READING CYCLING CLUB CLUB QUARTERLY Spring 2007

READING CYCLING CLUB
007 - 2007 The Year of Reading CC!
London edition Reading CC Shirt commissioned to celebrate
the 2007 Tour de France Grand Depart in London
Club Quarterly
Spring 2007
www.readingcyclingclub.com

2006-7 Club Officials
President Bill Hannington 0118 947 9308
Chairman John Barnes 0118 958 3741
Clothing Arthur Satterley 0118 948 4711
Club Runs Mark Lyford 0118 9568916
Club Coach Greg Woodford 0118 926 5307
Cyclo-Cross Brian Bingham 0118 9789004
General Secretary Roy Booth 0118 926 4540
Membership Philip Chapple 0118 926 3620
Newsletter Editor Mark Lyford 0118 956 8916
Press Secretary Rod MacFadyen 07733 315640
Road Racing Stephen Bale 0118 961 2250
Social Secretary Sarah Lidington 0118 9094347
Sportive John Hollands 0118 931 3151
Time Trial Steve Ferry 0118 962 2482
Track Dave Gaida 0118 926 4717
Treasurer Colin Bates 07788 740084
Welfare Officer Roy Booth 0118 926 4540
Womens Sarah Lidington 0118 9094347
In This Issue
The editor has his say...................1
Memory of Lee Gipson................2
Chairman’s Piece...........................5
Café Culture..................................6
British Cycling.............................10
Steve Ferry - Audax Aims..........11
Bike reivew..................................12
Club Run Lore.............................14
Cycling to Save the Planet.........16
What the Victorians did for us..17
Membership Issues.....................21
Club discounts..............................21
Club Runs Spring Schedule.......22
RCC Club Events........................ 23
RCC Kennet Flyer 2007..............24
Spring 2007 - My say …
In the words of a certain Mancunian rock band - 'It's good to be back, good to be back!'
2007 is already shaping up to a be a historic year for cycling in Britain and also for Reading
CC. Whilst it is great that cycling is going to be in the headlines in July as le Tour comes
to our shores. Let's all just hope that those at the top of our sport get their house in order
and that July 7/8 give British cycling (and you will have to forgive the use of a truly ironic
metaphor) the shot in the arm it needs.
However it is at our grass roots level that things that really matter take place. There is a
buzz amongst RCC members this spring. Each year I am sure we all set our own goals, but
this year feels different somehow … we shall see.
- Club Membership is at an all time high. Those who haven't sent Phil your 2007 subs,
please consider this a sharp nudge in the ribs!
- Road Racing is on the up - Steve Bale's pre-season clinic was well attended and wellreceived
by all. He is making great strides towards creating a cohesive Reading road squad
for the coming season. Good luck to all who race this season, and I know there are many
who want to give it a go … speak to Steve.
- Our Time Trial Triumvirate have already stoked the fire by announcing the first few early
season Tuesday night thrashes. I hope everyone who has ever thought about having a go
takes advantage of the 'come along and give it go' events that have been identified.
1

A programme of open events has also been diaried and please support the organisers in
their efforts.
- And for me, being personally involved, the innagural RCC promoted Sportif in August
is not only an exciting prospect, a historic event but also a great chance for some very good
PR for our club within the cycling world but the wider community in general.
Carpe Diem - get on your bike and ride with vigour.
Finally, and I know it is now March, I would ask all club members to join me in a late
New Year's resolution - HELP OUT WITH YOUR CLUBS'S EVENTS IN '07. That's me
volunteered - who wants me? Road Race organiser, TTs, Audax? So please lets make it our
club resolution not have any of the last minute desperately seeking marshalls call in 2007.
Mark
Memory of Lee Gipson
by Dean Bond
Leon 'Lee' Gipson was an active member of
a few clubs over the years including locally,
North Hants RC and Newbury RC as well
as our very own Reading CC. Many club
members will remember him on club rides,
always there to give advice and roadside
support. One of my first memories of Lee
was of him showing off his new Giant TCR
Carbon on a Sunday club run. He would
periodically, fall to the back of the group
and then whiz past on his carbon steed.
Sadly, Lee passed away on a cycling holiday
nearly 2 years ago in March 2005; however,
I would like to think that Lee lives on in the
club, as I shall explain.
After a great 2005 racing season breaking
many Time Trial personal bests (PB) and
getting a taste for Circuit Racing I was
looking for something to help get me to the
next level. It was at this time I learned that
Lee's family were selling his bike collection.
My thoughts immediately turned to his
TCR, in contrast to my previous aluminium
race bike, the carbon frame weighs in at
just 2/3rds the weight. I was very surprised
to learn that little interest had been shown
in the TCR Carbon and I was fortunate
enough to purchase it at the end of 2005
and immediately set out to prepare it as
my race bike for the 2006 season. The only
modifications I made to it were to re-gear
it to my favoured settings, order a set of
carbon aero bars for time trialling because
my current ones were incompatible and add
yellow/black Michelin tyres more to make
it look the business. I still have to pinch
myself to think that I'm not just borrowing
it from Lee.
It took a lot of will power not to ride
it during the winter months and not to
talk about it to fellow competitors before
rolling it out for the 2006 season in March
especially as my work colleagues would say
every time I talked about it, I grinned like a
Cheshire cat.
My racing season actually started on 23rd
February with the annual inter-club 1km
2

