Falmouth Wheelers
Slithering into HQ at a finely-judged 9 am, we were pleased to find both Robin and Trevor sufficiently recovered from their LEL adventures to be on the start line for the long ride, together with Ian, Phils 1 and 4, Ben, Amanda and Raymond. So it was ten for the Lizard, with the suggestion of Robin that we might see a bit of Falmouth Week on the way back. Ian led us down? to Gweek by an interesting route – […] Read More
I set out on my ride beginning to come round to Richard 174’s view about over reliance on technology. Mystic Meg had said that the weather would be wet, windy and generally ‘orrible, yet on the way over to Union Corner it was just a bit damp. I took the absence of any other OGIL as evidence that they had received similar dire weather warnings and thought that it would be a good morning to sort the sock drawer. They […] Read More
It’s a year since the Wheelers rode up Mt Ventoux and visited Tom Simpson’s memorial. We laid a simple but fitting piece of Cornish stone with a plaque at the top of the steps amongst the many water bottles and other mementoes riders leave. The wind and the winter do surprising damage to the steps and the memorial. It’s not called “ventoux” for nothing. This winter was particularly harsh. But thanks to a combination of Belgian firms and bike team […] Read More
I hadn’t given the Ride London much thought until Ian and Chris rode in it last year, and then Paula and Jo both entered the ballot for 2017 but were unsuccessful. On a whim, I tried for the 46 and was surprised when I was offered a place – maybe they had fewer applicants for the shorter distance, which was intended for the over 16s and people who had never done a Sportive before. Neither applied to me, but it […] Read More
8 of us at hq but 3 went to Flushing, so only 5 to Helston. Robin and Trevor warming up for the small ride that is the lel, Victor, Jim and his gash and me (Chris H) we set off with the intention of going via Porkellis and Wendron but Robin needed to be back early as he hasnt packed for the weekend yet so went the direct way through Gweek. Once at Blakner we bumped into some old giffer […] Read More
It was one of those Wednesday mornings that made a ride to Argal café seem attractive. In fact, the Bickland café seemed an attractive destination to propose to the other three OGIL who were waiting at Union Corner. Mystic Meg said that it would rain all morning, and was not far out. About half way to the other place Kath and Phil1 decided that the rain had just about soaked through to the innermost layer, so it was time to stop […] Read More
Kath, John, Bernie, Amanda, Emma (the lure of the OGIL ride gets to everyone eventually) and Admiral awaited me at Union Corner on a morning not too dissimilar to Sunday’s Audax, but the wet stuff held off until we got home. Fred, Simon, Mike2, Keith and Phil3, at Halvasso turn, rounded up to the dozen, and with Tehidy on the destination board, and no show from the M&Ms, we were on our way. I think there was a nominated leader, […] Read More
As Bonnie Tyler so famously sang “It’s an arse ache, Nothing but an arse ache, Hits you when it’s too late, Hits you when you’re down”. I don’t know whether she has ever cycled 130 miles but I shared a very intimate experience on Sunday, during Martyn’s equally famous Lizard and Camel Audax. Unusually I arrived in good time, but without my water bottle, so a return trip to Falmouth meant that everyone was ready for the off when I […] Read More
Having successfully completed the Highlands and Glens Audax in two completely different ways, Dene and I decided to write a report together, giving an account of our separate experiences. Sadly, that is about as far as we have got. We will start piecing together our accounts before the memory fades and hopefully next month we shall have our report finished. Meanwhile, something hugely more interesting has taken my attention, the Olympics! As it is cycling related I thought I’d write […] Read More
The Prologue. Shortly after joining the Falmouth Wheelers in 2009 I read an article in a magazine – it could have been Cycling Weekly or perhaps Cycling Plus – it said it would take five years for a runner to become a cyclist. As a long distance runner I felt the article slightly exaggerated the differences between the two sports, but now, nearly five years on, I’m not so sure.