Spring Courier 2015 - South Pennine Road Club

SPRING COURIER
2015
CHAMPION!
Charlie Taylor winning Matlock Hilly 7th March 2015
The Magazine of SOUTH PENNINE ROAD CLUB
COMMITTEE
VICE PRESIDENTS – RICHARD ALLEN – JOHN STEWART – SUSAN BOWLER
COMMITTEE
General Secretary
Treasurer
Membership Secretary
TimeTrial Secretary
Magazine Editor
Social Secretary
Assistant Secretary
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Committee Member
Sue Bowler. 14, Sunny Hill Avenue, Littleover,
Derby. DE23 1JP
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 763775
Richard Allen. 38, Highfield Road, Littleover,
Derby. DE23 1DG
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 768572
Jeff Bowler. 14, Sunny hill Avenue, Littleover,
Derby. DE23 1JP
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 763775
John Stewart. 20, Main Street, Hilton,
Derbyshire. DE65 5GG
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01283 732852
Barbara Wiltshire.12, Dix Ave, Smalley .Ilkeston
Derbyshire. DE7 6ES
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 781911
Veronica Stewart. 20, Main Street, Hilton,
Derbyshire. DE65 5GG
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01283 732852
Jim Sugden 27,Hobart Close Mickleover,
Derby. DE3 9LJ
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 512901
Nigel Briggs. 41, Belfield Road, Etwall,
Derbyshire. DE65 6JN
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01283 732925
Paul Martin. 11, Bensley Close, Chellaston,
Derby. DE73 6TL
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 700993
Melvyn Roberts 10, Romsley Close, Mickleover
Derby DE3 0SD.
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 07752444800
Tony Wiltshire 12 Dix Avenue, Smalley,
Ilkeston, Derbyshire, DE7 6ES
e-mail [email protected]
Tel: 01332 781911
www.southpennineroadclub.org.uk
EDITOR
PRODUCTION
Barbara Wiltshire
Jeff and Sue Bowler
Email: [email protected]
Barbara Wiltshire
EDITORIAL
Hi All,
I hope you are all well, had a good Christmas and are all raring to go with the new season?
Please let me have any Classified ads you wish to go in the Summer Courier by the first week in
June please.
Don‘t forget your Club subs if you haven‘t already renewed. Remember only paid up members will
get a copy of the Courier and your Courier contains important information about your club and gives
details of forthcoming club events and social evenings. Whilst paying your subs please complete the
membership form to ensure we have up to date contact information for you.
Please read the magazine fully and take note of any events, dates etc which are relevant to
you, to keep up to date with what we are all doing. You may even find you enjoy the
read!!
Also, find news and information on the website southpennineroadclub.org.uk
Finally, welcome to new members: Nick Briggs and Gareth Webster.
Barbara
Chris Storer
I can’t let today go past without
mentioning my partner and soul mate
Chris Storer—it is a year today (15th
March) since his accident. I’m sure you
will all join me in saying ―We miss you
Chris. You’re always in all our memories
and in my heart forever‖ RIP
On top of Mt Ventoux
The 2013 Crich Stand Memorial
Hill Climb now renamed in his
honour.
Cover Design by Barbara Wiltshire
Next Edition due mid June 2015: Contributions always welcome and send to Editor by end of May 2015 please. Send classified ads,
articles on any topic, cycling or otherwise, which may be of interest to other members to [email protected]
S.P. R.C. Clothing
If you need any new kit for next year contact Iris Stevens who holds the
clothing stock. You can email Iris on [email protected] or ring
01283 732660
South Pennine Road Club clothing
Garment/Size
XS
S
Training Jersey full zip
Short Sleeve Road Jersey
Bib Shorts
1
2
M
L
XL
1
3
3
2
2
5
1
S/S Skinsuit
1
L/S Skinsuit
2
Bib Tights
1
Leg Warmers
3
New design
1
3
3
new design
3
Thermal
1
Caps
7
1
1
Price
8
£55
5
£55
10
£55
£90
1
Arm warmers
1
XXL 4XL w10 Total
2
3
£95
1
£55
6
£15
1
£15
3
£18
1
£18
3
£18
7
£8
Barking dog at the back door wanting in and your wife's yelling at the front wanting in. Which one do you let in? The
dog, once he's in, he shuts up!
Today a man knocked on my door and asked for a small donation towards the local swimming pool. I gave him a glass
of water.
Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter.
My son asked me what it's like to be married so I told him to leave me alone and when he did I asked him why he was
ignoring me.