Roller Race competition at Brightwell-cum-
Sotwell. I chose to ride my training bike as
work was still being done on the TCR come
competition day and I placed 2nd in the
team. Would the TCR have given me the
edge, who knows?
Before I knew it, the winter training schedule
was behind me and the end of March spelt
the beginning of the 2006 racing season
proper. For me this was a month of back
to back races with no time for additional
training, not the smartest move I have to say
but I was keen to race the new bike and set
about my goals of getting promotion to 3rd
category racing, competing in road races as
well as circuit races and chipping away at
my time trial PBs.
The 26th March was the first race for me on
Lee's TCR and it did not take long to feel
comfortable on the bike. It handled well
around the motor racing circuit at Thruxton
and I put in a promising performance. 2
days later and it was my first time trial of
the season on the Waltham St. Lawrence
circuit but as my pre-ordered carbon aero
bars could not be delivered from the U.S.
until May I had to revert to my training bike
and posted a very disappointing time even
by my standards. The following weekend I
also had a rude awakening at my first ever
Road Race on the Great Milton circuit. I had
heard of Clare Hill on the circuit and was
surprised to find that I actually climbed it
okay but then suffered on the recovery at
the top when all around me were picking
up their pace. Still being my first road
race I was determined to finish to gain
circuit knowledge and training mileage. I
finished in 2hrs 11mins. The next Sunday
saw me back at Thruxton circuit racing
where I finished 10th to claim my 1st British
Cycling (BC) point of the season. Stepping
out of the saddle to sprint on the last lap I
noticed the lightness of the bike compared
to my previous one or was it Lee giving
me a helping push? On a roll and still not
out of the racing routine I found myself at
Hillingdon 2 days later for the first West
Thames Tuesday night circuit racing league
and finished 8th to pick up another 2 BC
points. Lee's machine handled well on the
technical circuit at Hillingdon and felt great
sprinting uphill for the line. Castle Coombe
on Good Friday was next on the agenda and
although placed in the top 5 of the prime laps
I finished 15th overall, not bad considering
half of the Swindon RC club were racing!
Another 4 days later and it was back to
Hillingdon and a fine 6th place bagged me
a useful 4 BC points. This time last year I
had no points at all, now I have 7 and April
is not even over. The 23rd April brought a
well earned rest helping to marshal at the
Reading road race on the Woodcote circuit.
I chose to ride my training bike because of
the weather conditions and guess what? I
punctured! The 25th April saw the last race
at Hillingdon for me for a few weeks and
it proved to be a good day getting another
BC point for 10th place, now only needing
2 more points to earn promotion to the 3rd
Category division.
The 16th May saw my time trial campaign
get under way. My plan was to switch
from circuit racing to time trailing for this
busy summer period concentrating on
the Aldermaston circuit and standard TT
distances. Fortunately, the Reading CC time
trials on the Aldermaston circuit had been
packed into consecutive weeks. My new
carbon aero bars were delayed again so
I had to ride my first 10 mile TT on the
TCR with a substitute set of handlebars. I
was disappointed to be 38 seconds slower
than my PB set the previous year but with
the knowledge that I had not time trialled
for 2 months and not being used to the
handlebars I could accept it. I soon got
the call that my new aero bars were ready
for collection at the shop and once fitted I
could feel the difference the new hand and
wrist position would give me. The 6th June
was the inaugural outing for these bars
which I'm sure Lee would have approved
of. I managed to knock 26 seconds off my
previous time but still 12 seconds outside
my PB. The following Sunday was the
Open 50 mile TT again on the Aldermaston
course. I posted a time of 2hrs 13mins
3

52secs to knock 4 mins 7 secs off my PB!
On the same course but 2 days later was
my first 25 mile TT of the season, this time
I knocked 29 seconds off my PB to post a
time of 1hr 5mins 2secs. I was now starting
to see the bike, aero bars and general fitness
were paying off big time. Just over a week
later I travelled to Alton to take part in my
2nd only ever 100 mile TT. With my recent
PBs and knowledge of this circuit from the
previous year I was aiming for a PB in a
time somewhere near 4hrs 50mins. To my
astonishment I knocked 18 mins 11secs off
my PB to post 4hrs 39mins 49secs.
With the elation of my 100 mile achievement
2 days earlier still fresh in my mind I
returned to Hillingdon on 27th June to
take part in my first circuit race for nearly
2 months. With recent form and fitness
I felt good but disaster struck before the
end of the race and I crashed breaking my
collarbone. Strangely, when I inspected the
bike following the crash I had only damaged
the top of the brake calliper hoods precisely
where Lee had damaged them when he had
crashed the TCR and wait for it, broken his
collarbone in 2004. Maybe Lee was watching
over the bike for me, spooky!
The enforced rest meant I missed the Dave
Ryan and Bicester Millennium road races
and also a 50 Mile TT that I was hoping to
give Mark Pardoe a run for his money in
the Best All Rounder (B.A.R.) competition.
From what I've heard I'm sure Lee would
have given Mark more of a run than I
could ever do! To my amazement after just
3 weeks my shoulder was strong enough
for me to sit on a turbo trainer and just
over a week later I found myself leading
the Fast group from the back to Ardington,
not the slow integration I expected! 2 days
later and I was back at Hillingdon, the
scene of the accident, and after 5 weeks
out I placed 9th gaining another BC point.
I remember sitting on the ground after the
crash thinking my season was over and
here I now need only 1 more point to get
promoted. My optimism soon evaporated
when I suffered a string of non-point paying
finishes at the final 2 Tuesday night races
and the subsequent end of season weekend
races at Hillingdon finishing 15th, 12th,
23rd, 17th, 22nd respectively. Not wanting
to put more pressure on myself to achieve
my goal it fell to the last racing weekend of
the season with a race at Hillingdon on the
Saturday and if I failed then there was a race
at Thruxton on the Sunday but it would be
unfair on my family to have 2 consecutive
racing days. This must have spurred me on
as I sprinted for the line at Hillingdon and
came in 9th to earn promotion.
By the time you read this, the 2006 season
will have ended and like me, many of you
are already preparing for the 2007 season.
This season is set to be a good one with
the Tour coming to our shores in July with
a stage finishing in Canterbury, where in
the 1950s Lee was a member of Canterbury
Cycle Club. Next time you see me on the
TCR spare a thought for Lee.
See page 24 for more information
4

