Wellington Wheelers Cycling Club

www.wellingtonwheelers.co.uk July-August 2009 Chairmans Notes

I had set the alarm for a early start but as usual was awake well before listening to the dawn chorus and reflecting on a wonderful three weeks in Provence. France is one hour behind us so dawn was not as early as at home so I relaxed listening to nightingales and the chirr of a nightjar on the nearby heath. The early start was to get ahead of the heat which had been in the thirties for several days. Our destination was Mt Vent Toux at 1912 meters. We were not the first to leave camp. Beverly was out at dawn and was somewhat dismayed to find she was only the second cyclist on the summit. En route she encountered wild boar on the road, two brown hares and a red squirrel. Liz remarked on the length of our shadows this side of noon and in the early light the lavender looked fantastic and yellow verbascums stood like olympic torches. This southerly route was the second time had gone for this cyclists mecca having previously ridden from the North. This route proved easier and we reached the top by mid morning. My real purpose was to revisit the memorial to Tom Simpson who died on the Tour in 1967 shortly before the summit. I owe Tom a gratitude he knew nothing about. In my late teens I took up smoking after having to do so in a local stage production. One day when finishing my ciggy outside the office a lovely man called Tom Simpson looked up and said his namesake, my hero, would not approve. That was enough of an insult to shake me. No more weeds. So as we approached another “Tour de France” I have paid my respects and said thanks for Tom’s great image and influence. We sat and picnicked beside the road watching some of the hundreds of cyclists who would ride up that day and marvelled at the courage of some who descended at incredible speed. Sadly before the day ended the mountain would claim one more victim as one rider lost control.

Club Rides 5th July Curry Mallet 12th July Tiverton Tea Gardens 19th July Escott 26 July Padbrook Park 2nd August Curry Mallet 9th August Tiverton Tea Gardens 16th August Escott 23rd August Padbrook Park 30th August Torre Cider Farm Meet at Longforth Road car park at 09.00 hrs The Wednesday evenings rides are continuing, though I understand they have not been very popular this year, maybe the weather is to blame. The pub rides will be to the White Horse at Bradford on Tone on the 1st July and the New Inn at Halse on the 5th August.

Social Events Roger has arranged a barbecue at the Half Moon Inn at Clayhidon at 18.30 hrs on Saturday 15th August. The cost will be £10 payable by the end of July. This will replace the skittle evening that was cancelled when the White Horse at Bradford- on- Tone closed down. This pub is in a lovely setting and if the weather is against us we can move indoors. Club Audax 200k 19th July West Buckland, Somewhere or t’other 08.00hrs £4.00 Entry

100k 19th July West Buckland Taunton. Out and About 09.00 hrs £4.00 Entry

67k 19th July West Buckland Taunton. Diddy Doddle with Niggles 09.30hrs £2.75 Entry Again Dave would appreciate help, and cakes. Contact him at 34, Blackdown Road, Priorswood, Taunton TA2 8EZ, Phone 01823 354477 . Local Audax Devon Delight 100k 9:00 Sun 5th July £5 Start Newton Abbot, Devon. Graham Brodie, 81, Twickenham Road, Newton Abbot. TQ12 4JG.

Three Towers and Middle Earth 120k 8:30 Sun 12th July £5 Start North Petherton, nr Touring the Wessex countryside, passing Burrow Mump, Tor and Alfreds Tower. Keith Tudball, 9, Winford Close, Portishead, N. . BS20 6YG.

M5 Exit 26 - Cycle way A cycle track/footway leads from the aforesaid Junction in a westerly direction. After about 200m it joins Haywards Lane which provides a clear route for cyclists heading towards Wellington. Unfortunately this track is not currently shown on the Definitive Map as a Right of Way, which means that the brambles, etc., occasionally take over. I have been using this track for the past 3 years (more than 500 return journeys) and I am preparing an application to the Council to amend their Map. Can anybody provide me with historical evidence that they have used this track? It would mean filling out a form and being prepared (remote possibility) to attend a public inquiry. I’ve collected some information from the public but what I really need is a statement from someone who has used this track for 20 years. I’ve asked West Buckland Parish Council if they can come up with someone and I’d be delighted if you know anybody that could help. I have photos that I can e-mail if you wish. Please e-mail me ([email protected]) or call me, Ian Davies on 01823 663733 if you can help. This should have been in the newsletter 4 months ago, but is worth following up. Ed.

