle access to cycle track. Boundary Roundabout - Works to prepare for future improvements at Boundary Roundabout are due to start week commencing Monday 27 January and last for 3-4 days. The improvements all form part of a wider scheme to create better transport links across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and follow on from the work that has been taking place on Wallisdown Road since Autumn 2019. The preliminary works involve the felling of several trees. The trees are being removed to enable the roundabout to be reduced in size, which form part of the future improvement plans. A tree replacement programme will ensure new trees are planted around the roundabout as part of the project. The plans for Boundary Roundabout include: ∙
Removing the existing roundabout and replacing it with a smaller one to reduce traffic speeds and improve safety
∙
Installing Toucan Crossings on Wallisdown Road and Boundary Road near to the roundabout to provide safer controlled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists
∙
Installing combined footpaths/cycleways around the roundabout
∙
Removing the existing pedestrian crossing on Talbot Avenue and replacing it with a toucan crossing closer to the roundabout
∙
Widening the footpath on the northside of Talbot Avenue to create a combined footpath/cycleway between Boundary and Talbot Roundabouts
∙
Improving the existing footpath/cycleway on the south side of Talbot Avenue
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Cycle Ink #196
Councillor Andy Hadley, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure,BCP, commented: “Our plans for Boundary Roundabout play a vital part in improving our local transport links across the three towns. This area is an accident blackspot, especially for collisions involving people on bikes. With over 24,000 vehicles using Wallisdown Road daily, the development will make this route safer and more viable for all road users, at an important location for a more accessible travel around our local area. I have been assured that the treework is essential, and that more trees of similar species will be planted to replace those being removed. Improving sustainable transport options at this key location is also part of our Climate Emergency commitments. Beryl Bikes Update - The Beryl Bikes Hire scheme is going well, more than 47 thousands rides have taken place since the start. There are now 300 bikes available, this will be increasing and there are plans to move into Christchurch. The Company are also considering E Bikes for the future. The locks on the bikes have been modified to make them safer. The Police are supportive and helping with security and tracking of missing bikes Routes to Schools Below is a summary of concerns raised by Anya Parkhouse regarding safe cycling/pedestrian routes to schools: Transport to schools - An estimated 40-60,000 children (plus accompanying parents depending on the age of the children) in the BCP area need to travel to and from school. I am concerned that the needs of these children are not being considered thoroughly enough and should be made a higher priority. Children cannot choose to travel outside the school rush hour, work from home, or easily change school if they do not like the commute. Children travelling to and from school have a number of options for transport: Walking - Feasibility depends on how close they live to school. On the positive side, new zebra and other crossings encourage walking. On the negative, congestion and parking outside schools remains a significant problem in many areas, even outside schools with very small catchment areas where the majority of children live close to the school. Cycling - On the positive side, there are some very good cycle lanes near schools (e.g. Castle Lane). On the negative, there just aren’t enough of them. If the route from home to the start of the cycle lane is dangerous, children may not cycle. It is also important to note that even the keenest young cyclists will have days where they cannot cycle e.g. due to weather, extra-curricular activities, or equipment they need to get to school. Alternatives need to be available – e.g. buses. Buses - On the positive side, there are some dedicated bus services offering convenience and safety. On the negative, pricing does not encourage use. For example: More Bus Fisherman’s Walk to East Way – approx.3 miles (£2.30 single / £4 return – approx. £80 per month). Mudeford to Bournemouth School (£3.10 for single / £4.50 return). A daily bus pass for children (£3) is cheaper than a return ticket to school, but not available on these school routes. Example season ticket prices: on More Bus route 788 ranges from £205.20 to £324 per term. Yellow bus – Winton to Avonbourne: £2.20 single / £4.30 day / £18 7-day / £59 30-day’ Note that 7-day or 30-day tickets do not offer a real advantage as children do not go to school 7 days a week nor 30 days a month. Such pricing is likely to encourage more people to drive, especially where families have two or more children. There are some free bus passes available to some families, but the pricing that exists encourages people to drive – whether for occasional days where cycling isn’t feasible or regularly. It has also been observed that vaping is being advertised on some dedicated school buses, which seems highly inappropriate and is an example of the service not putting children at the centre of planning: design is failing the user. The likely result of this bus pricing is. More cars on the road, and more pollution, parking problems, less incentive to walk / cycle. Trains -This was not discussed at the meeting, but it is of note that there are children regularly travelling to school by train. Conclusion - Although some facilities exist for transport to schools, there is scope for much improvement. Changes encouraging modal shift could benefit everybody, including children. Questions: What vision is there for safe and sustainable transport for children in BCP? What priority is being given to the travel needs of children? Dorset County Council
Cycle Ink #193
22
Wimborne – Cyclists please obey the highway code! A lot of cyclists including me, gravitate to Wimborne Square, especially Saturday and Sunday. But a lot of cyclists’ cycle around Wimborne Square illegally, against the traffic. Can I strongly suggest it is a dangerous thing to do? There are a lot of cars and bikes, and when there is a collision, bikes and riders come off worse than motor vehicles! The local people are upset with this situation! Transforming Cities Fund – Ferndown, Wimborne, Colehill, West Parley and West Moors
– 27.6kms of routes proposed through TCF,
– 46 junctions identified which are dangerous for cycling.
