The magazine of CTC Wessex Cycling in Bournemouth. Published quarterly.www.wessexctc.org for all CTC Wessex Cycling activities

CTC WESSEX CYCLINGMargaret Phillpotts, Onair, 9 Bucklers Way, Bournemouth BH8 0EWCTC SALISBURYAlan Clarke, “Hill House”, Kelsey Road, Salisbury SP1 1JR (01722) 322188CTC WEST DORSETAngela Price, 41 Garfield Avenue, Dorchester, DT1 2EYCTC BLACKMORE VALERichard Gow, Wildfell, Crown Rd, Marnhull, DT10 1LN (01258) 821391

Calendar Dates For 2012

CYCLE INK MAGAZINE

Apr 1st Dorset Coast 200km Peter Loakes 01305 263272Apr 28th 3D300 300km Peter Loakes 01305 263272Apr 29th New Forest Challenge 50km John Ward 01590 671205Apr 29th New Forest Day Out 100km John Ward 01590 671205Apr 29th New Forest 150km John Ward 01590 671205Apr 29th New Forest Excursion 200km John Ward 01590 671205May 26 to 28th St Lo Twinning Weekend Malcolm Howell 01305 756094May 20th Dorset Downs 100km Justin Oakley 07968 213833May 20th Dorset Downs 150km Justin Oakley 07968 213833Sept 4th New Forest Challenge 50km John Ward 01590 671205Sept 4th New Forest and Coast 100km John Ward 01590 671205Sept 4th New Forest Century 150km John Ward 01590 671205Sept 4th New Forest On/Off Shore 200km John Ward 01590 671205Sept 16th Dorset Dirt 50km offroad Ken Reed 01305 772654Oct 7th The 20th Gridiron 100km John Jackson 01590 683815

CTC Blackmore Vale RidesThese take place every week alternating between Saturday & Sunday

Meet 10:00am, set off at 10:30am.Lunches: Cafés in Winter; Picnics during BST

01258 821391 - Richard GowGo to the Blackmore Vale website for the full Runs List:

www.wessexctc/bvr.htm

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John Jackson writes in this issue aboutthe history of the Gridiron. He says hewas proud to take it over. Remind meabout that in a few years John!Anyway, I too was proud to receive theengraved tankard that you see meholding here - filled! Thank you verymuch everybody.Our cover this issue shows an old StLo Trophy that Past President BarbaraJohnson has hauled out from hercupboard of memories. Timely toowith the latest Twinning visit coming up in May. You can readMalcolm Howell’s plan of action on page five. These joint meets arenot as prominent as once they were, but they are good fun and are anexcellent way of making cycling contacts in France. Do contactMalcolm and get involved please. You’ll not regret it.So, the Charities Commission has rejected CTC application to formitself completely into a charity. The reasons seem to me to be the sameones as were initially thrown at CTC back in the 1980s, that whileCTC has some charitable activities, these are already hived off in theCTC Trust. So, a pause for breath at CTC then? Coupled with KevinMayne leaving us at this time too, maybe a long pause too?In this issue, Rob Garnett writes of his cycling life and Big Bob writeshis regular feature despite the pressure he must be under at themoment. We must send all our good wishes for Joan’s recovery afterher horrible accident. She has been through a lot over the last coupleof years.

Keith Matthews

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RODWELL TRAILOur Connect2 project to build a bridge over the gap in the RodwellTrail is at last almost finished. This scheme was proposed by CTCWest Dorset and we have progressed it through difficult times withDCC and Sustrans.The official opening will be on Sunday 6th May at 1pm. The CTCVIP representative will be our vice president, Josie Dew. We hopethat a large number of CTC members will be able to join us.We will send you more details once we have them for publication,and we would appreciate it very much if you can publicise this andif possible join us on the day. We appreciate that the distances aresuch that a Sunday ride will not be possible for most people, butperhaps a train or car assisted ride could be possible.http://www.akweb.org.uk/ Ann & Ken

NEWSTEAD BRIDGEWe took a video of the bridge deck being dropped into place. Hereis the web link: http://youtu.be/CrQh9n_r6Ek Ann & Ken

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Twinning Weekend

Malcolm Howell

You are all invited to join our select groupof nine visitors from St. Lô and ourmembers who are acting as their hosts.Saturday 26th May: Start at 4 BadburyView, Wimborne 10.30am; choose a shortride or a long ride to the Cecil MemorialHall, Cranborne. Join us there for a buffet lunch, free to guestsand hosts and to all CTC members who have told MalcolmHowell that they will be partaking.However, if you are intending to come to the buffet lunch, youmust tell Malcolm Howell and not just turn up.

