The Bugle | Blast 421


Friday 24th January 2020
Bad Old Days Edition

 
 

 

 

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

 
“Ride as much or as little, as long or as short as you feel. But ride” – Eddy Merckx


 

BICYCLIST OF 1955

Why give up cycling because your legs are shot? Or even shot off in this case. If Douglas Bader could fly a plane then Johnny Bird of Feltham could certainly ride a bike and one he adapted himself.

What was impressive back in 1955 was how his body adapted to deliver distance and speed many able-bodies people today would envy. Enjoy the video (Sorry about the Ads).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_P29hX3yxc

 

BICYCLES OF THE WEEK
Johnny showed what you can achieve with just arms. But if your legs are still good then why not use them as well for twice the exercise and even more power?

The Rowing Bikes were developed in Germany in the 1920s. Not strictly a bike with four wheels. But development continues on two wheels and here is a 21st Century development in The Netherlands. Enjoy the video (No Ads): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmHZGGMfHtg
 

 

BIKES ON TRAINS

We're lucky that Southern & Thameslink are quite relaxed about bikes on trains - albeit we do have to squash up if there are more than two!

Two is too much for GWR  [above] on their new generation of trains - and you have to book! CTC (Cycling UK) slamed "awful" cycle storage on GWR's high-speed trains here: https://road.cc/content/news/267162-cycling-uk-slams-awful-cycle-storage-gwrs-high-speed-trains

Still it's not like 1956 on the old British Railways. See what these poor CTC riders had to endure - and don't mention the food ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPkT0paGEnQ

 

CLUB AWAYDAYS 2020


Maybe the CTC excursion to Warwickshire is a little ambitious but here are some new ideas being tossed around for extended train assisted rides as the days get longer and the roads get warmer:

  • Croydon to Dungeness Nuclear Power Station. Return by train from Folkstone
  • Shenfield to Sizewell Nuclear Power Station and beautiful Suffolk. Return by train
  • Shenfield to Brighlingsea, Essex. Train back from Colchester.
  • Enfield Lock to Cambridge. Ride back or catch train
  • Amersham to Oxford. Ride back or catch train.
Members of a certain age will have spotted that Shenfield, Enfield Lock & Amersham are within the FredomPass zone. A way of discovering the unknown coutryside and villages north of London starting at East Croydon. These are rides of between 50 & 100  miles.

Any more to add to the list? Send your ideas in ..


 

PURLEY SWIMATHON

Bob is reprising his success of 2019 again in aid of Charity. Bob the Fireman he needs 10 Annerly BC swimmers for this year’s Purley Swimathon on Saturday 14 March at 1700 for 1 hour.

All sponsorship for 3 local charities and my Action for Pulmonary Fribrosis Charity. Afterwards we can ‘drown’ our sorrows in Pear Tree pub opposite pool entrance!
More info: https://www.rotary-ribi.org/clubs/page.php?PgID=778908&ClubID=885


 

NO RiDE REPORTS THIS WEEK!!!



UPCOMING RIDES


Wandle Way Week ...

Saturday 25th January: Meet at Shurguard / 501 Brighton Road 10.00 am. We are taking the Wandle Way for a round trip to Earlsfield with a tea stop at Arthur's Cafe. Hope to be back 1.30 - 2 ish 26 miles, suitable for road bikes, hybrid or MTB, might be some slippery leaves in places.

Sunday 26th January: 10am Shurguard/501 Brighton Road
Steadies: Mark H leading to Richmond Park via Wandle Trail. hybrid, mountain bike, gravel bike or roadbike with touring tyres all welcome. 10 mph
Relaxed: Des D to Bockett's Farm, Fetcgam. Pickup at Coulsdon PO 10:30

Tuesday 28th January: Shurguard/501 Brighton Road
The rides to Polesden Lacey
Speedies: 09:30: Leader Tom V
Steadies: 10:00: Leader John D
Relaxed: 10:00: Leader Peter R

Thursday 30th January Meet Shurguard at 10:00 am. 
Speedy: tba

 


FINALLY
Bob the Fireman commented our last  Brummie Bicyclist of the Week Tommy Godwin with Tom V as runner-up :

Denise and I would like to challenge for the runner up Brummies, as we were both born & educated in Brum. Hence our ‘funny’ accents!

Tommy was a good friend of my parents and even attended their funerals. My parents did have Tommy’s frames but having come from Loughborough near Derby preferred Mercian frames.

I still have my mothers frame all stripped down  ready for respraying..! I even had a Saturday morning job at Tommy’s repairing punctures & various jobs prior to joining the Fire Service in Warwickshire.



Happy Cycling