I have a complete run of ‘Cyclist‘ magazines from Issue 1 (Nov 2012) to Issue 121 (Jan 2022) in excellent condition, looking for a good home. They won’t fit in a saddlebag – the pile is 3 feet (90cm) high. They are aimed at well-heeled cyclists who like trendy gear and outings.
Recently, possibly for the 10th occasion, Elaine and Neil Eason opened up their home and garden in order to support a cancer charity.
Consequently, a gathering of 30, G2/G3 cyclists, having cycled from all directions, met to enjoy a superb Barbecue meal prepared by Elaine, Barbara and Jessica and assisted by master of the BBQ, Laurie Mutch!
The weather was warm and sunny and everyone ate, drank and were merry. All food and drinks were free but everyone was asked to kindly make a donation towards Macmillan Cancer Support. I am very pleased to report the total sum donated was a massive £620! This was way above expectations and we thank you all for supporting this excellent charity.
Phil Gasson
Question: Why is it such a delight to cycle on the Isle of Wight?
Answers (in no particular order):
- The excitement of arriving by ferry and being the first to cycle off on an island adventure
- Quiet country lanes
- Smooth road surfaces almost everywhere
- Not too much traffic
- Motorists who are used to cyclists and so give plenty of room when over-taking
- Amazing views
- As many long descents as there are short, sharp climbs
- A huge choice of pubs and cafes for lunch stops – delicious chips, cakes, ice cream
- Looking back at the island on the ferry home and looking forward to the next visit
Our recent G3 ride to the Island was an absolute delight for all those reasons but especially for the joy of cycling with a jolly bunch of friends, all happy enjoying a grand day out together in the summer.
Penny
Everyone seems to be spending this year catching up on holidays which were originally planned for spring/summer 2020. This was the case for our group of 10 cyclists from WSCC who have just returned from a week in France, staying with Sam and James Parry of Corrèze Cycling near Espagnac https://correzecycling.com/
And what a week it was!
Everything was fantastic – the scenery, the weather (in fact it was a bit too hot at times!), the accommodation, the amazing meals Sam provided for us, the cycle routes James took us on himself or provided us with and the enthusiasm of the group to share a long overdue holiday.
The Corrèze area, unknown to most of us, offered up a wide variety of cycling delights – long climbs, swift descents, rolling hills, views across valleys to the Massif Central, shade in the forest areas, lakes, pretty villages with wonderful tiled roofs, smooth road surfaces even on very narrow roads and welcoming coffee and lunch stops. We were fortunate to have some talented and enthusiastic French speakers in our group, which made engaging with the locals easier and more enjoyable.
Had it not been so hot we would have cycled further each day and explored more of the region, perhaps going a little further south into the Dordogne region. But towards the end of the week, by lunch time the temperature was rapidly approaching the mid 30Cs and all most of us could think about was getting back to James and Sam’s beautiful house, cooling off in the pool, then sitting in the shade listening to the croaking of the frogs in their lake. Our evenings were spent eating, drinking and laughing together – what could be better.
If you are thinking of a cycling holiday in France then check out Corrèze Cycling as an option. It’s hard to imagine that you’d be disappointed.
