DARTMOOR CLASSIC 2007 Soggy but successful!

Cyclosportive - results posted.
The results of the first Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportive organised by the Mid Devon cycling Club have been posted.
Full results are at www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk # and pictures of our local CTC riders will be posted on this website shortly. Note that there are some low quality web clips on You Tube which you can access by clicking the camera icon below.

Link to Videos

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# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Amigos24

We ( Amigos 24) are looking for people of all ages to help us raise money by cycling 4000 miles (and back if possible) to Uganda. Don't worry, we're not asking you to do it on your own! We want you to encourage your friends, family and workmates to cycle a few miles so that together, we can make a huge difference to many young lives devastated by AIDS in Africa. For full details: www.amigos24.org.uk This includes Sponsorship Forms, Health & Safety Rules and general information. If you would like to discuss any of the details in depth please call us on 01271 321171

Amigos is a North Devon charity that has been caring and educating many orphans and guardians in Uganda for the past 7 years. Over that time we have learnt that education plays a big part in the route out of poverty.

# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

And poor weather it was!........
Congratulations to the 100's of cyclists who completed the challenge of the Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportif last Sunday.

The Ten Tors challenge was abandoned on the Sunday morning, and as 2000 youngsters were evacuated from the moor with fears of rising river levels, the hardy riders set out from Newton Abbot in teeming rain. However there was little wind, and it was fairly mild - but by Whiddon Down it was pouring down hard with reports of 36mm of rain falling quickly in some parts.

There were a few small crashes with some minor injuries, and many riders were seeking replacement brake blocks before halfway! - but by the afternoon the weather was clearing and parts of Dartmoor had dry roads with broken sunshine and a favourable breeze

Full results will be at www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk # and pictures of our local CTC riders will be posted on this website shortly.
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

SAY NO! TO THE LATEST REVISION!

Cyclists may lose the "right" to ride on the road.

For some time now each time the Highway Code is revised it tends to marginalise cyclists. It may well be that the powers think that we are safer off of the road, and certainly this is something the police would want.
Already there's a growing tide of people who think and believe that we should not be using roads at all , or are not allowed to.
People are being strongly urged to sign this petition to say NO to present revisions.
Defend your right to use roads AND cycle tracks at your own discretion.
Visit this link NOW!
http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes/ #
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Recce on the Dartmoor Classic route.

route and there will be feeding stations at strategic points.
The event is organsied by the Mid Devon Cycling Club with the support of Devon Travelwise # and many other cycling clubs and friends of MDCC.
The MDCC riders helping on the day rode the route last Sunday. Those who complete the ride will get a special trophy feauturing a piece of Dartmoor Granite. Good luck to all taking part.
www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk #

# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

JAKE DURANT IN THE FORD

Record turn out for Devon Dirt bike ride.

Seventy Three riders entered this years Devon Dirt off-road event from Newton Abbot on 22nd April.

Conditions were extremely dry apart from the Ford at North Bovey where some got very wet.
Apart from a few breakdowns and punctures there were no mishaps.
Plenty of photos and some video clips will be availble via the website:
www.devondirt.co.uk

DEVON DIRT BIKE RIDE

Get dirty in Devon!

Only 11 days to go the third DEVON DIRT ride. A choice of 48Km or 70Km of tracks and country lanes to give a wide variety of terrain and scenery in South Devon.
The event starts at the Recreational Trust in Marsh Road, Newton Abbot on Sunday 22nd April at 0930.
Entries for the ride are coming in - at present there are plenty of space available on the event which is open to riders of all abilities.
www.devondirt.co.uk

50 in 4 2007

Sun soaked scenery for the CTC 50 in 4.

Glorious weather accompanied riders on both versions of the 2007 50miles in 4hours.
The sunshine was seamless, but temperatures were kept bearable by a cool breeze - perfect for steady riding.
Most riders opted for the easy ( ? ? ) three rivers version crossing the Dart, Erme and Avon rivers, via Staverton, Ermington and Ivybridge. A few hardier sould took to the moors to enjoy the Grimspound Experience.
All ended up at the finish at the Two Mile Oak pub at Abbotskerswell. << PICTURES HERE >>

The ride is the first event in the 2007 DATC calendar, the next one being the DEVON DIRT on 22nd April.

Danger lurks in the quiet country lanes.

Potholes - a matter of time?

Riders on the 50 in 4 this year encounted more huge potholes in the Devon lanes and B roads.