Some people are only alive because it is illegal to shoot them.
CLASSIFIED ADS
The club has a few Golden Jubilee Mugs left at £3-00 each. If you have broken one
or fancy another pair please contact John or Veronica Stewart. Contact details on
page 1.
The Begging News Column
How many people does it take to run a series of time
trials? Every one needs a timekeeper and a pusher-off.
The short-distance events need a second timekeeper and
the ―25s‖ need a turn marshal. The quick mathematicians
amongst you have already calculated that this adds up to
117 ―duty turns‖ in the season and these duties have, of
late, been shared by too few people.
We have always had a timekeeping rota but pushers-off
have been left to chance on the night. For the last few years Iris has arranged a rota of turn
marshals from among the current active racing members. Some of the racing members are also
timekeepers so are pulled in all directions. I am very much aware that we have a large membership
who could volunteer for these tasks, relieve the small band currently covering them and allow
people who want to ride the events to do so.
So, I would like to sign up more volunteers for two jobs. The first is to expand our panel of
timekeepers. The main qualifications are the ability to tell the time, read a back number and then
subtract that number from the time recorded as the rider crosses the line. The second job is even
easier. We need 12 marshals for the turn at Uttoxeter and, recognising that it costs money to drive
there, the committee has agreed a flat-rate fuel
allowance of £5. This will be paid automatically if you
go by car although it wouldn‘t quite be in the spirit to
volunteer to do all 12 on your bike for £60! For the
moment, we are not intending to formalise pushers-off.
I will be putting together a list of volunteers over the
winter and making out a schedule early in the new
year. Please let me know if you can help; the Club
cannot run by itself, it needs its members to help in
these jobs.
John Stewart, Hon. Time Trial Secretary.
Cou
ld y
ou
do
this
?
Be Seen!
As the new season approaches it might be useful if I pass on some
advice gleaned from personal experience on the matter of lights for
time trialling. The Club has a policy of compulsory rear lights in its
events. We have not tried to specify a type or light output but we have
seen some examples of riders who seemed to treat it as a
requirement to be observed in the most minimal way possible. Lights
that would look poor on a Christmas tree, lights pointing at the road
using last year‘s batteries are some examples so this is what we
would recommend, firstly for rear lights.
1. Use a multi-LED set to constant flashing. Random flashing or running is illegal and not as
effective. (A steady light is better for judging distances but a flashing light is better for drawing
attention). Those with a partly clear lens are better.
2. Position it so that it is focussed on a typical driver‘s eye position about 50m behind you and
around 2m out from the edge of the road. If you have the type of seat pillar that makes this difficult
you should obtain or make an adapter. There is no point in the light being at its focussed strongest
on the tarmac 3m behind you.
3. Good batteries such as Duracell should last most of a season but check them periodically on a
meter and take them out of this critical use if below the ―good‖ range.
4. In the dark one steady and one flashing rear light can be a good idea. If you decide to have this
arrangement (or two flashing ones) in daylight keep them well apart. This creates the eye-catching
―wig-wag‖ effect that you get at level crossings.
For front lights, a multi-LED white light, set as you would for night-time use, is a good safety device
for traffic coming up to a give way sign. A thin cyclist (no names excluded) can easily get visually
lost against a background of other traffic and vegetation.
No member will be improved by a lorry up his rear. It happened to
me 49 years ago and I‘ve not been as good-looking since.
Stay safe!
John Stewart
QUIZ : Not what it seems:
answers on page 15
Here is a selection of questions which logic says should be obvious, but are not ……...
1. How long was the hundred years war?
2. From what animal is catgut usually made?
3. The lead in a pencil is made of what?
4. A horned toad is not a toad at all – what type of creature is it?
5. What type of tree is a Douglas Fir?
6. In which country was India Ink invented?
7. What is a titmouse?
8. In which country are Panama hats made?
9. In which country was the game of Chinese Checkers invented?
10. A koala bear is not a bear – what type of animal is it?
Well done Charlie Taylor …….
The rolling B100/6 Swaffham course provided the backdrop for the
2014 RTTC National 100-mile Championship in which Charles
Taylor (South Pennine RC) took the men's title ahead of pre-race
favourite Adam Topham (High Wycombe CC).
