DORSET DIRT

Dirty in Dorset.

Several riders travelled up from Devon to Dorchester on 17th September to take part in the annual "Dorset Dirt" ride. The 50Km off-road event started in Dorchester, and use the traditional course over the hills though Doles plantation to Henley, and then up Batcombe Hill, returning along the ridge to Charminster.
The weather was good, but the afternoon saw a lot of low mist which made the navigation more interesting.

IMAGES AT PIXELWORKZ

DARTMOOR DEVIL Hind Street, Two Bridges, and near Widecombe.

DARTMOOR DEVIL IS OVERSUBSCRIBED:

We have reached our limit again on entries for this years Dartmoor Devil.
With a month to go we now have a full entry of 200 riders.
( BUT VOLUNTEER HELPERS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME)

www.dartmoordevil.co.uk

BUCKFAST ABBEY www.buckfast.org.uk

75th Celebration - Annual Dinner & AGM at BUCKFAST.

The Devon DA 75th Anniversary Dinner will be at "The Grange" Restaurant at Buckfast Abbey on 11th November 2006.

The AGM will be held on the same day at the Buckfast Community Hall (Southpark Hall) which is just outside The Abbey. at 14.30

There is a FREE tour of Buckfast Abbey available at 16:30.

The evening Dinner will be at 18.30 for 19.00. Our special guest is Edward Genochio, the cyclist from Exeter who recently pedalled to China, and then back again! There will also be games, video/slide presentations and a raffle, plus a display of bicyles through the decades.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO >>
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Dartmoor Devil entries are filling up.

With just over a month to go to the end of season classic Audax ride, we have 165 people entered on the ride.
Although this year the event clashes with National Hillclimb, it still looks as thought he event could be over-suscribed again.
To be sure of a place make sure you enter now! . Downloadable entry forms are available on the website:

www.dartmoordevil.co.uk

HEADING OUT FROM BITTAFORD. SOUTH HAMS AUDAX 2006

South Hams Audax rides successful:

The Grunters 150, and South Hams Audax 100Km rides from South Brent were a great success this year.
Well over 50 people took part in the events which enjoyed some fine weather after the early morning mists had cleared.

Pictures Here:>>

Edward Genochio from Exeter - returns! Picture from: bbc.co.uk

Edward Genochio returns.

Edward Genochio, 29, has arrived in London after a two-and-a-half year trip through 25 countries. He has cycled 26,000 miles (40,200km) - more than the circumference of the Earth - since leaving his Exeter home.
His bike had only one puncture on the journey out to China, but suffered an average of one a week on the way home.

The return journey via Central Asia took him across a 5,050m mountain pass in the Tibetan Plateau, where temperatures fell as low as -20C. He then descended to one of the lowest and hottest places on Earth, the Turpan depression in the Taklamakan Desert in western China, situated more than 100m below sea level and with 45C (113F) temperatures.

CHECK OUT: www.2wheels.org.uk # Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Jon, Tinna, and Rebecca Sharam

Jon Sharam gets married.

Our Iceland correspondent Jon Sharam got married recently.
He sent some pictures of the happy occassion and the one here shows John & Tinna with daughetr Rebecca.

Jon rode with the Torbay section for many years, and then moved from his home in Kingskerswell to Iceland where he became a Dad.
He sends his best wishes to everyone who knows him, and who he used to ride with.

159mph - just testing!

Discharge for 159mph speeding PC:

A policeman who drove at 159mph on a motorway has been found guilty of dangerous driving and given an absolute discharge. Pc Milton said he was familiarising himself with the vehicle( ! )
( Ironically - this was the same judge that convicted Daniel Cadden of inconsiderate cycling!)
Full story on BBC website.
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

NEW PUBLICITY POSTER.

