Blog posts

Following the successful re-launch of the Elstead Audaxes on 16 June (see write-up on the club website at https://westsurreyctc.co.uk/blogs/the-elstead-audaxes-2024/) it’s time to turn our attention to Tour of the Hills (TOTH)Audax.

TOTH takes place on Sunday 11 August, at Shere Village Hall. Entries have started to come in and are on track for a healthy number of participants. As this is the club’s main event of the year, and our principal income source, it’s important for all of us that the event goes well.

Entry for TOTH is via the Audax website at:

https://www.audax.uk/event-details/11192-tour_of_the_hills

There are two main ways you can help:

Please take a moment to read on and consider how you can help the club make the event a success.

Volunteers

TOTH cannot function without a small army of volunteers in the hall, and out on the course. Each year, we have had a fantastic response from club members who have taken on these roles, and our volunteers have also had a great time in the process.

Checkpoint Marshals

There are 6 separate checkpoints around the course, and we need marshals at each one of these. Their job is to check the riders in and out, stamping their Audax cards and – most importantly – handing out jelly babies, water top-ups and encouragement.

We are also looking for someone to coordinate the Marshalls at the Village Hall, so a volunteer for this task would be much appreciated. We have a well-drilled system for the checkpoint stations (and all the necessary equipment) so the requirements for this job are already well set out.

Catering and in-hall support

Jill Ridyard is once again masterminding the catering in the village hall on the day, and will need some help both with preparing the food and drink in advance, and serving on the day. The catering is one of the main attractions of the event, and Jill will once again be managing the helpers by recruiting two shifts (morning and afternoon) to ease the burden on anyone who steps forward.

There are also a few other jobs in the hall itself, including a volunteer to deal with on-the-day entries and checking in riders when they return to the hall at the end of the ride. We also plan to run the (gentler but still hilly) Tour of the Greensand ride and need a volunteer to coordinate entries for that too.

Please let me or Jill know if you would be available to assist on any of the above roles.

Publicity

We have already sent out emails to last year’s entrants and more than 30 cycle clubs and cafes throughout the South-East to let them know details of the event, and the Audax magazine and website also provide valuable publicity. But these mailshots can be rather hit-and-miss, and it would be really helpful if club members could use their own contacts and local knowledge to ensure that we bring TOTH to the attention of potential entrants.

We are relying increasingly on social media to promote the event, and I am attaching a jpeg file which contains the poster we have used this year. A personal recommendation can speak far louder than an unsolicited email, so please feel free to post this on any Instagram/Facebook/website where we have a good chance to reach fellow cyclists who might be interested in signing up to ride TOTH.

Thanks, in anticipation of your support!

Derek

On June 16^th 2024, the club ran the Elstead Audaxes which hadn’t run since 2019. The event was run by 15 great club members who worked hard before the day and on the day itself. 

There are 3 events that all start (and finish) from Elstead Village Hall. 

• Nearly Stonehenge (200k) with 30 entrants
• Danebury (150k) with 16 entrants
• Overton (100k) with 37 entrants

On the day itself the participants were treated to light refreshments before they left and when they returned, all delivered with the customary cheerful smiles from WSCC members. 

The routes took the riders into Hampshire and Wiltshire and the weather was overall dry which was a blessing given the downpours of the previous days. 

Very positive feedback was received from participants, many of whom said they look forward to the event next year. A number of club members also rode the Danbury and the Overton and it is hoped more club members will participate in the future. 

Next year the club is planning to hold the Elstead Audaxes on June 8^th 2025, so save the date and spread the word.

CyclingUK are looking for volunteers in our local area for admin support.

Details can be found here

This upcoming exhibition needs to enthuse all the cyclists out there who may be surprised to know that Ripley was once the most famous place on the planet for cycling .

The exhibition is called RIPLEY – WORLD FAMOUS AS THE ‘MECCA FOR ALL GOOD CYCLISTS’. It traces the origin of the so called Ripley Road which was, in fact part of the Portsmouth Road between Ditton and Ripley. The cycling craze from 1870 -1900 which brought thousands of cyclists into Ripley and in particular to the Anchor Pub and the hospitality of the Dibble family. It features the memorials in Ripley church and the ‘spin offs’ of the craze such as the Anchor Visitor books, a Ripley board game featuring the Anchor. We are delighted that The Anchor are supporting the exhibition with a free draw for lunch for 2 in their restaurant. as the new village hall is being opened)

So please encourage your members to come along from the 8^th of June any Saturday morning  from 10-12 (the 22^nd might be worth avoiding as the new village hall is being opened)  – we can also open at other times by arrangement

Clare McCann -museum curator