CHAIRMAN'S PIECE
I spent four days with cycling friends un
East Devon at the end of October. I learned
my cycling in Devon and Cornwall with
the Plymouth Corinthians CC - then the
biggest and best in the west!
Margaret was national road race champion
in 1957 and won many TTs for Plymouth
CC - not the 'Corries' but we were all
friends.
Clubmate John was a prolific winner of
TTS, road races and grass track racing,
but especially hill climbs. They married in
1957.
However when Margaret beat John to
the top of the Galibier a few years ago he
thought he must have a problem. Inherited
diabetes had affected his heart and led to
a double by-pass operation but he was
tentatively on his bike two weeks later!
I had no idea what cycling in Devon is like
now as I had only ridden three Time Trials
and some short rides with Sheila and my
small daughter (now 46!) on the back of
my bike since 1958. Things can be fierce
down there! Not just the hills but also the
riders.
Dick Henley, in my Plymouth club,
road raced for GB and won the King of
the Mountains prize in the Isle of Man
international race in '51 - and he was 6'1"
and weighed in at 12 ½ stone.
Colin Lewis was a Holdsworth professional
team member and was Tom Simpson's
room mate in the1967 Tour when Simpson
died on the Ventoux during the 13th stage
on July 13th.
John Sweeney rode the 1955 Tour of Britain
for 'The Leaguer' - the official magazine of
the B.L.R.C.
Yanto Barker was the latest pro' from
Devon but retired last year.
And I won't forget Harvey Alford from
Exeter. He has time trialled since 1942 and
in 2006 rode a 25 in 1'03"40 for a national
record for 79 year olds. A good lesson for
persistence.
But I need not have worried. The Thursday
coffee run was the first anniversary of the
death of Brenda Kerry of Devon CTC. We
were all invited by her husband to his
bungalow in Newton St Cyres. I renewed
old acquaintances amongst the thirty two
riders there, including one I had known in
the St. Budeaux CC in Plymouth and again
in the Farnham CC.
Next day we rode to Cullompton for coffee
through the lanes and a very good stretch
of well tarmaced Sustrans cycle way.
Saturday was a coffee morning in the
village of Willand. It is an open morning
every Saturday with many clubs
represented. That day the Exeter Wheelers,
Devon CTC, Wellington Wheelers,
Somerset RC and Somerset Tri-Club were
amongst those on show - and the Reading
CC of course.
Sunday was the National Hill Climb
Championship on Peak Hill at Sidmouth.
Three hundred metres of flat then a hard
hill to climb to half way - then it gets really
steep.
It was a very well organised event with
a closed road and helpful, smiling police
officers!
I met old clubmates and was introduced
to Kay Ray who won the Cycling Girl
competition organised by Cycling
magazine in 1957. In 1958 she rode the first
ever women's road race for Great Britain,
she was also 3rd in the pursuit. Even in her
late 60s she retains style and good looks.
I enjoyed my break in Devon. I only cycled
sixty miles and walked every day, but it
was all very enjoyable. Everyone was very
friendly and so obviously enjoying every
minute on their bikes. No one was in a
hurry - it was a great, big social event on
wheels, but then we were all OAPs, or
getting there - exception the open morning
on Saturday.
"Life will be over sooner than we think. If
we have bikes to ride and people to love ,
now is the time" - Elisabeth Kübler-Ross
5

Café Culture
By Dave Ridge
Following my request for you all to name
your favourite cycling cafés, my inbox
has been overflowing! Mostly with spam,
but that aside, I did receive enough votes
to come to a scientifically formulated
conclusion.
So what makes a good café? Is it just the
strength of the coffee, the selection of cake,
or is there something more than that? A
good café has these in abundance but a
key thing for me is good service and being
able to sit outside if the weather permits.
Stopping at a café is a great social occasion
especially if you cross paths with another
club - it makes you feel like you are part of
something bigger, and indeed you are.
The cafés you chose include favourites that
are nearby, but equally there are those that
are so good that we venture further a field
to reach them. This often means they are
usually visited during the summer and
thus have an endearing appeal.
1st Place - Waterfront Café
Benson
Everything seems to work in Benson's
favour: a trusty, reliable venue with
fantastic riverside setting, great selection
of cakes and you can keep an eye on your
trusty steed as it rests on the grass outside.
From Benson it's only a short slog back
home to Reading and remains a popular
destination for club members when not on
club runs.
The Thames at Benson. Nice.
It is also something of a fallback venue for
when the weather is foul and a short ride
is required. Rod MacFadyen sums it up:
"When all else fails, go to Benson. You can't
go wrong!"
It seems to have been renamed of late
into the Waterfront Café, so hopefully the
things won't have changed to its detriment.
If they have, please let us know!
Waterfront Café, just off A4074 at Benson,
www.waterfrontcafe.co.uk
Relaxing at a café stop
So which is your favourite? Hop on, clickin,
grab those bars tightly and prepare for
the ride of your life as we take you through
the 2006 Reading Cycling Club Café of the
Year Awards. "Fanfare please!!!"
2nd Place - Ardington Post
Office
Located in the village centre it is an idyllic
setting, and for me summer isn't complete
without a trip to Ardington.
Alan Morris agrees, "Best service has to be
Ardington Post office, also great garden
atmosphere when sitting out on a sunny
day."
6

Club sponsor Fred Hale is another fan,
"great coffee, good cakes and just great to
sit outside on a summer's day."
Waterperry Gardens, Nr. Wheatley,
Oxfordshire, www.waterperrygardens.co.uk
Ardington Post Office: more than just stamps
The only downside is accessibility. "Lovely
place and nice food," says Rod, "but it's
hard to avoid that hideous section of the
A417 leading towards Harwell. Still, it's a
great destination."
Ardington Post Office ('Smiths Bistro'),
Ardington, www.smithsatardington.co.uk
3rd Place - Waterperry Gardens
Or more specifically the "Pear Tree
Teashop" in the gardens of the 17th century
house. The cake-eater in Colin Bates
says: "Expensive, but always top-notch
patisserie."
A look at their website reveals why: "All
of our Patisserie, Country Kitchen Cakes
and Biscuits are handmade here on the
premises by our specially trained staff.
We use only the finest ingredients in all
of our recipes including fresh fruit and
herbs grown here in our own orchard and
gardens."
Waterperry’s homemade fare
4th Place - Tutti Pole,
Hungerford
Why is it called the Tutti Pole? I've no idea.
Located in the undeniably quaint high
street in Hungerford, the Tutti Pole exudes
'Ye Olde English' charm with waitresses in
big billowing skirts and a menu that ticks
many a box for our illustrious treasurer,
Mr Colin Bates "My choice is the Tutti
Pole on account of it being one of the very
few cafés where you can still get a proper
poached-eggs-on-toast breakfast."
Sounds good to me. If you're still hungry
after that then Alan Morris, a man with an
astute eye, says they have the best selection
of cakes and buns, with great table service.
Tutti Pole, High Street, Hungerford (nr the
canal)
5th Place - New Alresford
Station
One of our further destinations, the café is
located in Alresford Station, headquarters
of the 'Watercress Line', and makes for an
interesting atmosphere.
Steve Bale takes up the story: "It's the trains
that do it for me, although it's mainly the
down to the venue with ample seating on
good old fashioned chairs, easily secure
enough for the bikes, usually some other
cyclists there from a suitable distance away,
toilets you can find, water on tap, good
food at reasonable prices. Also it's the fact
that it's actually a nice ride out there too."
As for Captain Cloth, Arthur Satterley:
"The sun always shines en route and it's an
open air museum with steam trains to sit
and watch. A very comforting environment
7