Some would be better described as mine-shafts! They would cause serious damage to a car never mind a bike.
Because we do much riding in quiet lanes it's likely that these holes don't get reported.
Anyone can do this, and it's probably a responsible thing to do, - you may save someone elses life.

The Devon County Council website reporting service is linked below:
REPORT A POTHOLE: << CLICK HERE >> #
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Mark Williams

Mark Williams - wedding postponed.

Mark Williams continues to improve as he convalesces at home.
Mark & Jo have taken advice, and postponed the wedding planned for 5th May until later in 2007.

Joyce charts the life and times of Geoff!

Geoff Sharpe celebrates.

Geoff Sharpe our DA Treasurer celebrated his retirement and 65th Birthday at a surprise party a the Union Inn in Denbury on 31st March.
Over 70 people turned up representing Geoff's association with his career at Wotton Printers, his involvment with the SW ramblers, the SW Motor Club, and the CTC. Geoff was presented with a digital camera bought with the proceeds from a collection within the club. A special cake was made and iced by Rob Swayne. Riders enjoyed the cake on the "April Fools" run to the Steam Railway at Totnes.

Since joining the CTC in the 90's Geoff has held many posts, most noteably Torbay secretary,our Events Secretary, and now DA treasurer, and he has organised numerous weekends in France and Hostel weekends in the UK.
Geoff spent over 45 years working at Wotton Printers in Newton Abbot, where he retires as one of the directors. He remained fully involved with the business right up until his last day.
All best wishes go to Geoff for his retirement.
<<PICTURES HERE>>

Derek riding his Thorn.

Bikes stolen on French trip.

Derek Ursula Gibbins from Brixham had their holiday in France ruined when their bikes were stolen from the apartment they were staying in.
The two custom built Thorn ( SJS Cycles) bikes worth well over £1000 each disappeared from a locked room at the apartment in Cannes. Bolt cutters were used to remove the individual locks on the bikes.
There were attempts to steal other bikes belonging to Gabrielle Boari but they didn't manage to cut the chains.
Unfortunately the French police showed little interest in the inicdent, as has been the experience in previous bike thefts in France.

Test your cycling knowledge.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6495713.stm #

# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Mark Williams

Mark Williams - critically injured.

There is sad news that Mark Williams (Torbay CTC) was involved in an accident near Stoke Gabriel on Friday 23rd March. He is presently in Derriford Hospital in Plymouth being treated for severe injuries.
He remains unconscious and his close family are with him.
Mark is due to get married to Jo Lamper on 5th May, and had aspirations for this years Paris-Brest-Paris ride.

More details of Marks' condition and hopefully improvement will be posted here when we have any news.

Update: 10pm 24th March. Mark is now breathing on his own, stable, restless, but unresponsive.
Update: 10pm 25th March. Mark awake, and talking. Memory seems good. His injuries are a fractured skull and broken collar bone, plus lacerations. He had a 5 hour operation on arrival at Derriford on Friday to remove a haematoma. His condition is generally improving.
Update: 2pm 26th March. Mark is still improving well, and holding coversations. Awaiting transfer from ICU to a recovery ward.
Update: 10pm 28th March. Mark is out of the Intensive Care wards, and is hoping to be transferred to the Newton Abbot Hospital in the next couple of days.
Update: 2pm 30th March. Mark was transferred to Newton Abbot Hospital this afternoon. He is walking about and generally feeling a lot better.
Update: 2pm 31st March. Mark still recovering very well, - his condition is remarkable considering his situation last week. He's had 50 staples removed form his head where his skull was fractured.
Update: 10pm 2nd April. He's now at home at Buckfastleigh recovering for a further 2 weeks.

Graham Mills http://alunspics.fotopic.net

Graham Mills - 1949-2007

CTC members have been shocked to learn of the sudden death this morning of leading Welsh cyclist and organiser Graham Mills.. Amongst other commitments, Graham was Chair of CTC Cymru, a former CTC Councillor, regular event organiser, winning rider and a local campaigner. The Vice Chair of CTC Cymru, Roy Spilsbury, had spoken to Graham just yesterday saying, “He was as buoyant as ever, busy planning and preparing for coming events including the 2008 Birthday Rides.” CTC Director Kevin Mayne said, “We will all miss Graham; his passion for cycling, especially in Wales, was infectious”. As a cycling activist Graham had few equals. His energy and enthusiasm was legendary. But it was in his ability to make friends that he excelled. As Dave Hill, editor of CTC Chester & North Wales magazine THE LINK, said within hours of receiving the news: 'I've lost my best friend and will sorely miss Graham's company. Someone so genuinely good did not deserve to die at such an early age'.

