Brighton and Truleigh Hill Hostels trip

Eight of us met at The Shipley Bridge for lunch on Wednesday 27 May prior to a brief Hostel trip (sadly Tony was shingling). Heading south through Copthorne and the edge of Crawley we soon picked up Routes 23 and 20 leading to Handcross, Staplefield and horsey Hickstead. A fairly new community shop at Sayers Common provided 3s (I'd alerted them earlier, their reply 'We usually cope'). We were now in sight of the South Downs and after a poorly signposted stretch we were on the Downs admiring the view. The descent into Brighton coincided with no-rush hour but we found the new Hostel (formerly the Royal Hotel) with no difficulty. Being new the Hostel is well appointed and well worth a visit. Dinner was at the nearest JDW (the Hostel does provide meals).

Thursday night's stop was booked at Truleigh Hill Hostel, only six miles away so we used a slightly longer route, starting with the designated cycle path unfortunately alongside the A27. 11s were at our favourite Lewes Riverside cafe after checking the Meridian plaque. Heading north we diverted slightly to check the Meridian obelisk, in front of which were parked a couple of cars, rather spoiling the photo opportunity. At Offham we turned onto the quiet minor road running west parallel to the Downs then via Plumpton, Westmeston and Ditchling to Clayton for lunch at The Jack and Jill inn. Suitably rested and refreshed a visit to the Jack (now a private dwelling, no longer operational) and Jill windmills was a must, again wonderful views from the Downs. Soon we were in Pyecombe but now found our correct route first time, again below the Downs on a quiet road to Upper Beeding via Poynings and Fulking. A tea stop was discussed and rejected and thanks to Neil's local knowledge a short cut led to the minor road to Shoreham. Shortly before the airport we rode over the old toll bridge crossing the Adur, across the Downs Link (formerly the Guildford - Shoreham railway track) into Shoreham. Soon we turned left into Mill Hill and the three mile climb to Truleigh Hill Hostel. On arrival we were pleasantly surprised to find Pete Barnard and Kyle already in residence. There are no eating out venues anywhere near, so the delicious Hostel meal provided plus a couple of bottles of Merlot were a very pleasant way to end the day.

So far the rides had been dry, warmish but windy. Friday dawned rather grimly but still dry so we decided the steep, rutted downhill track to Upper Beeding was 'doable'. The route to 11s at Dial Post Garden Centre via Steyning and Ashurst was quite quiet and  reasonably flat so we made good time. Soon after leaving the rain started and was with us to the lunch stop at Warnham, where Keith and Neil decided to carry on lunchless. During the break the rain stopped and we had a dry run home (at least I did!) but possibly others might not. A pleasant break, mostly good weather, no irritating mechanical problems, thanks to all for good company.

Terry 

Easy Riders - 27th May

We met new rider, Jonathan, today at the Molesey Centre.  Maureen was our backmarker for the day.  After coffee we went left from the Centre and into the high street; round the mini roundabout to Summer Rd.  I was the flag bearer for Jonathan's recumbent as he went under the posts.  We then went on to Long Ditton and did a left before the bridge to take us through to Surbiton.  Continuing over several traffic lights we took a right towards Kingston Water Works passing the Mosque  (Church).  A quiet path towards Berrylands.  Up the hill and down left to follow the cycle path towards our destination at Woodys.

After our lunch, most sitting outside in the sunshine; Brian, Jonathan and Don went their way to Kingston/Hampton and I led Cliff, Les, Sandy and Norman to Worcester Park; where Cliff and Les went home and three of us went to Ewell Court cafe for ices and coffee where we were joined by Ron.

A pleasant day cycling in the sunshine.

Lynda

Need any furniture removed? Ron is your man! Reasonable hourly rate!

Free Garmin GPS maps

Garmin GPS users:  if you would like a free (legal) map of UK or France, see the forum post here.

B Group - 27th May

13 riders left Redhill on a fine day, cycling through South Nutfield, Horley, Gatwick Airport and Lowfield Heath to lunch at the Greyhound Pub, Charlwood. The service was good and at a reasonable price.