miles away from home and miles away
from reality."
Alresford - good for a training ride (sorry)
New Alresford Station, Station Road, New
Alresford, nr Winchester, www.watercressline.
co.uk
6th Place - West Wycombe
Garden Centre
West Wycombe is not a million miles away,
but when you see it on the club run list,
you know the slog over the Chilterns will
be a tough one. Steve Ferry isn't afraid of
a few hills and lists this as his favourite
destination, "Home made cakes and good
quality coffee. OK you have to take your
bikes through to the sheds - and mine fell
over last year - but it is the best."
Best Newcomer - Blue Onion,
Andover
A new destination, but the attraction is not
lost on His Excellency the Dali Lama (aka
John Hollands), "This is without a doubt
my favourite café. They serve excellent
coffee and the best selection of cakes. We
are always made to feel welcome with a
good atmosphere. I guess it will not win
the competition as it a new destination and
some of the club will not know it!"
One for the future perhaps?
Blue Onion, 73 High Street, Andover, www.
blueonionespresso.co.uk
Best café absolutely
anywhere….
You know what? Some people just aren't
satisfied. You give them a whole list to
choose from and they just laugh in your
face. Ian Richardson responded to this
survey with "None of the above....bah
humbug!"
They make them tough in Hartlepool and
Steve's no exception.
It always seems to rain when I go there,
though. In fact, I don't you can begin to
call yourself a club regular until you've
huddled into this diminutive café with a
dozen other cyclists, all dripping wet and
soaked to the skin and proceeded to turn
the place into a veritable steam room while
trying to work out which lung-bursting
hills Roy Booth has up his sleeve for the
way home. Ah, happy days…
Flowerland (yes, that's it's real name folks!),
Chorley Road, West Wycombe, (just off A40)
“Mmm, pass the jam, Ian...”
"Charming", I thought, until I dug a little
deeper. Having cut his cycling teeth on the
Wirral, our Ian favours "the" cyclists' café,
the Eureka Café at New Mills, Cheshire.
"What makes it so good?" you ask. Well
here's Ian with the low-down:
"It's a focal point for a number of strong
cycling districts. It serves clubs from The
Wirral, Cheshire, Wales, Liverpool and
Manchester. Members of Birkenhead North
8

End are always present and full of friendly banter.
"Perhaps it's the history, having served cyclists for 76 years. Signed pictures and jerseys
(donated from local success in the Tour de France, Milk Race & Tour of Britain) are hung
from the wall. Or perhaps it's the tucker, "beans and a spare" or "eggs and spare" are the
typical orders (that's a spare round of toast, not a replacement inner tube!). Everything is
washed down with a pint mug of tea.
"A recent development as part of the new owner's makeover is a larger range of cycling
accessories. Handy if you left home without your spare tubes or have used up your
supplies in the depths of North Wales or the winding lanes of the Cheshire plain."
So there you have it, the cycling 'caff' by which all others are measured! Now if we could
only get Wyevale garden centres cafés to stock a range of inner tubes, glueless patches
and folding tyres…
Eureka Café, Two Mills, Woodbank, Chester, CH1 6EZ, www.eurekacyclistscafe.co.uk
Honourable mentions
The following didn't get any votes but received many favourable comments:
Chilton (Wyevale GC) good bike parking,
unpretentious to say the least, but a good
solid destination. Just a shame about the
inevitable section of A34.
Frilford (Milletts Farm GC) - a long way
to get there, invariably heaving, and a
long way home. Good destination for fit
people!
Lasham and Popham - these two airfield
destinations seem to get people confused!
Rod MacFadyen claims to never know
which ones he's at but likes the flying
club ambience.
The holy grail
With grateful thanks to all those who responded
9

Are you a Member of British Cycling?
If not join for Free!
In 2005 British Cycling started a scheme whereby
affiliated clubs were able to award free British Cycling memberships dependant upon
the number of existing BC members there were in the club. This scheme has proved very
successful swelling membership numbers to record levels, 20,000 in fact, more than at
any time since 1961. So successful has it been that for 2006/07 British Cycling has decided
to extend it, and be even more generous with the number of memberships available. As
Reading Cycling Club promotes a number of open events we are entitled to offer 40 free
bronze memberships to new or existing RCC members who are not already members of
British Cycling. New under 16 members are entitled to free silver membership. The offer
is also open to lapsed BC members whose membership has lapsed by more than 2 years.
The offer also invites applicants to gain the extra benefits of gold and silver membership
at a saving of £12.50 (the regular cost of the bronze membership).
So, what do you get by being a member of British Cycling?
Bronze membership entitles you to:
- A weekly email newsletter and access to the BC website
- Access to a range of training and competition advice
- A Provisional Racing Licence
- Various partner organisation discounts
If you choose silver membership your £21.50 brings you the best third party liability
insurance cover available from any cycling organisation and access to a full racing
licence.
Gold membership, with the discount, will cost £47.50 and you get all of the above
benefits plus personal accident insurance and a quarterly magazine.
In my opinion the benefits of BC membership really become apparent at silver level.
Apart from allowing you to race there is something reassuring about the third party
liability cover, and it is nice to know that you have access to appropriate legal cover in
the event of anything untoward happening. Some of the tour operators for the major
sportif events are also requesting that riders have racing licences as this ensures that they
have adequate insurance and the racing licence is international so riders can compete
abroad. With sportives still very much in their ascendancy we may see third party
liability cover becoming necessary. What better way to acquire it than with a discounted
membership of British Cycling!
If you would like an application form or any further details then you can contact me by
the following methods:
Telephone: 0118 9612250
Email: Stephen.bale@ntlworld.com
In person at the committee meetings which I shall take some forms along to.
10

