Nothing to do with cycling but…

…it’s in a very good cause!  On June 14 there is a show and concert at Ewhurst in aid of Prostate cancer hosted by Kenney Jones (ex Who, Small Faces). Lineup includes Roger Daltrey, Pete Townsend, Mick Hucknall, Mike Rutherford, Jeff Beck, Procul Harum and dozens more. Plus over 300 Ferraris and a couple of polo matches to boot!  All for £20. No bikes though.  Sorry.

http://www.hurtwoodparkpolo.co.uk/events/rock-n-horsepower

 

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Backyard Bliss on a Thursday ride?!

Louise Gagnon

 

 

 

Louise Gagnon writes….     A Wednesday ride being postponed to Thursday?  Now this is most unusual but a good call that the Group Leader of the Woking Midweek Wayfarers, John Murdoch, saw fit to make given the abysmal weather forecast on Met Office and BBC news right up to 9:30 AM yesterday.  A disappointment I am sure for the unlucky few who could not re-schedule and ride with us today. All in all a fantastic day, complete with:

  • bright sun and 21C (cool shades essential)
  • a fantastic bunch of 13 riders working as a team
  • a little historical visit and briefing at the former Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold
  •  circumventing Guildford for 54 miles, hence the ride name of Backyard Bliss 54 (see Garmin Connect link: http://connect.garmin.com/course/6816542
  • trying out Chris Juden’s technique of “human signposting”; everyone loved it. Makes for a smooth flowing, uninterrupted ride and provided some rotation for riders. Still, we could not stop Brian King laughing with any riders; no rotation could keep him subdued (refreshing exuberance; well done Brian!).
  • a nice finish with a 3 mile “race” from West Horsley to Ripley, won by Ian Pickering, one of our new bees.  But what really, truly made the day was the constant blend of laughter and the huge inclination to have a blast of safe fun out there. Thanks everyone; it truly was 54 miles of “Backyard Bliss!
    5 Jun 14 - 6

    Canadian Spitfire ground crew at Royal Canadian Air Force Station Dunsfold, circa 1943

5 Jun 14 - 2

End of day, after the impromptu 3 mile race West Horstley to Ripley

5 Jun 14- 3

3 mile race won by Ian Pickering (centre), close second was Patrick Guimard (a droite) and in third position John Child (left) who zoomed past me at Mach 3

5 Jun 14-2 snip

Now isn’t this a fine bunch of happy “Thursday” riders?!

BackyardBliss54

The 54 mile route:  proof that great rides can be had in one’s own backyard!

Thursday scenic ride

Please see the earlier note advising that the Wednesday ride this week will now take place on Thursday.
For those who enjoy a ride on the gentle rather than energetic side of the spectrum, and would normally ride with Rico on a Wednesday, may I suggest that you might wish to join Rico for his Thursday Evergreens ride from Woking to Pirbright and back (full details on the website), as this is the ride that he will be leading on Thursday.

Wednesday now on Thursday

The weather forecast for Wednesday is pretty grim, and I know that, understandably, many riders are not too keen on venturing out in such conditions.  However, the forecast for the following day, Thursday, is very much better, and I have therefore decided  to shift the advertised ride back one day to Thursday 5 June.
I know that it will not suit all, indeed it does not suit me personally (I will not be able to make the rescheduled ride) but my soundings indicate that the change will receive majority approval.
The ability to make this late (and, I hope, sensible change) is another benefit of our new website and Latest News section.