Sunday, 27th May: we will ride from 4 Badbury View to picnic atDurweston Village Hall, inside if wet. Hosts will provide food forthemselves and guests. Bring your own food and join us there.Then we return to Wimborne for a rest and return to hosts. Thatevening we ride/drive to Sturminster Marshall Village Hall for agrand dinner. This is free to hosts & guests, but you can join usthere, if you have already booked with Malcolm Howell, and givenhim a cheque for £15 .(payable to CTC Wessex)

We also need volunteers, not riding with us, to set the tables atthe Cecil Hall, Cranborne at 11.00am on Saturday, 26 May andat the Sturminster Marshall Hall, at 5.30pm on Sunday, 27 May.

Email to malcolm_howell@hotmail.comOr phone 01305 756094Or Snailmail to 1 Garland Crescent, Dorchester, DT1 2SX

26th to 28th May 2012

Cycle Ink #164 6

HUMOUR IN THE SADDLEThe guys were on a cycle tour. No one wanted to room withMick, because he snored so badly. They decided it wasn't fair tomake one of them stay with him the whole time, so they votedto take turns.The first guy slept with Mick and comes to breakfast the nextmorning with his hair a mess and his eyes all bloodshot.They said, "What happened to you?” He said, "Mick snored soloudly, I just sat up and watched him all night."The next night it was the second guy's turn. In the morning,same thing, hair all standing up, eyes all bloodshot.They said, "Oh boy, what happened to you? You look awful!” Hesaid, “That Mick shakes the roof with his snoring. I watchedhim all night."The third night was Bill's turn. He was a tanned, older tourist, aman's man. The next morning he came to breakfast bright-eyedand bushy-tailed."Good morning!" he said. They couldn't believe it. They said,"Bill, what happened?" He said, "Well, we got ready for bed. Iwent and tucked Mick in, patted him on the arse, and kissed himgood night on the lips. Mick sat up and watched me all night." . . . with age comes wisdom.

TOMMY COOPER JOKEThis man was plummeting from a plane, his parachute hadn’topened. On the way down he passed another man going upwardswith a spanner in his hand.“Oy, do you know anything about parachutes?” he called“No, do you know anything about gas boilers?”

7 Cycle Ink #164

The Ron Cook Rose Bowl was awarded to Rob Garnett for many years ofsupporting the local Wessex Group and in particularly coordinating thePotterers in its many guises. This included organising the Christmas lunch atthe Albion in Verwood. During the last Lunch Rob was presented with theRose Bowl by me as the current holder.

Ron Cook was Wessex District Association secretary for nearly 25 years andwas a prodigious mile-eater with over 500,000 miles to his total. This award isnamed after him and is awarded to members of Wessex who spread the goodname of  CTC Wessex  by their cycling activities. It is awarded annuallyat the AGM on the recommendation of the two previous award holders,often in conjunction with members of the committee.

Ron Cook Rose Bowl Mike Walsh

And now turn the page to read of Rob Garnett’s cycling life.

. . . Presentation 2011

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Cycling Has Been Our Pleasure Rob GarnettI was truly amazed and felt very honoured whenMike Walsh presented me with the Rose Bowlat the Potterers / Alternatives Christmas lunch. Ididn’t really feel I had done sufficient to deserveit and didn’t quite know how to thank you all.Now everything has sunk in I thought you maylike to share my recent thoughts of the manyyears of riding with CTC, how it has mouldedmy life and the enjoyment it has given to usboth.I met my wife, Jean, through the NorthBirmingham DA and regularly go to the reunion