STEVE FERRY’S AUDAX AIMS FOR 2007
It is the time of year when many of you will be deciding on your goals. Some will be
looking at TT and spotive objectives, my compass is pointed in a different direction,
towards ridding an Audax Super Randonneur Series (or SR for short). An SR requires
completion of 2, 3, 4 and 600 km rides in one year. And, graciously, if you can not manage
to find a shorter ride that fits into your schedule, the rules allow you to substitute a
longer one instead!
As you can see from the following schedule, I had to take this path as the demands on
my time would not allow me to squeeze in a 400km ride between the 14th April and
19th May. The Brian Chapman 600 km ride is a 'must do' event in 2007, as I have a DNF
against my name for this ride in 2006, and this is so early that after this ride there are just
600 km rides in the schedule.
1st Ride (200 km) Marlborough Connection 3/2/2007
2nd Ride (300 km) Heart of England 14/4/2007
3rd Ride (600 km) Brian Chapman Memorial 19/5/2007
4th Ride (600 km) United Counties of South Wales 10/6/2007
So what is it that got me hooked in Audax? Why am I embarking on such a marathon?
Well it's all John Hollands fault - no really it is! When I turned up at Beech Hill village
hall in 2002, an eager Audax virgin, ready to ride the "Up the Downs", the only two
people I knew there were Greg Woodford and John Hollands. Naturally, I was keen to
benefit from their experience and asked it I could tag along. They agreed, but John added
the caveat "But we're not stopping". Naively I agreed, only to find out that he meant it
literally. From bitter experience that day I learnt John's Golden Rules of Audaxing.
1. No stopping (unless forced)
2. Don't wait for anyone (this wastes time).
3. If you get dropped - forget it.
4. When you need to pause to have your Brevet card stamped, use all methods short
of rudeness to avoid time wasting conversation.
5. Oh and did I mention - no stopping.
All I can remember from the last section of my first ride was John's back wheel and
the pain in my legs. The three of us made it to the end in about eight hours and I was
shaking so much I could not hold my cup of coffee.
Naturally, I was hooked!
Every year since then I have ridden an increasing number of Audaxes, culminating in this
years attempt at an SR. So if you don't see me on a Sunday morning club run, chances are
that I'll be out there "Not Stopping".
Steve
11

Don't forget that Reading CC is promoting no fewer than 3 Audaxes in 2007
(not to mention our very own Sportive!)
Saturday 14 April - FACCOMBE HAUL 100km
Saturday 30 June - WILTSHIRE WORKOUT 200km
- BERKSHIRE QUICKIE 100km
Sunday 2 September - ALAN FURLEY UP THE DOWNS 100 & 200km
ANY VOLUNTEERS TO HELP OUT PLEASE CALL JOHN HOLLANDS ON 07815492819
Club Run Lore - it's a funny old
world!
I returned to the club run fold one sunny
day in November, to find a breakdown in
etiquette. This is only to be expected with
many of the riders having been away on
international rides and the remainder being
teenagers learning the ropes.
The Reading Wheelers club run etiquette
needs brushing off, as do the things that
you can do to make a club run more
enjoyable through the grim winter months
of "getting the miles in".
There are also a few things that need to
be considered to bring things up to date
for 2007. Remember there are a lot more
cars about than there used to be, and few
drivers have experienced a club run in sleet
in January. It is up to riders to respond
appropriately.
As you know we ride two abreast. It is the
duty of the first pair to break wind. If you
are further back try not to do this until it is
your turn. When you are no longer able to
break wind, peel off and slip to the back.
The riders behind will be grateful to you
for letting them to the front.
While at the front scan the road ahead. If
you see something in the road ahead alert
your fellow riders.
Most shouts are self explanatory:-
"Hole!" means there is a hole in the surface
of the road, don't point them out if they are
somewhere else. We don't need reminding
that we fell down the banking at Calshot
and tore our shorts.
Speedramps need to be noted, "Ramp" will
suffice. This gives riders time to shift their
weight off the saddle, pull up on the bars
and get some big air off the other side.
The whole bunch will be doing this, and if
one should not notice, and not jump, there
could be a nasty spill.
"Road Pizza" or "Roadkill" is used to point
out dead things, sadly. Little furry or
feathered things, struck by passing cars.
These need to be avoided, they are bloody
or rotten, have sharp sticky out bones, and
some are big enough to have you off the
bike. It is the job of the rider at the back to
stop, get them off the road where they can
decompose in peace. Don't all speed up
and leave the guy there, and don't sit next
to them at the café either.
The inevitable will happen and someone
will get a puncture. We all stop and wait
while the puncture gets fixed. Wrong. We
should all help with the puncture, and
this is what lets modern club runs down.
Someone should hold the bike, someone
else should take the wheel out, someone
else will be part inflating a tube, someone
else will take the tyre off, several people
will demonstrate the best way to get a
tyre back on, someone will volunteer their
carbon fibre pump, you get the idea. Don't
forget many hands make light work. I
don't expect the poor victim to have to do
anything. And finally, once going, or even
at any point, don't ever mention the word
puncture while on a bike. Best not even to
think about it either. In more than 50 years
14

of cycling I have seen this happen. Say the
word and almost instantly a tyre will go
down. Try it on the next run and see.
If you can't avoid the subject then use
the word Monica. A reference to Monica
Lewinski, who was famous for going down
at speed, and the puncture fairy hasn't
heard of her either.
There is more on etiquette. There are club
run japes to mention.
Now these are things that have to be done
throughout the ride, usually unexpectedly.
They reinforce a spirit of humour
which makes 70 cold miles into wettest
Hampshire pass lightly by, and they
demonstrate without words some very
important lessons.
Saddle bags.
If anyone turns up with a saddlebag the
task is to try and undo the straps without
the rider noticing. At any opportunity,
whilst stopped at junctions, whilst riding
up hills, stopped fixing punctures, even
in the bunch if you are nimble fingered.
Saddlebags are filled with things no rider,
or even person, ever needs. If you don't
believe me get one open and watch what
falls out.
New bikes.
If someone starts a ride with a new bike
there is one thing that a rider in the bunch
must do. You must all be alert for this, and
all watch the rider closely. The moment
that rider gets out of the saddle on a hill
the rider nearest, and slightly behind, has
to quickly grasp the seat pin and push it in
a way that cause the bike to wobble more
than brought about by the rider pedalling.
The rider will promptly sit down and not
get out of the saddle again all day. They
will be back at the bike shop on Monday
morning, exchanging the bike for one with
a more robust frame. They will turn up
next week and the process will be repeated.
This is how most experienced club riders
get their bikes. They go to the bike shops
on Monday afternoons to see what has
been brought in grimy from a day on the
road, and with a suspect frame. They are
dead cheap.
Non bib shorts, tights leggings or
whatever. There will be a rider on most
runs who has a gap between the top of
their lower garments and the bottom of
their upper garments. This is an affront
on a club run, and is very difficult to
tackle. Off the bike there is no gap and it is
forgotten. On the bike and the rider behind
has to endure what could be hours of
staring at some exposed flesh. The solution
is to wait until the rider is near the front of
the bunch then to create some space among
those behind the rider, come along swiftly
and pull the clothes down and back over
the saddle. They will then stand up and
expose everything for the very last time on
a bike. They will have bibshorts or tights
next time out, guaranteed, and the problem
will be solved.
There is of course a lot of club run lore,
most learnt on the bike, the above covers
the basics, but I have seen one thing that
does alarm me, sprinting for road signs.
This is fine
and should be
encouraged, it
is great training
for those that
want to increase
the workout,
and is not
disruptive, but
if the guy from
the bike shop
is sprinting let
him win, the
prices are bad
enough as it is.
O. Beece Kleete
15