With the Transforming Cities Fund there should be improved junctions, signing , street furniture etc, as indicated here in green.
– All junctions resolved with the exception of the unsignalled Canford Bottom exits.
Paul Turner, CTC Wessex Cycling ‘Right to Ride’ Officer [BCP] 23
Cycle Ink #196
All pictures provided by Mike Walsh Cycle Ink #196
24
CTC Wessex Cycling Minutes of the Committee Meeting 13th November 2019 1.
PRESENT:- Julian James (Chairman); Bob Chittenden (Picnic Organiser); Cathy Cottenham; Mike Gordon; Jim McDonald; Shawn Shaw (Newsletter Editor); Paul Turner (Right to Ride Representative); Mike Walsh (Treasurer); and Alan Baker (Minute Secretary).
The Chairman welcomed Cathy Cottenham to the Committee. 2. 3.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE:- Keith Matthews. MINUTES OF LAST MEETING:- The Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 August 2019 were APPROVED subject to the following amendments to Minute 18: line 2 replace “regenerate” with “resurrect” line 5 replace “want” with “expect”
4. MATTERS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES:- There were no matters arising. 5. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT:- Nothing to report. 6. SECRETARY’S REPORT:- Alan Baker reported that Dave Mansfield had submitted the Group Annual Return to National Office prior to his resignation. 7. TREASURER’S REPORT:- Mike Walsh reported that the Group’s Annual Accounts, made up to 30 September 2019, had been submitted to National Office. The Group’s financial position remained healthy, with sufficient funds available to meet current spending plans. 8. RIGHT TO RIDE REPORT:- Paul Turner reported on recent developments. His quarterly report will be published as usual in the Group Newsletter. 9. BIKEABILITY INSTRUCTOR TRAINING REPORT:- Nothing to report. 10. LIAISON WITH AUTISM WESSEX AND PORTFIELD SCHOOL:- Mike Walsh reported that he had had a meeting with Petra Palser, the Trust and Foundations Executive at Autism Wessex, after the recent Gridiron event. Two of their nominated riders had completed the event and the third, who was obliged to drop out with mechanical trouble, will complete the route in the near future. Petra had expressed her pleasure and gratitude at the opportunity for fund-raising provided by the earmarking of the three places in the Gridiron, and also for the seed-funding donation provided by the Group, which had resulted in the release of larger donations from other sources. 11. GRIDIRON EVENT 2019 REPORT:- Mike Walsh reported that this year’s event had taken place in mixed weather. There were almost 400 starters and over 300 riders completed the course. The debriefing meeting had yet to take place. It was known that there was one complaint but those allegedly giving offence may not have been Gridiron participants. 12. AWARD OF GROUP TROPHIES 2019:- Julian James reported that the deliberations of the Awards Sub-Committee were progressing. The Arthur Moss Shield had been returned recently and the Committee encouraged the Sub-Committee to present recommendations for its future allocation.
