That Was Then
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CYCLE LETTERS Write to: Cycle Letters, CTC, Parklands, Railton Road, Guildford, GU2 9JX, or email [email protected] THAT WAS THEN 50 years ago… CTC & ME From the CTC Gazette, My wife Carol, though a cyclist too, July-September 1959 rarely reads Cycle, but I insisted she read Caroline Waugh’s ‘CTC & me’ ‘Go cycling’ says a article straight after I’d finished it. I national daily had become a little moist eyed while Daily Express readers on July 18 were doing so. Carol responded with tears! given a refreshing change from the I cannot recall ever reading such ‘keep child cyclists off the road’ theme an inspirational article in a cycling all-too-frequently seen in newspapers magazine! I’ve read many since I nowadays. In its ‘Opinion’ column the began cycling with the Hounslow and Express urged parents to go cycling with the children, who, it declared District Wheelers 50 years ago. Maybe accounted for nearly half of Britain’s I could be an exception, but the best options for less able people, including 7,500,000 cyclists. Headed ‘Come features I have read on cycling have been motor assistance add-on packs. on, Father!’ the article continued as those by women. Far more interesting Bernard J Gilbert, Trawden, Lancs follows: and insightful. ‘Just a suggestion for Saturday Well, Caroline, your ‘CTC & me’ CTC membership and all services are morning. Take a look in the garage or has reached out and touched two old open to all users of electrically-assisted in the attic. Somewhere, dust-covered ‘wrinkly’ CTC members’ hearts. We are cycles. Plus, we’ve got on article on and forgotten, you may find something sure that your experiences will have electric bikes coming up. that can give you a lot of pleasure moved everyone who read the article, and happiness: your old bicycle. and we will all be better off for you SINGING IN THE RAIN Why not bring it out, polish it up, sharing your experiences. Here’s a suggestion that may be of and get it ready for the road again? Thank you. We trust you will continue interest to other members: shower caps That bike can still play a big part in the family’s leisure time. True it no to gain strength of mind, body and spirit make excellent rain covers for cycle longer holds first place. In prosperous with your CTC friends. Good on you. helmets. I’ve been using them for years. Britain the number of cars has more Paul and Carol Glanville, Shrewsbury You can get them from Boots for 79p for than doubled in the past 20 years; the pack of three at the moment. number of pedal cycles has fallen by R Davis, Coventry half. But the cycle is still immensely popular with children. More children 907,000 MILES & COUNTING than ever before have bicycles Many thanks for your reference to my today… Why not join the youngster? cycling mileage in the last issue. I should Get on the bike and show them that exceed 10,000 miles again this year, for father is as skilled at the handlebars the 55th consecutive time, bringing my as he is at the steering wheel. Make total to 907,000 miles recorded. cycling a family affair again. There is I have relied almost entirely on seven lots of fun and plenty of exercise in it for the young of all ages.’ cycles since I made a note of a 6.5 mile ride to my grandmother’s in 1950. I have three of them on the road at present, can be very useful. When my freewheel ranging in age from a Hobbs of Barbican, failed on a club ride once, my club mates BACK TO CYCLING bought second-hand in 1956, to a Condor towed me home with a tow rope made The Oct/Nov issue carried an article purchased to my specification in 1997. from all our toe straps! entitled ‘Where next for CTC?’ Can I The latter, and a 1966 Allin, on which Joining CTC in November 1955 was put in an appeal for the inclusion of I raced and toured for 30 years, were one of the best decisions I have ever electric-assist cycles? There are many custom built. I do most of my riding on made. I am still cycling, albeit at a slower former cyclists of various ages who no the Condor nowadays. Like the Hobbs, it pace, and though I’ve never regarded longer ride due to illness, injury or, in my is fitted with dynamo lighting and is also it primarily as good exercise, I am now own case, disability (a stroke in 2002). used for routine journeys to the local appreciating the health benefits it has I’m sure many would like to