DEVON CTC - Autumn Poster Publicity Campaign

As we progress through our 75th Anniversary year which has been largely succesful so far, it's time to build on the publicity we have had during the summer months. The DA has launched a new publicity poster campaign.
New laminated posters have been produced for display in cycle shops, sports and leisure centres and libraries.
The Posters are general for Devon CTC, but versions are being done to cover the various "regions" of the county.
If you think you can help with disributing a poster near where you live please contact Graham Brodie on 01626-367977 or email brodie@bikerider.com

The poster design is derived from Shropshire CTC's adaptation of the National leaflet, with pictures of Devon riders. We soon hope to produce some smaller "cards"based on the same theme with contact details on the reverse.
Click <<HERE> to view the posters in higher quality.

Agressive driver given £80 FPN

A driver who threatened and harassed a Torbay CTC member has been issued with an £80 fixed penalty notice.
The driver hurled abuse at the rider, and when the rider took down the number of the vehicle, the owner then threatened to set his dogs onto the cyclist.
The incident was reported to local police who subsequently issued the driver with the penalty.

An example of a Plymouth Road "surface" ( not the one in this case!)

£16000 payout for injured Plymouth girl.

A 16 year old girl who was almost killed when she hit a pothole near her home at Weston Mill has been awarded a £16000 payout, with an option for more compensation later as her life may be further affected by her injuries.
was impaled on her handlebars after she struck the pothole, and suffered a perforated bowel.

The pothole had been there for some time and had been marked with paint as a known defect for remediation.

Plymouth remians one of the worst areas in the South West for potholes and road defects. Whilst vast sums of money are being lavished on brick and block paving in the city centre, the nearby streets and districts have road which are crumbling and have been neglected for years.

Dual culture road sign! Picture - bbc.co.uk

Welsh road sign causes confusion.

Cyclists have been left confused by a bilingual road sign warning them they had problems with an inflamed bladder.
The "cyclists dismount" sign between Penarth and Cardiff became "llid y bledren dymchwelyd" in Welsh - literally "bladder inflammation upset".The Vale of Glamorgan Council said new signs were being made. It is possible that an online translation led to confusion between cyclists and cystitis.

Full story on BBC website.
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Bristol cyclist shot by passing car.

A man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after shots were fired at a cyclist from a passing car. The 19-year-old Bristol man was arrested on Tuesday evening in connection with the incident in Riverside Park in the city on 3 August.
Full story on BBC website.
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

DA JERSEY & CAP

New Order for DEVON CTC clothing.

We are planning to order a fourth batch of DA clothing. Many of you have requested items, but our stock is virtually exhausted.
<<CLICK HERE>> to visit the clothing page with full details of availability, sizing and a downloadable order form. Items will include Road Jerseys, Training Jackets, Shorts, Leggings, Caps and Armwarmers.

More news on cyclist who refused to cycle "in the gutter"

An update from Roger Geffen - CTC's Campaigns & Policy Manager

Dear al, I have to apologise: we were wrong even to mention "obstruction" in our original press release. Daniel Cadden was charged with, and convicted of, "inconsiderate cycling", NOT "obstructing the highway".
Although the grounds for his original arrest were that the police officer thought he should be cycling in the gutter (the officer even described it as a cycle lane, despite being far too narrow and having no cycle lane markings), when it came to trial, the police accepted that the cars behind Daniel Cadden could not have overtake him legally (i.e. without crossing the double white lines) however far to the left he had been cycling, due to the narrowness of the lane.
The District Judge therefore found him guilty of inconsiderate cycling on the grounds that he should have been using the cycle track on the opposite side of the road. The District Judge took no notice of John Franklin's expert witness evidence of the risks and delays involved in crossing the road twice, the risks the cyclist would impose on pedestrians if he were to ride on the cycle track at anything like the same speed as that which he was travelling at on the road, the state of the cycle track, etc etc. Of course, this makes the outcome of the case even more directly relevant to our Highway Code campaign. We were concerned that this sort of thing would become more likely if the DfT were to make the changes proposed in the consultation draft.
What the Cadden case shows is that the spread of off-carriageway cycle tracks is already making it more likely, even with the Highway Code as it stands. This is exactly why the DfT needs to move in the opposite direction, to make it clear to drivers, police officers and Judges alike that cyclists are entitled to use the roads regardless of the presence of cycle tracks, and that they are entitled to ride out wide on the road if they are in a situation where they feel it would be dangerous to allow drivers to overtake them.
I have now made this point to one of the DfT officials who will be dealing with the Highway Code (Claire Spink, who is now in charge of walking and cycling policy). She has to liaise with her colleagues in Road Safety section. Although she was understandably guarded in her comments (given that no decisions have been taken), I got the impression that she was sympathetic to what we are calling for. However, it can't be taken for granted that her road safety colleagues will be persuaded so easily. At this stage, with the consultation now closed, we just have to await the outcome of their internal deliberations.

