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BETTER THE DEVIL YOU KNOW?
SCARE BNB!!!!
PROBABLY NOT!
Victor Cannon tells a chilling winter’s tale
DARTMOOR DEVIL 2019 REPORT
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WELCOME v o l u m e 6 8 n u m b e r 4
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all! I hope you are having, or have had, a great festive break? Well the last few months have been wet. I have spent most mornings drying out kit on the radiator in the office - much to my colleagues delight! And most evenings drying out kit next to the fire at home - much to my partner’s delight. Most people who rode 2019’s great Dartmoor Devil had to drain out their bikes afterwards. I didn’t know hell was so wet! In this instance I think I would of preferred the flames! Well, I wish you all the best for your cycling in 2020. Judging by some of the places our 2019 members had been. It is set to be a good year! All the best Shaun East!
CHAIRMAN:
EDITOR:
LAST COPY DATE:
KEVIN PRESLAND
SHAUN EAST
Jan / Feb| Number 05 | 17th February
Hind Street House
5 Bridge Terrace
PUBLICATION DATE:
Hind Street
Tuckenhay
Jan/ Feb | Number 05 | 24th February
Bovey Tracey TQ13 9HT
TQ9 7EH
COVER PICTURE:
T: 01626 833749
T: 07748816396
REFLECTING ON PUDDLES
E: kevin.hindstreet@btinternet.com
E: thehighwayman@yahoo.com
- Graham Brodie
SECRETARY:
SUBSCRIPTIONS:
GRAHAM BRODIE
GEOFFREY SHARPE
10 Courtney Road
35 Claredon Road
Newton Abbot TQ12 1HP
Ipplepen TQ12 5QS
T: 01626 335130
T: 01803 812743
E: brodie@bikerider.com
E: geoffsharpe35@gmail.com
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MAGAZINE DISTRIBUTION: ELIZABETH RASHLEY
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E: erashley@hotmail.co.uk
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LETTERS AND NEWS 100,000 MILES Hi Shaun, I’m giving you this info to do as you please, either for the mag or your new Year Book. On the 05 November 2019 I have reached a total of 100,000 miles since 2002 on the bike. It sounds incredible but that is 4 times around the world! I had a year off after open-heart surgery and also spending other time in hospital, this works out at around 6000 miles per year. My Olmo bike was scrapped in July 2012 after completing 35,800 miles My Chris Boardman bike I bought in 2008, cost me £360 and up to present day has done 21,000 miles I do like getting value for money! Mike Taylor
CONGRATULATIONS Congratulations to James O’Neill who has just pedalled down to Penzance on a DIY 200Km, and acheived his RTTY ( Round The Year Randonneur award for AUDAX) - this means 12 x 200Km rides in a year, one each month. Well done! (PS - James is also a man of hidden talents. Have you noticed his home made gilet and peaked cap, and also bespoke frame bags! Rapha/Cafe du Cyclist better look out!) - Graham Brodie
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NEW BOUNDARY RIDE WORDS: RICHARD ETCHES
glimpse of the Exe Estuary at Cockwood, we were running behind schedule, the suburbs of Torquay accounting for most of the deficit with their hilly meandering roads. Riders from Exeter CTC were joining us for coffee and being courteous we didn’t want to keep them waiting. The coffee shop at Powderham was warm and inviting, if a little busy, with the welcome sight of fellow cyclists. We pushed off from Powderham with our Exeter compatriots, following the river and the canal to Exeter, going our separate ways at Marsh Barton, the boundary riders skirting the western edge the city before following a very scenic but demanding route through the quiet country lanes, dodging the occasional rain shower and stopping for photographs as we went. We emerged briefly in Tedburn St Mary, before heading back into the lanes en route to our lunch stop in Cheriton Bishop.
South Devon CTC Inaugural Boundary Ride Saturday morning the 28th September 2019 started breezy with Graham Brodie, Kevin Presland, Richard Coverdale and I huddled in Torre Abbey Gardens, Torquay for a team photograph before setting off to ride the boundary of the newly formed South Devon CTC. Kevin had planned the route and explained the first leg would hug the coast and the Exe estuary as far as the coffee stop at Powderham Castle.
If there is such a thing as the Devon Bus Shelter of the year award then surely the shelter at Cheriton would be a winner, fully enclosed, spacious and dry with a bench big enough to sleep on, the only thing missing was a door! After lunch and a quick visit to the village shop for supplies we pushed on toward Okehampton using the old A30 via Whiddon Down and Sticklepath.
The winding route out of Torquay took in views of the bay, passing the decaying grandeur of the Imperial Hotel, the windy and much potholed road beside Meadfoot beach and the villas of Ilsham Valley, before taking the coast road from Maidencombe to Shaldon, crossing the Teign river bridge with views of The Ness and of Lyme Bay beyond.
On reaching Okehampton we climbed the steep hill towards the railway station and joined the Granite Way heading for West Devon, on emerging from the woods we had views of northern Dartmoor, which to put it bluntly did not warm the cockles of my heart, the peaks were shrouded in thick rain bearing clouds, a sign of things to come.
