1. Avoid riding in wet weather
2. Use a sturdy pair of mudguards
3. Stay away from bridlepaths and dirty tracks

Top tip for an enjoyable weekend

1. Ignore the above and get yourself and your bike to the Isle of Wight Annual Wayfarers Randonnee!

26 Willesden members did just that for the May Day weekend, and had a great time. The number of punctures must have reached double figures. Our bikes got horribly filthed up. At one point, people were seen taking their water bottles into public conveniences in order to fill up and squirt water on bikes to try and find them beneath the mud. This was after riding from a great stop at the Garlic Farm the day after the randonnee itself, through cycle tracks resembling Paris Roubaix without the cobbles. Then the sun came out and we had wonderful chips in Newport.

On the day of the randonnee, the hills around the Isle had once again been made steeper. It’s a 100k ride that feels like a 200. WCC set off in carefully managed groups in order to stagger our arrival at the excellent PTA run checkpoints, where cakes, tea and bananas were served by friendly, welcoming helpers. It is a free to enter event that this year attracted nearly 1700 riders. A real credit to everyone involved in the organisation. They don’t have to go round putting arrows out though – the round the island route is permanently signposted. But there were volunteers out in wind, rain and cold to make sure people didn’t miss the checkpoints.

Once again Sandown made us welcome at the St Michael’s hotel, which John Davies had fully booked for the Willesden. Neil brought us tea on arrival and after the ride, rushing out as every rider returned to open up the garage.

Sandown on a wet bank holiday was quieter than in previous years, but the Pier was open. Crazy Golf and bowling took place, but mostly it was the 2p machines. They certainly gripped Eliz. Just look at that focus in the photo below.

I was delighted to find that the beer festival was on at the Castle Pub, and more pleased to find Max the Beer Mat Catching Wonder Dog still there and as keen as ever to catch the beermat time after time.

Another trip is possible in the third week of September – the Isle of Wight cycling festival.

LOCOG bagged our weekend from last year to open the Olympics(!) so it’s relocated to June 10.

The Ditchling Devil is a 200km round trip from London to the Brighton via Ditchling Beacon and The Devils Dyke, organised by Paul Stewart. We start outside the Windmill Tearooms, Wimbledon Common between 7-8am and finish in Richmond Park at the Roehampton Gate Café with refreshment controls Ardingly (50km) and Upper Beeding (110km) and Chiddingfold (150km). This is a great route through rolling countryside with the odd bump over the Downs.

If you haven’t ridden an Audax event before – the Ditchling Devil is a sort of organized ‘day tour’. We provide a detailed routesheet and GPX track for those with GPS, and controls & refreshment points round the route. It’s definitely not a race though there is an overall time limit around of around 13.5 hours for an accredited finish for those that want (Paul has a home to go to!). Most get round in 10~12 hours overall but if you want to stop off at Brighton, wherever, that’s fine too. Having a great day out is the name of the game.

See http://tinyurl.com/85nxvpu for a review of last years event.

Online entry is £11 for AUK/CTC members, £13 for others, and includes detailed routesheet, GPX track and refreshments.

Entry details are at http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/12-888/ with no faff online entry using Paypal or debit/credit card possible.

Signing up couldn’t be easier, just fill in the form below and hit ‘subscribe’ then follow the onscreen instructions.

Here’s a plea for info regarding the latest theft….

Not from our club but the theft of a bike from Hog Hill should alert us all. Pictures of the thief stolenbikethief.pdf and the bike stolenbikeposter.pdf are linked too. See the message below from Steve Jensen:
Hi everyone,
My son Georg had his bike stolen from Hog Hill yesterday after the youth race today. The bike was locked up, but the thief cut the lock and made off. Luckily it was all filmed and one of our club members photographed the assailant. I’ve attached information about his bike (which he saved for and built himself) and the mug shot of the mug who took it! The car number plate is from Sidcup. If anyone hears or sees anything about this please let me know. Not so much fun up at Hog Hill these day! If you can forward this to any club members or friends of cycling who might appreciate the information, or who might help Georg. Please contact me on 07810333722 or LVYCC Bob Griffiths (Club Secretary) on 01708 550738. Thanks a lot. Regards
Steve Jensen