of the Alternative group of yesteryear. We have met so many wonderful peoplefrom around this country and beyond by going on the Birthday rides, joiningtours in the UK and Europe and over recent years riding with the BournemouthSection. All have become lifelong friends and many keep in regularly in touch.To graduate from three to two wheels my father said I would have to provethat I could ride a two wheeler. I think my mother was scared that I would falloff in the horse road, as my grandma called it. I learnt very quickly on afriend’s bike and started riding on two wheels in about 1939, joined our familyride into the country each Sunday (about 12 miles) to picnic and play cricket.In the summer of 1941 all the family rode the 18 miles to Warwick for a weeksholiday in a cottage with another cycling family who dad worked with atHercules Cycles. You can guess what machines we rode, only my father’s hada Sturmey-Archer 3-speed gear, the rest of us including my mother had justsingle geared machines. I inherited my father’s bike when I started work androad the 14 mile round trip each day. However mother had to wait until shewas 60 before dad replaced the rear wheel in her original bike with 3 speedhub, but she never appreciated the gears and rode in the middle gear as she feltnervous about moving the gear leaver.After I started work I bought a Raleigh Lenton Sports from a work friend androde the 100 miles to Rochdale in Lancashire to holiday with family friends,returning along the same route via Manchester and the Potteries. This wettedmy appetite to Youth Hostel and buy a better bike. I bought a Viking MasterSeries SS frame, built it into a bike with Dad’s help and joined the NorthBirmingham CTC in 1947. In those days the members were mostly teenagersand 20 year olds, we thought the 30/40 year olds were really past it. How timeshave changed. With a bit of racing with the North Birmingham Road Club,

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cycling became my whole life and I went everywhere on the bike. About 9,000miles a year and rarely used any other form of transport.The first CTC section I rode with was the social section. However about 8 ofus of similar age became a bit unpopular as, heaven forbid, we were accused ofpassing the leader and not getting off and walking up the steeper hills etc. Ittherefore became obvious we needed to form another section. I was elected tobe on the committee, attend the runs list meetings and we should call ourselves“The Alternatives”. Many of those original members are still our friends, withhusbands/wives, who meet each September, at Ledbury for a reunion. How wereminisce and I’m sure the stories are better than fisherman’s tales as they gaina bit each year I’m sure, but what a great day we have together. We did somuch together in those early years and I recall a work friend would say on aMonday, after my racing & hostelling, that my eyes looked like two raw eggsin pools of blood. But we thrived on it, and quickly recovered.After finishing my apprenticeship I went along for National Service in thearmy and after talking to another cyclist at the trade training camp we decidedto ask the Adjutant if we could go out on our bikes on Wednesday afternoons,to keep in training, instead of football etc. and quickly formed a group whorode a few miles for a nice cup of tea, returning after the games afternoon wasover. I was then posted to Melton Mowbray and decided to ride the 50 mileshome on a Saturday afternoon, returning on a Sunday after I had been out withthe club until lunch on the Sunday. However my mother was getting a bitconcerned about this as I also went out with a girl on Saturday night and thefamily saw very little of me. She said I was just using home to get my washingdone etc. and needed to changed my habits. Shortly afterwards I fortunatelyfound another soldier who had a motor cycle and lived close to me inBirmingham and I was also beginning to find the winter cycling, late on aSunday afternoon, a bit hairy. Dave the motorcyclist would pick me up about10pm on a Sunday night and after a busy Saturday night and cycling until theafternoon on Sunday I would soon doze off to sleep on the back of themotorbike, my helmet would soon rest on the back of his and I’d grip thesaddle behind me. Unfortunately there was hump-back bridge inLoughborough and with little traffic about at midnight we could take the humpat speed and almost fly from the summit for a few yards. This isn’t good ifyour asleep and on one occasion I shot off the saddle and put my arms aroundDave’s neck to hold on. He informed me later we used the full width of theroad to stay upright, after this he always gave me a sharp dig in the ribs withhis elbow if he thought I’d gone to sleep.After being de-mobbed in 1955, I continued to ride with the group on aSunday, enjoyed the weekend trips, weeks abroad and all the winter social