Richard left us at Maidencombe because of an unexpected work commitment and hoped to rejoin us in Exeter. We continued through Teignmouth, Dawlish and Dawlish Warren, before catching our first real W I N T E R
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NEW BOUNDARY RIDE WORDS: RICHARD ETCHES
The trail was remarkably quiet with few other users which made for good progress, the only fly in the ointment was the rain and wind which really made itself felt as we crossed the Meldon Viaduct. We continued on the trail, the rain getting heavier and heavier, rejoining the road near Lydford. Not suprisingly we saw very few fellow cyclists on the road to Brentor with the rain continuing to bucket down, Brentor church was barely visible in the low cloud, although that didn’t stop Graham from stopping to take photographs. The descent into Tavistock continued with the same wet theme and we were extremely happy to reach our destination and overnight accommodation at the Tavistock Bunkhouse, set in the courtyard of the Union Inn. We stowed our bikes in the secure storage area and made our way inside, the showers were warm, the bunks were clean and tidy and the drying room was full of our wet kit. That evening we ate and drank in the Union Inn, it’s a real locals pub and we were made to feel very welcome, the food is standard pub grub, very reasonably priced and filling. It definitely did the trick.
the Royal Albert railway bridge. We meet up with our old friend, Drakes Trail at Bickleigh, descending toward Coypool and on to the coffee stop at Boringdon Golf Club. Not only did we catch the last ten minutes or so of the Wales versus South Africa in the Rugby World Cup, we had the pleasure of meeting up with our clubmates, Gill and John Beesley, Jean and Chris Grierson-Jackson and??? (
After a good night’s sleep we refuelled with a full English and set off into the drizzle, Yelverton bound. We picked up Drakes Trail on the outskirts of Tavistock, crossing Gem Bridge and passing through the rather dark and wet Grenofen Tunnel. We encountered a group of ladies running in the rain as we made our way along the trail, but everybody else appeared to have done the sensible thing and stayed in bed.
After coffee we pushed on through Plympton, bypassing the new town of Sherford, before picking up country lanes on the edge of Plymstock. After a slight detour down somebody’s drive we continued our journey encountering some challenging road surfaces on our way to Yealm Bridge. I was glad of a change of surface on the A379 road to Modbury and beyond to our lunch stop at Aveton Gifford, alas no sign
We crossed the disused airfield that was once RAF Harrowbeer and traversed the lanes to the west of the A386 road between Yelverton and Roborough, affording us distant views of the River Tamar and W I N T E R
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NEW BOUNDARY RIDE WORDS: RICHARD ETCHES
of a bus shelter today, but the wooden bench served a purpose. After lunch we crossed the River Avon and followed an undulating and picturesque route along ancient lanes to Churchstow, I hadn’t used that route before and found it to be a really good alternative to the unpleasant climb on the A379 out of the Avon valley. Kingsbridge came and went and the prospect of a strong headwind when crossing Slapton Ley focused the mind, fortunately in reality it was no more than fresh breeze tickling our faces. Sort of. The Venus Cafe at Blackpool Sands was a welcome sight after the rollercoaster ride along the coast road from Strete Gate, although the panoramic seaviews did go some way to compensate for the elevation gained and lost.
Suitably refreshed we set out on the final leg dropping into Dartmouth, passing the castle on the way to the higher ferry for our crossing of the river Dart and the steady climb to Hillhead. There followed a flying visit to Brixham harbour, albeit there was less flying up Overgang to Furzeham. Riding through Churston with views across Torbay toward Torquay, I was reminded that our journey was almost complete and felt satisfied that we had taken the time to mark the beginning of a new era in our cycling club in the most appropriate way, a bike ride. If in doubt go ride your bike. W I N T E R
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SOUTH DEVON CHRISTMAS LUNCH
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NOTICES
AUDA X UK
Future Devon Ev
ents:
Valentines Ride 16th February. St ay nd Su Round 4 (Cat A) March - A River th March. Mad 15 ay nd Su Round 5 D) Too Far 200k (Cat March - Exeter 15th March. Mad ay nd Su Round 6 at B) Excursion 100k (C
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COFFEE POT RUNS WORDS: JEAN BRIERLY
2019-2020 Oct 17 Escot Oct 24 Bernaville Nurseries Oct 31 Gittisham EX14 3PD Combe Garden Centre,The Kitchen Nov 7 Willand ~ Bluebell Restaurant Nov 14 Greendale Farm shop Nov 21 Exmouth ~ Kings Garden Centre Nov 28 Powderham Castle
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Dec 5 Clyst Hydon Village Hall Dec 12 Cullompton ~ Padbrook Hotel Dec 19 Willand Bluebell Restaurant Annual Christmas Lunch Bookings to Jean Please Dec 26 No Ride Jan 2 Exminster Golf Club Jan 9 Escot Jan 16 Bernaville Nurseries
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WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG...