Charlie was quoted as saying :
―By the 51 mile check I was only 1.43 up on Topham but by 76 miles
Topham had pulled back the majority of the deficit to just 31 seconds
down. So it was on to the last 24 mile circuit I had to pull myself
together and get back on it, with 10 miles to go the heavens opened
turning parts of the course into a river, but fortunately I managed to
maintain my pace and finished with 3.43.28. I then faced the
agonising wait for Topham to finish who came in with a 3.45.37.”
The last time the Trophy came to Derbyshire was with Derby
Wheelers‘ Derek Woodings, (pictured below) winning the 1963
National 100-mile Time Trial by nearly two minutes with a time of 4h
2m 38s riding a Mercians bike.
DERBY ARENA.
Yes, we finally have an opening date: 20 March.
The Arena will, for the first 30 days, have a series of events as an introductory programme.
The opening weekend of 28 and 29 March will allow everyone to have a tour of the facility and take part in
have-a-go sessions and watch demonstrations.
There is adequate car parking and bike parking at the venue.
The Velodrome is a 250m indoor cycle track which is suitable for all abilities, events, competitions etc. which
has been manufactured out of Siberian Spruce. All those who have already ridden on it, and that includes
one club member, say it is better than Manchester!
There is a state of the art 240 station gym, an indoor cycling studio and two exercise studios as well as
meeting rooms etc. There is also a café situated close to entrance.
There are 100 hire bikes made by Moda and two Mercian tandems. All the hire bikes have Look Keo pedals
on them. Also available for hire are helmets and track mitts. These are included in the bike hire cost. Shoes
are also available to hire and these should be paid for separately.
DERBY CLUBS NIGHT
Wednesday evenings at the Derby Velodrome will be a dedicated Derby Clubs night. It is anticipated that with
the likely amount of interest, certainly at first, that only first claim members of Derby clubs will be eligible to
attend. If after the initial excitement has worn off, places become available it may be possible to open it up to
second claim members
There is a session from 6pm – 8pm for 10 to 16 year olds. Although this is principally aimed at members of
Go-Ride clubs any juvenile who is a member of a Derby club is eligible. Again numbers of riders will be
limited. The hire of a bike is free to riders on these sessions. There is also adaptors for the pedals so there
is no worry as to which shoes to use. Final cost per session is not available yet.
The session from 8pm – 10pm is for adults. This session is open to adults. Again hire bikes are available and
included with this are helmet and track mitts free of charge. Anyone wishing to hire shoes must pay
separately for these.
It is anticipated that, at the moment, these two sessions will only be for one hour. This is because they are
being used as test events.
There will be no track hire cost for these two events so they will be cheaper. If they are for one only it will be
limited to 15 riders only with South Pennine having an allowance of 5 riders.
From April 8 the two hour sessions will start. It is anticipated initially that 36 places across all Derby clubs will
be available.
It is intended to run these sessions on a club rotational basis. This means that once every four to six weeks,
the exact timescale has not been finalised, one club will organise the hire of the track and arrange riders.
That club will have preference for their riders. Should a club not be able to fill all the available spaces it will
then be put out to the other clubs to make up the shortfall.
With regard to cost. Bike hire is £6.90 for one hour, £11.65 for two hours and £17.50 for two hours plus. The
hire cost for the shoes is £5.30 per session.
It is anticipated that the total cost per session will be around £20. The final costings have yet to be decided.
Final details of the timetable for sessions on other days has yet to be released.
SO COME ALONG AND GIVE IT A GO! - USE IT OR LOSE IT!
Sue Bowler
Citizens First
Currently there is a campaign to introduce a principle of strict liability in respect of road traffic
accidents between motorists and cyclists. At present the law is that of normal civil liability in that a
party who considers himself harmed or his property damaged as a result of an accident can sue the
other party involved for compensation for either injuries, loss of income through such injuries or
damage to equipment. In most cases liability is straightforward, although the amount of damages is
often contested. Even where there are no independent witnesses there is often technical evidence in
the form of skid marks or the precise location of damage or physical injuries. However, in some
cases, evidence is inconclusive. Sometimes judges will apportion blame on the basis of what
evidence there is but some degree of negligence has to be shown on the part of the sued party for a
claim to succeed, even in part.
What the current campaign seeks to achieve is a system where there is a default to assumed liability
on the part of the motor vehicle driver in those cases where evidence is inconclusive or where, as is
often the case, there are totally conflicting versions by each party. In other words, unless there is
evidence that the cyclist was at fault, there would be the presumption that the motorist was at fault.