Cycling to Save the Planet -
Stephen Millward
I spend most of my working hours trying
to find ways to save energy in the home
and because my colleagues know I am a
keen cyclist they often make comments
such as "why don't you connect your bike
up to a generator, you could power your
whole house". The reason soon becomes
apparent if you work out the math. In
a good year I cycle around 5000 miles
which is 333 hours at 15 mph. At 15 mph
a cyclist on the flat shouldn't need to
develop anymore than 150 watts. Therefore
333 hours at 150 watts gives 50 kWh per
year. If instead I had sat on a turbo trainer
connected to a generator I would have
produced just £5 worth of electricity. This
just goes to show how fantastically efficient
the bicycle is in converting a small amount
of human power into forward motion.
So how much food do I consume to
produce this energy? A commonly used
rule of thumb is 400 Calories for 10 miles
of riding, or 200,000 Calories for a 5000
mile year. Therefore a years riding requires
around 1500 cereal bars at 50p each,
costing a whopping £750. So it would
also have been a very expensive means
of generating electricity. This just goes to
show how terrible the human body is at
converting food energy into power at the
pedals. This is actually just as well for if we
were 100% efficient at converting food we
would need to eat 80% less, which would
make the café stop far less interesting. We
also wouldn't generate heat when cycling
and would need to wear masses of clothing
to counteract wind chill.
Cycling is great because it doesn't harm
the environment, but how true is this? If
we are riding our bikes instead of driving
a car the reduction in CO2 emissions
are significant and there is no contest.
However most of my cycling is purely
for the pleasure of riding my bike in the
country and I sometimes even drive to
different parts of the country in order
to do it or even fly to other countries.
So how does cycling for cycling's sake
alone compare with other pastimes
such as watching TV? The production
and transport of food and drink result
in significant CO2 emissions. Those
extra 200,000 Calories of food are a 20%
increase on what I would otherwise
have needed. In the UK the average CO2
footprint of a person is around 10 tonnes
per year, of which 500kg is for food and
drink. Therefore my 20% increased food
consumption results in my carbon footprint
increasing by 100kg. If I had instead
spent the year watching TV the electricity
consumption would have resulted in my
carbon footprint increasing by only 50kg!
This is not the result I expected.
So how many miles do I need to use
by bike instead of car to neutralise this
100kg? For a medium size car the distance
is about 420 miles, or just 8% of annual
cycling mileage. If you think this is taking
green issues and CO2 emissions a little
too far, then I would agree. However
I predict in 20 years time we will be
assessing everything we do in terms of
C02 emissions as easily as we do so with
monetary values today. In the meantime
insulate your home, use low energy lamps
and enjoy cycling and eating.
Green Cycling?
16

What The Victorians Did For Us
- Arthur Satterley
A Glance at Boneshakers, Bicycles &
Tricycles to 1898
That great wave of innovation in science
and machinery that swept Britain reached
its height during Queen Victoria's
reign, and brought to an eager world a
great many truly remarkable creations.
International trade grew enormously as
a direct result of daring inventors and
entrepreneurial risk-takers; the 1851 Great
Exhibition was a showcase of new, home
grown technology and all that world trade
could bring to Britain.
Victorian Britain saw the nature of
Christmas celebrations evolve into
roughly what we have today, massproduced
consumer goods were dispersed
worldwide and even the character of our
weddings is a Victorian legacy. Energy,
derived mainly from wood burning prior
to the 19th Century quickly moved toward
coal burning. Coal, much more calorific
than wood, fuelled a steam-powered
economy as well as an ever-increasing
proportion of international shipping
movements.
However, the great changes in powered
transport experienced in the 20th Century
were largely unimagined and very much
unrealised at the end of Victoria's reign
in 1901. In terms of land transport, if you
didn't have a horse, you walked, or if your
journey was long, you could catch a steamdriven
train. Although certain oddities of
wheeled personal transport had made their
appearance on the streets of Britain prior to
the 1851 Exhibition, the bicycle was yet to
undergo its ferrous metamorphosis.
The well-known boneshaker was a
wooden construction incorporating some
iron and leatherwork, characterised by
a lack of brakes, curiously familiar armrests
and very upright front forks. This
vehicle facilitated a more rapid transit
across city, and through horse & carriage
packed streets, than one could achieve by
walking or, I infer, by means of the horse.
In operation, the device made the user look
vulgar despite being an expensive item,
requiring expensive, sturdy shoes with
good soles for slowing and stopping. This
was neither a fashionable accessory nor for
the working class.
Figure 1. An Old French Boneshaker
The Penny-Farthing evolved through time
from a contraption of composite wood
and iron construction to the familiar allmetal
item as technology progressed. Upon
these we see the first appearance of pedals,
having very short cranks acting directly
upon the front hub, and a brake shoe
which, by means of levers, was applied
downward onto the solid iron or rubber
tire. The spokes of the wheels evolved with
industrial capability from wooden to iron,
yet still there was no chain and no toothed
gearwheels.
As time went by, the Penny front wheel
became larger and acquired hub bearings
as well as drawn metal spokes. Forks were
made of solid metal rather than tubular
iron, although the "backbone" was tubular.
The example below is of 1880 vintage,
17