We continued on (after the usual photo calls) leaving Ian to make his own way back. The route back took us through Dorking, Headley then on to tea at the garden centre in Ashstead.

Thanks to John for back marking.

30 miles T - T.

Regards, Tony

Tony's route through Gatwick Airport

We all enjoyed Tony's ride which reflected a great deal of planning and perhaps some bits of mischief too. It is worth noting his route through Gatwick which is very hard to find if you don't know it is there.

'A' Group rider Dave Stott came out with us, bringing as a guest his sister Moira, who was over from Toronto for the week. She seemed to enjoy the experience of cycling with us in Surrey.

~ Tim

A Group 27th May

In spite of the glorious weather the As were a select band of 11 this morning at Redhill setting out for Hever. We were joined by Peter who had promoted himself from the Bs and will clearly make himself at home in the As. After the usual route through Outwood and Newchapel to Lingfield we took to less frequented lanes to lunch at the Henry VIII at Hever where excellent food was served very promptly. On our return via Four Elms we noted that a motorist must ignore four warnings and the legal STOP sign to create an accident such as that I was a party to ten days ago. More lovely lanes followed to the edge of Hurst Green and then a few hills including Tilburstow to end the day. Many thanks to Mike for back marking.

A Group 27th May

Summer at last for Brian's ride today - 21°C at lunch.  40.3 rolling miles from elevenses at Redhill to tea at Fanny's, lunch at the Henry VIII, Hever.  Rolling average 12.7mph; 2,399 ft of ascent.

Pleasant to ride in Kent for a change.

Mark

Tomorrow's A ride

All tarmac and about 40 miles to tea at Fanny's. I might add a few if we are running early.  Lunch at Hever and a few hills on the way home. As some of you will know my recce was abruptly terminated and I never got back to do the rest so there are a few miles where the Garmin will be king ... but I will have the map just in case.

Bikes For Sale

I've got too many bikes.  To make room for new builds, some old friends will have to go.  On offer are:

Pearson Carbon Fibre Audax SOLD

Alpine build, Shimano Ultegra Triple, Hope Hubs, Continental 4 Season tyres.

Genesis Croix de Fer SOLD

Reynolds 725 steel frame, Avid disc brakes, Shimano 105 Triple.  Sturdy fellow - Vin Cox took the Round-The-World record with one of these.

Boardman Team Carbon SOLD

The original Boardman Racer - fast and light.  SRAM WiFli climbing gears, Mavic Kysrium wheels, Continental Grand Prix tyres.

Sizes to fit me - saddles are low, so 5'6" to 5'8" roughly.  I'm not looking for a great price, rather a good home.  Make me a fair offer and ride away.

Anyone interested, please get in touch.

Mark

Afternoon Tea at Ed's in photos

Some of the folk who came

Simon executes an amazing trick with his Möbius tubular tyre

Ed's wood craft

Ed showed me a framed copy of his profile which was written by Clive Oxx for the Sou'Wester a few years ago:

Like many of us, Ed Sharp enjoyed cycling in his youth and returned to cycling in later years. With a quiet humour well known to his many friends in the C&M and the Wayfarers, Ed says, "I have come full circle, or should it be cycle?"

Ed started cycling early in life. He was aged four when his parents bought him his first tricycle. The gift resulted in expenses for the family as young Ed's training runs up and down the hallway wore out the carpet. Ed's parents brought many good things into his childhood life and with great respect he tells me, "I had good parents". His mother for example guided him into skills such as baking which we are able to enjoy in the form of the very good fruit cake which Ed serves with tea if you visit his home. Cycling was one of the good things to which mother and father introduced their son. The family made many excursions with Ed on his junior cycle - to the River Thames at Laleham, the family allotments and to Staines Lammas. He remembers an ambitious ride he made with his Mum and Dad to Stoke Poges. When he was a teenager in 1950 they bought him a new Raleigh Sports Cycle to enable him to commute to evening classes for his Trainee Draughtsman studies.