This would involve a radical change in the centuries-old basis of English Common Law which is that
negligence must be shown to have taken place before any degree of liability is established. The fact
that strict liability has become established in countries having a different judicial history and system
is not a good reason to introduce it here. This idea has been canvassed before and not pursued
because of the inherent unfairness in giving the benefit of doubt to the claimant simply because of
the type of vehicle he was using at the time. It is, or should be, fundamental that all are equal before
the law and that a person‘s actions, not his vehicle type, establish the question of liability.
I will offer two scenarios where a most improper outcome could result. A simple one would be where
a motorist pulls out of the minor road at a T-junction on an unlit country road and is in collision with a
cyclist coming from his right. The cyclist is not displaying a front light although one is fitted to his
machine. He swears that it was on; the motorist swears that it wasn‘t. There are no witnesses and in
a system of strict liability the motorist would be found liable for damages against, let us be frank, a
liar. The second case is more serious. We have had too many cyclists killed by being struck from
behind by cars or lorries. In all cases that I am aware of it has been the driver‘s fault and criminal
prosecution and civil liability have followed. We may have been less than satisfied with the penalty
in the criminal case but at least it has served as a sound basis for the civil claim. However, I have
seen cyclists move out suddenly, without looking or signalling, to make right turn. I like to think that I
have a premonition about unreliable cyclists as I approach them and have not been in an accident. If
one did occur it would be hard to show that the cyclist had acted irresponsibly. There would be
impact damage but, in the absence of witnesses or technical evidence such as skid marks, liability
would be attached to the driver. Again I would be very uneasy about strict liability leading to this.
Apart from the individual cases, there is an overwhelming reason why cyclists should not pursue this
change in the law. We struggle to show ourselves as responsible road users in the face of countless
daily examples of cowboy riding on the footway, in pedestrian areas, through red lights and the
wrong way down one-way streets. We can dismiss these as the antics of a few fools but if cyclists
were put in an exalted position over motor vehicle drivers in terms of liability we would be seen as a
class of road user given unjustified preference over others and would rightly be stigmatised. It would
be a marvellous hook on which the hordes of anti-cyclists could hang their prejudices. It is not worth
it. We may love our sport but we must always remember that we are citizens first and cyclists
second. If I might be permitted an old cliché, the road to hell is paved with good intentions .
John Stewart
Quackers or what?
As many of you are probably aware, I had been advertising my campervan for sale. I had it advertised in several places
and had some bizarre people interested for one reason or another.
The other week I had a private message sent to me on Facebook. His online name was ―DucksRus‖ and he proceeded
to send many messages asking such questions as :Q: ―Does it have a sunroof?‖ - A: ―No‖ I replied.
Q: ―Can the bike rack take a small motorbike?‖ - A: ―I wouldn‘t think so‖
Q: ―How much storage space has it as I would use it for my business at markets etc‖ A: ― A fair amount‖
Q ―Does it have heating?‖ - A. ―Err No!‖
It went on for a while, then he asked ―What is your bottom price?‖
I said I had only just reduced it by £250 plus put a new battery on it and put it through its MOT last week so was
prepared to take off another £250 making it £5250. A couple more Qs and As then he said ―I think it is a bit out of my
price range, I only have £3500 cash‖ (did he really expect me to reduce it by £2000?)
―OK, no probs‖ I said thinking it was the last of it. Then he comes back and says
―Just asking, would you take the cash plus some stock from my business?‖
Of course I had to ask even though ―DucksRus‖ should have given me a clue!
―Carved wooden ducks, geese, herons, ……‖
―So let me get this right, you are offering me £3500 cash plus £2000 worth of wooden ducks?‖
―You could sell them at boot sales, Ebay etc.‖ He said.
―Are you Quackers?‖ I can‘t believe he was actually serious! Can you imagine him turning up at my
house with a wad of cash and a wooden gaggle? What do these people have going on in their heads?
―If I want a quack sale I‘ll be in touch!‖ I said.
A Mafia Godfather finds out that his bookkeeper has cheated him out of ten
million dollars.
His bookkeeper is deaf. That was the reason he got the job in the first place.It
was assumed that a deaf bookkeeper would not hear anything that he might have
to testify about in court.
When the Godfather goes to confront the bookkeeper about his missing
$10million he brings along his attorney who knows sign language.
The Godfather tells the lawyer “Ask him where the $10million he embezzled from
me is”/ The attorney, using sign language, asks the bookkeeper where the money
is. The bookkeeper signs back “I don’t know what you are talking about”.