return to CTC club evening etc. and continues to give me; long may it do riding when they know what is currently Although I have tried alternative so in future! available – like Caroline Waugh, saddles, I find that the Brooks B17 suits Chris Davies, Havant swapping a mobility scooter for a cycle. me best and all three cycles have one. A I am planning to return to cycling in proper rack is a common feature, after I CYCLE MILEAGE ALLOWANCE 2010 on a modified recumbent trike. broke an uplift rack in the Sixties. I still I’m a local councillor as well as a CTC This market is vast and there are many use toe-clips with straps, and the latter councillor. Recently I attended a review Photo: Caroline with Waugh Steve Marsden Fred Shepherd & Pedal Ready’s 20 CYCLE DECEMBER/JANUARY 2009-10 STOP SPIDSY OBITUARIES Delighted to welcome SMIDSY, but I think we might be in need of a Scottish version! ‘Mate’ is very KENNETH ELLIOT English and is hardly used as a form of address in Died suddenly aged 80 on 31/5/2009 Scotland. We use ‘pal’. So could we have SPIDSY north at Royan, France, while on holiday with of the border, please? one of his beloved bikes. Formerly an Don’t know whether all the class and gender implications official of Barclays DCO, Ken was a of this title have been thought out anyway. ‘Mate’ – and ‘pal’ – are working keen cyclist from boyhood. He raced at Herne Hill in his younger days. He class. What’s more, they’re normally used by men addressing men. Addressing was a perfect gentleman who will be women, the terms used are ‘dear’ and ‘darlin’’, with regional variations like sadly missed. The cremation was on ‘duck’ and ‘mi duck’, and in Scotland, ‘hen’. The upper classes, of the older 1/7/09. L Edwards generation at least, use ‘old chap/man/boy/girl’ (SOGIDSY?). No doubt professors of sociolinguistics and social dialect up and down the JAMES BIBBINGS: 1926-2009 country could provide further enlightenment! A lifelong cyclist and a founder of Peter Hawkins, CTC Scotland the Thursday Rides Section of Suffolk CTC, James died of a heart attack while he was getting ready to cycle to meet fellow section riders. At 83 his on allowances and expenses awarded to the offside end of my flat handlebars philosophy was ‘If I can cycle 50 miles by an independent body. The leader enables me to see the road behind well, in a day once a week I’m okay.’ He of the council said that 21p was very so that early, clear signalling is possible also swam three times a week, sailed generous for a cycle allowance, while with no compromise in stability. I feel and rowed. We’ll miss his Christmas no one complained about the 59p that much more confident, knowing that I run mince pies and his cheery a motorist could claim per mile. Even have clearly signalled my intention safely disposition. Peter Ling more extraordinary were the council and in good time. I just hate drivers who who pay 42p per mile for walking! don’t. JOHN DUTSON: 1934- My retort to the leader was that one It was an interesting article, especially 27/2/2009 Died from cancer. John was a top time can easily fuel and run a car for less than the information on road positioning and triallist in the ’50s and a member of 21p. Running costs are subjective as it is taking the lane. I was rather surprised the Uckfield CC team and Central a liability someone has already. After the that the role model trainer was in all Sussex CC. He worked extremely hard meeting a member of the award panel dark clothing, considering his mantra of for the local cycling community and felt that the national guideline for petrol ‘see and be seen’. Many years ago I was knew every lane and byway in East was too excessive. told that I was almost invisible against Sussex, as well as the area around Are CTC consulted on how to assess a hedge in broad daylight. Since then I Dieppe. He enjoyed touring in France. the cost of running a bike and would always wear high visibility tops or a cross He rode up the Col du Tourmalet anyone like to comment on the level of belt, whatever the conditions. in the wet on a fixed wheel and payment? To clarify, this is about cycle Thanks for a great magazine. wondered what the fuss was about. mileage allowances paid during the Brenda Broughton, Brentwood Stuart Greenway course of ones duties, not commuting. ODETTE KEMP Richard Bates, CTC SE Councillor Born in St Etienne, France; died aged 82 in Marie Curie Hospice in June.