Lockdown Resumes Week 33, 5th November 2020
It’s tough to put a positive spin on the prospect of another national lockdown, but as a fully paid up member of the glass-half-full club, I’m going to give it a go. It’s only 4 weeks. Yes, the government has left the door open for extending it if necessary, if only so we can be
Tiered Lockdown Week 32, 30th October 2020
It was great to see so many of you at the AGM this week, albeit online. With all the practice we’ve had this year on conference calls, it all seemed to go pretty well too. The big focus was, naturally, on the design of the new kit. It’s great to have something exciting to do
Tiered Lockdown Week 31, 23rd October 2020
It’s just a short time now until the big election then. I don’t mean the vote to choose the least appropriate leader of the free world there’s ever been – I mean the keenly awaited vote for our organising committee at the AGM. We’ll put out the full agenda shortly, but remember we plan to
Tiered Lockdown Week 30, 16th October 2020
I’ll be brief today because I’m travelling, having spend a week doing some cycling and hiking in Cornwall. If anything good comes from Covid, it’s that many of us have (re)discovered the fact we live in a country blessed with some fabulous places to explore. Club Kit Changes We are almost there on the choice of
Lockdown Week 29, 8th October 2020
A somewhat disrupted Barry Covington memorial ride last weekend thanks to the combination of a persistent global pandemic and some truly filthy weather, but an important way to mark the day. If you were in any doubt as to its value, listen again to Tom speaking at the Velodrome on our Facebook post. All of
Barry Covington Memorial Rides, Sunday 4th October 2020
The first year we ran the ‘Barry’, I remember a glorious sunrise lighting up the Crystal Palace transmitter, like a radiant Eiffel Tower, on my ride to Penge. We we treated to an almost indecently warm and sunny day to enjoy the lanes before gathering for a feast back at the Velodrome to remember our lost pal. A feast
Lockdown Week 27, 25th September 2020
[Editor’s note: This week marks 6 whole months since the UK entered lockdown.] In the week we’re preparing for our Barry Covington memorial rides, I’m not sure we needed reminding that we sometimes take our lives in our hands when we go out on our bikes, mixing it with impatient drivers and imperfect roads. We certainly
Easing of Lockdown Week 26, 18th September 2020
I’ll get to this Sunday in a minute. First, I want to talk about Sunday 4th October 2020. Part of what makes a club, or any insititution is its history. Out of its history, its traditions. Barry Covington Memorial Event 3 years ago, we created a new tradition to honour the memory of one of
Easing of Lockdown Week 25, 11th September 2020
I’ve rather got out of the habit of using this Friday email to give free reign to my self-indulgent ramblings with the vaguest possible connection to cycling. If you’ve missed these, then get a cup of tea and join me for ten minutes. If your heart just sank, feel free to cut to the chase
Easing of Lockdown Week 24, 4th September 2020
The Chairman, James Hanscomb, is away again which leaves you all in my sort-of incapable hands this Friday. Last week, James mentioned the administration of Sunday rides, which is something I’ve been trying to address since I was appointed to this role last year. It’s been a slow process but I am now beginning to