Cycle Ink #164 10

activities. I lost my interest in racing and became a tourist, joining some CTClead group tours abroad which I really enjoyable and widened my interest. Iloved to hear the stories of the older riders, talking about far off places and justlonged to visit them. Those years were wonderful, no real responsibly ofcourse until I fell in love on meeting Jean at one of the regular touring slideshows. She always enjoyed the social side best, unlike some of the other girlsin the group who were much fitter and toured extensively. At that time theNorth Birmingham DA went away each Christmas. Twenty-three of us toLudlow in Shropshire when on one of these occasions we decided to marry.Getting married and with an old house to renovate and more responsibility thebike got hung up in the garage and was only used occasionally. Now a car tripto work each day and finally a job in Bournemouth in 1965. When we movedhouse Jean gave my bike to a neighbours lad. I couldn’t believe my eyes whenthe furniture van was unloaded in Ferndown, no bike. How could she, mypride and joy, given away after so many memorable miles. I only forgave herlast week.Yes another house to lick into shape and after long hours at work, the familyrecreation was walking on a Sunday with the Verwood Rambling Club. Thiswas great and something we could all enjoy on a Sunday, but how do youspare the time on a Saturday afternoon to reconnoitre a walk which you havevolunteered to lead. The answer was for Jean to drop me in the car at one endof the unknown section with an old bike to walk/ride and for her to pick me upat the other end. This speeded it up, but made me realize I was beginning toenjoy the cycling again, even on footpaths and tracks. Jean still had her bikeand Jane, our daughter, had one so we began to cycle again. Occasionally wemet up with some of our North Birmingham friends who enthusiasticallytalked about CTC Birthday Rides. We warmed to the idea, re joined the CTCin 1985 and really started cycling again, our interest became strong again.We had also started camping, not on the bikes as I’d found it very demandingin my youth, particularly in poor weather. Now by car with the bikes on top ofthe car and a frame tent, luxurious. Even better when we bought an oldcaravan. This meant we could go to a site, both here and on the continent, stayfor a few days using the bikes each day to explore the local area and move onas we pleased. After I retired and Jane had left home, we could go over toFrance, Italy, Switzerland etc., for a month and not even have to book a site inadvance. We didn’t ride many miles each day and spent the time exploring thelocal area. I still enjoy this in the UK, but times have changed. Instead of ayarn with a fellow traveller on the site over an evening drink, most folk shutthemselves in to watch TV. Now even by satellite on the continent. Whatpleasures they miss.

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Initially after re joining the CTC we still tended to go out on our own on thetandem, which meant Jean didn’t overtake me. We joined the Tandem Club,made more friends and I occasionally joined Jean & Ron Trill on their regularSunday ride, but it wasn’t until I retired in 1994 that I started to go out on aThursday and did a regular tandem ride with Jean on a Sunday. Joan Courtneywas organising the Potterers at that time and I immediately volunteered to leadan occasional ride. Following Bob Courtney’s retirement they both wanted tospend more time touring so I offered to take over the Potterers and continueduntil the group became very large and it was decided to form a separatesection, the Alternatives, who have become a thriving section on a Thursdaywith similar interests to the Potterers. We meet together three times a year toenjoy lunch together and of course have a joint Christmas lunch.Over the last ten years there has also been a joint trip to Majorca to organise,which has become very popular and although we basically go to the sameplace each year nobody seems to tire of it.Now I find it more difficult to ride any distance and just join a group forcoffee. However the social part is very precious to me, when I can enjoy ajoke, hear the news and reminisce with friends.Yes cycling has been a major part of both Jean’s and my life, and for me it hasalways been enhanced by becoming involved. Volunteering to lead rides,getting on committees and all the rest, that’s been the secret of my pleasure.I’m sure you have similar memories which I hope will inspire more recentriders to enjoy so much more than just a ride to Cranborne or Blandford on aThursday or a Sunday.Lastly, I trust you will have enjoyed similar pleasure from this wonderfulpastime and have made many friends along the way. You know, those folkwho will always stop and help if your tired, or need to repair a puncture, evenif it’s wet, cold or getting dark. Those are the true cycling friends whom youwill never forget. I’m sure, like Jean and me you already know many of them.Many thanks for the Rose Bowl, it’s very much appreciated and hasmade me think and given me an excuse to share our memories with you.

JUST THOUGHTSEvery time I see an adult on a bicycle, I no longer despair forthe future of the human race.