Bristol to Exmouth - overnight

Devon riders enjoy the inaugural "EXMOUTH EXODUS"

Thirty Five riders set out for the first Exmouth Exodus ride at 10pm on Friday 5th August. Several had travelled up from Devon and Cornwall to take part in the ride.
The route took the riders out over the Clifton Suspension bridge towards Clevedon, and up Burrington Coombe, through night mists, and down Cheddar Gorge. There was a brew stop at Burrow Mump, before a few flat miles and the climb up to the Blackdown Hills.
Dawn broke as the riders passed through Broadhembury, stopping for another quick brew before the final haul over Woodbury Common to the finish at the Dockside Cafe in Exmouth.

A few pictures of the night event are at #
Click on the banner on the article below for the
EXMOUTH EXODUS website.#
Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Hilary Beesley

Hilary Beesley has passed away.

Members and friends will be shocked and saddened to hear that Hilary Beesley died on 30th June.
She had been ill for a long time, but it still comes as as a great shock to husband John and the rest of us.

PETE LUXTON BIKE

Bikes Stolen from Kingsbridge.

Robin Griffin from West Alvington has had his bikes stolen from his shed in Kingsbridge.
Among the bikes are a unique Pete Luxton which was only recently renovated, and is bright red with chrome forks and chain stays.

Fears are that this may have been a prank, as it would be difficult to sell on such an individual m achine.

If anyone sees the bike or has any information please get in touch, or contact local police.

DEVON DELIGHT 2006

Devon rides are a thundering success!

As South Devon shook with the thunderstorms early in the morning, the turnout for the Devon Delight and Torplex 200Km rides was better than anticpated. A rush of entries on the line meant ninety riders setting out for the two events.
The 200Km Torplex riders experienced some damp lanes, and thunderstoms over the moors, although many welcomed the downpours as a relief from the dense heat of the afternoon. There were also dozens of puntures on the 200Km ride caused mainly by gravel and grit washed on to the roads.

The 100Km Devon Delight riders had a better deal, with lanes rapidly drying out, and by the time they reached Broadclyst skies were blue and temperatures soaring.

LIGHTNING OVER NEWTON ABBOT

FIRST PHOTOS HERE

Nev Chanin rides again!

DEVON DELIGHT

Over 80 will saddle up for Torplex & Delight rides.

Over eighty riders will set out from Newton Abbot on Sunday 2nd July for the Torplex 200Km and Devon Delight 100Km rides.

This is the 13th year for the events, which are still proving popular with cyclists locally and from further afield.

Torbay Team heads North to York.

A team of riders is heading up to York this weekend ( 23rd/24th) to complete the York Arrow. They start from Cheltenham and will ride 220Km within the first 24 hours.
On the return trip they plan to visit the Peak District.

Simon Endicott and Nicole Pethybridge near Crossfurzes.

Poor turnout for map-reading competition..

It was a very low turnout for the Map Reading competition which started for Buckfast Abbey on18th June.

A small group from South Hams, a couple from Torbay, and one rider from Plymouth took part in the event, which took in a hilly route visiting Holne, Shipley Bridge, Rattery, Staverton and Woolston Green as the main riding sections.

A380 Cycle Lanes - they'll stay.

Committee rejects Bus Lanes proposal for A380.

The plan to move the cycle lanes at Kingskerswell (A380) and replace them with shared Bus & HGV lanes has been rejected.

