Wanted – Experienced cyclists for NEW leisure cycle club in Ash.

We have received the following request from Susan Keywood, the CTC Cycling Development Officer for Surrey and Hampshire, who is looking for people to help set up a club in the Ash area, would any of our members who live in that direction like to help?:

About me
My role is to set up community cycle clubs in the Blackwater Valley, as part of a funded project and Ash is one of my target areas. I have started to offer taster rides in Ash, to engage with residents and weigh up the interest. Well the interest is definitely present, so the next step is find people to lead the club, lead the rides, etc. As mentioned I have funds to help with start-up costs, for equipment, training people, etc.

However, a cycle club needs people to run it, so I am keen to reach out to experienced cyclists who might live locally, who might like to help build a club, coach others to do so, take locals on leisurely and fun rides, etc.

Wanted – Experienced cyclists for NEW leisure cycle club in Ash.

Set up by CTC, the club offers fun, leisurely, social cycling that is good for health and wellbeing.

Rides should be local, off road, on quiet roads – short routes at a slow pace.

This club wants to get people back on bikes and offer family rides too!

In return – I can offer training in leading rides, bike maintenance and much more.

Interested – please contact Susan on:

T: 01483 238 306

M: 077 17 696 672

E: susna.keywood@ctc.org.uk

 

Susan Keywood

Cycling Development Officer, Hampshire and Surrey

CTC, the national cycling charity

 

 

 

Most people lose weight through cycling: I lost weight in order to cycle!

Louise

 

 

Louise Gagnon writes…

Sipping tea on a glorious September Sunday morning at the Seale coffee shop I met a gentleman who is likely to become the newest member of our Club. Very early in the conversation, Johnny mentioned that after a challenging period in his life he had ballooned to 19 stones (266 pounds). He vividly remembers that fateful morning of May 2014: “I felt awful going up a Surrey hill on my bike. My legs were hurting so badly that I climbed off my bike and had to stop”.

“I was disappointed with myself and knew I had to do something about losing the weight as otherwise I would have to stop cycling. So a few weeks later I exchanged my hybrid for a road bike with drops and got on a strict diet that still enabled me to gradually increase my mileage”.  Superbly determined, Johnny kept that daily routine and magically saw the weight come off at a steady rate of one pound a week. The whole time he rode on his own and would have certainly appreciated company but admitted “I wasn’t going to go out with a group until I was satisfied that I could ride at a decent pace”.

After 15 months of training, Johnny woke up one morning in August 2015 and said to himself “this is the day I am going to do it. It just felt right you know”.  And so he set off from his house in Woking for the longest ride he had ever done: 100 km (62 miles)… non-stop!  No coffee break, just snacks and drinks on the way.  Cruising steadily along in the Chobham area he looked down at his GPS and suddenly noted with excitement that he had clocked 105 km (65 miles) at an average speed of 23 KPH (14 MPH). “I just threw my arms up in the air and even rode no handed for about 50 meters: I had done it!!”

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Even more amazing than the distance covered (his longest ever), Johnny had also lost a full 6 stones (84 pounds) since April 2014.  “I am very proud of this”, he says; “it shows what an older man can do if he pushes his mind to it. I’ve lost the weight and now I can go up most hills and they don’t scare me!”.

After this achievement Johnny felt ready and proud enough to join a group: “Group riding appeals to me. It’s also a chance to meet some nice people. You know it is hard to train on your own, really hard”.

And so he sat as his computer one day and started Googling for cycling groups in his area; the West Surrey CTC link appeared and Johnny clicked on it: this was the start of the watershed. “I’ve cycled 3 times so far with Rico [Signore] and I’ve found this other group on the website: the Woking Midweek Wayfarers which has 3 levels, the 2s, 3s and 4s and rides on Wednesdays. I am very keen to join them in October”. To which I asked “why not meet with them this Wednesday 9th September. They have rides every week you know.”

And so, stand by to meet Johnny in the very near future at a Club ride start near you!

 

Is Garmin myopia making us lose our group riding courtesy?

Louise Gagnon

 

 

Louise Gagnon writes….

I have been on club rides where over 60% of the group members are equipped with Garmin GPS pre-loaded with the day’s ride.  In theory, such abundance of riders in possession of the day’s ride is not problematic but it is in my view quite possibly gradually changing the way we ride as a group – and not for the better in some instances.

My past 20 rides with our beloved club have left me with the occasional gnawing feeling that a wonderful tool such as pre-loaded GPS rides may just unconsciously lead us into occasional sloppy group riding.

I think some of us have at times been led astray by the “HA- HGROG” syndrome (He’s Alright – He’s Got the Ride On his Garmin) or even worse, it’s close cousin “IA – IGROG” ( I am Alright – I’ve Got the Ride On my Garmin).  In my opinion, this is leading us into making assumptions that have already caught us out.image2

Here are a few cases in point:

  • Ride leader proceeding at a fast rate of knots turning left or right at junctions with stretched out packets of riders in tow (not within sight of each other, sometimes miles apart), and leader not issuing any form of signposting instructions to guide the next packets, incorrectly assuming that all his riders are in a blissful state of “HA- HGROG”.
  • The last member of the lead packet cited above neglecting the customary fundamental courtesy of staying behind at the junction, incorrectly assuming, as his ride leader just did, that the rider behind is “HA- HGROG”;
  • Riders shooting past a ride leader who had ever so briefly stopped for a steam roller to finish a stretch of road repair while in unfamiliar territory way out of our usual riding area.  Safe in the knowledge that they knew where they were going, 80% of the riders just sailed past the ride leader using the pavement and proceeded quickly down the road without any sign of relenting.  This showed a lack of courtesy for the junior ride leader in charge who, as he did his best to catch up with the group now stretched out nearly 800 metres ahead, was overheard saying “How disappointing that a ride leader is trying to do the right thing and everyone else is carrying on”.  I wonder if this group bravado would have so readily occurred had riders not been in a collective “IA – IGOG” empowered state of mind?
  • Ride leaders cruising along with no back marker in sight for a good 15-20 minutes after many left and right turns have elapsed.  Ride leaders stopping to assess the situation but opting to carry on nonetheless while a good 10-20 miles from end of ride.  Ride leaders heard saying out loud regarding the missing back marker:  “HA-HGROG”.  As if Garmin could also assist a back marker in fixing a mechanical or worse, dealing with a medical emergency “back there”!   In my books, a ride leader ought to know the condition and whereabouts of his riders and she/he can never abdicate on this duty of care;
  • Ride leader not carrying OS map backup and overly relying on/rigidly sticking to his/her meticulously planned GPS route distributed the day before for all to upload.  Such  over-reliance on pre-loaded GPS rides leads an insecure ride leader into rigid thinking; temptation is then high to neglect to do what he/she ought to do which is to adapt one’s route at the drop of a hat either at ride start if a new or a less capable rider shows up, or if any situation requires a detour while en route;
  • Last but not least, it is disheartening to watch a fellow rider become a safety hazard while mentally engrossed in pressing Garmin buttons at the expense of his/her awareness of what goes on in the tight riding formation.

Possible Way-Ahead?

Garmin GPS pre-loaded with the day’s ride have the potential to become powerful allies for conscientious ride leaders and riders.

We are proud to advertise on our club business card our credo of “Never get left behind”.  Sadly poor use of pre-loaded GPS routes by ride leaders and riders alike have on some occasions already prevented us from delivering on that promise.

May I suggest that it is time for us to reflect on this occasional “Garmin Myopia”.  It is important we do so, lest our cherished collective courtesy and safe group riding may just become the first casualties.image3

Louise

Possibly our Largest Pinkneys Green Ride Group Start

Louise Gagnon

 
Louise Gagnon writes…..

A delightful ride yesterday at the Pinkneys Green remote start (near Maidenhead) with possibly our largest group in recent past  departing from that location; 25 riders making up the intrepid Wednesday Midweek Wayfarers G3 and G4 groups.

Here are a few pics with captions:

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John Murdoch, the leader of the Wednesday Midweek Wayfarers, reminding a somewhat hesitant and perplexed assembly that he would do his very best to keep to only mild undulating hills.

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Two of our riders making final saddle bag kit preparation as they depart the Five Horsehoes pub.

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Ah, those darn shoes; the are a problem, often catching you unaware…

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Phil Gasson, our super friendly G3 ride leader, chatting away with US tourists from San Antonio Texas while on a quick stop in a sleepy English village.

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Those same San Antonio Texas tourists bemused by some of the saddle bag kit carried by some of our riders. The lady on the right even took a picture, presumably for the local paper.

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Some of our members will go to great lengths to show their uniqueness. Silver and black go very well together indeed!

Tour of The Hills (2015) Catering Team – Another Good Year!

Louise-Gagnon RL

 

 

 

Louise Gagnon writes ….

Find below a few pics of the wonderful volunteers who assisted in making the TOTH a delectable experience for riders, marshalls and organisers alike. (Sorry to Sue Thorne; we have no pic of you; you must have been buzzing around so quickly after your Tour of the Greensands that we missed you!).

Granted the team’s catering goal is to put a smile on the riders’ faces but why are all caterers, marshalls and organiser also grinning from ear to ear?  Because these smiles simply reflect oh so very well the West Surrey CTC club spirit at the Shere Hall on the day!

The TOTH has proven over the years to be “the” event where the largest number of West Surrey club members conglomerate in a big team effort towards the same goal, that of making the TOTH AUDAX event a success.

Much banter and laughter goes on during the day and no doubt this strengthens the bonds amongst our club members. These bonds of friendships are everlasting and are compelling enough to have some of our CTC longtimers drop in for a visit.  Please read on…

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Departing my house with a car load of catering goodies. I know: eggs improperly protected for Surrey roads. Never leave the packing to a Royal Navy engineer I say!

 

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The morning catering team: Hilary Stevenson, Lynette Jeggo, Heidi Vinson, Louise Gagnon, Margaret Nieve (good to see you Margaret!), and Jules Lowe.

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John Child of the afternoon catering team; his name tag is a long story!

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Laurie Mutch comparing notes with yet another happy rider at the tea counter; Laurie routinely does both, an AM marshalling shift and a PM catering shift.

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Two very happy riders being served Heidi’s magic potion: tea!

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Jules Lowe enjoying a cuppa and chatting with Keith Stainer who has just dropped in after his shift as a marshall. Keith hasn’t had any food and yet he is already smiling; either he is happy to be off shift or he can’t wait for his tea and TOTH Power Bars!

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Don Gray, the TOTH Master of Ceremonies. Still looking fresh after a full day of covertly playing “super” Sudoku on his Mac book. Don, all kidding aside, it’s a joy working for you!

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Chris Jeggo demonstrating the high load capacity of the new West Surrey CTC jersey. His wife Lynette and Don Gary look on in disbelief.

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Don’t know this guy; he just showed up and was observed trying to deplete our food stock. Has anyone seen him before? Could it be a former member, circa 1980 maybe?