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Oh No . . . Not Rock and Roll Big BobAs many of you may be aware I have apassion for music and it’s not often on thebike that a theme or tune is not dancingaround my head.I have climbed obscure hill ranges tothrobbing Wagnerian chords and pedaledthrough dark Northumbrian forests withhaunting Sibelius called up from memoryand drawing me Northward.Concert Halls and Opera Venues areregularly visited and life proceeds in acivilized way in the middle chain-ring so tospeak. But! But! Just occasionally, deepin the subconscious, an old Rock god stirs and half smiles which producesmayhem. Domestic sound systems howl with guitar riffs from Hendrix, Clapton,Townsend and all the old groups from younger days. All birds and wildlifedesert the immediate area and anarchy rapidly descends on Big Bob Towers.“So what”. You may justifiably say and I would agree, but in our relentlessquest for the deeper psychologies of our Cycling life it is important.I am convinced that exactly the same Bacchanalian principle can suddenlyinfect a perfectly respectable Cycling group. How else can you explain, and Ihave touched on this before, the sudden transformation of a happy peloton ofpeacefully pedaling elderly Clubmen into a raging horde of arthritic sprintersgoing for a county road sign or café stop finishing line,Shattered and tattered we sheepishly file into our favourite cafés and meeklysubmit to the orders of whatever dragon may be in charge of the establishmentat the time wondering what on earth possessed us. But deep down we know,we know, it was that old surge of Rock and Roll manifesting itself, so in future,while happily sauntering with a group beware of the odd whistled phrase orhalf whispered lyric. Clutch your CTC membership card, think pure thoughts,for you are all about to be taken over. If the worse comes to the worse, don’tfight it, go with it, hang on the back, it will pass and you to will be sat dazedlywondering what the hell happened. At the end of the day the memory will fadebut the finger has touched you and the Cycling life will never be quite thesame.Now on to other things, serious things unfortunately, concerning our very ownLe Hotel du Velo Sportiv Residential Retirement Country House.We are in financial schtook!! As with all serious Bikies accumulating money isa problem. Our passion and calling is the open rolling road, the singing highhills, the cosy roadside café, the isolated country Inn, none of whichcontributes to the accumulation of wealth unfortunately.

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I think the straw that broke the camels back at Le Hotel was our lavishenjoyment of this Christmas period. So much fun and good cheer amongfriends and visitors at Le Hotel will leave a warm memory for a long time, butnow . . . in come the bills!The house committee have sat around the library fire deep into the nightsearching for a solution which seems to be of no avail. Derek P suggested wehang a red light over the main entrance and offer to service the requirementsof the surrounding parish but it was generally thought this would only add tothe electricity bill. Margaret P generously offered to (wo)man a kissing booth at£1:00 per kiss but promptly changed her mind when I volunteered to be first inthe queue.Gathering his considerable financial acumen Ralph H prompted the thoughtthat maybe we should go out to work. in the surrounding farms possibly. Therewas a stunned silence and all were turned to stone. Eventually a puzzled voicespoke up from the periphery. “But we are Cyclists, we don’t work we ride.”Ralph snorted and lifted his beer mug.Mike B’s suggestion of digging up our grass track and converting it into amarket garden was considered sacrilege and the proposer was severelyadmonished. The thought then arose that we should all claim “disabilityallowance” but as most seemed to be already doing this it became pointless.It was then that our Chairman Terry W showed his worth and rose to theoccasion. Five pints of good Ringwood Ale consumed maybe, but as brilliantas ever. Raising a dignified hand to claim attention he posed a logical questionto the furrowed brows surrounding him.“Where” he boomed. “Is the most money gathered together”?.“The Bank of England”. Came a voice from the depths of an armchair.“Ralph’s piggy bank”. Cried another.“The village Pub after our Friday night celebration”. Chortled four pints Dave.“No” replied Terry sternly. “The most money gathered together in one place inEngland is . . .”, and here followed a slight pause . . . “CTC headquarters atGuildford”.A look of enlightened amazement broke over the seated group. Of course, withall the exorbitant subscription income obtained plus numerous other sourcesHeadquarters was awash with money. There were even rumours of gold platedurinals and numerous other riches beyond a mere Bikies wildest dreams andas for Chief Excecutive Kevin M’s extortionist Hit Men the least said the better.In a flurry of excitement Mike B, John H, Colin B and Peter H were all fortooling up, cycling up there and cracking the place but Terry’s ice cold thinkingwas one step ahead.“Steady lads, there is a legal way of doing this”. He gazed around giving hisusual almost imperceptible twitch of the face muscles which indicated it wassomeone else’s round. “Now what do headquarters must like to spend on ?”