Cyclists' in the area had grave concerns about the plan, which would certainly reduce commuter and leisure cycling along the "gateway" route to Torbay.

A representative from a bus company mentioned that in Exeter where there are shared HGV/Bus/Cycle lanes that they rarely see any cyclists, - which helped to prove a point!

DEVON CTC EVENTS

National Bike Week:

Devon CTC have two events officially registered for National Bike Week:
on SUNDAY 18th JUNE, meet at Buckfast Abbey at 10am for a TOURIST TRIAL which comprises of a MAP READING competition. Finsih should be around 14.30 Bring an OS Landranger Map ( No:: 202 - Torbay & South Dartmoor)

On Saturday 24th June we meet at the playpark at the Bovey Tracey Cricket fields at 10am for a FAMILY CYCLE RIDE to LUSTLEIGH and NORTH BOVEY.
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Pavement Van - 27th May 2006, will it be confiscated???

£50 fine, and confiscation for pavement cyclists.

There seems to be a mini-war being waged on cyclists in the Teignbridge Area. Following on from recent council report in the loacl press, where cyclists were cited as having an "Attitude problem", not the papers are reporting that pavement cyclists will be fined £50 on the spot by police and have their cycles confiscated.
This at a time when the authorities are proposing to remove cycle lanes on the busy A380, and squeeze cyclists in with HGV's.
The outcry appears to be a reaction to letters received by local councillors, however local cycling groups have responded, asking why speeding cars don't get stopped and have their vehicles confiscated for what is surely a more severe crime.

Maybe it's time local cyclists' wrote to their councillors, and report some of the trouble you've experienced on the roads, and perhaps we will have some balance to the argument.

New cycle link route - Haldon

Cycle track link on Haldon Hill nears completion.

There is more good news for cyclists in the Haldon Area.

The new link path from the bend on the old Haldon Hill to the road that runs under the A38 is now through and almost complete.
It means that cyclists travelling up the old hill from Exeter now have a way to get to the tunnel under the A38 without having to cross a barrier or push against oncoming traffic ( as they've had to for the last 30+ years!)
There is still no official link through from the bridge at Kennford to get to the quiet alternative route on Haldon Hill but many cyclists continue to use the overgrown pavement by the A380, and there are proposals to improve th access along this route for cyclists.

Family group near Denbury

Broadhempston Family ride enjoys spring weather.

Twenty Two riders enjoyed some warm spring sunshine on the CTC family ride to Broadhempston on 14th May.
The ride went via the lanes of Woodland to the Hill House Nursery for coffee and cakes, before returning to Broadhempston for a picnic in the park.
The village was busy as they were holding a Teddy Bears Picnic in the park which coincided with the CTC ride.

Click <<HERE>> for pictures.

Nev Chanin - 600,000 miles!

600,000 up for Neville.

Many members will know and have met or ridden with Neville Chanin. He's a well known cycling globetrotter who has spent most of his spare time touring all over the world.

He has just celebrated cloocking up 600,000 miles on 19th March whilst climbing Col Sa Batalla on Mallorca.
His slide shows of his trips are legendary, and he has no plans to slow down at the moment.
He started touring seriously in 1957, so has averaged roughly 12,000 miles per year since then!

120 gather at Starcross

120 arrive at Starcross for the celebrations.

120 people arrived at Starcross on 30th April to celebrate Devon DA's 75th Anniversary.
Past members also came along, including Barbara and Jack Raymond, and Mike & Betty Soper, and also Don Cockman from Torquay.
There was a special celebration cake,made by Rob Swayne and everyone enjoyed a cream tea.

Click << HERE>> for the bigger picture.

Morgan Hanson powers through the ford at North Bovey

Riders splash out on the DEVON DIRT!

A damp start did not deter 44 riders from setting out from Newton Abbot on the morning of Sunday 23rd April for the second year of the Devon Dirt bike ride. This year the event was granted permission to use the Great Plantation near Bovey Tracey, and the riders enjoyed a few miles of level tracks before some long and difficult climbs through Rudge and Lustleigh.
Some made easy work of the deep ford at North Bovey, whilst others got rather wet, before a long climb back up to Manaton and the long descent down through Houndtor
and Pullabrook woods .

