CTC Heart of England Meriden Cycling Rally 17/18th May 2014

Dennis_Snape · Post by **Dennis_Snape** » 03 Feb 2014 21:50

The CTC Heart of England Cycling Rally Weekend has been held for many years at the village of Meriden, between Coventry and Birmingham. Meriden is the proclaimed Centre of England, where a national War Memorial dedicated to cyclists was erected on the village green in 1921. This year sees the centenary of the outbreak of WW1. There shall be 105km and 160km Audax cycle rides and two Leisure rides on the Saturday. A special film show on Saturday evening and the Centennial Memorial Service on Sunday morning. Cycling memorabilia shall also be on display throughout the weekend. Audax and Event entry can be made via the CTC Heart of England website: www.ctc-heartofengland.org.uk

Dave Cox · Post by **Dave Cox** » 03 Feb 2014 22:35

Thanks Dennis I'm intending to ride out from the Black Horse on the Sunday to attend the Memorial Service on Meriden Village Green

Dennis_Snape · Post by **Dennis_Snape** » 03 Feb 2014 23:00

That’s great David.

Please everyone, if you can join David and attend the Cyclists’ memorial this year, it is our opportunity as a cycling community to remember cyclist who died during WW1. You may not know but the humble cycle was used a lot in 1914. There were Cyclists’ Battalions who carried out reconnaissance work and provided sniper marksmen. The cycle was seen as far more nimble and stealthy than the horse as a means of transport. Unfortunately many perished as their cycles got clogged up in the mud of Flanders.