Regular rides Mondays weekly with longer rides every other week. See notice posted each week at the Coffee Morning or contact leaders for details.
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News archive for the 'Cycling' group
In July I completed the collection of sponsor money which people have so generously contributed. The final sum was £800 for which I sent cheques off to Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (Doctors Without Borders). I have received acknowledgement of this and will post this on the notice board on Tuesday.
Again very grateful thanks to all those who sponsored Reg Moore
and myself.
John Jackson.
A great experience and one which I would not mind repeating, but not for a week or two. Thank you David for posting information on our web site and keeping people informed about our progress.
It was good to have Phil and Reg for the first leg and Reg for the second. Both had to suffer extremely strong winds, which unfortunately continued through the whole week. Reg did magnificently on the second day when we had to battle with wind, bank holidaymakers with their prams, children, dogs, tandems, uncles, aunts and grandparents. The trail was not quiet that day and our bells were ringing constantly. But after eleven hours and becoming quite exhausted Reg decided the sensible move would be to return home.
For the next three days I did have the wind to accompany me! At one isolated level crossing the crossing keeped chatted. When I mentioned the wind as my main problem he, sagely, commented, ‘You should have let me know I would have had a word with a friend of mine, Odin’. I am not sure he had the right god!
The trail is very beautiful and takes you through the quiet and very rural heart of the industrial North. It follows rivers, Mersey, Dearne, Don, Ouse and Humber, many canals, disused railway lines and very quiet country roads. The advantage of this is that generally you are riding along quite flat paths, even, though they are quite bumpy which can be a bit hard on the behind! All this in very sunny weather made for a very enjoyable ride. It was hard work but whenyou are riding you get into a rythm and just plod on.
I was pleased to reach Hornsea, which was rather quiet , closed up and cold, with an east wind whipping up the sea. It was even better to turn rounnd and head for Hull and the train home and this time with the wind behind me!
It would have been even better had I not got on the wrong train in Leeds and found myself heading for Middlesborough! Fortunately a son lived not far from the first stop and so I stayed with him. The next day another son met me in Manchester and made sure his idiot father got the right train!
Thanks to everyone who wished us well in our escapade and those who generously sponsored us. So far Medecins sans frontieres will be better off to the sum of over three hundred pounds and more still coming in.
Hopefully this could be repeated again next year and be an enjoyable experience for others too.
Sole survivor
DAY4 saw John Jackson arriving at his scheduled stopover, still claiming to feel fit and well. John had cycled 60 miles today in improved weather conditions. The strong winds had subsided and he is waxing lyrical about the countryside of this Trans Pennine Trail. Looking forward to a well deserved rest at the hotel, tomorrow will be the last leg of this epic journey, some 50 miles to the end of the route. John is travelling home from Hull tomorrow evening and is looking forward to home and his own bed !
This is the last live report of this epic journey. We should all be proud of John’s achievements, reflecting just one of the many activities undertaken in our U3a. Also the monies raised for this great charity. WBH
Running repairs
It's that way!
Pause for breath
DAY2. John reported a really tough ride with very strong headwinds. Reg was quite exhausted on this leg of the ride from Hunts Cross to Hyde – 50 mile stretch took 11 hours to complete. Reg recovered at the hotel scheduled for their second night. We received a phone call this morning confirming that Reg felt he was no longer able to continue – sad news, but a wise and brave decision. John phoned this evening from Barnsley, having now completed 110 miles. He is enjoying the scenery and is feeling fit. Reminds me of the ‘Loneliness of the long distance cycle rider’!! Further update tomorrow evening. John was encouraged to learn that more members had sponsored the ride at this mornings U3a meeting. WBH
John Jackson, Reg Moore and Philip Hughes, who was undertaking the first leg of this Charity Cycle ride having been passed fit to go this far, set off from Southport at 11.00am Sunday morning. John and Reg are cycling the 216 miles of the Trans-Pennine Way to Hull to raise funds for Médecins Sans Frontières. They are planning to complete the ride in 5 days, at the moment against a forecasted strong gale.
John’s wife Anne started the ride with a starting pistol, not loaded, and there will be a photograph to follow. So keep visiting the site for news updates of progress.
And if you haven’t sponsored get to it. W.B.H.
First picture of the intrepid trio- watch this space for more.
Our rides now start at 10.00, with refreshment break, and mostly take place on Mondays.
Phil is checking out routes for a sea to sea ride for the more energetic rider. This is likely to take place in April or early May 2011. Contact Phil on526 0038.