The attorney tells the Godfather “He says he doesn’t know what you are talking
about”
The Godfather pulls out a pistol, puts it to the bookkeeper’s temple and says “Ask
him again!”
The attorney signs again to the bookkeeper “He’ll kill you if you don’t tell him!”
The bookkeeper signs back “OK, you win! The money is in a brown briefcase,
buried behind the shed in my cousin Enzo’s backyard in Queens!”
The Godfather asks the attorney “Well, what did he say?”
The attorney replies “He says you don’t have the balls to pull the trigger!”
Don’t you just love lawyers?
Would you like a free cycling E-magazine? If so read on……………………….
Hi, I am a professional cycling photographer and occasional writer and have put this magazine ―Gruppetto‖,
together myself. It is 100% my own sweat equity. It has virtually zero adverts and I have no marketing
budget so just wanted to ask to you inform your members of its existence. The magazine will be published
monthly.
It is aimed at all club cyclists (I am one too!) with articles from World Tour races to panniers to beer reviews!
It can be read at my photography website www.different-perspective.co.uk/gruppetto. If you could please
share this and ask others to on Facebook and Twitter etc I would be very grateful www.different-perspective.co.uk/gruppetto
I am also looking for people to interview who may have an interesting cycling story or can write an article on
a touring trip. If your club has a very newsworthy story please also send me details.
IN the first edition you will find:An introduction to Cyclocross : Cross Ambition : Cervelo P3 review
Goggles and Dust Book review : The Breakaway Book Review : Cyclo Cross 2012/13
Italy—the new Majorca? : Ironweed Paniers : Beer Time : Caz Nicklin : Tour of Flanders
Paris-Roubaix : Nava Design : Winter White Out : Lightride : Rearviz : Bike City Guide
Pedal Analysis with Peter ‗Pav‘ Bryan : An interview with Dave Moulton
Revolution Series Gallery
People can follow me on Twitter @readgruppetto to be informed of the
next edition.
Best Wishes
David Pearce
Professional Photography
Www.different-perspective.co.uk
Latest
………….. news on Dave Bates: following Dave‘s accident in the B.D.C.A. 100 last year the long
awaited bone healing process hasn‘t worked, also Xrays reveal the fracture of his clavicle is worse than first
thought, and there is also further damage in as much that a tendon had ripped of it‘s mounting.
All this has taken time and Dave had an operation some time after Christmas, each repair was a tricky
problem a plate and some bolts hold the clavicle and a tendon graft performed on his shoulder. This came to
light because Dave has difficulty raising his Right arm without some degree of intense pain.
Now only time and a good healthy body will aid his recovery, Dave is now visiting physio and unfortunately
progress will be slow, Dave has been advised NOT to ride is bike, careful use of Turbo trainer with very
raised upright handlebar has been agreed, just to help keep his legs turning .
Dave has been told not to expect riding his real bike until June and I am sure we all wish him well and to take
time and listen to the medical advice.
Nigel Briggs, has declared his intention to ride the National 24 hr. Championship this year, Saturday July 18 th
is the date for your diary, he will need help and support for this extreme undertaking.
Nigel is already building up his mileage though not too many as he rightly thinks this will only wear him down
rather than build him up. He will ride club and open time trials but he will ride within his limits, saving his best
efforts for the 18th which is to be Nigel‘s main target for the year.
Charlie Taylor is training wise and hard under the watchful eye of super missile Matt Bottrill. Charles won
Matlock Hilly by a large margin only last week, a good pointer for things to come.
I understand the National 50 is one target, this year, it is being run on Charlie‘s favourite course around
Cheshire. The British best all rounder competition is another target according to coach Matt Bottrill, who is
convinced Charles could break Competition record for the 100. Charlie told me he‘s riding one of the time trial
series events, I assume the one at Stafford which is a favourite of his, and also the Buxton mountain.
Let‘s get behind him and give help and encouragement after all he is OUR SOUTH PENNINE Charles Taylor.
National 100 mile champ.
Jeff Bowler
From ―Cycling’s Hall of Fame‖ Miguel Indurain.
Spain‘s Miguel Indurain, born on July 16, 1964, was the dominant
Grand Tour rider in the 1990‘s with seven victories in the Grand
Tours. He won five consecutive wins (1991 through 1995) in the Tour
de France, Indurain being the first to accomplish this feat.
―Big Mig‖ also won the Giro d‘Italia twice, in 1992 and 1993, which
gave him the victories in the Tour / Giro during those two years.
Indurain‘s strategy for victory was similar to that of Jacques Anquetil.
