Wednesday 30 December 2009
Tuesday 29 December 2009
Ghents 2009
Here are some pictures taken during the club's visit to Ghent in November this year. Mary Adams and friend Dawn Bramall (who took these photos) clearly enjoyed having a picture taken with the two young Brit riders Luke Rowe and Jon Mould (with the distinguished Paul Manning in attendance). They came 3rd in the U23 competition which ran before the main evening programme of racing. Ghent is in a bit of a mess at present whilst they undertake massive archeological digs all over the city. The last two photos were taken at Amadeus of the party on Sunday evening.
Andrew
Wednesday 23 December 2009
Sunday 20 December 2009
Monday 14 December 2009
Kit design and supplier: Possible changes
For some years now the Clarencourt kit has been sourced from de Geest in Belgium – there were advantages: good exchange rates and no surcharges for low order numbers.
Unfortunately, the digital age has hit Belgium, and terms of trading now include VAT at 22% and a 25% surcharge for any garment runs less than 6 – and of course the euro was 1.4 to the pound but is now all but at parity – as a result and cost advantages have been eroded. What was cheap has now become expensive and it seems appropriate to explore cheaper alternatives especially given the hassles Mick Ayliffe had manfully shouldered for so long in co-ordinating orders. At the same time, there is a modicum of dissent in the ranks that the kit design is perhaps a tad outdated and a redesign is needed.
I’ve taken on the task of coordinating Kit supply and am looking to address both of the above in the coming months. I intend the process to be as democratic as possible and will seek members’ views before any proposals are put to the committee for decisions.
Supplier
A brief market review tells me that there are many firms offering Club Kit services – but most have large minimum order numbers.
However, one supplier (Impsport) does seem to offer significant advantages:
http://www.impsport.com
An example of the ordering system from the VC Godalming and Haslemere web site is here:
http://www.d2-workshop.co.uk/vcgh_phase1/shop/buyClubKit
I have e-mailed the guy at VC G&H who looks after their kit and he gives a very good report of their dealings with Impsport.
Design
The above was the easy bit... now on to the minefield of Kit Design. Here the options are wide indeed and there are no preconceptions as to what we should have, key criteria will be:
E-mail pgk2@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 0208 540 4186 if you have views, comments or suggestions.
Over to you and happy riding
Paul Kelly
Unfortunately, the digital age has hit Belgium, and terms of trading now include VAT at 22% and a 25% surcharge for any garment runs less than 6 – and of course the euro was 1.4 to the pound but is now all but at parity – as a result and cost advantages have been eroded. What was cheap has now become expensive and it seems appropriate to explore cheaper alternatives especially given the hassles Mick Ayliffe had manfully shouldered for so long in co-ordinating orders. At the same time, there is a modicum of dissent in the ranks that the kit design is perhaps a tad outdated and a redesign is needed.
I’ve taken on the task of coordinating Kit supply and am looking to address both of the above in the coming months. I intend the process to be as democratic as possible and will seek members’ views before any proposals are put to the committee for decisions.
Supplier
A brief market review tells me that there are many firms offering Club Kit services – but most have large minimum order numbers.
However, one supplier (Impsport) does seem to offer significant advantages:
- UK based
- A wide range of kit available in club designs
- Bulk discount based on total number of items not on individual garment types
- Direct order facility allowing members to order individual items on the Web using a dedicated part of the Impsport web site
http://www.impsport.com
An example of the ordering system from the VC Godalming and Haslemere web site is here:
http://www.d2-workshop.co.uk/vcgh_phase1/shop/buyClubKit
I have e-mailed the guy at VC G&H who looks after their kit and he gives a very good report of their dealings with Impsport.
Design
The above was the easy bit... now on to the minefield of Kit Design. Here the options are wide indeed and there are no preconceptions as to what we should have, key criteria will be:
- Colours to be the same as current kit – club colours are the club identity
- Members ideas and suggestions are not only welcome but actively invited
- The objective is broad consensus on a design that everyone is happy with
- Next steps
E-mail pgk2@hotmail.co.uk or call me on 0208 540 4186 if you have views, comments or suggestions.
Over to you and happy riding
Paul Kelly
Saturday 12 December 2009
The mysterious church in the marshes.
Those of you that have ridden my Hythe away day will recognise this landmark.
Soon after lunch we pass this beautiful little church alone in the marshes.