Q: Who is this sh
ort clad whipper snapper? Clue: This London ner has much artistic talent an d a penchant for old steel and indu strial landscapes
A: Jon Dodson W I N T E R
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TOURING COMPETITION WORDS: GEOFF SHARPE
2020 South Devon CTC Tourist Competition After just 3 rounds in the competition already several members have scored maximum points are casting their eyes on the awards next year. The weather on round 1, the Dartmoor Devil was a bit mixed, okay in the morning but wet after about twelve and round 2 had more than its fair share of flooding, but the Mince Pie Ride, (Round 3) had over 50 entries and enjoyed some of the best sunny weather we had seen for several weeks. Overall
Overall
1 David Twigger 2 Graham Brodie 3 Caroline Twigger Kate Brodie Richard Coverdale 6 Rob Legg James O’Neill Steve Maddock
30 points 28 25 25 25 20 20 20
9 Danny Cortis 10 John Cooper Paul Adams Clive Long Geoff Sharpe
18 15 15 15 15
Plus a total of 35 members have scored 10 points or less
Caroline Twigger and Kate Brodie are tying in first place in the Ladies Section and the Veterans are being headed by Rob Legg and Steve Maddock. 8 groups of members have registered in the Team Competition. Totally Torbay (Geoff Sharpe, Graham Brodie,David Twigger) who won this year head the table with 73 points and are looking to make it back to back wins. The Young Fogeys (Shaun East, Dave Twigger,Caroline Twigger) are on 60 points and Torbay Tipplers (Steve Main,Dave Prudden,Graham Brodie) come up in third place on 48 points. Teams of three must register with me by the end of January if they want to participate in the Team competition. You can be a member of up to 3 teams so don’t delay, there’s 3 x £30 vouchers for the winning team. You should all be receiving a leaflet giving details of all the future events, there’s 17 rounds and your best 8 scores go forward to make your total. NOTE; The Devon Delight audax shown in the programme on Sunday 19th July is a 100k event and not a 200. Future Events: Round 4 : Sunday 16th February. St Valentines Ride Round 5: Sunday 15th March. Mad March: A River Too Far 200k Round 6: Sunday 15th March. Mad March: Exeter Excursion 100k
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TOURING COMPETITION WINNERS WORDS: GEOFF SHARPE
2019 Award Winners CTC TORBAY Sunday Rides David Prudden Wednesday Evening Rides (Summer) Paul Adams and Steve Main Wednesday Evening Rides (Winter) Paul Adams Tuesday Rides Phil Jane Best Newcomer Steve Maddock CTC Devon Tourist Competition First Overall Steve Main First Opposite Gender Caroline Twigger First Veteran Steve Main Winning Team TOTALLY TORBAY (Geoff Sharpe, David Twigger, Graham Brodie) Freewheeling Rob Legg Pace Judging Geoff Sharpe
TOURING COMPETITION RULES WORDS: GEOFF SHARPE
SOUTH DEVON CTC TOURIST COMPETITION RULES, 2020
1. The Tourist Competition is open to all members of South Devon CTC, Exeter CTC and Plymouth CTC. Riding in eligible events is regarded as having entered the competition. 2. There is no entry fee for the competition, only the fee being levied by the organiser for the event entered. 3. There is no restriction on the number of events ridden by each competitor, but only their best 8 scores will be counted for the competition. 4. A list of events is published each year, a copy is available from the Events Coordinator. 5. There are 6 categories of event, as follows: A. Rides of 40 to 90km B. Rides of 91 to 130km C. Rides of 131 to 180km D. Rides of 181 and over E. Competitive events (e.g. Map Reading, Treasure Hunts, Freewheeling, Pace Judging.) F. Off road rides. 6. The competition is decided on a points scoring basis. A. Non Competitive events, (A,B,C,D and F) are awarded 10 points for each success fully completed ride W I N T E R
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TOURING COMPETITION RULES WORDS: GEOFF SHARPE
B. Competitive events are scored based on the number of starters in the event.
1. For coming in the first 10% - 12 points 2. For coming in the first 11 - 40% - 11 points 3. For coming in the first 41 - 70% - 10 points 4. For coming in the first 71 - 100%- 9 points
Two points will be deducted for each duplicated event. For example, the first ‘A’ ride would be awarded 10 points, the second 8 points and the third or subsequent ride 6 points. A minimum of 6 points is awarded for any one ride. In the event of a member failing to finish an event or finishing out of time in categories A B C D & F, they would be awarded 50% of the points they were due to receive. Members will only be awarded points for competing in events on the published date, except organisers and helpers of events are allowed to ride their own event up to two weeks before or after the event. They would not be allowed to ride ‘extra’ events or have an advantage over normal competitors other than date flexibility to allow them to be available on the date of their event. Organisers must submit a list of those members who completed the event and the names of helpers within 30 days of the event. 7. Organisers and Helpers 1. Organisers are awarded 10 points for organising an event with a 2 point de duction for a second event they organise. 2. Helpers are awarded 5 points for helping on an event with a 2 point deduction for the second event they help on. 3. Organisers and helpers can only be awarded these points on 2 events during the year, (e.g. twice as an organiser and twice as a helper) 8. Teams Members may join up with other members to form a team, 3 members to a team and the total points scored by each member will go towards the team total in the Team Competition. A member may only be a member of 3 teams. Teams must register with the events coordinator by the 1st of February each year. 9. Awards Overall winner: Trophy plus a £30 voucher 2nd Overall: A £20 voucher First opposite gender: Trophy plus a £30 voucher 2nd opposite gender: A £20 voucher First Veteran: Trophy plus a £30 voucher 2nd Veteran: A £20 voucher First Team: Trophy plus 3 x £30 vouchers No member may win more than one award other than a team award. (A Veteran is a member who is over 65 on 1st October 2019. Members must register with the events coordinator to claim veteran status by the 1st February 2020) Geoffrey Sharpe. South Devon CTC Events Coordinator Email. geoffsharpe35@gmail.com` W I N T E R
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D A R T M O O R D E V I L 2 019 WORDS: CAROLINE TWIGGER
Dartmoor Devil 2019 – from the organiser (words by the organiser’s assistant)
ble soup cups (because it’s the right thing to do, but also to avoid the repeat of one rider putting his soup in his water bottle!)
The build-up 12 months before -Study, analyse and tweak route.
6 weeks before -Organise marshals and helpers (thank you to you all). 1 month before
11 months before -Submit event to the audax calendar and wait expectantly for entries to come in.
-Head off to Spain and sunshine for some idyllic mountainous touring. Regular communication with home to keep up to speed with entry numbers.
10 months before -Excitement to see event listed in Arrivee. -1st entry received. -Book the venues - Brookside Café for the start, Lavender House for the soup stop, Fox Tor for checkpoint facilities and Kestor Inn for the finish. … and relax.