weighs 56 pounds (25.5kg) and has a 52-
inch front wheel with Bown's adjustable
"Aeoluf" bearings enclosed in a large brass
hub. The brake shoe operates upon the
front tire rather than the rear.
Figure 2. Early Penny-Farthing of composite
iron & wood construction (lever and cable
operated rear brake, foot rests extreme right)
on a superior hand fashioned product.
Artisanale bicycle workshops of the 1870s
to mid-1880s were crafting some beautiful
and very stable machines, at first without
handlebars. Stability was achieved by
means of 3 to 4 wheels; a drive-train was
machined and fitted as well as, by the
late 1880s, a range of fascinating, leveroperated,
steering mechanisms. These
personal carriages (they could hardly be
called bicycles) were then, and remain now,
phenomenally expensive; today they sell
for sums well in excess of ten thousand
pounds, and probably they cost the
equivalent when new.
Tricycles thus began their development;
examples illustrated here are the Coventry
Machinists Chelesmore tricycle of 1883 and
the Humber DD of 1885, built by Humber,
Marriott & Cooper of Beeston, Nottingham.
Figure 3. 1880 Penny Farthing exhibiting
"Important Innovations"
Figure 4. Coventry Machinists Tricycle of
1883, having no handlebars and a leverbased
steering mechanism. Main wheels are
independently mounted, thus avoiding the
technical issues associated with different
turning rates when cornering
Penny Farthings were expensive (a bankbreaking
fifteen pounds in 1879), were
unstable, and therefore were neither
for the faint-hearted nor for the refined
and image-conscious gentry. The latter
had ample disposable capital to spend
18

Considering that society ladies were still
riding horses side-saddle at this time,
one must assume that ladies engaging in
tricycle riding would become the mothers
of those pioneering female aviators of the
first half of the 20th Century.
Figure 5. Close up of Coventry Machinists
Tricycle seating position and manner of
steering by turning handles, which move
connecting rods attached to the rear wheel
Figure 7. Circa 1887 Tricycle with handlebar
and familiar wheel configuration
Figure 6. Humber DD Tricycle of 1884, with
handlebars and new single differential axle
allowing the wheels to rotate at different
rates when turning
Examples similar to those tricycles above
were made with a pair of trailing and
steerable rear wheels, creating a fourwheeled
carriage of superior stability.
The pace of innovation was at least as rapid
then as it is today. By 1887, completely new
steering mechanisms had been produced
and the wheel configuration was reversed
to bring the small wheel to the front,
providing a far more elegant appearance.
Figure 8. Handlebar-Controlled Steering
Mechanism based upon rods and rollers
(headset not invented yet). Front wheel is
supported on the fixed black arms. Note
rider's skirt is gathered and held by a chrome
skirt clip, see top left
19

Figure 9. Sturdy Chain
Construction and cotter pin
crank fixing on an 1895
tricycle
Tricycle and bicycle design had evolved and settled into
familiar form by 1895, reduced wheel size being the most
obvious change. Popularity was increasing very rapidly
and Bicycling Clubs were appearing already in the 1870s.
Cost of production was coming down, so that ordinary
folk could hope to own one, if they saved up for many
months. At this time, State expenditure on armaments was
huge, for in parallel with bicycle evolution, battleships had
gone through a similar unprecedented rate of evolution
from wooden structures to large steel edifices. Bikes and
battleships went hand in hand in the Navy of the 1890s; it is
recorded that HMS Nile had a crew of 560 and a bike room
stuffed to the roof with nearly seventy bicycles, presumably
all provided by the Admiralty. Upon these fixed-wheel
and not infrequently drop-handlebar machines, British
Bluejackets must have thrilled an unsuspecting world
by rolling off their docked steel monsters to explore roads at every conceivable latitude
and longitude, from Esquimault in the Arctic to Peking in the Far East. Malta's roads
were crammed with sailors so mounted, while in any foreign place the officers availed
themselves of this convenient transport to facilitate the re-stocking of their game lockers.
Figure 10. Bike Racing at Whale Island, Portsmouth Naval Base, 1897
In the space of only 20 years, cycling evolved from a
Peculiarity of the Modern Age into the recognisable
popular pastime and sport that we know so well today.
Figure 11. The Champion Cyclist of the Navy, Chief Petty Officer
Duguid, the first Seaman to take up Cycling in the Royal Navy
and Champion at Every Distance. This photo, 1897, one year
earlier than the first edition of Paris-Roubaix
20

MEMBERSHIP ISSUES
NEW MEMBERS
Please welcome the following new or
rejoining members to Reading Cycling Club,
who have joined in January:
James Pilgrim-Morris, Douglas Aspinall,
Dennis Dean, Matt Pritchard, David
Browning, John McNicol, Neil Loosley and
Fran Read
MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL
Please note that membership renewal is
now due and in accordance with club rules,
should be paid by the end of February. Those
who have not renewed their membership
by the end of February will have to submit
an application form that will have to be
approved at a committee meeting. In other
words, please renew on time!
A renewal form can be found on the club
website or by calling Phil Chapple.
For those new members who joined at or
after the August committee meeting 2006,
the subscription paid will cover you for all of
2007. You should have already received your
new membership card.
MEMBER'S DETAILS
If your contact details such as address,
telephone number or email address
change during the year, please advise the
Membership Secretary at the telephone
number or email address below. The club
database can then be amended.
If you give this information to other
committee members, they have to forward it
to the Membership Secretary, so please save
them the time.
Philip Chapple, Membership Secretary
Reading Cycling Club
Tel No. 0118 926 3620
E-mail philip@pchapple64.freeserve.co.uk
CLUB DISCOUNT
The list of local retailers who have consented
to give current members discount on
purchases in their outlets is gradually being
checked and updated.
Please note, you are likely to be refused
discount if you are unable to produce a
current membership card at the time of
purchase.
Bikes, Parts and Accessories
A W Cycles
110 Henley Road, Reading, Berks. RG4 6DH
0118 946 3050 www.awcycles.co.uk
5% discount on bikes, 10% discount on parts
and accessories
Contact Ricci Pankhurst
Hard To Find - Independent Cycle Mechanic
Mobile mechanic and parts/accessories dealer
(good deals available on groupsets)
01296 747377 07850 740591 (Mobile)
10% discount on parts and accessories
(excluding labour)
Contact Francis Thurmer
iBike Ltd.
212 Duke's Ride, Crowthorne, Berks.
RG45 6DS
01344 773015 www.ibike.co.uk
10% discount on most parts and accessories
and 5% off new bicycles (excluding items
already on sale)
Contact Eduardo A dos Remedios
Action Bikes (Reading)
15 West Street, Reading, Berks. RG1 1TT
0118 951 1345 www.actionbikes-online.co.uk
10% discount on most parts and accessories
(excluding special orders)
Contact Richard
Natural Health and Nutrition
Products
Graeme Farragher
0118 9874774 gm@farragher4.fsworld.co.uk
www.afull-life.co.uk
www.afull-lifedirect.co.uk
10% discount with the opportunity to receive
30% discount under certain conditions
It is hoped to add more retailers to the list.
21