The new bike opened up new activities, cycling with a group of old school friends. One big ride for the group was on a Sunday to Hayling Island. He recalls "I stopped at Camberley on the way home and fell asleep. I was shocked to wake up to find it was almost dark". The group of friends later joined the local Feltham R.C., riding at weekends, on 10 mile evening time trials and touring at holiday times - 'notorious’ Easter Isle of Wight trips and on the Isle of Man during the cycling weeks. In 1960 he toured Spain with two of his club mates. His main memory of the tour was not too happy. "I got a stomach disorder - I found it difficult, not having long trousers and cycle clips". You must ask Ed to explain that joke. It was really a serious matter as diarrhoea was a common problem for tourists in those days. "I was darting in and out of the bushes for a large part of the holiday".

Family responsibilities meant that Ed had to drift away from life with the Feltham RC in order to assist his father who worked as cabinet maker, carpenter and joiner and was now self-employed in the building trade. These responsibilities and new interests in the early sixties such as a car and a girl friend meant that for the next 30 years cycling was restricted to cycling to work. It happened to many of us!

In 1991 he retired from work with contractors W.S. Atkins. Retirement gave him the opportunity to go back to his earlier interests. So he was able to cycle with a former mate from his old club and resume his main hobby of working with wood, a skill due to the influence of his father. In 1995 he started to cycle with the Wayfarers on Wednesdays and later with the C&M on Sundays. These interests have combined to be of benefit to members of our Sections for Ed has made a number of trophies for Midweek and DA events and has carried our special commissions for members. He has for example recently assisted your Editor by polishing a panel of timber cut from a historical tree, the cedar which for many years grew over the Leoni Bridge by the Ponds at Carshalton.

Ed has been on many of the Section tours and with CTC tours - he joined the CTC 8 years ago - to Corsica, Sicily, Spain, France and has joined Hostel trips in the UK and the training camps In Majorca. “I’m getting too old for these fast training rides", says Ed. Reports suggest however that this may not be accurate. Simon Legg tells me that, "on C&M Sunday rides Ed's fearsome sprint finishing has occasionally embarrassed the young tyros of the Chearn and Morden. When Sharp puts down the hammer it stays down!” Ed was in the Peak District for the Birthday Rides, did he find the hills more than equal to those in Majorca?

“I started when I was young, I never expected I would start again in later life."

(Well we are glad that you did Ed Sharp or we would not be enjoying the pleasure of your company today. Ed) [Clive Oxx]

Easy Riders - 20th May

I arrived at the Kings Centre to find loads of bicycles locked up waiting patiently outside, inside everyone happily drinking tea & coffee, yes it was the eager “C” group.

 

13 left to ride to The Anglers, Teddington Lock via Woodstock Lane South, under the A309 and on to Hampton Court, through the main gate of Bushy Park, past the Diana Fountain to Teddington Gate straight over to Avenue Gardens then a right and left down Victoria Rd and Adelaide Rd to Park Road, round the roundabout along the High Street to Ferry Lane where Frank & Graham joined us for lunch.  Very nice pub; a few thought it pricey but they obviously haven’t been to some of the Surrey pubs we frequent!!  After lunch we crossed the Thames and rode the lovely dry towpath to Kingston through the market and towards The Bradbury Centre where we turned right over the pedestrian bridge where Lynda led us to Ewell Court Park garden centre. By this time we had peeled down to 4,  Judith, Norman, Lynda and me . I was pleased I decided to have a cake; little did I know I still had 2½  hours riding in front of me.

 

Thanks everyone for coming, and for the weather staying dry but very threatening at times.

 

Irene

A group - 20 May - New Haw to Winchester

A dozen explorers set off from New Haw on a one-way ride to Winchester, including Angie (welcome!) and John Bassett (welcome back!).   We quickly joined the Basingstoke Canal and followed the tarmac'd towpath for seven flat and tranquil miles, only disturbed by the odd duck or dog threatening to cross our path (and one cyclist coming through a bridge in the opposite direction who was too busy looking at her phone to see us coming!).   