The final countdown 2 weeks to go -Order brevet cards, with more quantity indecision.
6 months before -A trickle of entries start coming in.
-E-mail all entrants with final route and gpx.
5 months before -And we’re up to double figures.
-Minor panic and follow up calls to Devon Highways following the spotting of road closure signs on the moor.
3 months before -Train my wife as my assistant to do the entries so I can go ‘cycle touring’ to Spain just before the event.
-Various e-mails from riders changing their start times. Some then changing them back again.
2 months before -Daily entries now, with the associated spreadsheet & database entries, mailchimp updates and e-mail broadcasts, all now delegated to my trusty assistant.
-E-mails from riders with sudden important things to do between the hours of 8 and 4 on Sunday 3rd November that can’t be done any other time (think they’d seen the forecast). The final days -Preparation of control ‘packs’ & marshal instructions.
-Ride the route to check the route sheet, gpx and signage. Remember why it’s called the Dartmoor Devil, even without any weather challenges. Contact Devon County Council to report potholes. -Order badges and trophies, with lots of indecision regarding quantities. -Confirm the venues, followed by long discussion with the soup stop about recyclaW I N T E R
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-Production of final rider lists and labels for brevet cards. -Kitchen becomes the ‘operation’s room’. And they’re off… |
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D A R T M O O R D E V I L 2 019 WORDS: CAROLINE TWIGGER
With Thanks to the Volunteers:
-The day has come, the sun is shining, the coffee at Brookside is welcome and it’s all stations go.
David Twigger Caroline Twigger Jean G-Jackson Chris G-Jackson Clive Long Tony Maggs John Cooper Paul Adams Geoff Joyce Richard Coverdale Rob Swayne Lynda Swayne Kate B Lyn Edwards Mike Steer Hilary Durbin Lisa Pash Mary Stocker (MDCC) Ian Whitear (MDCC)
-Riders set off at their start time of 8am or 9am, except for a small group due to start at 8am who saunter off at 8.30! -Happy riders are seen at the gate by Bowerman’s Nose – floods have been forded, potholes and hills have been found, cakes have been appreciated, and the sun’s still shining. -The first rider comes in about 1.30pm -The first rider on a fixed gear bike comes in 5 minutes later (just how…?) -The rain starts and the temperatures drop, and the other 90% of finishers have a more challenging latter stage of the day. Spirits remain good, all are pleased to finish, and only some seem mildly hypothermic. The facts and figures: -The fastest time of the day is just under 5 hours. -181 riders pre-entered. -9 entries on the day. -130 riders started. -103 riders finished within the allowed time -All were accounted for – phew. -About £1,000 will be paid to Devon Air Ambulance, Dartmoor National Park and the CTC. And another successful Dartmoor Devil is complete. Now, let’s look at the route for next year… - Caroline Twigger W I N T E R
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D A R T M O O R D E V I L 2 019
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D A R T M O O R D E V I L 2 019
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BREAKFAST IN BAMPTON 2019
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MINCE PIE RIDE 2019 WORDS: CAROLINE TWIGGER
CTC South Devon mince pie ride 2019 As December dawned temperatures were low but the day was bright and spirits were high as over 50 riders gathered in Kingskerswell for the annual mince pie ride. The route took us up and down hills I didn’t know existed, and up and down more hills, and then up and down some more hills for good measure. We travelled through Denbury, West Ogwell, South Knighton and Liverton. The views were splendid, the lanes were plenty, and luckily the conditions had dried out since last week’s Breakfast in Bampton (as had the riders and bicycles who took part in that too).
and the quest for mince pies continued. As a fellow rider commented, it was a “cracking route” - I’m always amazed at how I can still come across new roads within just 10 miles of home. Finally, the last hill was conquered and we rolled down to the Kingskerswell Parish Centre to… mince pies… and biscuits and delicious homemade cakes.
We received a warm welcome at Bovey Golf course with a fine array of cakes and plenty of coffee and tea (plus some mars bars which appeared as if by magic), conversation flowed and the golf course possibly worried if they were ever going to get rid of us.
With thanks to Geoff Sharpe for organising and his splendid team of helpers, and great to see such a fantastic turnout, not just from South Devon CTC, but also Mid Devon Cycle Club, and Cornish, Plymouth and Exeter contingents.