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The silence deepened . . .“I tell you . . . training programs . . . what do they call it, henchmarked,denchmarked, benchmarked or something or other training programs.Teaching poor sods to cycle to work or up drainpipes for all I know.”Silently Terry scooped up his freshly delivered pint and expanded.“What we do is claim a substantial grant for a training program we will run herein the wilds of Dorset.”Alan D looked up. “That will be more exhausting than working in a Warehamclay pit”. He quoted dismissively.But Terry was ready, with narrowing eye he gave the killer thrust. “We will offerto train a section of the population, a fine section of the population in fact someof the finest, I refer of course to our gay brothers and sisters”.Rob G, looked down from his bar stool. “But I know no Ladies and Gentlemenof that persuasion in the vicinity although I did know a bloke who rode a pinktrike once”.“Precisely”. Triumphed Terry. “We receive the grant and have no clients, ipsofacto, nothing to do except enjoy ourselves on our bikes and money worriessolved”.After an initial pause general comprehension dawned and many were thecheers and back slapping congratulations before the meeting broke up.All this now seems like a dream and just goes to show how reality can differfrom the best laid plans of Cycling Men. From the day the program waslaunched, in a low key way, with many a tee-hee and knowing chuckle ourtroubles began. What started as a trickle of Ladies and Gentlemen orGentlemen and Ladies if you prefer up Le Hotel driveway became a flood. Imust admit I have made a lot of new friends but have never been moreknackered. We are all working 12 hour days training a section of thepopulation which didn’t exist in these numbers in our neck of the woodsaccording to some.Chairman Terry is keeping a low profile at the moment but I personally havegone off the whole thing and am making serious enquires at a certainWareham clay pit!

JUST THOUGHTSIf you really want something in this life, you have to work for it.Now, quiet, they’re about to announce the lottery numbers.

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Sally Funnell, Cycling & Walking Officer at Borough of Poole, is retiring on 9March. It seems that the general financial situation has taken its toll! Sally wasalways pro-cycling. She will be missed.

However Cllr Rollo-Smith has come forward as cycling champion and hasmade the effort of cycling all the cycleways in Poole and is collating histhoughts on improvements – many of which Sally has tried to obtain over theyears.

The Twins Sails Bridge will be open for traffic, including cyclists, from 27 Feb-ruary. On the Saturday The Mayor of Poole and invited local guests will leadthe first group to walk across the Twin Sails Bridge.  The Mayor of Poole willthen invite all local residents to participate in a walk across the bridge giving afantastic opportunity to see their new bridge close up. The Official Opening willbe by The Princess Royal on 9 March 2012.

Poole cycling at the Town Centre and Poole Station will have uplift. Borough ofPoole has approved cycling on a dedicated area between the two and it willlink to Kingland Road towards the Bus Station. Also Borough of Poole ap-proved cycling around The Civic Centre linking the Bournemouth & Poole Col-lege to Poole Park.

There is combined bid Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) with Christch-urch, Bournemouth and Poole with Bournemouth BC taking the lead.

If the bid is successful, I gather that Sustrans will fund Brompton Bike docks atall railway stations at Christchurch, Bournemouth and Poole including interme-diate railway stations. In Bournemouth BC, Local Transport Plan (LTP) capitalprogramme integrated transport block, 2011/12 to 2014/15, towards smarterchoices, Links to Schools, walking, cycling and public transport schemes willbe determined. Bournemouth BC will contribute towards British Cycling/localSkyride programme in 2011/12 as well as British Cycling/Sky & Sport Englandtowards local cycle rides and programmes between 2011/12 and 2013/14.Sustrans Links to Schools capital schemes in 2011/12 will be established.

The result of this bid is due at the end of June.

Paul M TurnerCyclists’ Touring Club – Right to Ride Network14 February 2012

Paul M. TurnerRight to Ride Report - Feb 2012

Cycle Ink #164 16

Freewheel Competition Mike Walsh

During the GridIron volunteer lunch Peter Durrant was presented withthe trophy for his win earlier last year in the Member Group’sFreewheel Competition.

His acceptance speech was as expected full of humour as was therepartee. This can be seen in Ralph Huckle’s expression. The FreewheelCompetition will in future be held in early April to ensure avoiding thevery bad weather experienced in the past few years. Congratulations toyou Peter on your ride.

