RIBBLE VALLEY NEWS

MAY 2008

 [h2] An early view of cycling

Recently, I was re-reading “Lark Rise to Candleford” and found an interesting comment about the early days of cycling in the late 1880s:
The first high “penny-farthing” bicycles were already on the roads, darting and swerving like swallows heralding the summer of the buses and cars and motor cycles which were soon to transform country life. But how fast those new bicycles travelled and how dangerous they looked! Pedestrians backed almost into the hedges when they met one of them, for was there not almost every week in the Sunday newspaper the story of some one being knocked down and killed by a bicycle, and letters from readers, saying cyclists ought not to be allowed to use the roads, which, as everybody knew, were provided for people to walk on or to drive on behind horses. “Bicyclists ought to have roads to themselves, like railway trains” was the general opinion.
Yet it was thrilling to see a man hurtling through space on one high wheel, with another tiny wheel wobbling helplessly behind. You wondered how they managed to keep their balance. No wonder they wore an anxious air. “Bicyclist’s face”, the expression was called, and the newspapers foretold a hunchbacked and tortured-faced future generation as a result of the pastime.
Cycling was looked upon as a passing craze and the cyclists in their tight navy knickerbockers suits and pill-box caps with the badge of the their club in front were regarded as figures of fun. None of those in the hamlet who rushed out to their gates to see one pass, half hoping for and half fearing a spill, would have believed, if they had been told, that in a few years there would be at least one bicycle in every one of their houses, that the men would ride to work on them and the younger women, when their housework was done, would lightly mount “the old bike” and pedal away to the market town to see the shops.
Later in the book is a description of club rides in the 1890s:
Then, sometimes, on a Saturday afternoon, the call of a bugle would be heard, followed by the scuffling of dismounting feet, and a stream of laughing, jostling young men would press into the tiny office to send facetious telegrams. These members of the earliest cycling clubs had a great sense of their own importance, and dressed up to their part in a uniform composed of a tight navy knickerbockers suit with red or yellow braided coat and a small navy pill-box cap embroidered with their club badge. The leader carried a bugle suspended on a coloured cord from his shoulder. Cycling was considered such a dangerous pastime that they telegraphed home news of their safe arrival at the farthest point in their journey. Or perhaps they sent the telegrams to prove how far they really had travelled, for a cyclists’ word as to his day’s mileage then ranked with an angler’s account of this catch.

Suggested Club Rides for May 2008

Note: Ride B will have more coffee stops

SUBSCRIPTIONS DUE 1 APRIL

Subscriptions for 2008-09 were due on 1April. Cost is £25.00 for the year. New membership forms are now available and we would like members to fill in a new form if possible, as it’s a few years since most people did this and some have moved or changed details since then. Don’t feel that you have to wait for the form, though, the money is always welcome and if you’re racing it’s essential to keep your club membership up to date. Please make cheques payable to “Ribble Valley CRC” and give or post them to Marian Hesketh. It’s also possible to join online via www.entrycentral.com (there is a small extra fee for this). Anyone who has joined for the first time since 1 January 2008 is a member until March 2009 and doesn’t have to pay again. Any queries, please contact Marian on (01772) 339699 or email mhesketh@tiscali.co.uk

Mind Your Language!

Thanks to Peter Ward for these linguistic conundrums

A backward poet writes inverse.
A will is a dead giveaway.
A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.
You are stuck with your debt if you can’t budge it.
A boiled egg is hard to beat.
A plateau is a high form of flattery.
Acupuncture: a jab well done.
When you’ve seen one shopping centre, you’ve seen a mall.
The short fortune teller who escaped from jail: a small medium at large.
When she first saw the strands of grey hair, she thought she’d dye.
Time flies like an arrow: fruit flies like a banana.
Santa’s helpers are subordinate clauses.
If you don’t pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.
In a democracy it’s your vote that counts; in feudalism, it’s your Count that votes.

WELCOME to new members Matthew Carr and David Winstanley.

PETTS There is a new HQ for the PETTS evening time trials. Now meeting at Myerscough College, with improved facilities.

PETTS Results:

Congratulations to all the first timers on some excellent results.

RESULTS

West Pennine RC 13 mile TT 29 March

20th M Wallis 39.02 22nd A Mc Cann 39.11

North Lancs RC 10 mile TT 22 March

T Taylor 28.21
J Deakin 28.51 D Woods 29.47

Barrow Central Wh 10 mile TT 6 April

J Deakin 26.50 T Taylor 27.00

Flora London Marathon 13 April

Richard Smith 3 hours 40 min. 48 sec.
Congratulations to Richard on a superb run.

VTTA National 10 mile TT 5 April

C Wadsworth 24.48

Barrow Central Wh 20 mile TT 19 April

17th M Wallis 59.41
19th D Warren 59.58 28th J Deakin 73.37

Lancs RC 10 mile TT 12 April

C Wadsworth 24.08

WHAT’S ON

Every Sunday Steady, Intermediate and Faster rides start from Preston College.
First Sunday in every month easy ride for people new to cycling. Contact Janette Stratford -01772 717385-
4 May Beginners’ ride leader
Doreen Turner

Steady ride leaders:

Fast Sunday ride

There will be a faster paced training ride starting from Preston Prison at 9 a.m. on Sunday mornings. Contact Martin Wallis -01772 339222- for more details.

Training at Preston Sports Arena

There is a possibility of some Saturday morning “chain gang” sessions at Preston Sports Arena if enough people are interested. Contact Martin Wallis -01772 339222- for more details.

First Saturday in each month

Mountain bike ride. Meet at Preston College and drive to suitable area. Contact David Warren -01772 749709-

Monday 28 April

Talk at club room from Keith Murray and Nick Craig from Scott Bikes

Monday 19 May

Talk at club room from Caroline Holden, assistant cycling officer for Lancashire County Council. Come along and ask her any questions you have about cycle lanes and cycling provision in the county.

Tuesday 20 May Len Main memorial 10 mile time trial. Contact Doreen Mallinson -01772 423174-.

Saturday 7 June

GHS time trial Preston arena. Contact Margaret Davies -01772 614350-

Monday 30 June

Club general meeting and date fixing.

8-10 August 2008

Hostelling weekend in the Eden Valley. Contact Janette Stratford -01772 717385-

5-12 September

Holiday in Ventoux area of France. Contact Shaun Pearson -01772 336733-.

3-5 October 2008

Weekend away in Ambleside. Contact Shaun Pearson -01772 336733-.