However, with the promise of an easier second half, groups set off towards Kingskerswell, in a typically circuitous route via Bovey Tracy, Teigngrace and Denbury,
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BREAKFAST IN BAMPTON 2019 WORDS: KATE BRODIE
The start was complicated by road works one way and floods the other. We opted for the diversion and rode through about a foot of water between Cranbrook station and Broadclyst. One lady from Tavistock Wheelers fell off into the water but was mostly overcome by laughter. Removing foliage from our rear mechs we pedalled over to Killerton and through Silverton to the main road to Tiverton. Riding up the River Exe was a treat with the colourful foliage and the miles whizzed by. The first control was on the far side of Tivvy in Bampton in Lucy Lou’s cafÊ at the old Bawton Bakery. Here we had delicious apple and raisin Danish pastries and tried not to drip on the chairs. There were a few South Devon riders there including Rob Legg and John Cooper who had been held up by a puncture. A Mid Devon CC gang was whizzing along with the speedy Twiggers leading them. Our organiser Sarah and her son Josh were riding behind us as Sarah joked she was supplying us with snorkels. We climbed up to Wiveliscombe and into Somerset where we nearly reached Taunton before the control at Norton Fitzwarren. Here there was spicy tomato soup and bread and chat with friendly folk from Liskeard Velo and Martin Aldiss Treasurer of Cornwall CTC and his wife Margaret on their tandem. We also met riders from Wales and Yeovil CC. Breakfast at Bampton 100K Audax on November 23rd 2019
Donning our metaphorical snorkels we set off down the river Tone towards Wellington and home. The info control was on the railway crossing at Nynehead and involved a size limit. Graham stopped to take pictures of the tandem in the puddles while I climbed the hill. After Wellington we ascended past the Blue Ball pub onto Sampford Moor and over the Blackdown Hills. The roads were full of debris but quiet and before long we were chasing the speedy tandem through Culmstock and down the river Culm to-
The rain had been falling heavily and there was an Amber Warning in place when Graham and I rolled into Cranbrook on Saturday morning. This cheery autumn Audax is a lovely route laid on by Sarah Britton and the Exeter Wheelers. For a fiver you get a lovely ride and a voucher towards delicious pastries and hot soup as you go round. The weather is usually challenging, which is part of the fun. W I N T E R
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BREAKFAST IN BAMPTON 2019 WORDS: GEOFF SHARPE
wards Kentisbeare and Dulford then through the lanes to Whimple and back to the Cranberry Farm pub where the finish and a delicious pint of cider awaited us. Here we discovered our damp friends from Tavistock had ridden as far as Tiverton for breakfast then returned through a deep flood up to their seat posts. All in all a great day out in good company. The post ride bike clean involved stripping down the bottom bracket and draining and greasing it. Sarah’s next Audax event is the Mad March Excursion so if you fancy challenging yourself enter in good time as places go fast. Kate Brodie
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B ED AN D B R E AK FA S T WORDS: VICTOR CANNON
Winter, a time for warming next to the fire and festive cheer as we move closer to The Christmas holidays. However our esteemed author, Vespucci wants to tell a rather chilling winter’s cycling tale. You may need to get a cushion to hide behind........
‘Come,’ she directed them to a lean-to stocked with logs; with enough room for the tandem. Parking the bike, they gathered two of the pannier bags, but left the other two secured with a cable lock. They followed the woman into the house. They removed their shoes, carried them, their clothes leaving a trail of droplets across the floor.
A rain-swept dusk, wrapped itself around Liz and Leo on their tandem. Singing telephone wires, together with the heavy aroma of noble firs was beginning to smother their senses. Branches stretching across that narrow, isolated, ridge-road in the Black forest, gave the atmosphere an oppressive feeling.
An open log fire which contrasted with the gloomy surroundings, helped to dissipate the chilly air, greeted them. A table was laid, as if guests were expected. ‘Do you have evening meals?’ asked Liz, ‘Ja, I can do soup, potatoes, sauerkraut, egg salad and also apfelstrudel - we do not eat meat.’
Liz called, ‘Stop … Leo!’ Leo braked, ‘what’s up.’ ‘That sign, back there,’ she pointed. Leo manoeuvred the bike around. ‘Zimmer Frei, isn’t that a bed and breakfast sign?’ she said.
‘Oh, you’re vegetarians?’ ‘Ja - that is so.’ She said leading the way up the creaking stairs to a musty room, with an adjoining bathroom. ’ Your meal will be ready in thirty minutes,’ she said. ‘Sounds good,’ they said in unison. A few moments after she left, Liz said, as she closed the door, ‘she gives me the creeps, not even a welcoming glimmer on her stony face, she fits this old building. I’ve gotta use the bathroom now, and dry my hair too.’
‘Same thing … means room free. Look there’s a faint light coming from that building amongst the trees. Shall we try it?’ ‘I see it Leo, since we lost our smart-tablet we’re blind. It’s getting colder too, and we mightn’t find another B and B … the town of Obersteig’s too far this evening. Okay let’s try this place!’
Five minutes later Liz returned. ‘What a grotty room, toilet is filthy the washbasin and even the bath has a rusty tidemarks. And the shower curtain has mould spots. I’m certainly not using it. I’ll dry my hair with my own towel.’
They wheeled their tandem along a short drive to a manor house. Which in bright daylight would have looked just as shabby? Leo knocked, after a lengthy wait a creaky door was opened by a large, middle-aged woman with meaty arms. Liz thought she looked like a wrestler.
‘Shall I go and tell that woman about the filthy bathroom?’ replied Leo. ‘No… I think we’ll wait and see what sort of meal they conjure up. And tomorrow we can threaten to report them to Obersteig town hall, if they don’t give us a reduction. It will avoid a row this evening. I hope their kitchen is clean.’
‘Ja, Kann ich Ihnen helfen?’ Leo said, ‘Sorry we don’t speak German.’ ‘Ah English… you want to overnight stay?’ ‘Where can we leave our bicycle?’ W I N T E R
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B ED AN D B R E AK FA S T WORDS: VICTOR CANNON
‘She’s might not be a barrel of laughs, but we’re only here one night and look there’s a nice soft bed. The sheets look clean… no flea marks.’ replied Leo inspecting the sheets and pillows. They unpacked their toiletries.
A tray with coffee pot, sugar, milk and cups were left on the table together with bread sticks. ‘Thank you,’ said Leo, ‘we’re tired and wish to take the tray to our room… is that okay?’ A look of annoyance reddened the Frau’s face, she replied, ‘Ja…okay.’
Thirty minutes later, they sat down to their meal which turned out better than they imagined. A thickset man, brought the meal, followed by the Frau with apfelstrudel. She said, ‘I’ll come back with coffees. After she left Liz said, ‘This apfelstrudel taste surprisingly good.’
