The Beacon Message Board

Thirty riders out at the weekend on the three runs, which again is a decent turnout given many riders were down London way for some bike event, and others on holiday. Particular thanks to Ian Simpson for leading his first ride, Paul for leading his 14th this year, and to Dave C...for his usual presidential leading.

We're a bit short of volunteers this weekend, so be good for people to step up, particularly on the Intro ride [EDIT: Thanks, Pete for leading this month]. In fact, we are short of volunteers for all intro rides for the rest of the year (note that they are held on the first Sunday of every month), after filling the first seven months quite easily. Please add your name as leader or helper to the other Intro thread

A: Toddington - Chris Ashford (08:15 start)
B: Alcester - George Barker
C: Worcester Country Park - Pete Norman

Alternative B/C ride to the Staffordshire and Cheshire Hills - led by Nick Shenton (see other thread or Beacon facebook page for arrangements - Club points will be awarded)

Intro Ride: to the Stables Café in Earlswood, led by Pete Marshall...supported by Colin Hall.

Enjoy.

Hi Phil,
I haven't lead a ride in a while, so thought I should take a turn.

A Ride to Toddington (The Flag and Whistle) 130k - 08:15 start
http://www.gwsr.com/planning-your-visit ... istle.aspx

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Restauran ... gland.html

I am just waiting for them to confirm we are ok to drop in. If its an issue we can stop at Broadway tower just before.

Route below (borrowed with pride from Andy Terry):
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15532441

I haven't ridden this route before but hopefully it should be ok if used previously. There may be a slight "lump" to climb before we get to the GWSR...

If everyone can "Garmin Up" the route that would be appreciated and plan to take a few turns on the front.
Ride leader does not mean club domestique... or certainly not in my book

caashford wrote: Route below (borrowed with pride from Andy Terry):
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15532441

Vintage 2011. Quite a nice route, even if I say so myself.

Colin Hall will be assisting on intro.

caashford wrote:Hi Phil,


I am just waiting for them to confirm we are ok to drop in. If its an issue we can stop at Broadway tower just before.

Chris.

The Flag and Whistle a large venue and they don't usually require advance warning. If they don't respond then it will be okay. Put it this way, they are used to hoards of passengers disembarking from arriving trains. They are cheaper than Broadway Tower on prices.

I will send my apologies this weekend, hope it goes well.

caashford wrote: I haven't ridden this route before but hopefully it should be ok if used previously.

Just keep a close eye on the Garmin navigating through Redditch

Andy Terry wrote:

caashford wrote: I haven't ridden this route before but hopefully it should be ok if used previously.

Just keep a close eye on the Garmin navigating through Redditch

Following a Garmin through Redditch, best of luck with that

petemarshall wrote:

Andy Terry wrote:

caashford wrote: I haven't ridden this route before but hopefully it should be ok if used previously.

Just keep a close eye on the Garmin navigating through Redditch

Following a Garmin through Redditch, best of luck with that

Easy, just follow the track. Don't use turn-by-turn navigation.

Sunday's B run will go to Hiller's Garden Centre near Alcester.

- Route on Strava
- Route for Strava non-users
- Hiller's website

We'll do the circuit anticlockwise. It's a gently undulating route of 94km (58mi). I intend to lead at 25kph +/- 1, without major variations in intensity. The step up for C riders who feel they could go a little quicker should be reasonably manageable.

Current weather forecast is for a breezy and overcast day, but a nice cycling temperature and no rain. (Plenty of time for the Met Office to change their minds yet, though.)

Phil W / Phil R / Andy - Thanks for the heads up re: Redditch route, and the cafe stop.

Route Navigation - I have had a bit of a play with the route around the town and now adjusted it to run around the the bypass. Hopefully this will be easier to follow (same link just updated route).

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/15532441

Cafe Stop Contact - I have heard back from Lynne at the cafe in Toddington and she is expecting us so no issues there.

I will lead a C ride to Worcester Country Park, anti-clockwise, 48 miles, 2,600 feet climb,

see y'all - Pete

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/6365535

Next month I am taking part in Cycle4Sepsis to raise awareness of Sepsis. Please have a look at
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ ... Birmingham

If you don't donate that's fine, but please take a quick look, 3 years ago I suffered a Severe Sepsis and riding with Beacon has helped me back to fitness.

Hopefully a ride enjoyed by all.
Lead by myself with my glamorous assistant Colin Hall

Victims as follows

• Sahra Derkits
  
  Alina Krutikovaitė
  
  James Saunderson
  
  Andrew Colson
  
  Lee Saunderson
  
  Aibhenn Collins

Hope to see you all on future rides.

Pete Norman Lead
Mark McConkey
Kim Shapiro
Neil Evanson
Dave Cox
Mike Preece,

All good with a fine following wind home, well done to Mike on his second Beacon outing, thank you guys!

Next month I am taking part in Cycle4Sepsis to raise awareness of Sepsis. Please have a look at
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ ... Birmingham

If you don't donate that's fine, but please take a quick look, 3 years ago I suffered a Severe Sepsis and riding with Beacon has helped me back to health and fitness.

Pete

A truly overwhelming turnout for today's Alternative Club ride to North Staffs.

Thank you to all who made the trip up North and for making it a really enjoyable ride. I hope everyone enjoyed the route as much as I did showing you around my home County and surrounding areas.

On today's epic ride were:-

Nick Shenton (Leading)
Carolyn Clegg
Helen Jamieson
Andy (Froome Dog) Wrightson
Andy Terry
Neil Lynch
Simon Turner
Huan Dong
Ryan Evanson
Phil Elwell
Nathan Burton
Jordan

No incidents to report as such but apologies to Nathan & Jordan who we lost within the last few hundred meters of finishing.

Also thanks to Nick & Steve from Black Horse Velo for joining us on the ride today.

A small but perfectly formed group made its way down to Broadway and onto Toddington:

Chris Ashford (L)
Martin McGowan
Keith Adcock

Headwind on the way out and tailwind on the way back. Flat route with one big climb up Dovers Hill to Broadway Tower.

Flag and Whistle Cafe was quick and efficient, and we were in and out in <30mins after beans on toast in the sunshine. Recommended as an alternative to Broadway Tower Cafe if you are in the area.

Thanks to all for the company and good sharing of turns on the front!

It was a lovely (if rather blowy) day for a bike ride and eight people joined me on today's B run to Hiller's. Everyone except me could easily have gone a lot faster, but they tolerated my pedestrian pace-setting with good grace and I was grateful for their company. Congratulations to guest rider Steve Robinson, who appeared to find his first Beacon club run a stroll in the park.

We were:
George Barker (leading)
John Hitchcock
Matt Hale
Vince Tennant
Alan Weaver
Leonie Balter
Gary Macintosh
Ian Simpson
Steve Robinson (guest)

Also at the café were:
Tony Webb
Jane Herrin
Dave Cole

Ian had a **flat** on the way out and Matt snapped a gear cable near the finish. Otherwise no incidents.

Thanks for the ride today Pete very enjoyable and innovative tour of the Lickey up market real estate on the way home.