Bike Ride July 2006
- Fri 25th Aug 2006
Feu! Quel scorcheur!
As mentioned last month, the Bike Ride returned home safe and sound on Saturday 15th July, after a very hot and excellent several days riding in France. At the time of writing, it’s almost a month since we got back, but the memories are still very much alive in my mind. The organising team were in some trepidation about this year’s event, due to the changes enforced on us by having to use new ferry companies and the return from Dieppe via Newhaven back to Hayling, as well as the new routes, both to and from Chartres and also from Rouen to Dieppe. In the end, the ferries did not work out too badly, in spite of the lack of cabin space from Portsmouth to Le Havre on the three crossings on LD Lines on Saturday 8th, Sunday 9th and Tuesday, 11th July and the limited facilities on the Transmanche ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven. However, the great bonus was the new routes, especially from Evreux to Chartres, on the second day of the longer ride: imagine a shortish day of 65 miles, almost flat, through lovely and varied scenery, including the River Eure and villages on the way – bliss! We also had the civic reception and an evening in the attractive city of Chartres to look forward to. Another new attraction was the Avenue Verte: 25 or so miles of former railway track, with an excellent surface, from just north of the pretty town of Forges-Les-Eaux, taking us to just south of Dieppe for our final night in France. Whilst not quite as ideal as the hotel in Le Havre in previous years, an hotel in Dieppe provided us with the facilities for a last night party for almost all, on Bastille Night, with all the usual celebratory revelry. Our troupe of dancing cyclists, led by Meryl Browne and in striking gowns, gave a splendid display of ‘Hey, Big Spender’ for the benefit of Top Fundraiser, Barrie Dawson, 60 this year. Not so welcome was the very early morning start to get on the ferry next day, but this was achieved by all, to our great surprise and relief! Once in Newhaven, we had the difficult logistical and practical task of getting riders, bikes and bags back home, having taken the decision not to expect the cyclists to ride all the way back. Four coaches were waiting for the riders and the support crew had the arduous task of packing all the bikes onto lorries, all being transported to the Arun View pub at Littlehampton, where enormous paellas awaited us for lunch, followed by the distribution of Ride 2006 T-Shirts. We then cycled the 26 miles back to Hayling, stopping for most at the Ship Inn, before 100 or so cycled en masse over the bridge and to Hayling College, where our bags and completion certificates awaited us – the end for the riders, but not for support!
FUNDRAISING
Preliminary indications are that more than £80,000 will be collected in sponsorship money, as result of this year’s 21st Ride, a total second only to last year’s special 20th Ride £108,000, which had over 20 more riders. This should take us to more than £900,000 in fundraising accumulated over the 21 years of the Ride – and so we are calling next year’s 22nd Ride in 2007 ‘The £1,000,000 Ride’! Not bad for a little local event, organised by volunteers! We are determined to achieve this and we feel we can do so, with a bit of luck and a fair wind. Our riders continue to amaze us with their phenomenal fundraising: this year Barrie Dawson has pledged over £5,000 for head and neck cancer, so perhaps he will once again be crowned Top Fundraiser and receive the ‘Scroll of Honour’ at the charities evening in March, although newcomer, Will New, together with 17-year old ‘vet’, Non Kerr, have pledged £8,000 between them.
THE DAYS OF THE RIDE
This year we went out in three parties, mainly brought on by the shortage of cabins on the LD Lines ferry going from Portsmouth to Le Havre, with 48 going out on Saturday night, 8th July, (without cabins), 94 on Sunday night (all with cabins) and a further 74 on Tuesday night (67 with cabins). The advance party of 48 spent the day in and around le Havre, some cycling a bit too far, I’m told, before watching the World Cup Final in a local bar. Meanwhile, the largest group was making its way to the Ship and Castle in the ferry port to watch the match, having registered and given sponsorship pledeges at the Hayling Billy, before cycling to Portsmouth. If the match had gone on any longer, the ferry would have had to wait!
