Sunday 31 July 2016

Poem - from an antipodean cycling friend

It was a dark and moonless night.   Kelvin L Wilson 

It was a dark and moonless night
As oft the story goes,
When on these dark and ill lit nights 
When men discover woes:
The story I will now relate, let it a warning be;
To all intrepid cyclists, who ride but cannot see.

It was a dark and moonless night,
The road was inky black;
I’d been down to the local
And now was heading back.
I lived not to far out of town 
And for economy’s sake,
I’d ride to town on me pushbike,
The one with a dodgy brake.

The evening had been pleasant, 
Enjoyed my favourite band,
With music coursing through my heart,
 My homeward way I planned.
The road that led to my place 
Was black tar, black as pitch;
Of course I had no headlight
It had a broken switch.

I thought I‘d have to walk home 
For I couldn’t see to ride,
My eyes unused to the evening’s gloom
As dark as a cow’s inside
I started walking carefully I didn’t dare to ride,
But as my eyes accustomed grew
The centre line I spied.

The faint outline of the centre white line,
Showed in the starlight dim.
First one showed then another,
My face began to grin.
It was a quiet country road 
With few turns as it went.
I could hear a car that’s coming
And get off before I’m bent

So on the bike I mounted and slowly pedalled on,
Watching for each white line,
Leading me to home.

The farther that I traveled, in confidence I grew,
I started going faster in fact I fairly flew
Speeding through the darkness 
Wind whistling in my ears
I thought not of the danger that suddenly appears


I’ll soon be home I’m thinking
Wind streaming through my hair,
Not thinking of the pain to come or bicycle repair.
With self congratulations I rode without a fear.
How could I think that someone else
Would have the same Idea.

Two silent men on bicycles, 
Speeding through the gloom,
Unheeding of the danger or our impending doom,
We met there on that country road,
Both pedalling hell bent,
The silent stars gave witness
To the horrible event.

The tangled heap of arms and legs,
Assorted cycle parts,
Our bruised and battered bodies, 
Our palpitating hearts;
Were strewn across the roadside,
I lay with pain intense.
Until the other rider,
Showed a shred of common-sense 

He dragged me to the roadside; 
I lay beside the fence,
My mind was wandering feverishly,
I was not making sense.
I lay there bruised and battered, 
My face a grisly mess,
With broken nose and cheekbones
And what else you can guess.

I’m lying in intensive care
To tubes and wires I’m tied,
Wondering in my fog bound mind. 
Is this life or have I died?

It was a dark and moonless night 
As oft the story goes,
When on these dark and ill lit nights
When men discover woes:
The story I have told you let it a warning be;
To all intrepid pedallers, who ride but cannot see.

Regards from Kelvin
 
Kelvin and his wife were staying with Diane and Martin Young and had come over from Australia to visit UK. They met us at the coffee stop in Ennerdale Bridge where Kelvin recited this poem!

Saturday 30 July 2016

Latest Runs List - August/October 2016

The latest version of the runs list is now available from the website or here to download. Thanks as usual to CJ for rounding up the runs leaders and to all runs leaders for giving up their time. We rely heavily on a small band of regulars but anyone with enthusiasm to show off your favourite ride(s) would be welcome and can become a leader - just ask one of the regular leaders what is involved and get registered through the secretary with CUK and that's it!

Incidentally - for those that plan ahead, I have made a tentative booking for Christmas lunch on 17th December (12.30) at Mrs Miller's  nothing fixed yet but they get booked up early and you can't now say you didn't know the date well in advance! More details of this event to follow after the next committee meeting.

Geoff

Tuesday 26 July 2016

Ride for Sunday 31st July - Cockermouth

For those that can make it Martin Young has volunteered to lead a ride from Cockermouth. Details below:

Start: Junction of Isel Road and Castlegate opp Hospital. GRNY124309 lots of on street parking available on Sunday
Route: 60mi  via Lorton Thackthwaite Loweswater, Ennerdale Bridge, Cold Fell, Calder Bridge, Egremont. Lunch @ Martin and Dianne's
Cycle route to Whitehaven, Workington Great Broughton and Cockermouth.

Basically some hills on the way out but flat on the way back.