Links to pictures at

Web photos

There were refreshments at the Recreational Trust at Newton, before riders set out to complete the last section of the hilly ride around Stokeinteignhead and Lower Gabwell. Afternoon drizzle did spoil the coastal views but didn't dampen spirits of the riders who completed the 70 Km ride by 5.30 pm .

The great gathering of cyclists at Haldon Forest Park on 15th APril 2006

HALDON FOREST PARK OPENS

The Haldon Forest Park was officaily opened on Saturday 15th April. Many CTC riders turned up from neighbouring Torbay and Exeter, as well as riders representing all the other clubs in the area - EMBC, MDCC, Teign Valley Pedal Bashers et al.
In addittion to the trail rides, there were Go-Ride sessions and many other organised rides and events.
The CTC family ride did both the family and adventure trails.

Pictures here >>>

Enjoying the Manaton old road on the Devon Dirt 2005.

Devon riders prepare to get dirty!

Some rain forecast for the latter part of the Easter break is sure to leave a few puddles around at the weekend to ensure that riders in the Devon Dirt aren't dissapointed.
This years sees a longer route with the start and finish at Newton Abbot.
The ride goes through the Great Plantation, and then through Lustleigh Cleave to the deep ford at North Bovey.
Riders have all day to complete the event, so there will be ample time to stop and take in some of the grand scenery on the ride ( if it's not raining!)

<< CLICK HERE >> for the Dirt Pages.

A380 Cycle Lanes - to change yet again?

Cyclists reject A380 Bus Lanes proposal.

A proposal to construct bus lanes in the Kingskerswell area of the A380 has been rejected by local cyclists.
At discussions at the recent Newton Area Cycling Group meeting, the plans for the route were presented. It would involve the removal of the existing cycle lanes. Where the new bus lanes are installed, cyclists would be able to use them, but so would HGV's.

Also where the cycle lanes were removed on the opposite side from the bus routes, the idea is to divert cyclists away from the main road and through the housing estates of Kingskerswell. Although the plans are only an outline proposal being considered as a way to improve traffic flow along this road, it was felt that the idea would make it much more dangerous, and a lot less convenient for cyclists.
There is also an idea for a " dual flow" lane between Newton Abbot and Torquay, which would switch directions at the different peak times, but we have no further information about this proposal.

Proposals for Cycle Race circuit and off-road tracks outlined.

There are some very positive proposals for the facility for recreation at Kingsteignton, which could include a 300metre banked cycle racing track, and a 1Km long off road circuit.
The propsals will all hinge on the planning permission for the new Kingsteignton housing develoment on land presently quarried by Watts Blake and Bearne. ( China Clay quarries)
The potential for the develoment of cycling in the South West Area could be huge, in addition to the beneifis to local schools, colleges and the community in general.

Start of 50 in 4 on A380

Large contingent for the 50 in 4.

A large crowd gathered for this years 50 miles in 4 or hours last weekend.
The route was a hilly pull up past the Reservoirs from Slade Cross, and over to Clifford Bridge, Longdown, Ashcombe, and home via Kingsteignton.

Most completed the ride. Graham Brodie had to abandon when a pedal snapped near Blackingstone, and Roger Wyman suffered a puncture right near the end of the ride.

Pictures of the event <<HERE>>

Give Cyclists Room

DCC Tavelwise Give Cyclists Space sticker.

Give Cyclists Room - a grass roots campaign.

A national campaign has begun to try and raise awareness of bikes on the road, in particular to the regular problem of cars driving too close to cyclists. The campaign is supported by C+.
Grassroots cycling charities will be supported out of the revenues raised, which include support to the Rhyl CC Memorial Fund, and Roadpeace but they are also looking for further nominated charities. Campaign Manager Justin Beattie 07957 568284
http://www.givecyclistsroom.co.uk
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.
( Note: Devon County Council "Travelwise" also produce a sfety window sticker on the same theme.)