They left the table; but Liz felt malevolent eyes following them as they walked up the stairs. They locked their door. ‘Leo, tell me what the trouble is with the coffee?’ ‘When I took those things to the kitchen, I saw through a partially opened door. That woman was putting powder into the coffee pot. The man was sharpening a hefty, meat cleaver. Also hanging from a hook nearby was a bloody carcass. There’s something strange about this place. Vegetarians … like hell they are!’
Liz was feeling more relaxed and less self-conscious as they waited for the coffees. The log fire made her feel sleepy. After thirty minutes Leo was tired of waiting, stood up and said, ‘I’ll take a few things on a tray in and find out what is happening.’ On the door leading to the kitchen was a sign.
‘Perhaps you misunderstood her; after all, the meal wasn’t too bad? And the coffee, it could have been perfectly harmless powder? Also they could have poisoned the salad or sweet, and we are still alive. So what if they are meat eaters.’ said Liz.
He ignored the sign, pushed the door open. He heard noises coming from a doorway along a corridor. The door was open a few centimetres. He assumed it was the kitchen, stopped, hesitated, because of what he saw. He supressed a gasp, the woman was adding white powder to the coffee pot. The thickset man was absorbed on sharpening a huge cleaver. Nearby, an animal’s carcass hung from a ceiling hook. As shocked as Leo was, he had the presence of mind to back away silently. Returning to the dining room he plonked the tray on the table and sat down, feeling shaky and sweaty.
‘Ya … and what do’y think she put in the coffee pot … stardust?’ he said shaking his head. ‘Oh God, perhaps you’re right and she intended to poison us?’ said Liz glaring at the coffee pot. ‘Alright… we’re alive at the moment, so we won’t touch it.’ ‘Bloody hell, Leo do you think we could be for the chop?’ ‘It’s a horrible thought … I think we should leave.’ ‘Right now?’ said Liz. ‘As soon as possible,’ he said as he walked over to the windows. He pulled the curtains back. ‘The rain will cover any noise we make…look there’s shutters and bars securing both windows.’ He gave Liz
‘What’s up, you look pale and why bring the dishes back? ‘Keep your voice down … when they bring the coffee; don’t touch it I think it might be contaminated!’ ‘Sometimes I don’t understand you Leo, why….’ ‘Shoo… someone’s coming.’ W I N T E R
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BED AND BREAKFAST WORDS: VICTOR CANNON
an anxious look. They went to the bedroom door; Liz found that the key turned but the door would not budge. ‘I can’t sleep here now,’ said Liz. ‘Leo hesitated; then said … I’ am wondering if we’re being a tad paranoid about this. That hanging, animal-carcass I saw in the kitchen may well have been prepared for a local farmer, hunter or even a woodsman. Maybe he’s a part-time butcher? In the morning we’ll have breakfast, pay our bill, cycle away in bright sunshine and have a bloody good laugh. See you in a jiffy.’ He strolled to the bathroom.
Swiss-Army, pocket-knife out of a pannier bag, returned to the bathroom and began unscrewing the loose floorboard. Liz felt nauseous, almost passing-out and managed to utter. ‘Let’s get out now no one knows were here… except them downstairs.’ ‘We’re trapped.’ said Liz, with moist eyes, her face growing paler by the second. Leo meanwhile, unscrewed and then lifted up the floorboard. Wrapped in curtain material he discovered several expensive Swiss watches, jewellery and bracelets. A cigar box contained a collection of gold rings and to his horror gold teeth. So this is what happens to guests?’
He clicked a cord switch to reveal a stained washbasin and lavatory bowl. Lack of cleanliness showed neglect permeated the bathroom. This didn’t feel right to him; such filthiness was uncharacteristic in Germany where typically, spotless accommodation was the norm.
‘Liz we must contact the police; show them this cigar box as proof. But getting out of this hell-hole could be tricky. I’m certain they’ll be listening, even planning what to do with us – right now. ‘Grab the two pannier bags and I’ll try opening the bathroom skylight.’ Liz stuffed the cigar box in a pannier bag; Leo climbed on the bath, brushed the cobwebs, and mercifully found no bars blocking his way. Liz removed two sheets from the bed and knotted them together. Before vacating the bedroom she jammed a chair under the door knob, entered the bathroom carrying the cycle helmets. She locked the bathroom door.
Above the bath he saw a sloping ceiling with a skylight, thick with grime and spiders webs. He took a step back, a squeaky loose, floorboard. Specks of sawdust disclosed that someone had recently screwed down a floorboard, as if in a hurry. He noticed that there were small, dark exclamation mark stains on the shower curtain and the pale-yellow, wall-tiles above the bath. Around plugholes of the bath and washbasin were rusty stains. But on closer examination, Leo was positive the stains were – dried blood! A tiny drum throbbed and little bells played a deadly dirge in his head. ‘Oh shit … oh my god …’ he uttered to himself as he opened the door back to the bedroom.
‘Hand me our bike light and tied sheets.’ He said. He had to use brute-force to open the window. It hadn’t been unfastened for years. At last, he gained a hand-hold and clambered up, he was virtually unaware of the pelting rain, but felt freedom within his grasp. He knocked out a window pane, attached a sheet, aware any noise made would have been barely-audible in the rain. He reached down, she handed the knotted sheets up, waited whilst he secured the sheet to the window frame.
‘I thought you’d be shocked at the dirt.’ said Liz. ‘It’s more than that … the woman and man … they’re crazy and dangerous! Take a deep breath, go … look at the tiles and plughole in the bathroom.’ He dug his W I N T E R
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‘Now let’s have the pannier bags.’
