Oh! What Fun!!

Thursday 5th Sptember 2013.

In preparation for the main event on Saturday Simon and I decided to find an interesting route to the RV for the day's HCMF meet. For once I let Simon lead and he immediately tested my legs by heading up Mollie's Dismount. As we entered the village of East Stratton we passed a car and the driver waved to us. I thought it was John Heath, but we later discovered that it was Mike Bailey. (Both guys being bearded).

We covered the 10 miles or so to Micheldever Station in just under an hour so Simon decided we needed to put in an extra loop and led me over the A30 to Laverstoke. Lots of work going on here on the old Bank buildings.

We were soon in Overton where we paused for a drink and to check the map, yes Sarah,  once more I was uncertain of where the turn was and thought I should verify it. In the town we were spotted by Caroline but we were too engossed to notice her!

The lanes to North Waltham were made lovely by the dappled sunshine but had been poorly repaired with loose gravel and tar. As we entered the village we caught up with Mike and Charlotte who had ridden from East Stratton. 

After exchanging a greeting they pressed on while Simon and I had a picnic lunch on the green before we continued to Dummer. As we crossed the A33 I noticed a dust devil in a nearby field. it seemed to have been started by a tractor working but soon grew to about 75 feet. However it did not last long enough for me to take a snap.

In Dummer the first person we saw was John Heath who was riding away from the pub. Why?

We were somewhat disappointed by the number of riders there, way below our best. We had a long chat with Charles, David, Joyce & Dick while we refreshed ourselves with a nice pint.

Angela was there having come in her little Noddy Car, already dunning riders for their subs, including those over 80! It seems as a large majority of the riders are getting close to that mark Angela felt we should remove the concession, after all it is only £1.

I suggested to Simon that we should take an indirect route home so we headed east from Dummer to cross the B road and go via the "dip" through Farleigh to Ellisfield.

We visited St. Martin's Church, Ellisfield. A very small church with some interesting stained glass windows.

There is also a very interesting memorial to Dayrell Botry Pigott who was drowned in Homa Bay, Nywanza, Kenya on 28th Feb 1911. I believe this is fairly near Mwanza in Tanzania where Forever Angels Baby Home is situated.

As we left the church Don arrived, having decided on a similar route home. The three of us rode together down Furzey Lane and over the hill to Bradley. 

Another hill past the "Gay Dog Boarding Kennels" took us up to Lower & Upper Wield. (Yes, there really is such an establishment!)

We made good speed down Armsworth Hill and through Old Alresford, Don leaving us near Old Alresford church to find his way home to Winchester.

Our data and map for the day:

Another lovely Autumn day's ride!

Saturday 7th September.

I left home at 12.30 to get to the meet of the Alton CTC for their annual Pace Judging and Freewheeling Competition. I made good time having enough to spare to pause at The Hoddington Arms to enjoy half a pint of bitter with my picnic and then get to the RV 5 minutes before the fun commenced.

There were thirteen of us taking part with Janice and Dan running the event with their usual efficiency and Mark giving us encouragement.

Each rider rode a clockwise lap of a course of just over 3 miles and was timed. Then we rode the same lap anticlockwise and the time recorded and compared with the first lap. The object is to try to make the times the same. Three of the competitors managed to get within a single second of the same time!!!! I was a dismal 30 seconds out which I had thought was quite reasonable. (Riders are not allowed to use watches or cycle computers as aids).

Next came the Freewheeling. Starting at the top of a hill we were released, in turn, to freewheel down the hill without pedalling and then up the next slope to see how far up the hill we could get before we came to a stop. 

For each activity the riders were given a position and the two positions added together to find the winner who was Mike. Here are the results with La Laterne Rouge propping up the rest as usual!!!

Oliver and I admire as Stuart keeps going up the hill, already well past our marks .

After the event was completed we climbed the hill to Herriard and then cut through the lanes to Lasham Gliding Club where we had tea and Dan presented the prizes.

Dan Presents the Junior Award to Oliver.

From here we dispersed in various homeward directions. The sky to the west was very black and I hoped to get to Alresford before it started to rain. I was not lucky, as i rode into Upper Wield it started to spot and I put on my rain jacket. By the time I got to Armsworth Hill it was raining hard and continued until I got home when of course the sun came out again and made a lovely Rainbow to welcome me home.

What a change in 20 minutes!

Thanks Janice and Dan for a brilliant afternoon and thanks too for the photos and results list.

Map and Data for the Day.
 Note the little loop which was our course.

Gridironman.

P.S. Don't forget you can look at the pictures in more detail by clicking on them.