I was down in Kent last Tuesday with Ev on the annual pilgrimage to the Biddenden Vineyards. "For tis the season to be jolly" and so hence our usual Cider pick up.
The church has always been a bit of a puzzle to me as to why it's there, so we stopped along the way and took a walk across the field to investigate.
Here's the history from the web:
St Thomas's, Fairfield.
Rumoured to be have been founded by either an unnamed medieval traveler or the Archbishop of Canterbury who fell into a deep dike. Sinking in the water, he prayed to Thomas a Becket to save him as he came up for the first time, promised the saint he would build him a church as he surfaced for the second and was rescued by a farmer on the third. In return for his life, the church was built. Fairfield, or its old English name of Fayrefelde, was once a village with documentary evidence in the form of maps from 1595 showing its presence. Now all that remains is the isolated church. The current church was a reconstruction (using original timbers) in 1912. Services are no longer held there but the church is maintained by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust. Uniquely, the churchyard has no boundary, no tombstones, no trees and no memorials.
Soon after lunch we pass this beautiful little church alone in the marshes.
I was down in Kent last Tuesday with Ev on the annual pilgrimage to the Biddenden Vineyards. "For tis the season to be jolly" and so hence our usual Cider pick up.
The church has always been a bit of a puzzle to me as to why it's there, so we stopped along the way and took a walk across the field to investigate.
Here's the history from the web:
St Thomas's, Fairfield.
Rumoured to be have been founded by either an unnamed medieval traveler or the Archbishop of Canterbury who fell into a deep dike. Sinking in the water, he prayed to Thomas a Becket to save him as he came up for the first time, promised the saint he would build him a church as he surfaced for the second and was rescued by a farmer on the third. In return for his life, the church was built. Fairfield, or its old English name of Fayrefelde, was once a village with documentary evidence in the form of maps from 1595 showing its presence. Now all that remains is the isolated church. The current church was a reconstruction (using original timbers) in 1912. Services are no longer held there but the church is maintained by the Romney Marsh Historic Churches Trust. Uniquely, the churchyard has no boundary, no tombstones, no trees and no memorials.
As with most churches today, alas it was locked and we were unable to view the inside.
The pictures are taken through the windows. On looking through one windows into a tiny room, the Vicar's robes and stoles are hanging up on a hook waiting for the next service.
A place truely stopped in time!
Paul Isambard White
Rehabilitaion and Andrew's brithday ride
Brian and Jez accompanied Andrew and Caroline on their 1st Rides back after their various injuries and colds. It was eventful! Having swept past the Kingston Phoenix on the way to oxshott they soon swept past us again as Brian's chain snapped and of course when you don't clean your bike in winter it's a very greasy affair. Andrew and Brian then went into the ladies toilets in Coham ( apparently the gents were out of order so they said!) to wash of excess chain oil from their hands.
We eventually arrived at Clandon for a welcome tea and Andrew bought the birthday mince pies to celebrate. Coming home there was a slight hesitation about direction where Andrew turned left and Brian turned right but unfortunately they were on the opposite side of each other so yet another clarencourt tumble to add to the growing list of the past few months. This time however no injuries and we continued home safely. A great fun first ride back . Thanks everyone.
We eventually arrived at Clandon for a welcome tea and Andrew bought the birthday mince pies to celebrate. Coming home there was a slight hesitation about direction where Andrew turned left and Brian turned right but unfortunately they were on the opposite side of each other so yet another clarencourt tumble to add to the growing list of the past few months. This time however no injuries and we continued home safely. A great fun first ride back . Thanks everyone.
MTB ride Saturday 12th December. 33 miles.
A few spots of rain as I arrived at The Organ Inn pub our starting point.
The group was lead by Paul Kelly, with Bob Green, Trevor Hughes, Barry Gregory and me following his route.
We left the area via Ewell Mill and soon found some good, heavy mud to clog the bikes up with.
Following the Hogsmill River we arrived in Kingston Upon Thames and then under Kingston Bridge to Teddington Lock and then turned off towards Richmond Park.
We followed the outer cycle path anti clock wise in the park. At this point in the ride we cycled across some pea shingle that added to the mud on the wheels from earlier, and on to Robin Hood Gate, then turned to climb towards the Pen Ponds. On the way to Pembrooke Lodge we added a good layer of sand to our mud and pea shingled wheels. I thought I was getting tired until I discovered, mud, pea shingle and sand - perfect "Wattle and Daub." Consquently, the bike was gradually grinding to a halt with the thick solid building material we had accidentally made over the last 17 miles! The tyres had gone from 2.25 dia to about 4.50 dia with the huge amounts of mud collected.