On leaving the ship on the Monday morning, we were all looking forward to climbing over the Pont de Normandie, which was quite an experience on a bright and sunny day. We then met up with the advance party and had a great day’s cycling in the hottest weather of the week, having once again had a lovely lunch in Grandchain and cooling beers in Glisolles, before arriving at Evreux, on a 90-mile day.
As mentioned above, the ride from Evreux to Chartres was one of the best days of cycling in my experience, with a good new lunchstop at Villemeux being a bonus.
The departure from Chartres next morning was threatened by the fact that the hotel owner wouldn’t open the gates for us to leave, until the bill had been paid and my bike ride card had run out of credit! Good thing I had enough to pay it in my personal account, as the riders were beginning to revolt, in their passion to get on the road! We had pre-arranged that the cyclists on the shorter ride should arrive by coach at a shopping centre car park at about 10.30,15 miles north of Chartres, on the way to Paris. Like so many well-laid plans, it didn’t quite work out like that, but we were all away by mid-day, on a hot and steamy afternoon, before arriving at our glider airport restaurant at the top of a hill, out of Beynes. What followed was Fred Dyer’s new and ingenious route into Paris, via the Palace of Versailles and the Parc de St Cloud, before being greeted by the sight of the Eiffel Tower and a hairy last few miles to our Hotel, near La Defense, to the west of the city.
Now 190-strong, the riders were led out of Paris in groups, with an experienced rider in the lead of each, before arriving at the Seine for a tranquil few miles along its banks. The morning stop was as good as ever and the lunchstop at Notre Dame de l’Isle, after 50 miles, was once more a great success. We were again really well looked after at Muids, with tables and chairs set out under the trees, along with an outside bar and a quite talented musical duo, in the grounds of the church opposite the enterprising Madame Koleno’s Bar de la Poste. What followed was the celebrated ‘gentle rise through the trees’ hill, a few miles before the spectacular descent into Rouen on this 85-mile day.
In the morning we had a new hill out of Rouen to climb on our way to Dieppe – it isn’t possible to get out of the Rouen basin without climbing a hill and we have now tried five, with this one, although a couple of miles and steep in parts, being the best so far, in my view. The lunch-stop at Neufchatel, on the Avenue Verte, was not our greatest success, but it was nice to arrive early in the pretty town of Dieppe, for our final night together.
THE LAKEWOOD RIDERS
Portsmouth has a ‘sister city’, Lakewood in Colorado and occasionally there are visits from and to members of the association, or ‘program’ as it is called, much like our twinning. This year it was the turn of the people from Colorado to visit Portsmouth and seven of the visitors wanted to take part in our bike ride, inspired by one member, Matt Armbruster, who took part in the ride several years ago, on his recumbent bike, which duly reappeared this year, much to our amusement. Matt, a rocket scientist (really), was befriended by our Councillor support crew motorcyclist and video expert, Dave Collins and his son Peter, when Dave worked for Portsmouth City Council some years ago and they have visited Matt in Colorado. The seven riders, all accomplished cyclists, were greeted by Dave and I, amongst others, at Portsmouth Guildhall on their arrival, on the Tuesday before the event, staying with Portsmouth host families and having a full programme of sightseeing, before the ride.