A bit of a long drag from Pirbright up to Ash, then down to Tongham where we navigated a series of short sharp hills over the Hog's Back, through Sands and round the south of Farnham to earn our lunch at the Bat & Ball.  It wasn't quite warm enough to sit outside but a table had been reserved inside and we were all served promptly.  Keith and Philip set off to return home after lunch and ten carried on through Alice Holt forest and Binsted to Alton.

Out of Alton with a short section on the main road, straight into the wind, which we seem to have avoided most of the way, and then a proper hill (only about 100m of climbing but it seemed more) took us to Alton Abbey, where we were offered tea in the visitor centre by the very welcoming Benedictine Monks.  Two of them, Brother John and Brother Aeldred, spent some time chatting to us and telling us a bit about themselves.  There are only 7 monks and they are completely self-sufficient (financially that is), including repairs to the buildings - which must be a challenge.  And they had provided delicious Victoria sponge and lemon drizzle cake!    All provided for no charge but donations were welcome.  

Tea at Alton Abbey

It was tempting to stay longer in the tranquil enclosed terrace/garden but we tore ourselves away.   The next section was a treat - a very long gentle downhill section through Medstead, Bighton and Alresford, with lovely vistas over farmland and distant hills.   Quite different from our normal Surrey landscape.

A slight detour after Alresford took us right past some watercress beds before joining another quiet road along the river Itchen.  Alternating wooded stretches with more open countryside in the valley, it led us to the picturesque village of Easton, which looked miles from anywhere, although we were only a few miles from Winchester.   Another few miles along a deserted track with nothing in sight, and then suddenly we were at Junction 9 on the M3, which was crossed by a cycle track, and we were in Winchester.   After making a triumphal entrance up the high street we repaired to a fifteenth-century inn just near the Cathedral to celebrate our success before most of us returned by train.  

Several pints of Village Idiot were drunk. ("Two more Idiots please", etc.)    A grand day out.   Thanks to all for your company, and especially to Brian who back-marked.

A Group 20th May

Sunshine and light winds for Simon's ride to Winchester today.  51 miles, rolling average 12.6mph and 2,904ft of ascent.  A splendid day out in in lovely countryside.

One of the Wayfarers' great rides.

Mark

B Group - 20th May

Sixteen of us left from the New Haw DC at 11:15 for the 2 hour morning ride of 18.5 miles.  We headed South through West Byfleet towards Pyrford (Pyrford Village, Golf Course, Place, Place Farm, Lock, Green etc) and turned off Warren Lane through a gate into the small lane which leads to Walsham Lock and Weir. During my recce in April I had turned off a little earlier, by the golf course, to pass Home Farm to connect with the Wey Navigation at Pigeon House Bridge. My intention had been to ride down Wharf Lane to Ockham Mill and through to Mill Lane. However there were warning signs on the junction of the canal path and Wharf Lane to advise that a bridge along that route was on the point of collapse. Hence the route through Walsham Lock. At the lock I had a ‘jamais vu’ moment, despite the recent recce but Gill pointed me in the right direction and we crossed the weir and bobbled along the bumpy footpath, across the Ockham Mill Stream and through to Ripley, encountering a certain amount of mud as we went.

We turned SE out of Ripley into Rose Lane, then Guileshill through Ockham, Martyrs Green and to Effingham by Effingham Common Road. At Great Bookham we turned South up the Dorking Road, a gentle climb before descending Bagden Hill into Chapel Lane. Ray Wren left us at the A24 where we turned up the Old London Road to ride up the Zig-Zag.
 
At The Tree fourteen sat down to lunch which was pretty good, the only complaint being that the starter portions there are quite small and not enough to satisfy the appetites of cyclists. However those few who suffered from this setback set out after lunch with a strengthened resolve to tuck into a big piece of cake at afternoon tea.
 
