I've been sent a souvenir programme of the 1932 South of England Cyclists' rally organised by Portsmouth CTC (then the Portsmouth District Association) and the Portsmouth Centre of the National Association of Cycle and Motor Cycle Traders. It's a fascinating piece of history.
Portsmouth DA put up a prize of a years' CTC membership to "the cyclist not already in a cycling club, making what the Committee considers to be the most meritorious ride to the Rally".
"Our Message" on page 5 applies equally well today as it did in 1932!
Our thanks to Gwelda Swindells who found the programme while going through the belongings of a deceased relative and who took the trouble to get in touch and send it on to us.
These are the pages of the programme, click any page to see a larger image (if you have a big screen).
A group of us went to Guildhall Square in Portsmouth to visit the 'Exchanging Places' event organised by John Gosling, Managing Director of TJ Transport Limited, working with Portsmouth Council and the Police.
It allowed us to see a driver's view of cyclists and to discuss safety issues directly with HGV drivers and operators.
The picture on the right was featured in the Portsmouth News and shows: me, Tony Light and John Gosling.
This is taking place over this weekend (26th/27th July) at the Goodwood Motor circuit. I plan to cycle over to Goodwood on Sunday (27th), and have just read that CTC members get a 50% discount on the entry price of £12. If anyone wants to join me I suggest we meet at the Havant Spring at around 09.00. Robert Sebley
I have just purchased a new marathon plus tyre which are notoriously difficult to fit. But I came across this video by Spa Cycles, which may be of interest...
Click any of the images in this article to see a larger version
I have three rear lights on different bikes, all Cateye:
TL-LD 600 (costing about £15) is quite an adequate light with five LEDs
TL-LD 650
TL-LD 650 (about £25 and also known as the TL Rapid 5) has five LEDs. The centre LED is so bright that when set to continuous only the centre and two outer are lit; all are used in flashing mode and in pulse mode the centre LED is dimmed to avoid dazzling following cyclists.
TL-LD 1100 (about £32) has ten LEDs in two rows of five of which three face to the rear and two are angled towards the side.
All can be switched to steady and flashing and maybe several other modes I haven’t discovered.
I can’t compare light output, lumens, candela because I don’t understand things like that, but the 1100 is the one about which I get most comments on how bright it is.
But my intention is not to write just about the lights but to consider how to fit them. Manufacturers seem to be under the impression that all cyclists want to attach their rear light to the seat post and they only supply a bracket which will clamp around a seat post. That is no good to me because I have a saddlebag.
I have two solutions. The first is on my Flying Gate. Trevor Jarvis, who built the frame, also made the detachable pannier rack and his contribution to solving the rear light problem is to braze half of a hinge to the rack. This of course has two convenient holes in it. All that is needed now is to cut a piece of L-shaped steel or aluminium and drill the necessary holes, two to attach it to the half hinge and a third on the return through which is bolted a Cateye bracket (available from many sources for a couple of quid).
The half hingeBracket attachedTL-LD 600 attached
The second is on my Hetchins on which I have a Blackburn pannier rack. I cut a piece of handlebar (I think it was, but any suitable tube will do), cut two slots in it to fit snugly over the rack tubing and drilled a hole through it. Others will no doubt be able to do this more neatly than I did.
This bit of tube slides over the pannier rack tubing and is held secure by a bolt through the holes. I can now use the bracket supplied with the light to attach the light to this piece of tube.
Tube sectionFixing attached to the tubeAttached to the panierTL-LD 1100 attached
As last year’s winedown worked so well, I have arranged that we will return to Combourg again this year. I have booked the hotel and 30 passengers on the ferry for an outbound crossing leaving on Monday evening of the 13/10, and returning Saturday evening the 18/10.
The Hotel du Lac is on the edge of a very suitable, interesting and attractive town of Combourg, about 37km South of St. Malo, an easy an undulating ride for the Tuesday. From here there are many potential routes for day rides in all directions, through a quiet, and relatively flat landscape.
Hotel costs are very competitive, singles 69E, doubles/twins 51E, per person per night demi-pension. The ferry costs are £48 per person and £110 per two berth cabin for the return trip.
Can you please let me know whether you wish to join this year’s tour, and I will reserve your place(s).
I have just booked a place on the CTC Cycling Holidays Tour(1436) which will use part of this years TDF stage 1 route (the quieter roads as least) over the Yorkshire moors, from 28 June to 4 July. There are still places available with a nominal closing date of 19 April. If you fancy joining me or just want more detail, go to: http://www.cyclingholidays.org/tours/solo.php?Tour=1436
I plan to drive up on Saturday 28th June (and a could probably squeeze in at least one other bike/passenger), then drive to Harrogate on Friday 4th July to see the Stage 1 finish on Saturday, although I hope to be staying with friends for a couple of nights, so avoiding the need for an hotel. Happy to discuss when we next meet.
Here are some photos from the recent week-end away at Slindon organised by Wally. Click any image to see a larger version.
We worked with the National Trust to fell and chop up trees in an area reserved for growing Hazel trees. The Hazel provides food and a habitat for dormice and material for coppicing. The chopped-up trees will be sold by NT for firewood.
We had a great time. The weather was good and the food excellent. Speak to
This article was first published in 2008 based on the club rides for 2007. I have updated it for the twelve months ending September 2013.
I was talking to a distinguished member of the local community recently and discovered that as a youth he was a keen cyclist and Youth Hosteller; but he said he wouldn’t cycle far on our roads now. He ‘has a little place in France’ where he happily pedals around the village without fear but is terrified of the traffic here.
This set me thinking. How far do we go on club rides in a year without ‘traffic damage’ ? As far as I’m aware, in the 15 years in which we have been cycling regularly with the club there have been only three incidents in which cyclists have been in collisions with motor vehicles while on club rides or going to join one – two on club runs and a third while on his way to join the start of the ride. In all cases the cyclists received only minor cuts and bruises and were back cycling again within a few weeks. And all got a new bicycle on the relevant motorist’s insurances.
And how far do we cycle in a year?
Making reasonable assumptions, using data from the 2013 Annual report …
Average riders
Mileage
Rides
Total mileage
Cosham rides
5.4
50
52
14,040
Havant Saturday†
14.4
50
49
26,460
Havant Wednesday†
22.4
50
50
42,000
Evening pub rides
6.9
20
26
3,588
Sunday morning rides
6.0
30
11
1,980
Easy rides
6.3
20
11
1,386
Tandem rides
8
30
11
2,640
Total
92,094
† Assuming ½ the riders only ride to elevenses and do about ½ the distance.
The calculation is conservative because it doesn't take account of distance people travel to and from the start of the ride.
The circumference of the world is approximately 25,500 miles. This means that as a club, our runs take us the equivalent of 3.61 times round the world at the equator each year. And only 3 minor collisions with motor vehicles in the last 15 years. Not a bad record.