Thanks Martin


Alternate Ride Wednesday 27 July

As the main ride is starting from Langholm, a few of us are meeting at Keswick Swimming Pool for a 0930 start and doing a lumpy Lakeland route.
From Keswick we are going over Newlands Pass and heading for Cockermouth via Loweswater, Fangs Brow, Mockerkin and Branthwaite. From Cockermouth the route will take us to Bassenthwaite and then around Skiddaw - Uldale, Caldbeck and Mungrisedale before returning  to Keswick via Threlkeld. The total distance will be approx. 60 miles.
You are welcome to join us.
Keith G.

Saturday 23 July 2016

Club Run 27 th July

Subject to weather conditions, the ride be as published : -

Start  - Langholm 09:30 at the riverside car park if available.  ( see note below )

Note - From Mon 25 th to Sat 30 th July the town will be celebrating the " Langholm Common Riding " and a faiground is set up in the riverside car park for a week. Alternative parking should be possible in the side road over the river bridge on the way to the Buccleuch Centre or in other sides streets near the hall.


Elevenses - Early at Newcastleton

Lunch - At Bonchester Bridge

Return - via Whitrope, Hermitage and Newcastleton ( maybe for tea) or Hermitage Castle and the A7.

I hope the weather is good on the day.

CJ



Friday 22 July 2016

Club run - Sunday 24th July

The ride will be as per the runs list.   Meet 9.30am at the car park beside the village hall.    The route will be Askham, Celeron, Pooley Bridge to Glenridding for 11's.   Then up Kirkstone and continue towards Troutbeck.   We will turn left just before Troutbeck to take the minor road to Ings and then Staveley for lunch.    Return to Shap by the A6.    Distance will be about 55 miles.   At present the forecast is for rain.  If it turns out to be light rainfall, the day may actually be quite pleasant!

Thursday 21 July 2016

Club Clothing stock and the Impsport clubshop

I have various items of clothing in stock for sale at very reasonable prices(see below) and you can now order direct from Impsport through the club shop using the password CTCEV920. From there you can see the range of clothing and the prices in the various bands. Clearly it is better to get together in groups if you want to order as there is a reduction for 10+ items. If it would help I will gladly coordinate such an order when there is enough interest so drop me a line if that is your wish.

The items that we have in are:
Ladies SS jersey short zip size 14                 price £42
Ladies LS jersey short zip size 12                 price £50
Mens SS jersey short zip size L  (3 off)        price £42
Mens SS jersey long zip size L                     price £42

Tuesday 19 July 2016

Ride Wednesday 20th July - UPDATE

 at 0740 Wednesday
....looks like its going to be wet and thundery all morning(Met Office forcast) and has started to rain here(Culgaith) I will be at the start 0930 but suggest a later start say 11am for the Alston Brampton loop.
Geoff

It seems whenever I put on a ride the weather turn against us but looking at the forecast for tomorrow there would seem to be a great chance of thundery rain from about mid-day so rather than get caught out in the back of beyond I think we will have a conversation about the details of the ride at Melmerby 0930. My immediate thoughts of a fall back are to go Alston Brampton Fellside but I won't pre-empt anything. Do come and keep me company!
G

Plumpton coffee stop tomorrow Wed 20 July

If anyone fancies a gentle ride to 11s I intend to do the direct route leaving the Cross Keys/Frenchfield (Penrith) at 10.15.

Monday 18 July 2016

David's POP-UP ROADSIDE CAFE Sat 23 July

If you fancy a ride out to Ulcatrow, Matterdale on Saturday 23 July.
You are invited to visit my one day Roadside Pop-Up Cafe
Open 10am to 4pm for tea and cake
Proceeds to Hospice at Home (C & NL)

David Harrison

Saturday 16 July 2016

Alternative ride Sunday 17th July

If anyone would like to join me (and probably Parker), we shall be leaving Cotehill crossroads at 9.00 am and riding to the station cafe at Langwathby. Parker will return from Langwathby, but I will be heading further afield before riding north again (with sandwiches and saddlebag, of course). Hope to see you up the road somewhere, if not at Cotehill.

