John Harper

By on 30 April, 2019   /   latest news  

Not many riding now will remember John Harper, who died recently at the age of 94, his final years spent in a care home as a victim of dementia. He was a well liked and respected member of West Surrey CTC. John and his family were frequent participants in club rides and events during the 1970s to 1990s, he and his wife Polly helping in the running of some of them. His son James says, “the CTC was a very important part of his life, and indeed of all our lives at that time.”

He is in two 1975 photos in http://www.jeggo.org.uk/wsctchistarch/photos.html and in another in an August 1980 entry in http://www.jeggo.org.uk/wsctchistarch/cycletouring.html. Son James is mentioned in 1977 in http://www.jeggo.org.uk/wsctchistarch/sixty1977.html and daughter Emma in 1979 in http://www.jeggo.org.uk/wsctchistarch/news7903.html.

In addition to his children he is survived by his wife Polly, who is also in a care home.

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Friday Night Ride to the Coast

By on 29 April, 2019   /   Blog posts  

Dear fellow pedallers, 

I know that all our West Surrey friends are up for a challenge and like something a bit different…….so you might be interested in the FNRTTC club, (Friday Night Ride to the Coast or the ‘Fridays’).

It costs £2 pa to join and they run monthly overnight rides from London (usually, but not always) to the coast, setting off Friday nights at midnight. 

I did my first one a couple of weeks ago from the normal starting point, outside the National Theatre by Waterloo, to Whitstable in Kent, 67.5 miles. There were about 70 on the ride, of all ages, shapes and sizes, with a couple of recumbents and half a dozen Bromptons as well as state-of-the-art racers. 

The organisation is fantastic. Two excellent leaders, male and female. A pep-talk at the start before we set off at midnight. Way-markers at every twist and turn. Tail end charlies who ensure nobody gets left behind. Stops for comfort breaks. A big break for teas, coffees, cakes, rolls and cake half way. The whole group waits while tail-enders help fix mechanicals and punctures. The pace was probably similar to our group 2’s or moderate 3’s. 
If anyone’s interested, their website is:  https://www.fnrttc.org.uk/

National Theatre start, near midnight
Greenwich, after midnight
On the road, very cold
Coffee & cake in church, 3.30 am, Rochester
Dawn breaks
Breakfast, Whitstable

Paul 

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Cycle Maintenance for WSCTC Members at Evans in Guildford – responses please!

By on 15 April, 2019   /   Blog posts  

The Evans Cycles store in Guildford has offered to put on a cycle maintenance training session for WSCTC members, at a cost of £20 per person.  The details are as follows:

  • This will be a 2 hour session from 6pm to 8pm on a Saturday evening (date to be confirmed)
  • Session to be held at the workshop in Evans Cycles, Woodbridge Meadows, Guildford
  • 6-8 WSCTC attendees
  • 2 Evans mechanics to be involved
  • WSCTC members can bring their own bikes (must be in good condition)
  • Content to be decided, to fit in with the requirements of those who attend

Please let me know if this is of interest (or if you have any questions).   We can go ahead only if we receive enough take-up to fill a session.  It should be possible to arrange multiple sessions if there is strong interest.

Thanks

Derek (07711 873924)

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