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Added: Sun 2nd Aug 2009
24th Bike Ride endures the rough and the smooth, with great success
This year’s ride took the same general route as last year’s groundbreaking challenge, but with some new ‘tweakings’ e.g. a new route for the second half of the first day for the 6-Dayers, from Dingé to Rennes and a new route from Vitré to Laval on the second day, as this year we didn’t divert on the punishing route via Gorron. This resulted in three 50 miles or so days in succession, which was welcomed by some, but not so much by the keener riders! However, the morning route to Chateau Gontier, where the 3½-Dayers joined us, couldn’t have been criticized for its lack of hills!
The weather on the first three days was just lovely for cycling – not too hot and little wind – but that was all to change over the next three days. The flat 80 miles from Angers to Tours on the fourth day, along the Loire valley (with no-one getting lost this year), was absolutely beautiful again, but baking, with the temperature reaching 105F (35C I think!). In the middle of the afternoon, I had to look after a cyclist who came off her bike on a curbstone, with some abrasions and concussion and our group had to endure waiting for an hour for the Sapeurs Pompiers to arrive and treat her, in the heat, with water running low. The support was stretched a bit, so 17 miles later, with no bars in between, I was able to replenish my water and given a cold gin and tonic from Pete Alloway’s support van, to calm me down!
As we started to go north for our last couple of days, the predicted weather forecast of poor weather came true and we had wind and showers on a regular basis, making it a bit of a struggle at times. The 95 miles from Tours to Alencon on the Friday tested most of us and we were glad to get in. Saturday, the final day, was Fancy Dress Day and the outfits, worn by at least half of the riders, one way or another, were great fun. There were the Hell’s Belles, the House of Cards, coincidentally joined by the Four Aces, the Busy Bees, the Lady Birds and many more, but our favourites were the Morris Men, led by Hayling’s Dr Turner. We had an extra few miles, making it a 75 mile day to Caen, because a new motorway was being driven through our route, fortunately foreseen by our final recce three weeks before the ride.
So, after a few celebratory drinks as we reached Caen, it was up to the Castle, in what finery we could muster, for the last night dinner party and dancing until too late!. Next morning, after a committee meeting to decide the awards, we all cycled the 12 miles or so to the Ouistreham ferryport, via Madame Gondrée’s café, to board the Seacat and a rather tempestuous crossing back home. The Bike Ride Awards were presented to those deserving with great acclaim and we were treated to an Ode to ‘Tour de Tours Nights’ by Magnus MacFarlane.
We emerged from the ferry, now all dressed in our new T-Shirts, on the back celebrating Mike Burras’s ‘30 Years in the Hole’, to cycle to the Hayling Ferry, with a wait for many as we were shuttled across. A welcome at Hayling College awaited us, hosted by HUFC, as we met up with our loved ones and collected our bags, glad to be home, but having memories of a great ride, yet again.
Now, guess what? We are planning next year’s 25th ride, which looks like a sell-out, especially as it is rumoured, without foundation, that it is the last ride! The debate is whether to go back to Paris, for symbolic and sentimental reasons, or to return to the beautiful Loire Valley, but with a 5 day ride for all. We shall be consulting riders, paying special attention to those who have cycled both routes, before we make a decision. So watch this space for Ride 2010!
A Bike Ride First!
Freddy Houghton-Connell, a member of the 38-strong Ditcham Park Team (21 young riders and 17 mums, dads and friends), encountered a cow crossing the road at the bottom of a descent and his bike was totalled, but both he and the cow emerged unscathed! Freddie was obviously shaken up and was transported in a van for the rest of the day, but was back on a borrowed bike next day. A new chapter in the annals of the Bike Ride!
Fundraising
Over £50,000 was pledged by riders in sponsorship, but we confidently anticipate this rising as the money comes, perhaps taking us to over £1,200,000, accumulated over the years of the Ride.
Thanks to the superb support crew:
Pete Alloway (Leader)
Ann Borton
Richard Boswell
Mike Harrington
Lynne Harris
Tony Hart
Joy Hayward
Rick Hutchings
Kev Knight
Jo Macey
Sue Morton
Sylvia Randall
Jon Tawse
Fay Turner
Richard Willis
Thanks to sponsors and suppliers:
Barclays Bank
Reg Beacher
Brittany Ferries
Brit-net
Burras Ltd
C.J. Driscoll Chartered Accountant
Gable UK
Gridleys
Hayden Vehicle Rentals
Hayling United FC
Hayling Ferry
Hayling Property Management
Hayling Window Centre
Heidi’s Patisserie
Hobbs Pharmacy
Jean Simpson Agency
Kuehne & Nagel
Large and Gibson
Morris Crocker
P. M. Leisure Homes Ltd
Qlik View
R.J. Morris Jewellers
Ship & Castle
Verisona
Woods Travel
Bike Ride Awards 2009
Rachel Loveridge - Most Impressive Newcomer - McQuade Cup
Rachael Lamont – Most Improved Rider - Eberhardt Signs Trophy
The Morris Men (CALM) – Best Group – Bavent Cup
Debbie Marks – Proof That You Can – Oracle Shield
Charlie Pickett – Special Award - Reg Beacher Trophy
Ron Spencer – Veteran Rider – Montfort Cup
Dan Pfaff – Young Rider of the Year – Les Trois Pics Cup
Mike Harrington – Support Crew Award – Judy Dyer Trophy
Magnus MacFarlane – Character Award – Value Added Trophy
Pete Alloway - Committee Member Award - Qlik Tech Cup
Mary Burras - Rear of the Year
Matthew Wragg - CB Award
Best Fancy Dress - The Cards
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