That is, to win the time trials and hold on in the mountains.
Indurain, however, could more than just hold on in the mountains. He
was an accomplished climber and could apply pressure in the
mountains as well. In addition, he was a force on the flats due to his
large frame.
During his peak years, Indurain was the dominant rider in the time
trials. He was the first to win the time trial when it was introduced in
the Olympics in 1996.
Indurain also won the World Championship Time Trial in 1995. Though Indurain didn‘t win any of
cycling‘s five monuments, he did win the San Sebastian Classic, one of cycling‘s major classics.
Indurain never won a World Championship Road Race, but he came close on three occasions.
In the 1993 World Championship Road Race, Indurain was 2nd behind 21 year-old Lance
Armstrong from the USA, a year in which Indurain won the Tour de France and the Giro d‘Italia.
A win in the World Championship Road Race that year would have given Indurain the coveted
―Triple Crown‖, a feat which has happened only twice: in 1974 by Eddy Merckx and in 1987 by
Stephen Roche.
Indurain was also 2nd in the World Championship Road Race in 1995. In that race, he played the
perfect team-mate to Abraham Olana, and blocked other riders by sitting in their draft while they
were trying to chase down Olano.
That year, the road race was held on a difficult circuit, and Indurain was probably the strongest
rider. The super climber, Marco Pantani from Italy was third which demonstrates how selective the
course was that year. One amazing fact from the race is that Abraham Olano, the winner that year,
crossed the line with a flat tire. He had ridden the last kilometre or two (the last mile or so) of the
race on a flat. Indurain was also 3rd in the 1991 World Championship Road Race behind Gianni
Bugno of Italy and Steven Rooks of Holland. In other Grand Tour events, Indurain was 2nd in the
1991 Vuelta a Espana behind Melchor Mauri Prat of Spain. Indurain was also 3rd in the 1994 Giro
d'Italia behind Evgeni Berzin of Russia and Marco Pantani of Italy. In addition to the
CyclingHallofFame.com designated races, he won other major stage races like the Paris–Nice
twice; the Daphine Libere twice, and the Tour of Catalonia three times. Indurain‘s reign in the Tour
de France came to an end in 1996 when he was defeated rather soundly by Denmark‘s Bjarne Riis.
Indurain retired from racing after winning the Olympic Time Trial in 1996.
Taken from CyclingHallofFame.com
Not what it seems: Answers to Quiz on
page 10
1. 116 years
2. Sheep (or goat)
3. Graphite
4. A lizard
5. Pine
6. China
7. A type of bird
8. Ecuador
9. Germany
10. A marsupial
When did you..............?
When did you first learn to ride a bike? I thought it would make for interesting stories if club
members would contribute to the club magazine with their recollection of first time bike
rides.
I was about ten years of age, living at Lower Hartshay, a small hamlet placed geographically
between Ripley and Belper.
My contemporaries were somewhat older than me and three youths who lived close by, they would
be fourteen or even fifteen and they had bikes! I guess I kind of looked up to these lads, after all
they taught me about life. We built dens, made fires and roasted potatoes taken from the allotments.
They taught me to smoke and taught me swear words, but most of all I envied how they could ride
off out of the village on their bikes to Sawmills, where one of the lads lived. Sawmills was only two
miles away but at my age it was the other end of the world.
Then came that great day when Graham told me I could try to ride his bike. Out came the spanner
and the seat was lowered right to the top tube, which I could only just manage to straddle.
We lived in a row of terraced mill cottages with the inevitable outside toilet block where the back wall
faced onto our lane. I propped myself up against the wall mounted the bike, feet on the pedals and
to a chorus of shouts and laughter, scooted my hand along the wall for support and pedalled off, or
more like wobbled off, down the lane. I wobbled down to the end of the lane where it meets a side
track junction to find enough width to effect a 180 turn to return to my mates. I vividly remember the
feeling of freedom and really wanted a bike of my own though it was four years later before I owned
my first bike, a ―BSA‖ bits stuck anywhere based on a Classic HOBBS of BARBICAN frame.
Our family later moved to Ripley and my dad tinkered with bikes and promised he would put one
together from parts. What dad didn't know is that when he was out at the pub which was frequent! I
would ride his bike speeding around the roads of Elms Estate. We lived on Ash Crescent which
linked up with Peartree Avenue making a circuit of about ¾ mile. I must have covered hundreds of
laps. I am convinced well intentioned neighbours must have told dad about my escapades, however
if they did Dad never let on.