Hot Cross Bun Ride Peggy reports that about 28 riders attended - at least 60 buns and other bits disappeared. Lots of tickets re the hospital fete were sold and a £40 donation was given to the hospital-thanks to everyone for their generosity. Unfortunately the editor and a few others were a bit late back having toured most of the before returning home.

Some of the Hot Cross Bun riders

A Lamb in New Zealand Not so many of us about as i had thought; though there was some mutton dressed as Lamb gambolling about in Wellington on Saturday night. According to farmer Kiwi it became impossible to show a profit as 'we're not subsidised as an industry like you lot'. So the farmers have transferred to venison type; a cross between the reindeer and an elk; this has the advantage of two side products, the skin and the horn; plus a more profitable meat. The horn is ground and then used by elderly oriental gentleman who can't afford rhino horn; sadly this side market is being adversely affected by a certain drug being available over the counter; so maybe the sheep will return. I landed in Christchurch where the airport is a flat 5 mile ride to the City. Helmets are compulsory in New Zealand and the police do enforce the law; be one on a cycle path or highway (from this i surmise that cycling is extra dangerous here so I will be extra vigilant). I didn't have one. Being generally a law abiding citizen I did feel uncomfortable riding around without one, especially as a guest, so had decided that i would search the pawn shops for one. I had survived in Christchurch with a warning from a nice enough cop; he assured me though that - next time! My plan was to ride from the southern point of South Island (Bluff) to Picton in the North then catch the Ferry over to the North Island. So as passenger trains no longer ply south of Christchurch I managed to get the bike onto a coach to Dunedin for £4. Had 3 days here doing local cycling, without a helmet and a day on the tourist train to Taieri Gorge; end of the line was a small town called Middlemarch. Had the bike aboard and spent a couple of hours cycling around the high country; smashing. Fed up ducking and weaving around the police, another warning, so found a spiderman helmet in a cash converter's. It did spend most of the time on the luggage rack; nearly killed me when I forgot it was there and swung my leg over to dismount. They really are dangerous! Also traded in my folding 20" bike for a 700 wheel; much more suitable for an end to end. Each island is approx 1000 k long. The south island which i did in about 10 days cycling up the West Coast is absolutely superb. Very little traffic and few people; no problem with accommodation; after Christmas I am told it changes i.e. more traffic and people which leads to pressure on accommodation. Surprisingly flat(ish) - highest pass was the Haast Pass at 580 m. Weather changeable, 3 seasons possible in 24 hours in the deep south. Lovely ferry ride between the two islands through Queen Charlotte Sound and across the Cook Strait to Wellington. I only cycled as far as Napier on the North Island as i succumbed to a 5 day ticket to a cricket Test Match v the Windies - and just couldn't get going again. A reason to return - and see how the venison v mutton contest is going: Up the Lambs! I sold the bike in Napier for half price(£60) and returned to UK bikeless. Tim LAMB The Wheelers at Tiverton Tea Gardens in June. The best laid plans of mice and men- It seemed a good idea at the time, a few days with my daughter at Sheffield, another few day’s at Auchtermuchty in Fife staying at my youngest daughters house, and then a bit of touring around Scotland, following the NCN Route 1 via Aberdeen to Inverness, then returning on Route 7. Then a weekend at Penrith with Sustrans and home. No sweat. I booked the the bike on the trains at Taunton Railway Station for £110, not bad, I thought. You cant book cycles on the train on the internet, and the chap at the station always finds fares a few pounds cheaper than I can. The day arrived, 14th May, and I cycled into Taunton for the 11.51 train to Sheffield, a journey of about 3 and a half hours, and cycled away from the station into a slight drizzle. It is about a two hour ride to my daughters house, and as I rode up the hill from the station the rain got heavier. The first few miles are along a cycle path with the usual barriers that it is almost impossible to get a cycle through. Then onto the road and going past Orgreve - the miners last stand - the heavens opened. The only option when it is like that is to put your head down and keep going.Up the hill to Ulley to meet a headwind as well. however I arrived at the house and as my son-in-law opened the gate my shorts fell down they were that wet. Tea and biscuits tasted like manna from heaven. On the Tuesday I cycled back into the station in dry weather and caught the train to Ladybank, arriving at my daughters around 17.00 hrs, dry this time. Then on Friday I set off, out along the Tay, crossing at Dundee and out along the coast, lovely weather and a nice tailwind. I stayed the night in Carnoustie, a bit expensive but not unexpected as it is golf country. Onwards the next morning, some of this route is on a cycle path alongside the A92,safe as houses but very noisy. On through Arbroath, a nice stretch with good views out to sea. I stopped at a cafe in Montrose for a break, a nice old fashioned little town. Then on out of the town to Hillside, where one of the signs had been moved and I took the wrong road. I soon realised I had gone wrong and went back to the junction and set off down the lane. I then woke up in the back of an ambulance with blood seeping from a cut on my head and a sore shoulder. No one knew exactly what had happened, but they took me to a health centre in Montrose where they stitched me up and my daughter turned up to take me home. The police brought my undamaged bike round and we went back to Auchtermuchty. I must admit to feeling a bit groggy for a few days, and then caught the train back to Montrose and cycled on to Aberdeen into a cold northerly wind. On Friday 5th June I caught the train to Penrith for a Sustrans get together. The weather on the Saturday was cold and wet so I wimped out of the bike rides and heaved a sigh of relief that I had booked into a Yurt and was not in a tent. Sunday was dry but still cold so I went out on a ride with some others to Haweswater and back. Monday morning I boarded the train for Birmingham, but when it got to Lancaster the electricity had packed up and we were all bussed to Preston, a very long drawn out business, and then had to wait for ages for a train to arrive that had room for a cycle. I finally arrived in Taunton about 6 hours late. It was a relief to get home. Alan Will