Friday 15 July 2016

Club Ride Sunday 17 July

Sunday's ride will start from the Village Hall, Burton in Kendal at 0930 (there is a £1 parking fee which will be collected and passed to the Memorial Hall Treasurer).
The route will take us over Jubilee Tower and The Trough of Bowland  to Dunsop Bridge where we will have 11's.
From here we will head for Whitewell and Waddington and return over Waddington Fell to Slaidburn where we will have lunch.
Our return home will be via the Cross of Greet climb, Wray and Gressingham for a total distance of approx. 70 miles.
This will be a hilly ride with notable climbs although none are brutal. The forecast at the moment is for good weather so hopefully we will have a good days cycling.
Hope to see you on Sunday.
Keith G

Tuesday 12 July 2016

Club ride - Wednesday 13th July.

I will be leading this ride as Parker is unable to do so due to illness.  
The route will be varied slightly.   Weather permitting, the ride from Langholm will be over Langholm Moor to Newcastelton, then along the B6399 past Hermitage Castle to Hawick for lunch.   In the afternoon the route will be Tushielaw and down the Ettrick Valley to Eskdalemuir and return to Langholm.   There are options for afternoon tea.   Total distance - 77miles.    Hope to see some of you at the start.  

Cycle Ride Wednesday 13th July.

As an addition to Paul's published ride from Langholme, I intend to take a ride from Kendal starting in Brigsteer Road at 9.30.
The route will be along the northern coast of Morecambe Bay with 11's at Holker Hall and lunch at Rampside opposite Piel Island. There may be time to do a circuit of Walney Island. The total distance will be about 70 miles.
If anyone requires parking in Kendal please give me a call.
Ernest.

Thursday 7 July 2016

Sunday 10 th July Main Ride



Since Parker is unable to lead this ride, I will lead on his behalf.

The ride will be as published : -

Start – Annan

Meeting at town square near Town Hall with 09:00 departure

Elevenses’s – Lockerbie ( Café 91 )

Lunch – Moffat

Tea – Bankshill Village Hall

Wednesday 6 July 2016

10th July Sunday's alternative ride

Hi folks

So Sundays 'alternative' ride will be average pace and starting/leaving at Caldbeck outside 'The Smithy Cafe' at 10.30 am - with Keswick lunch stop at the Filling Station and then back through Mungrisdale.  It will be a 'Karen average pace' and the ride will be particularly suitable to those who want an inbetween ride - if you know what I mean. While it is a hilly route I encourage everyone who wants 'inbetween ride'  to come along and enjoy !!! We will go at the pace of the slowest !

Hope to see you Sunday

Karen


Tuesday 5 July 2016

6 th July ride - a more northerly option

For those not wishing to travel, meet at Cotehill for a 9.30 a.m. start. 70 - 80 miles to Newcastleton and Langholme. You are very welcome to join us!
Paul and Janet

Monday 4 July 2016

Club Ride Wednesday 6 July

Ernest is unable to lead the ride on Wednesday, so Geoff and I will be standing in and leading it on Ernest's behalf.
We will be meeting in Burton-in-Kendal at the Memorial Hall car park for a 0900 start. We have an arrangement with the hall allowing us to use the car park for a £1 fee, which will be collected by the Treasurer.
Our route will take us south to Great Ecclestone where we will have 11s, and from here we will head for Lytham and Blackpool, where we will have lunch.
The return leg will be via Fleetwood, where we will cross the estuary on the Knott End ferry and return via Cockerham and the Lancaster cycleway. I have spoken to the Ferrymaster and he has assured me that there is sufficient storage for up to 30 bikes! When I used the ferry last, I got a discount on the crossing by producing my bus pass, so if you are prudent like me, don't forget your pass.
The route is predominantly flat, although it can be subject to quite strong sea breezes. The total distance will be 92 miles. Please note the start time will be 0900, NOT 0930.
This ride is the second part of a bikefest (ride one get one free) and will follow Geoff's excellent ride on Tuesday.
I hope to see you on both rides.
Keith G.

Information received - sportive

Click to enlarge; the details are all there and on the associated website and it starts at Lanercost!

Saturday 2 July 2016

Club Rides Sunday July 3rd

Claire's ride is a flattish 40 miles with elevenses at the chapel, Port Carlisle. Claire will bring scones. Lunch at Cups and Saucers.
Mike's ride as advertised around the northern fells with elevenses at Mae's in Uldale and lunch in Keswick or Threlkeld. About 50+ miles.
Afternoon tea available in Dalston for both rides.