We stepped out of the pub into the cold and assembled on the lawn for a photo. We took the Dorking Road to cross the M25 and at Walton on the Hill we took off down Ebbisham Lane, which started off well but deteriorated into a mix of puddles and poo, sticks and stones and mud once we got into the Walton Downs. We stopped on the narrow lane to let three horse riders through but fortunately the horses were the loveable old farm horse types and didn’t go mad when they came across us, unlike the more neurotic, frisky thoroughbreds we met earlier in the day. We took the Walton Road (if it can be called a road) through to the race course on the Epsom Downs and crossed to the grandstand and linked into Chalk Lane to zoom down into Epsom.
 
From Epsom we rode along the Thames Down Link through Epsom Common and out onto the Christ Church Road and through Malden Rushett into Fair Oak Lane. There was a bit more mud and a few bumps in New Road through to Claygate, after which we meandered through the posh parts of Esher, into Sandown Lane to meet the High Street almost opposite our Tea destination, Giro, after an interesting 13.2 mile ride.

At Giro we drank their most excellent tea and coffee and ate the great big wedges of cake which most of us had been thinking about all afternoon. Their food and coffee is of the very highest standard and they have definitely earned the “Best Coffee Shop for Cyclists, 2015” blue plaque which is mounted on the wall.
 
Thanks to everyone for coming for the ride over such a mixed terrain route. And many thanks to Terry for riding as back marker.

~ Tim

B subgroup - Monday 11th May - Mt Ventoux

An assortment of B Group riders arrived in Aurel on Saturday evening after riding from Orange where the European Bike Bus had dropped us off. Despite not getting our usual quota of sleep we enjoyed the ride up through the Gorges de la Nesque but after the gorge strong headwind and a little more climbing left us all feeling quite exhausted.

At dinner we discussed the detail for our intended assault on Mt Ventoux, deciding on Monday or Tuesday. But after a fairly easy day on Sunday, and the promise of good conditions, we went for it on Monday. The weather was perfect and we all felt well recovered. We started with the 6km turn down to Sault to catch the road to the top. The profile from Sault is a 20 km ride up to our elevenses café stop at Chalet Reynard over a very steady gradient followed by a much steeper climb for the last 6 kms to the top. The ride to the café at this time of the year is quite beautiful with all the roadside trees displaying their fresh and youthful green foliage. The road surface is impeccable all the way up.

Mt Ventoux is partly known for being completely barren above a certain altitude. The absence of any vegetation up there somehow creates an optical deception by which the summit appears much closer than it really is. This illusion is maintained at least as far as the Tommy Simpson memorial where we stopped to pay homage and to recover our breath before the final heave to the top.

We all made it to the 1912m summit and we were most jubilant about our achievement. This whole adventure had been Pam's idea and would, in any event, have seemed rather crazy. We enjoyed the warm air and lack of wind at the restaurant where we we able to eat outside.

On the way down we stopped at the memorial again for some photos before coasting at great speed to the café for more refreshment but more especially to buy our new Mt Ventoux tops.

From Chalet Reynard the ride down to Sault proved to be one of the most pleasurable descents of all time, the gradient being just right for a high speed without having the brakes permanently clamped on.

For this week we have stayed in the hotel le Relais du Mont Ventoux which has been perfect in every way. Despite the large number of cyclists here we have been looked after extremely well and our memories of the trip will be as much of the good time at the hotel as they will be of all the good rides we have had during the week.

~ Tim

View from our hotel

B Group - 13th May

The weather forecast was good: and so it proved with strong sunshine and a gentle breeze; a perfect day for a bike ride. We assembled at The Elleray Hall day centre, Teddington.

13 riders set off. We set out for Woking, going via Bushy Park, Hampton Court, Molesey, East Molesey, Walton - on – Thames, Weybridge, Addlestone, Row Town, Woodham, and then via A245 and minor roads into Woking (16 miles from Teddington).  We stopped at The Herbert Wells which is a Wetherspoon’s pub.

The meals and service at The Herbert Wells were excellent. There was also a wide choice of draught beers. The Wayfarers have been there before a few times.