. . . the presentation

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First Bun Run of 2012 Shawn ShawA bowl of porridge and a little tea and the pre-ride ceremony was complete. Onto thebike and away to Wimborne Rec.09:05 and we left heading down the Cowgrove Road. We three had ridden together formany a mile and were destined to continue. Together for so long yet no tolerance ofeach others various ways was evident. I, as usual, full of himself, wanting to dash on –belief abounding. Me, devoid of such assuredness taking the pragmatic approach intenthold his own. And then Myself, dogged, feeling every muscle twinge and joint achebut wanting not to mind and see the ride through.And so it was that this singular group of mixed ability followed the riverside route toBlandford: noting in passing the resurgence of Yellowhammers and massed swansgrazing above White Mill; following a stoat who astonished at finding his feet on hardblack stuff tested it for a while before leaping back into the hedgerow; stopping towatch a velvet adorned stag and his three companions flow across the road ahead.So far Me, Myself, and I had gotten along relatively happily. Langton Long was thesite of the first dispute. Myself thought the underpass was best; I thought the Bypasswas OK; Me said to keep to the way we used before. Bryanston Gate was the next;Myself was for ‘through the school’; I was for the 2nd Right; Me said ‘keep to the waywe used before’. As we left Winterborne Stickland disputes passed into one jointdesire at the sight of three persons on cycles ahead. I said ‘if we make a bit of an effortwe can catch these’ and Me added ‘Well they aren’t putting any effort in – Why not?’Myself said, ‘Bulbarrow!’ We upped the tempo never-the- less and approached themountain bikers who had adopted a free style approach to hill climbing; wrestle withthe bike for the best of two falls and two submissions; the bike and Bulbarrow werewinning. Me, Myself and I glided past with words of greeting and intendedencouragement, surpassed the crest and rounded the corner where Myself got the betterof his companions and put a halt to their cavalier ways. A spot of grovelling tookplace, or so it seemed, but Me said ‘No we can do this - keep your form and tempo andwe will do this’. I looked supremely confident at his companion’s words. Myself, ‘Ifyou think I can?’Sure enough the battle done we were soon looking out over the Vale, over Stoke Waketo Hazelbury Brian toward our objective Holwell. Downhill all the way now. Thecompanions were back as one in a harmonic unity of cyclic motion.A rider from Dorchester, Andy, was there to meet Us and tea and cakes supplementedthe early morning nutritional preparations. Steve Gould from Poole a little late startingout joined us and as Dorchester Andy was going to Ferndown (the in-laws) we rodeback together. As we were leaving another cyclist was seeking refreshment. He wasover from Glastonbury so you see, a simple stop off spot but it must be worth theeffort.Dorchester Andy is Weymouth CC, Steve is also a bit quick and this is where the ridedeparted from the norm. Usually we return to Wimborne via Milton Abbas and theWinterborne Valley. The idea is that it is not cast in stone and it is for those who areout there with their wheels on the ground to do their own thing. Stoke Wake nestles in

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the shelter of the hills that protect Ibberton and Wooland and as it would be rude not tovisit as we were in the area we retraced. Andy and Steve engaged bottom and steadilyclimbed. I was looking for a higher gear, Me was thinking that it had been hairyenough coming down and Myself had followed the example set and engaged bottomgear and smoothly ascended. As we were in the area, etc, Winterborne Houghton wasfelt obligatory before grinding down the head wind of the Winterborne Valley. At RedPost Steve took the Bloxworth road and Andy and Us flowed mercurial along the A31to Stag Gate. Not always Us as Myself lost his fight ‘not to mind’ on a couple ofoccasions. It was overall a win for I, and Me was happy to go along. Losing the traffica more sedate pace was settled on through Sturminster Marshall and on to Wimborne,and the end of the ride.It was a good morning’s out. Going ‘out’ the internal struggles of the lone rider wasoffset by what there was to see all around. Coming ‘in’ and the company kept the‘struggles’ focussed on the job in hand.I am away over Easter when next the Shack is open but don’t let that stop you fromtrying the ride out for yourselves. May 5th is my next time; looking forward to it.