CLUB RUNS SPRING SCHEDULE
FAST
MEDIUM
11th HARWELL, Q Tea Rooms LASHAM, Avenue Nurseries
18th ANDOVER, Blue Onion Café BURNHAM, Wyevale GC
25th
TORTURE 40, start @ Mill End Car Park, Hambledon
Apr 1st BEACONS BTM, Studley Grn GC HUNGERFORD, Highclose Farm Shop
8th LASHAM, Airfield Café WATERPERRY GARDENS
15th CHILTON, Wyevale GC BENSON, Riverside Café
22nd FARNHAM, Forest Lodge GC POPHAM, Airfield Café
29th WATERPERRY GARDENS BEACONS BTM, Studley Grn GC
May 6th POPHAM, Airfield Café ARDINGTON, Post Office Café
13th HUNGERFORD, Tutti Pole MYTCHETT, Basingstoke Canal Centre
20th NUNEHAM COURTENAY, Notcutts ANDOVER, Blue Onion Café 8AM
27th PRESTWOOD, Hildreths GC FARNHAM, Forest Lodge GC
Jun 3rd KENNET FLYER / LAMBOURN CHASE OPEN DAY -
ride the RCC Sportives
200km 7.30 am start
85km 9.00 am start
Shortride will stop for coffee en-route, long ride will have a lunch stop.
10th WEST WYCOMBE, Flowerland GC NUNEHAM COURTENAY, Notcutts
17th ARDINGTON, Post Office Café OXFORD, Henrys Café 8AM
24th
LONGEST DAY RIDE to CHICHESTER BRIGHTWELL, Root One Café
31st FRILFORD, Millets Farm Centre OLD WINDSOR, Great Park Shop Café
LEADERS ALWAYS NEEDED - CONTACT MARK LYFORD IF YOU WANT TO LEAD.
PLEASE CHECK WEBSITE FOR LATEST LISTINGS TO SEE WHICH NEED LEADERS
8AM starts to allow a longer ride and to avoid some of the increasingly aggressive Sunday
morning traffic, so check the list before turning out on a Sunday at the usual time !
22

READING CYCLING CLUB EVENTS 2007
Reading CC are promoting the following events in 2007.
All events organisers will need help with setting up,
signage, time-keeping, catering, marshalling, clean down.
Please can you make the effort to volunteer your services
for at least ONE event this year.
It is your club and it needs your help.
DATE EVENT START ORGANISER
Tuesdays from 27 March CLUB TIME TRIAL SERIES Steve Ferry
Saturday 14 April Faccombe Haul Audax Faccombe John Hollands
Sunday 22 April Spring Road Race Woodcote Colin Bates
Sunday 17 June Open 50 TT Aldermaston Barry Quick
Saturday 30 June Wiltshire Workout Audax Kidmore End John Hollands
Berkshire Quickie Audax
Sunday 19 August Open Hilly TT Heckfield Dave Ridge
RCC Sportives - Kennet Flyer Theale John Hollands
Lambourn Chase
Mark Lyford
Sarah Lidington
Mick Simmons
Sunday 2 Sep Alan Furley Up the Downs Audax Beech Hill John Hollands
Sunday 9 Sep Open 10 TT Aldermaston Rod MacFadyen
Sunday 30 Sep Open Hill Climb Streatley Stewart House
LVRC Road Race Woodcote Fred Hale
NEXT NEWSLETTER : JUNE 2007 Issue
Last Date for articles is Friday 25th May
Posted week ending 8th June
Copy can be sent by email to marklyford71@yahoo.co.uk
23

Reading Cycling Club are proud to promote the inaugural KENNET FLYER
Cyclosportive - a challenging 200km 'flyer' through some of southern
England's best cycling country. The 2850m of climbing should not be
sniggered at, but it the long fast stretches of descent and downland riding
that will encourage riders to post what we expect to be impressive times for
this long sportif. The first half of the route criss-crosses the Ridgeway Trail
no less than 7 times before reaching Marlborough, then heads for home on
beautiful quite country roads across the downs of Wiltshire, North Hampshire
and West Berkshire before a 4 mile dash along the A4 back to Theale. For
those wanting a shorter day in the saddle - we are also pleased to introduce
the 'Flyer's' sibling - the LAMBOURN CHASE - a challenging 85km with plenty
of climbing and fast downland stretches it will test and reward any rider!
Reading CC members already now about the Boxford 'Alps' - finishers on the
Lambourn Chase will do so by the time they get back to Theale!
Kennet Flyer: 201 km 2843m climbing max gradient 18%
Theale - Bradfield - Aldworth - The Ilsleys - Wantage - Lambourn - Ashbury
- Chiseldon - Wroughton - Hackpen Hill - Marlborough - Alton Barnes - Pewsey
- Everleigh - Chute Causeway - Faccombe - Watership Down - Kingsclere -
Woolhampton - Theale
Lambourn Chase: 85 km 1243m climbing max gradient 15%
Theale - Alworth - The Ilsleys - Wantage - Lambourn - Great Shefford - Boxford -
Winterbourne - Chieveley - Chapel Row - Theale
THERE WILL BE A CHANCE FOR ANY CLUB MEMBERS TO RIDE EITHER
ROUTE ON A SPECIAL OPEN DAY CLUB RUN ON JUNE 3rd
For further details check the club website.
24

www.readingcyclingclub.com
Produced by Conservatree Print & Design
0118 952 5110 www.conservatree.co.uk