After lunch we went via Sheerwater, West Byfleet, Byfleet, Brooklands, rejoining the route taken during the morning at Weybridge station. Between Oatlands Park and Ashley Park we crossed over the railway and A317 into Burwood Park.
Burwood Park is an estate of very expensive detached properties where one might imagine Russian oligarchs, private equity fund managers and celebrities live, and there was a bit of an altercation with one of the residents about our presence there. However, we explained that we weren’t going to burgle any of the properties and so we were permitted to continue.

We duly arrived at a Squires Garden Centre for tea. We were down to eight at this stage.

Finally, I am very grateful to Tony Hooker who backed-up for us. Fortunately, there weren’t any incidents of note (somebody’s water bottle fell off and there was an unscheduled comfort-stop). Having good back-up support is essential.

Peter Carpenter

Tour of California stage 12 finish. From a riders rear seat camera.

A Ride 13th May to Holyport

A new lunch venue

Lovely garden setting for lunch

Nearly ready for the off

A Group 13th May

A fine sunny day for Tony's ride to the White Hart in Holyport for an al fresco lunch.  46.5 miles from elevenses at Teddington to tea at Upper Haliford, rolling average 13.5 mph and a neat little climb at St Ann's Hill.

Good to be out in shorts.

Mark

Materials Science

This morning I serviced my race bike after riding the London 100 yesterday. Checking things over, I noticed that one of the titanium bottle cages had fractured.  I took it off, and ordered up a new one - it was a super-light component, after all.  But my curiosity was piqued, so I had a look to see what the internet had to say about it.  It turns out that the failure, while not common, is not unknown.  It's a stress fracture, caused by the tiny piece of titanium being incorrectly installed.  I know how to do it now, and I'll get it right next time.  But, for a bottle cage ...?

Anyway, this led me to take a look at some other bottle cages.  Here's the titanium one:

It's sitting on my workshop scales, and you can see the broken bit.  You can also see that it weighs 27 grammes, which is light, but significantly more than the 22 grammes that the manufacturer says it weighs.  I find this common enough with race parts - oddly, they rarely weigh less than claimed.

Next, I weighed a carbon fibre one.  The (Californian) manufacturer says that it is the 'strongest available' and that it weighs 28 grammes.  You will see that mine weighs 26 grammes.  I've used these for years and they have never given a problem.  The different construction method is also evident.  The titanium manufacturer has to leave bits off to keep the weight down; but carbon fibre is so light that the manufacturer can use more of it.  The construction method is entirely different, and carbon fibre has its own requirements for successful use.  But, generally, I just screw these on and forget them.

For completeness, I put a stainless steel one on the scales too.  This is genuine bomber kit.  I was recommended to use it for Paris-Roubaix, as most race teams do, and it was perfect.  But, as you see, it's double the weight.  You can only use so much of this level of robustness on your bike.

So, what have I learned from all this?  Well, I know how to fit a piece of titanium without stressing it, which is handy.  And I've learned that carbon fibre is lighter, which is hardly a breakthrough for mankind.  

But, all round, I just though it was kind of interesting, hence the note.

Mark

A Ride Wednesday the 13th.

We shall be heading for lunch at the White Hart Holiport, around 27 miles.  Afternoon tea at Squires Upper Haliford, around 19 miles.

Tony H

Ride to Winchester on May 20th

Advance notice that I plan to lead a ride to Winchester the Wednesday after next.   We did it three years ago, and it was a lovely ride on a very wet day.  Last year I called it off because of forecast heavy rain, which never arrived.   So this year: bring an umbrella, waterproofs etc, and we will probably have glorious sunshine!

The ride is only 51 miles from New Haw, but this doesn't include the return journey, which could be by train, or by bike after an overnight stay or on the same day for anyone who's seriously keen.   Six miles along the canal, then winding through Pirbright, Normandy and Ash, a few short sharp hills to work up an appetite before lunch at the excellent Bat and Ball pub.   After lunch - through glorious countryside to Alton, a reasonably big hill (219 metres) before tea, and then even better countryside for the remainder of the ride to Winchester, where we may stop to re-hydrate.