Cycle Helmets When relating the above accident to friends and family I am told I should have worn a cycle helmet. It seems sense, I suppose, but I am not sure. I hate them and am not quite sure that the case for them has been made. Do the helmet wearers take more risks because they feel safer. A lady in Scotland said that the helmet cut her head badly when it smashed as her head hit the ground. I know the CTC is against compulsory helmet wearing because it discourages people from cycling. The Conservative Party is committed to making the wearing of them compulsory, but surely it makes more sense to make car or lorry drivers more responsible if they are involved in an accident with a pedestrian or cyclist, as they are in France. Most of us know how much safer we feel cycling in France. Let me know what you think,

Once again thanks to all contributors. Any articles, news and photo’s are welcome. Please send them to Alan Will, 23 Plain Pond, Wiveliscombe, Taunton TA4 2UB. Tel 01984 624665. Email : awill@abelgratis. co.uk.If you would like your Newsletter sent by Email let me know, Four of our members have opted for this form of delivery. Editor A Joke of the Month

A man owned a small farm in Cheshire. The Social Security Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his staff and sent a representative to interview him. 'I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them,' demanded the rep. 'Well,' replied the farmer, 'there's my farm hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him £200 a week plus free room and board. The cook/housekeeper has been here for 18 months, and I pay her £150 per week plus free room and board. Then there's the half-wit. He works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about £10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of whisky every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally. 'That's the guy I want to talk to the half-wit,' says the rep. 'That would be me,' replied the farmer. This joke appealed to me, as I have met a lot of small farmers who would find it funny. Alan Will A view down the River Tay