Before Christmas 2011 Bob and Joan Courtney, assisted by a number ofhelpers, arranged a Brunch for all within the Member Group. This was verywell supported with 80 members attending. During the Brunch Peter Durant

Christmas Lunch Mike Walsh

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PHSG Monthly RidesWe are affiliated to CTC Wessex Cycling and we meet once a month. Who arewe? We are the cycling group of the Poole Heart Support Group. We have allhad heart problems of one type or another but that doesn’t stop us getting outon our bikes.

On a fabulous Februarymorning, eight of usmet at Willett Arms inbright sunshine for aride in the back lanes ofHurn. We only coverabout 20 miles and thenhome for lunch so its abit of a stretch to workout interesting and quietroutes. This oneinvolved slippingthrough Milhams Laneand back roads andcyclepaths to get to

Throop Mill where we posed our bikes in accordance with the sign on the wall.Actually, some wag seems to have tried hard to erase the “No”.Then we took the interesting bit, over the river at the weir and rough-stuffthrough to the little lanes behind Hurn airport. Riding here between thehedgerows, you would never know that you were only a mile fromBournemouth. A good trip was enjoyed by all.

Keith Matthews

who was performing in the adjacent pubcame and said hello. This gathering wasarranged as a brunch so it would be possibleto ride to the event and return home beforelighting up time but unfortunately theexceptionally cold weather forced all but themost hardy to drive. Even some that didride out accepted a lift back because of thesevere weather.

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I felt very proud when asked byTerry Walsh to consider takingover the Gridiron from him. Afterrunning it for the first time I feelvery fortunate to be associatedwith such a special event, soanchored in our local environmentand its people. As well asproviding such a fantastic ride for850 cyclists from all over the UKand even further afield, theGridiron makes a real financialcontribution to the local villagehalls and Women’s Institutes thatwe use along the route. One of thespecial things about the Gridiron,as many who rode were eager to

tell me, was the volunteers. TheCTC members who generouslygive up their day so that manymore can enjoy a wonderful day’scycling. So on the first Friday inJanuary, 25 of those volunteersenjoyed a celebratory lunch at theOld Farmhouse, Burley.A little history for those who don’talready know; the Gridiron wasstarted in 1993 by PeterDavenport, who ran it for threeyears before passing the reins toTony Lowe. In 1996 it was takenover by two men who remainactively involved. Keith Matthewsorganized the ride for nine years;

The Gridiron John Jackson . . . Celebratory Lunch & Presentation

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however in the finalthree years of hisreign he broke hisfoot and had twoheart attacks andhad to finally acceptthat someone wastrying him to tell himsomething! But Keithnever thought thathe would be handingit over to somebodyolder than himself!Terry Walsh thenran the Gridiron from2005-2010. Everyyear, the entrancenumber has swelled; a tribute totheir organisation. Terry may havehanded over the mantle to me buthe was as active as ever last yearand helped make sure that theHyde control, the busiest of the lot,ran so smoothly. After a layofffrom the bike, Keith was able totake part this year, but, on arriving

at Hyde, felt riding theremainder would be alittle too much. Ratherthan take a well-deserved rest he rodedirect to Boldre,volunteered his servicesand helped to book theriders back in; that’s thegenerous nature of thesetwo guys.Their industry over themany years hasn’t yetbeen formallyrecognised, so with the

support of CTC Bournemouth Ihad the pleasure of presentingthem both with engraved (butempty) tankards and the title of ‘MrGridiron’. Well done & huge thanksto Terry and Keith.

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The committee meeting date is the deadline for Newsletter contributions.Contribute by any way you like. Photographs are welcome in any form.

www.bournemouthctc.org www.wessexctc.org

“CycleInk” is the Newsletter of CTC Wessex Cycling, a Member Group of the Cyclists’ Touring Club.Published four times a year for members. Views expressed are not necessarily those of the club.

Contributions and Photographs

Informal Wayfarers Rides to BurleyThis ride happens every Saturday and is completely informal. There is no leaderand no back up, but generally an experienced cyclist somewhere around. Theroute is designed for beginners but joined in by all abilities.

Start 08:45 at Waitrose Supermarket, Christchurch every SaturdayOr 09:00 at The Oak PH, Burton

Or just make your own way to the OldFarmhouse Tea Rooms, Burley for 10:00