Cycle Ink #196
25
13. APPOINTMENT OF GROUP SECRETARY:- Alan Baker reported that Keith Matthews wished the Committee to be aware that he had resumed the responsibilities of Group Manager and Membership Secretary at the AGM with great reluctance and only because a replacement Group Secretary had not come forward and he (Keith) was acceptable to National Office and could pick up the job immediately and without any need for familiarisation. Mike Walsh offered to do the jobs pro tem, proposed Julian James, seconded Cathy Cottenham, APPROVED nem con. Mike will notify Julie Rand at National Office. 14. APPOINTMENT OF VICE-CHAIRMAN:- It was AGREED to take no further action to fill this post. 15. NEW RIDE LEADERS:- No additional names were presented. 16. DATES OF MEETINGS 2020:- It was AGREED to hold Meetings at Kinson Conservative Club as follows, subject to the availability of a room: Committee Meetings : 12 February; 13 May; 19 August; 11 November. Annual General Meeting : 28 October. All proposed dates are Wednesdays. Meetings will commence at 7.30 pm. 17. ANY OTHER BUSINESS:(i) Alan Baker reminded the Committee that, in addition to Group Secretary, there was a vacancy for Group Kitmaster. (ii) Mike Walsh reported that he did not receive any response following his enquiry about the bench in Witchampton that is in need of repair. (iii) Bob Chittenden asked whether Dave Mansfield would be able to help him next year with publicity for the Picnic. Julian James and Alan Baker offered to ask Dave about this at a forthcoming meeting. (iv) Paul Turner reported that, as Moderator of the Group’s Facebook page, he sometimes had to deal with content submitted by contributors using a nom-de-plume. If Paul was unsure about the content he would delete the message. The Committee expressed its faith in Paul’s judgement and endorsed his policy. (v) Shawn Shaw invited Ride Leaders to write brief articles about their future rides for publication in the Group Newsletter. Copy deadlines were the last days of February, May, August and November. (vi) Cathy Cottenham asked about the requirement to get permission before publishing personal contact information such as e-mail addresses and mobile phone numbers. Mike Walsh explained that under current law it was unwise to make such information available to third parties without first getting the owner’s permission. The “bcc” function for addressing e-mails preserved this privacy until permission was obtained. (vii) Mike Walsh reported that there were nearly 2,000 viewings of the photographs of Gridiron participants following Malchimp publicity issued by Keith Matthews. (viii) Mike Walsh reported that Lymington Community Centre, used as the HQ for the Gridiron event, is endeavouring to raise £1.8 million to finance redevelopment of the Centre. More than half of this amount has been raised so far. The Group already gives a donation each year in addition
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Cycle Ink #196
to paying the hire charge for Gridiron use, but Mike invited the Committee to discuss making a one-off donation to the redevelopment appeal. It was agreed to circulate the appeal information and to discuss the matter at the next Committee Meeting. (ix) Julian James reported that he had been asked if sandwiches at the Group Picnic could be provided free of charge in future. The Committee was of the opinion that this decision should be left to the discretion of the Picnic Organiser.
Alan Baker, Minutes Secretary
David Birch.
Sadly we lost our cycling friend David Birch at the end of last year after a long
brave battle with illness. Bikes and cycling played an important part in David’s life, second only to his family. When David wasn’t working, he was cycling and since 1983 he logged it all, a catalogue of his roaming, referring to his pastime as “company in solitude”. David loved keeping fit, getting out in the fresh air and in his own words “the adrenalin inciting prospect of a huge adventure with new roads, new routes and new horizons”. He enjoyed touring, time trials, social cycling as well as cycling on his own. David rode with various CTC groups as well as Christchurch Bicycle Club. He did short rides, long rides, flattish rides and hilly rides, but the common denominator was always coffee and cake! When not cycling, he was reading cycling magazines, watching cycling on the television, tinkering with his bikes or writing his cycling diary. His goal throughout his illness was always to get back on his beloved bike. David’s last recorded ride in his diary was on 20th of August 2015 with Doreen and saw him reach an amazing total mileage of 91 thousand miles. Following major surgery he regularly went to the gym to regain his fitness and was able to return to cycling at Moors Valley on the tandem trike with Doreen. His final ride was a solo ride at the Bournemouth outdoor velodrome on the 11th of July 2018, unfortunately that same day he suffered a stroke. Now unable to cycle himself, David never tired of hearing about other peoples cycling, watching and talking about the professional races and critiquing the pro riders whilst still indulging his love of cake! Doreen did an amazing job looking after David and I know he was grateful for her loving care which enabled him to remain at home.