Many Devon riders will have ridden in Graham's events and been impressed by his organisational skills, and friendliness. ...... A tribute to him from Roy Spilsbury>>>...<<CLICK HERE>>

EXE Estuary Cycle Route:

A Planning Application has been made for another section of the Exe Estuary Cycle Route - that between Lympstone and Exton. Details are available at the link below. If you wish, you can provide comments either * by clicking on the relevant Application Reference on the web page linked below (i.e.click on "DCC/2421/2007") or * by writing to Devon County Council, Development Management, Lucombe House, County Hall, Exeter, EX2 4QW quoting the reference "DCC/2421/2007" Responses must be received before the 6 April.

Link: http://www.devon.gov.uk/index/environment/planning/planning-system/planning_applications-mw/planning_applications/planapp_bymonth.htm?date=2007-03
Application Reference: DCC/2421/2007

Dartmoor Freewheeler Rides Again!

The Dartmoor " Bike Bus" service will start again in April. The service which runs several routes onto the moor allows people to take their bikes up on to Dartmoor and enjoy areas they may otherwise not be able to reach - with a downhill ride home.

Route leaflets are available at cycle shops, sports shops and leisure and community centres or you can obtain one by ringing 01626-367977.

Potentiailly lethal potholes encountered on the March 11th ride. Both over 6 inches deep!

Potholes - losing the battle?

The state of the roads in the South Devon area seems to be deteriorating rapidly despite a massive amount of patching work being carried out by the local authorities.

Huge potholes as deep as 6 inches ( 150mm) deep are appearing in many lanes.
Government reponse to the CTC local campaign to get more funding for DCC# to maintain the smaller road has been to report that Devon has had £25million capital funding, although much of this will be spent on upgrading and resurfacing roads like the A39 and A361, which are not really the type of roads that cause problems for cyclists. The priority seems to be very much towards motor traffic.
A cyclist in Totnes suffered a broken shoulder after hitting a pothole recently.
REPORT A POTHOLE: << CLICK HERE >> #
# Devon CTC are not responsible for other external sites that we may link to.

Trondheim Bicycle Lift

Giving cyclists a little lift?

There have been several news items in the media regarding cycling and it's development in Totnes.
The planned idea of having bicycle rickshaws in the town hasn't taken off, maybe due to the gradient of the High Street, however when a weblink showing a bicycle lift in Trondheim, Norway was sent to the press it seemed to spark of a lot of interest and some parties in the town have shown an interest in the idea.

The bicycle lift is like a moving belt at the side of the street on which you place your foot, effectively dragging you up the hill on your bike by one leg.
Whether this ever becomes a reality in South Devon remains to be seen but the idea has at least been seeded.

Dartmoor Classic reaches maximum 1200 entries!

The Dartmoor Classic Cyclosportif - organised by the Mid Devon CC, in conjunction with Devon County Council, Torbay Council and Travelwise has now closed it entries with 1200 people signed up for the ride.
The event - the first of it's kind in the SW looks set to be the biggest bike event ever in this part of the country.

The majority of the MDCC club members will be bust all during the weekend of 13th May organising and controlling the venet, and friends and colleagues from other clubs have also been drafted in to help out.

For those who have not already entered and will be disappointed, you are advised to check the website www.dartmoorclassic.co.uk to see if any cancelled entries release spare spaces.

Andy Endicott & Bill Barnes on the road to Morlaix..

Thirty Four join the tenth Torbay trip to Brittany.

It was a rough crossing aboard the Brittany ferries "Pont L'Abee" overnight to Roscoff for the 10th Torbay CTC Tour of Brittany, but 34 slightly queasy riders emerged to partakein an enjoyable days cycling in Finistere.
The 100K riders used their SatNav to negotiate quiet and pretty lanes to the west of Roscoff, whilst the 150K riders to a route through Morlaix to Huelgoat and Carhaix, enjoying some fine spring weather.
Some also did a shpooing trip to Morlaix.
Back aboard the ferry there was a celebration cake, cut by Geoff Sharpe the organiser, and a few took the opportunity to view the full eclipse of the moon before retiring to cabins for a slightly less rough crossing.

PICTURES FROM KIRBY JAMES	PICTURES FROM GRAHAM BRODIE