AWARD WINNERS
We now present all the awards and trophies on the ferry, since they only really mean a great deal to those on the ride itself. Once again it’s important to point out that there are no prizes for fast cycling or coming in first, even though you wouldn’t be able to tell by those who endeavour to arrive at their daily destination as early as possible, only to have to wait for their baggage, which is not promised to arrive before 5pm each day. In addition to the trophies, several ‘minor’ awards are presented on the ferry, including the ‘Rear of the Year’, judged by the male members of the committee, with suggestions welcome from other riders. This was deservedly won by newcomer Kerry Lebbern, with most of the committee in vociferous agreement. The ‘CB award’ for the male version, judged by the female members of the support crew, was presented to Islander Mike Fenlon, who had generously donated the superbly signwritten Paris to Hayling support vans for use on the ride. The major awards were then presented, all decided by the committee during a meeting on the ferry, with the exception of Fred Dyer’s ‘Support Crew Personality of the Year’ cut-glass trophy, in memory of his late wife, Judy, which was decided following consultation with riders. This was presented to the hard-working sign-posting team of Mark Cook and Mike Stevens, for their excellent and usually unsung efforts. The ‘Bavent Cup’ team award went by unanimous approval to the Von Krapp Family (Team Jeff), supposedly dressed as something out of the Sound of Music, with musical accompaniment, but there were honourable mentions for the Pompey Girls and Team Dawson, amongst others. President Pete McQuade, founder of the event, performing his usual role as presenter of the awards, announced that the winner of the ‘McQuade Cup for Most Impressive Newcomer’, in honour of his late mother, was Islander and former Saints goalkeeper, Ally Sperring. The ‘Eberhardt Signs Most Improved Rider Award’ deservedly went to Islander Sylvia Hemmings, who seemed a little overcome by the recognition of her cycling prowess! The ‘Oracle Proof That You Can’ award was presented to newcomer, Mo Woolcock, who has a special pedal attachment, to counter the imbalance in her legs, as a result of an illness as a youngster. 70-year old Ron Spencer reluctantly accepted the ‘New Montfort Veteran’s Cup’ once again — he’s now getting used to the idea! The ‘Reg Beacher Award’ for special contribution was presented to Will Stretch, inspirational leader of the 18-strong Ditcham Park School Team, last year’s group awards winners. The ‘Value Added Trophy’ was presented to Paul Edwards for his continually cheery demeanour. The new ‘Young Rider of the Year’ trophy was presented to 14-year-old Alex Jupp, truly a pocket dynamo! The ‘Top Fundraiser Scroll of Honour’ will be presented with the new trophy at the charities evening in March, possibly once again to Barrie Dawson. The 17 young riders, aged between 14 and 17, were all presented with keepsake shields. All awards will be re-presented at the Reunion in November. However, everyone deserves recognition for the work and effort put in to make this once again such a special year for the Bike Ride.
SUPPORT CREW
Having said that everyone deserves recognition, special mention should definitely be made of the wonderful support crew, always there when you need them, providing water, energy supplement, bananas, sweets, Tessa’s flapjacks, spares and careful attention when essential. They included, in no particular order: Bill & Carol Bailey; Mike Burbridge; David Collins; Mark Cook; Steve Cooper; Kev Crocker; Rod Elliott; Frank Gott; Mags Graham; Georgie Gross; Dave Hersee; Steve Hollis; Geoff Kerr; Kevin Knight; Jo Macey; Maryon McQuade; Lin Parsons; Sylvia Randall and Mike Stevens. Everyone pulled their weight and worked from before the riders got up until after they had got in, on one evening as late as 10pm,
OUR SPONSORS AND SUPPORTERS
We also wish to thank our sponsors and supporters, in some cases whether they know it or not! The contribution of T-Shirt sponsors is also always vital: Major Sponsors were Weststar Holiday Parks and Burras Ltd. Also sponsoring were: Bosham Industries, C.J. Driscoll Chartered Accountant, Gable UK, Hayling Property Management, Hayling Window Centre, Large and Gibson, Morris Crocker, Newtown House Hotel, P. M. Leisure Homes and R.J. Morris Jewellers. We also wish to thank Barclays Bank, the Hayling Ferry, The Ship and Castle, The Hayling Billy, The Hayling College, Hayden’s Garage, Hellyers Coaches, Kuehne & Nagel, LD Lines, Transmanche Ferries, Motorcare Centre, Barreg Motors, Richard ‘Great Radios’ Mumford, Vodafone, Scott Hodges, 3rd Hayling Scouts, the Arun View pub, Woods Holidays and Tessa Smith (the Flapjack Queen) for their various contributions. Apologies if anyone feels that they have been left out!
PLANS FOR 2007
We are already feverishly plotting next year’s ride, with several options being considered. Watch this space!
Phone enquiries to 023 9246 1412 or by post to Paris to Hayling, PO Box 30, Hayling Island, Hants, PO11 9UD. Mobile – 07770-888501.
Website - http://www.hayling-cycle-ride.org.uk
e-mail address – paul.fisher69@ntlworld.com
PAUL FISHER 16/08/2006
By forum user, PaulFisher
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