By Kathy Moore Cycle Ink #196
27
First printed in Cycle Ink Summer 2015 issue
Weather in Vane
By David Birch
It has been a really changeable Winter. We haven't been out on the bikes as much as we would have liked and when we have been out, like everyone else, we have to look down most of the time to watch out for all those potholes and then look up perhaps briefly just to keep a weather eye open. Our mileage is down on last year by a long chalk as well, so this morning we looked up to see some blue sky and the sunshine was enticing me to get the bikes out and try a ride, the first opportunity since the clocks went forward on March 28th. We took the direct route down from Wallisdown to Ensbury Bridge which was still being worked on, but the road was open after re-surfacing work earlier in the year. Onward to Ferndown, through West Moors and to Verwood all in beautiful sunshine and an unusually quiet ride. That road can be busy. We stopped at The Heathlands Heritage Museum and Cafe, and after coffee and cake, took time out to visit the Museum, small but charming, with plenty of exhibits and showing information and old archive photos of the site originally. I even did a spot of brick rubbing, yes brick rubbing. The word VERWOOD is impressed on all bricks that came out of the local brickyard and pottery. They provide paper and crayons for children young and old to have a go, and I was quite impressed with my rubbing actually. We came out of the museum, only to find the sun had now disappeared behind quite thick cloud so the decision was made to make for home. There you are, we were looking up again! Our route took us through Three Legged Cross to a turning for Mannington and still looking up, and past the Cross Keys on our right hand side, we spied a Weathervane. It is the one with a Wyvern on it. The owner of the house very kindly asked if we needed help, and started talking to us. How nice of him to come out. The Wyvern is the logo of The Wessex Running Club of which he said he is "The Godfather" and hence the Wyvern we had photographed had been made with running shoes on! The gentleman still runs, and was out with the club only the day before in the wind and rain, which just happened to be the day of the Coastlet also. Many of you might remember that day. His second Weathervane was on his garage and portrays a hunting scene with horseman and dogs chasing the Fox and he had a council official, visiting him for another matter, comment that this was not politically correct these days. He was very welcome to his opinion I suppose.
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Cycle Ink #196
We said our farewells to our new found friend and turned left at Higher Row to pass Broom House in Broomhill and there was another Weathervane yes we were still looking up! This one has a Witch on a broom flying in the wind which was a Westerly by the way. By this time the cloud was thinning but still not the bright sunshine we started the day in. In no time at all we were travelling quickly down Burts Hill, making for Wimborne and hoping the Westerly wind would aid our progress home, which indeed it did. Along Magna Road, Poole Road and home via the cycle path across Turbary Common. I just had to end our short trip with a photo of the one we have on our bungalow. It shows two cyclists coming down a country lane past a finger post with Doreen apparently pointing to where we should be going. This vane was presented to Doreen on her retirement from Rumseys in Sandbanks after 23 years service, and was made at Dorset Weathervanes of Charlton Marshall. I can feel another article in the making, so we will have to journey out that way sometime to photograph his, I'm sure he has one on his roof. We will be looking up for any other Weathervanes we may come across on the way and beyond. We use ours nearly every day to ascertain where the wind is coming from even if we don't anticipate getting the bikes out of the garage. So, when in a quiet lane and if safe to do so, try looking up for those Weathervanes. You'll be surprised what designs are up there.
David
Cycle Ink #196
29
Market place . . . Buy . . . Sell . . . Exchange
http://www.bombproofwheels.com/
Cycle Ink #196
30
W
ith the new season it is hoped the weather will take a turn for the better. The wind and rain of late has affected attendance and even the abandonment of a ride. The new spring programme offers a chance to get further afield: the New Forest, Isle of Purbeck and the Dorset Downs with lesser known lanes and sights. Some routes may be a bit testing for those whose powers are waning, but no problem for e-bikers. Hope this will stir the imagination and interest and get you out on the bike on Thursdays and Sundays. Oh! Remember the Cyclist’s picnic at Damerham on Sun 5th July – not to be missed.
Thurday Dawdling & Sunday Pedalling - Jim McDonald
Competitive Rollers
C
TC Wessex Cycling have a set of Competitive Rollers which are available for use by anyone either for a club event or on another occasion either within or outside CTC Wessex Cycling. There is no charge for their use. Daniel Armstrong at Velo Domestique 176-180 Seabourne Road (the top end of Southbourne Grove) looks after the rollers and they can be collected from there.
© Mike Walsh
Terry Walsh refurbished the rollers some time ago and they have since been used on a number of occasions: at Velo Domestique, at a Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers event and at the St Peter’s School Sports Convention. The rollers can provide a very good evening for riders and spectators giving much fun. To discuss the set up please contact Terry on 01202 247888.
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Cycle Ink #196