B Group, 6 May

At the Well House Inn, Chipstead

Leader Peter

At lunch

Ed seemed more interested in four wheels than two

B Ride 06 May

Cobham - Chipstead – Leatherhead

What a day! The weather forecast implied we would be blown off our bikes and then drowned. Well we weren’t. Yes it was gusty and there were some sharp showers but we survived.

It was good fortune that I had decided to go east so the wind was behind the 11 of us who made it to the start line (I know Tim turned back – mechanical? - before reaching Cobham and we left a few in the RBL savouring their coffees). We were joined by Tina on her first ride with us.

We started with a straight forward run across Bookham Common, the back roads to Leatherhead through Fetcham and on to Ashtead and Epsom before we rode up Chalk Lane on to the Downs where the gusts were behind us. After Tattenham Corner we went up Merland Rise and Epsom Lane South to Tadworth, crossed the A217, down to the roundabout and along Chipstead Lane to the Well House Inn.

No dramas on the food front but we were joined by a VIP – Jeff! He arrived in style in his son’s Ferrari which prompted a few to go outside and have a look. He was looking exceptionally well.

After a convivial lunch with him we left to continue going east, down Castle Hill, west towards Kingsdown, over the A217, up Epsom Lane South (again – but this time without the lorry reversing up it in front of us) and through Walton on the Hill.

I had already decided against the Box Hill descent so Terry (who had been our excellent TEC) took the remaining 5 of us down Headley Lane to Juniper Hall. We made our way to Leatherhead for tea. I got more wet crossing the road outside Wetherspoons than I had all day on the bike!

So about 30 miles in total ( I still haven’t got my Edge working to my satisfaction yet so no maps and stats). We survived!

Peter T

 

 

York Rally

I received this recently. Apologies for not sharing it sooner.

Dear fellow cyclist,

You are receiving this as we have you listed as the contact for a CTC local group, an associated club, or another similar organisation. My apologies if you receive this in error, or if it is not of interest.

I am writing on behalf of the group of volunteers who are reviving the York Rally, which as you may know was cancelled after the 2012 event, bringing to an end an almost 70-year run, as the CTC York Rally and later the York Cycle Show.

We are happy to say that after a year of fundraising we will be reviving the event, as the York Rally, and will be staging it on the Knavesmire on the 20-21st June 2015, and we would very much appreciate your assistance in letting your members know that the Rally has returned!

The revived Rally is not being run as a CTC event, but we know that it has been a treasured part of many CTC members' cycling year for decades, and that many members would enjoy coming to York, meeting old friends and going on rides as they have for many years.

If you could spread the word about the revived York Rally that would be very much appreciated!

If you have a members' newsletter, online or in print, perhaps you could give the Rally a mention? I have also attached cards which could be printed out and distributed on rides - and posters which local bike shops, cycling cafes and the like might be willing to display. We do not have any marketing budget, so we reply on your goodwill as fellow cyclists to pass the message!

There are full details of what is planned for the 2015 York Rally at the website:
http://www.yorkrally.org

As you will see, we are organising a selection of traditional Rally activities (rides, grasstrack racing, saddlebag and auction sales, live music from the Foresters) as well as new attractions in the form of a 'Pedal Power Invention Convention' and Cyclo-Cross racing, and more!

We are also offering FREE space for any grassroots cycling club, local group or special-interest organisation to put on a display at the Rally! If you would like to take us up on this, please just email us on info@yorkrally.org.

There will, as in previous years, be a traditional campsite on site with separate areas for lightweight and motorised campers. If you could mention that earlybird (=cheaper!) bookings for the campsite close on the 6th April that would be fantastic. People can book campsite pitches online via the website, or by post using the form attached, and early bookings are very much appreciated to help offset the advance costs of the event. 

If you would like any further details, further images for your newsletter, or have any queries or suggestions for us, please just reply to this email or contact me (Peter Eland, Publicity Officer) on
0787 624 4818, or Paul Reid, the event organiser, on 016973 43089, at any time.

For the York Rally Committee, many thanks in advance for anything you can do to pass on the word about the revived Rally to your members!

With best regards,

Peter
--
Peter Eland
Publicity Officer, York Rally
http://www.yorkrally.org
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