Direct from wikipedia (Hedumacation and Culture).
King Henry VIII's Mound is the highest point within the park and is located within the public gardens of Pembroke Lodge. It is named after Henry VIII of England.
There is speculation that the mound has an older history, and may have originally been a barrow.
From the Mound there is a protected view of St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London over 10 miles (16 km) to the east which was established in 1710. (A telescope is installed on the mound, for a better viewing experience.) This vista is protected by a 'dome and half' width of sky on either side. The Mayor of London (Ken Livingstone) sought to overturn this protection in 2005, and reduce it to 'half a dome'. No final decision is yet public. To the west is a panorama of the Thames Valley.
Well you didn't expect me to remember that lot did you!
The view towards Heathrow and Runnymead.
Close.
Closer.
Proper topnotch Heros.
The lock building from the famous sketch between Michael Palin and John Cleese.
The group was lead by Paul Kelly, with Bob Green, Trevor Hughes, Barry Gregory and me following his route.
We left the area via Ewell Mill and soon found some good, heavy mud to clog the bikes up with.
Following the Hogsmill River we arrived in Kingston Upon Thames and then under Kingston Bridge to Teddington Lock and then turned off towards Richmond Park.
We followed the outer cycle path anti clock wise in the park. At this point in the ride we cycled across some pea shingle that added to the mud on the wheels from earlier, and on to Robin Hood Gate, then turned to climb towards the Pen Ponds. On the way to Pembrooke Lodge we added a good layer of sand to our mud and pea shingled wheels. I thought I was getting tired until I discovered, mud, pea shingle and sand - perfect "Wattle and Daub." Consquently, the bike was gradually grinding to a halt with the thick solid building material we had accidentally made over the last 17 miles! The tyres had gone from 2.25 dia to about 4.50 dia with the huge amounts of mud collected.
The mud on the bike was soon removed by Mr kelly's "specialist bike tool", a tree branch!
At Pembrooke Lodge Paul Kelly pointed out King Henry's Mound.
Direct from wikipedia (Hedumacation and Culture).
King Henry VIII's Mound is the highest point within the park and is located within the public gardens of Pembroke Lodge. It is named after Henry VIII of England.
There is speculation that the mound has an older history, and may have originally been a barrow.
From the Mound there is a protected view of St Paul's Cathedral in the City of London over 10 miles (16 km) to the east which was established in 1710. (A telescope is installed on the mound, for a better viewing experience.) This vista is protected by a 'dome and half' width of sky on either side. The Mayor of London (Ken Livingstone) sought to overturn this protection in 2005, and reduce it to 'half a dome'. No final decision is yet public. To the west is a panorama of the Thames Valley.
Well you didn't expect me to remember that lot did you!
The view towards Heathrow and Runnymead.
Close.
Closer.
Closest, alas my pocket camera isn't able to catch St Paul's very well, but you can see it just about!
From here we dropped back down to the Thames at Ham House, and followed the river up to Teddington Lock. I thought I'd better add to the "Hedumacation and Culture" by stating I thought there was a plaque on the lock building to commemorate the "Fish Slapping" sketch for Monty Python's Flying Circus, so we went to look for it, and sure enough we found it along with some other very interesting historical plaques.
From here we dropped back down to the Thames at Ham House, and followed the river up to Teddington Lock. I thought I'd better add to the "Hedumacation and Culture" by stating I thought there was a plaque on the lock building to commemorate the "Fish Slapping" sketch for Monty Python's Flying Circus, so we went to look for it, and sure enough we found it along with some other very interesting historical plaques.
Proper topnotch Heros.
The lock building from the famous sketch between Michael Palin and John Cleese.
Mr Palin ended up in the lock you may recall.
The Plaque.
The Plaque.
It was then on and across the foot bridge at Teddington to Bushey Park for another bit of "Hedumacation and Culture" in the way of the Bushey Park water gardens. These have just been refurbished.
All that culture put us all in need a coffee and food, so we headed to the cafe in the park for our tea stop.
We headed back towards Kingston Bridge and once across, Paul Kelly left the group heading for Wimbledon, and we retraced our steps to Ewell via the back streets avoiding the mud we'd encountered earlier.
Paul Isambard White
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