I organised other kids of the avenue setting up Time Trials around the block, timing each rider
individually with a wrist watch borrowed from Mum. I remember now just how much racing such a
short distance produced what I now know to be stinging lactic acid. Guilty of running T.T.s with no
police notification AND NO R.T.TC. Blessing. I suppose the mold was cast and I was destined to a
life time of Time Trials.
One day while riding Dad's bike without consent I rode over a piece of discarded umbrella stay
which pierced the rear tyre and stuck firmly through the tyre and as the wheel revolved it split the
rear mudguard and threw me off the bike! I was bare armed and tore a nasty hole on my elbow,
through which you could see the tendons! My first road crash! Ouch!
I limped back home and Mum patched me up. Now I had to repair the bike before Dad got back!
I patched the inner tube, there were two holes the stay going all the way through, put it all back
together cleaned off the scratches from the bar grips and made up my story with Mum as alibi.
You see Dads bike lived in the kitchen propped against the wall most of the time it covered the
pantry door leaving enough room to open the back door, if you need to access the pantry you
wheeled the bike back which made the back wheel rest against the back door. Stick with me all will
be revealed!
This is my story! I was playing cricket with the lads, while going for runs, I slipped and made a right
mess of my elbow, ran back home rushing into the house I flung the back door open knocking Dad's
bike over which broke the mudguard! Dad must have known as he must have seen the patches on
the inner tube eventually, but he never let on.
Eventually the promised bike materialised, in a manner of
speaking, as I couldn't wait any longer for dad and assembled a
bike myself. We always had bike bits around and I had been
working on the Hobbs frame first scraping off ALL the paint,
rubbing down with wire wool to the very bare metal, applying RED
LEAD base coat, allowing two days drying /hardening time
between each coat, three coats of undercoat and three coats of
Oxford blue JAPLAC CHINESE LAQUER. Wire-woolled between
each coat, HOBBS of BARBICAN transfers applied, these were
spirit fix and very delicate and difficult I then applied a coat of
clear varnish to seal the transfers. So this formed the chassis for
my dream machine.
The components, a battered Brooks B17, which came from Bob
Waldrens scrap yard, Williams cottered chain set, GB Maes handle
bar, GB alloy brakes, 27‖ x 1/4‖ steel wheels with Sturmy Acher
three speed hub gear, my first bike! Immediate freedom and self
sufficiency.
Jeff Bowler
Beer and Ice Cream Diet
Justification for beer and Ice cream! But stay away from the pizza!
As we all know, it takes 1 calorie to heat 1 gram of water 1 degree centigrade. Translated into meaningful terms, this
means that if you eat a very cold dessert (generally consisting of water in large part), the natural processes which raise
the consumed dessert to body temperature during the digestive cycle literally sucks the calories out of the only
available source, your body fat.
For example, a dessert served and eaten at near 0 degrees C (32.2 deg. F) will in a short time be raised to the normal
body temperature of 37 degrees C (98.6 deg. F). For each gram of dessert eaten, that process takes approximately
37 calories as stated above. The average dessert portion is 6 oz, or 168 grams. Therefore, by operation of
thermodynamic law, 6,216 calories (1 cal./gm/deg. x 37 deg. x 168 gms) are extracted from body fat as the dessert's
temperature is normalized.
Allowing for the 1,200 latent calories in the dessert, the net calorie loss is approximately 5,000 calories.
Obviously, the more cold dessert you eat the better off you are and the faster you will lose weight, if that is your goal.
This process works equally well when drinking very cold beer in frosted glasses. Each ounce of beer contains 16
latent calories, but extracts 1,036 calories (6,216 cal. per 6 oz. portion) in the temperature normalizing process. Thus
the net calorie loss per ounce of beer is 1,020 calories. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to calculate that 12,240
calories (12 oz. x 1,020 cal./oz.) are extracted from the body in the process of drinking a can of beer.
Frozen desserts, e.g., ice cream, are even more beneficial, since it takes 83 cal./gm to melt them (i.e., raise them to 0
deg. C) and an additional 37 cal./gm to further raise them to body temperature. The results here are really remarkable,
and it beats running hands down.
Unfortunately, for those who eat pizza as an excuse to drink beer, pizza (loaded with latent calories and served above
body temperature) induces an opposite effect. But, thankfully, as the astute reader should have already reasoned, the
obvious solution is to drink a lot of beer with pizza and follow up immediately with large bowls of ice cream.