‘This is no time for playing the pillock,’ she said … and here’s your helmet we’ll need them if we’re going to escape.’ She handed up the bags. He secured them ready to be lowered.
of the house was flung open. The women rushed out followed by the thickset man clasping a meat cleaver. Fear incited Liz to get on the bike. Pedals were pushed with all their might. The man moved fast despite his size and the cleaver he swung he would have caused horrendous injuries had Liz not the courage to smash the bicycle pump on his head. Although it only slowed the man a few seconds, it gave them enough time gain distance and reach the asphalt, road surface. Adrenalin fuelled their fear as they peddled away. Liz kept glancing back and Leo constantly checked the mirror, their powerful LED light leading the way.
‘I’ll get down and help you up, then let you down. You carry on down to the bike and undo the digital lock; I’ll drop the pannier bags down.’ Liz grabbed the edge of the window and hauled herself out into the torrent.
After at roughly sixteen kilometres the road abruptly descended. Then on a steep, left-hand bend, running water made things tricky. Leo tried manoeuvred the bike over to the right side to take the bend wide. He applied the brakes.
‘Get going … I hear someone in the bedroom.’ Leo yelled.
‘We’re in a bloody river!’ Liz yelled clutched him tighter.
Slippery with moss and rain, the roof helped Liz slide down to the lean-to, but she scratched herself and tore her clothing. Although in her panic was unaware of any pain. Suddenly a deafening crash coming from the bathroom door as fragments flew in all directions as the door burst open. Leo shinned down the tangled sheet onto the lean-to roof. Threw the pannier bags down to Liz, Jumped down and helped her with the digital lock, as her hands shook so much. Though, she somehow managed to attach the panniers bags, without too much trouble. Although Leo was all thumbs, he’d somehow found the right combination. Above them they heard a scream of anger.
The combined weight of cyclists and pannier bags added to the impetus. Debris, grit and water made the calliper-brakes, useless. Not having disc brakes flashed across Leo’s mind.
He shone the torch through the waterfall of rain, it revealed, that there would only be an undemanding scramble onto the lean-to. Another three metres would get down to the ground. ‘Let’s swap the Black Forest next year for Blackpool?’
He yelled ‘I can’t stop – shoes down…… shoes down we’re …. They crashed, slid on a moss-covered bank into bushes and brambles. Scrambling upright, ‘are you okay,’ said Leo. ‘Nothing broken, thanks’ to cycle helmets.’ Reassuring themselves that no serious damage had befallen the bike, they walked down the rest of the steep section of the hill. They kept vigilant, although no vehicle headlights were seen. Once the steepness eased off they resumed cycling. Stinging and sore they managed the last few kilo-
Liz was trembling so much that she fell on the ground when she tried to climb on the bike. All of a sudden, the main door W I N T E R
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BED AND BREAKFAST WORDS: VICTOR CANNON
metres to the town of Obersteig. Some thoughts from the author...........
Walking up the steps of the town’s police station, their faces and hands covered with scratches and blood. Both were sodden and shivering.
1.The Swiss army pocket knife idea came from always carrying one on my treks. 2.The idea of the cycling in heavy rain down a steep hill came from an experience this year whilst descending to the Elbe River, where I had to use my shoes as a brake. Then walk down. 3.Spots of blood on wall idea came from rough hotel I stayed at in France. 4.There is a town in the Black Forest called Obersteig but I don’t think there is a guest house nearby like the one in this story.
Liz said, ‘the rain’s stopped.’ ‘Blackpool next time…’ replied Leo. ‘Too many people,’ said Liz. ‘No … Blackpool sands in South Devon,’ He opened the door, entered and handed over the cigar box. The End …….for the Bed and Breakfast host’s
FOR SALE DAWES GALAXY TOUR Bicycle 58cm, Black
21 speed. Stonglight Cranks: 46/36/26. 7 speed 12-34 Cassette. Rear Carrier & Front Bag. Brooks Saddle. New Mudguards and New Rear Tyre Great touring bike, I rode it from Santander to Roscoff: 950miles.
£195.00 ono Contact: Geoff Sharpe Tel: 01803 812743 E: geoffsharpe35@gmail.com
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CLASSICS’ CORNER NO.2 WORDS: GRAHAM BRODIE
1948 Thanet Silverlight.
The unique thing which identifies the “Silverlight” is its extended chain stays, and seat and down tube, which meet and are brazed ( soldered ) beneath the bottom bracket which sits resting on top of these tubes.
Welcome to the second of my Classic Corner articles, this time featuring a chrome plated Thanet Silverlight from 1948. Thanet were based in Bristol despite the name – the owner Les Cassell had come from the Isle of Thanet and the bikes, his brainchild, were built from a shop in Bristol from 1946 until the late 1950s and they are best known for the Silverlight frame design. ( Also the Silverthan) I think I’m correct in saying that Les Cassell was involved in Aircraft engineering and hence some of the unusual features of the frame detailed below.
Apparently the brackets on early frames were known to become detached from the tubes, often silver soldered. Also note the seat stays attached to the top tube ahead if the saddle, something seen on several more modern bikes – e.g. GT. Originally fitted with Resilion cantilever brakes and a lot of Chater Lea bits, when I bought it the brakes had been changed to later Mafac Racers with more modern bars. ( Brakes changed to Mafac by Howard Massey who acquired the bike in 1952 and was a great fan of Thanet Silverlights).