We could all be thin if we were to adhere religiously to a pizza, beer, and ice cream diet.
Happy eating!
The Annual Club Dinner and Presentation Evening on 7th February
The dinner at the Hilton House Hotel was, as usual excellent and the guest of honour was John
Taylor, accompanied by his wife Elizabeth. John told us about his long cycling career (and his
books) before presenting the trophies.
Jeff Bowler was awarded ‗Club Person of the Year‘ Congratulations Jeff and all prize winners.
The Raffle was a great success making £71.94 and there were so many prizes there were only a
few people who didn‘t get something.
Many thanks to Veronica, John, Jeff and Sue for organising the dinner. Please note in your diaries
n e xt
ye a r ‘ s
ev en t
is
p r o vi si on al l y
b o o k ed
for
F eb ru a r y
6th
20 16 .
Whenever I have a headache I take two aspirins and keep away from children, like the bottle says!
One day you're the best thing since sliced bread. The next, you're toast.
Pennine Spring Round Up
With Spring just around the corner, well there are lambs in the fields and daffodils alongside the road, so it
must be. It would be great if the weather made up its mind which way to go, still on the whole it has been a
reasonable winter. Just a few days when it was very inclement and that‘s when, in the warm, the CTT
handbook is mulled over and possible events are marked , calendar and maps are scanned, can we fit in a
few days holiday at the same time? Well that‘s how it works for us. Ken looks at the handbook and I the
campsite book.
Members didn‘t get through the winter completely unscathed, despite religiously testing for ice everyday Ken
took a tumble when he hit a bit of black ice only a few hundred yards from home. He ended with a large
bruise on his hip and sore ribs not to mention a super black eye where his glasses hit his face. Not to be
outdone a few days later John limped into the Salt Box with some rather nasty abrasions to his knee and
elbow, not to mention ruining his jacket. He had hit a pothole in Rolleston and the rider with him rode over
him. The same day Jeff had an altercation on a roundabout in Hilton. Our new recruit Nick Briggs (not to be
confused with Nigel) also took a tumble the other Wednesday. They all appear to have recovered.
Looking back our vets had a good year winning the VTTA short distance (2x10, 2x25) BAR for club teams,
for the 2nd year running and were also part of Group winning team, Ron especially had a good year taking
the lion's share of awards at the Group luncheon. Of course the one we are all very proud of is Charlie, Club
Champion for umpteenth year with record breaking rides at all distances up to 100 miles and a national
champion at this distance. What a year, with goodness knows how many wins at 50 and 100 miles and he is
off to a flyer for this season with a win in the Matlock Hilly event.
To prove we are not just time trialists we put on quite a few other events, regular Wednesday and Saturday
rides starting from Willington 9.30 where we have acquired quite a lot of folks from other clubs and all meet
up at the Salt Box. So many cyclists meet there some Saturdays that we practically take over. There is also
quite a gathering there on the Wednesday so come along and have a chat.
Another great event the Club holds is the Freewheeling from Radbourne. A poor entry this year only 6
finishers. The frosty morning did put some off, but there were 21 at the fuddle afterwards! about the
maximum we could squeeze into our house. It was the usual convivial company. Jeff beat John by about a
metre to win the trophy to go with the Clubman of the Year he had received the night before at the Club
Dinner. The dinner was superbly organised by John & Veronica which I‘m sure will be reported elsewhere.
There has been club night meet at the Green Man Willington on Monday night and a couple of quizzes have
been organised. From April to the end of August we will be at the Frank Wickham Hall, Etwall every Thursday
7 – 9 . Come along for a cuppa and a chat ,you can even race if you want too! Over 30 also enjoyed a pre
Christmas meal at the Cherry Tree.
Over Christmas period Sue & Jeff had three weeks walking in the Himalayas which is one way of getting out
of cooking a Christmas dinner. Lately Jeff has been testing new Mercian track tandems out on the new
velodrome with shop manager Ray.
Just a final note about Dave Bates who has been incapacitated since the BDDCA 100 with his damaged
shoulder. He has finally had an operation to have it plated and is still out of action with it in a sling, but has
managed to rig his bike up to ride a few miles a week on the turbo. Unfortunately Ellen is also unable to drive
at present so they are really stuck. I know they would appreciate anyone dropping in.
See you up the road, Iris
Monday 16th March
Talk and film show on Jeff & Sue’s
Christmas holiday
―The Himalaya Trek.‖
At the Green Man
8.00pm Start