This is a bike with some considerable history. It was specifically built for Reg Shaw, Cyclists’Touring Club National Secretary in 1948, and there is some documentation and photographs with the bike to confirm this.(see photo) W I N T E R
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Recently I have put a Chater Lea chainset back on to the bike, and also a set of Resilion alloy cantilever brakes ( cables |
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CLASSICS’ CORNER NO.2 WORDS: GRAHAM BRODIE
a bit too long!), and also some older bars. These bicycles also came with a “lean back” seat post which this one didn’t have. Sourcing proved nigh on impossible (24.0mm), but a BMX chrome version (23.6mm) has been fitted with the help of a home made shim!
The bike has already enjoyed time in Devon, as it was owned by Nick Nichols from Bovey Tracey, and then ended up being sold via Hilary Stone, reappearing in North Devon last year, when I was able to give it a home back in South Devon again!
Other features include a BSA 3 speed hub, and a Huret 3 speed rear mech, so 9 speed, although I don’t think these were original. Wheels are a Blumfield large flange front hub and Constrictor Asp 26 x 1 1/4in rims. The frame is Reynolds 532 double butted and does feel light for the bikes age.
The ride? – It’s relaxed, I certainly wouldn’t say responsive, but this bike is a head turner, and hopefully the 3 speed hub ( serviced by Ted Tomlin! ) will last a few more miles for some classic bicycle rides!
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TED’S TOPICS NO.41 WORDS: EDWARD GAMESON
Ted’s Topics Nr 41 – Tips For Safe and Enjoyable Cycling Again Last time I gave you a list of my ten tips for safe and enjoyable cycling and I said that all of them were non-trivial – they all require constant practice. This time I thought it might be good to give some examples of what I mean. To ride with confidence on our busy Devon roads, you need a good skillset, the enthusiasm to develop it, and continue to improve it. You also need confidence take your proper place on the road, normally a metre out from the gutter, but may indeed be much further out when speeds rise, so that you can see forward as far as you need to be able to assess and deal with the hazards you face. Remember, it is your safety, not others’ convenience which must take priority. I included humility because it recognises that we all make mistakes regardless of how well skilled we are, so we need to recognise this, whilst also expecting others to make mistakes and allowing for them when they do. W I N T E R
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But what is meant by a skillset? There are many dimensions to this, because the skillset relates to not only roadcraft – your knowledge of how to use the road in all its forms, and how to recognise and manage hazards (and hazards come in many forms fixed and moving too) – but also being able to handle the bike in the widest possible set of conditions – mud, snow, wet, sandy, gritty, icy, dry, dusty, windy, fast, slow, twisty, rough, potholey, braking, accelerating, cornering, uphill, downhill – a vast range. Just one, here – you can ride fast safely only if you can stop in the distance you can see to be clear. The distance you need to stop will depend entirely on your assessment of how well you can stop your bike in the conditions prevailing. This will vary with rider, with more confident riders requiring much shorter distances – so they can ride safely much faster. Every rider’s perception of the same prevailing conditions will vary too. For example, this time of year (autumn) some people find wet leaves to pose a significant hazard. I’ve never found leaves to be too much of a hazard, but the seed shells from Beech and b e
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TED’S TOPICS NO.41 WORDS: EDWARD GAMESON
Sweet Chestnut I find can seriously upset my cornering calculations if I’ve not spotted the hazard early enough. You could also include here understanding your own fitness levels and their limitations as part of the skillset, too.
smoothly and the safe positioning of a bike in a bend to maximise this view is important. But one point here was demonstrated very clearly to me and that’s if you look down at the road most of the time and only a short distance in front of the bike, it’s not easy to be aware of anything further away. If though, you ‘raise your gaze’ to the LPoV, you’ll be able to see much more, and easily be aware of things close to you. So, with a pothole example, if you concentrate on the pothole, and bear in mind you go where you look (called target fixation) you risk actually going down it. If, however, you’re looking to the LPoV you’ll be aware of the pothole but will have already mapped out your target speed, and where to place the bike to go round it, because your destination is the LPoV, and not the pothole !
And we haven’t got beyond point one yet However, in the above, I’ve already touched on things relating to some of the later points I made, because these things are interlinked. Exploring the interlinking a bit, if you have a highly developed skill in hazard-spotting and assessing how to deal with them, you will naturally be able to ride more smoothly, use the brakes less, travel faster, and use less energy doing it. And that’s a long list of benefits, so it’s well worth developing hazard awareness – and you’ll be much safer too.
I could ramble on a lot more, but as many readers will already know, this all does work altogether and it’s all worthy of a lot of effort. Just concentrate on one point at a time each time you go out, and it will all come together eventually. One last thought - there’s little point in seeking extra fitness if you’re ‘comfort braking’ round every bend. Thinking about what you do is the key. Be a thinking rider. Take care, stay safe, and enjoy.
‘Comfort braking’ is when one habitually and automatically brakes for corners or other hazards without each time fully assessing whether it’s actually necessary to do so. It results from a lack of mental ‘process’ in approaching a hazard, by not properly challenging one’s-self to assess the correct speed to deal with the hazard. But don’t under-estimate this process as it does take a high degree of skill to assess a hazard quickly and properly to determine the correct safe speed to pass by, round, over, or through it. However, comfort braking is always bad practice, having no useful function. It serves only to slow one down needlessly, which in turn wastes valuable energy, compromises the safety of following riders who may not be expecting it, and eventually can add up to a significant loss of time and/or distance in a longer ride, with frustration the sometime result when riding in groups.
Ted’
Using the Limit Point of Vision (LPoV) is crucial in being able to ride safely and W I N T E R
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