| Runs |
| AGM |
| Social Events |
| Access, Roads and Paths |
| George Pennel - obituary |
| CAR |
One of the items under the Secretary's spare bed is a box containing some of the Club's old Runs Books. At one time the runs leader recorded the names of all those attending the run, the route and destination, distance, sometimes the weather, and any interesting observations. This has been partly revived for this year, and we have some (but not complete) statistics for the Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday runs. It's the Sunday runs which seem lacking in cohesion. We have tried various things, including giving a destination as we do for Wednesdays, but while on Wednesdays we frequently find people meeting at the drum-up who didn't start with the group, this is not the case on Sundays. There is the disadvantage in specifying the destination 4 months or more in advance - the weather. It is a fact that you could almost guarantee that a destination of Seacliff will produce a Force 4-6 Westerly, while a destination of Loch Leven will result in a S to SW breeze. So, from April we will be having different meeting-places for Sundays, but not forcing a destination on the riders.
What we would like, though, is to have a leader for each ride - someone who has thought out a route. This need not be someone who leads the ride every week, and it does not need to be the same as the runs co-ordinator. Ideally for each run (Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday) we should have a co-ordinator as well as the Runs Sub-Committee consisting of all the co-ordinators. These people plan the overall runs so that we don't go on the same route too often or too close together. We then have people who lead the actual rides. What we would like is for everyone who joins in the rides to take a turn in doing this. Look back at an article in a previous Cycle Forth to see what's involved.
One of my jobs in the sailing world is Race Management Training. In sailing clubs it is expected that every member who races will take their turn in being the Race Officer for a race on a rota basis (in most clubs it may be two or three times a year), and I provide training in what they need to do. I think we are looking at something similar here. The Sub-Committee arranges the runs, the Co-ordinator knows who's 'on duty' and the duty person leads the ride. It worked last year on the Tuesday evenings, about 5 people took charge of between 3 and 5 rides each. We need to extend this to Saturdays and Sundays. It's unfair to expect one person to be there EVERY Saturday or Sunday to lead the ride, but it's great to have a name people can phone to find out about the rides.
So, will you help?
An idea, tried two years ago to get new riders out on club runs; something simple, not too demanding on the body or on time - a lot of beginners are put off by the idea of being out all day, and people's life-styles now tend not to allocate a whole day to one activity anyway. It wasn't a great success and was dropped for 2001. This year Anne Carter distributed a questionnaire to those who came on some runs, and as a result we have a different formula to try for 2002. Read on ..
From the questionnaires returned (only a small sample I'm afraid), there was an indication that a slightly later start would be appreciated. So on all Sundays we are dropping the 0930 summer start and reverting to 1000 throughout the year but on some Sundays the official ride will leave from the Commonwealth Pool at 10:30 with a pick-up point at one of our other meeting-place about 20 minutes later. Riders who need to get miles under their belts should look for an Audax on these days as the plan is for the rides to be no more than 50 miles, and done at a more leisurely pace than usual. Contact Anne Carter (0131 657 2189) about these rides.
If you are using one of the runs cards, please note that these runs are different - meeting places and destinations. If you want to go off on the 'old' run, there's nothing to stop you, but we would like the focus to be on the new scheme.
The final pair was at the beginning of September and October. A participant reports….
Starting from Earlston on a bright dry morning, nine members enjoyed a pleasant
run via Mellerstain House to Kelso for morning coffee at a favourite watering-hole
(or rather a church-hall coffee morning). Imagine one of our group being recognised
from her schooldays some (----) years ago!
On
via Roxburgh, with good conditions to Harestanes Country Park. There was some
local talk about gnomes in a Wendy House. (see picture).
With the weather showing signs of deterioration the trip home took in the Wallace Monument at Bemersyde and Scott’s View and the trip back to the car almost dry. A good day out.
The success of recent C-A-Rs could be seen by the support for the invitation
of Ian Oliver to join the Borders Group in a ride from Melrose. Recognising
the early rise, there was a reward of coffee in the Glass Works in Selkirk.
The route then went via Oakwood Tower to Ettrick Bridge for lunch. Suitably
refreshed the group took in the Witchie Knowe climb and passed through the Bowhill
Estate to Philiphaugh and back to Melrose. An enjoyable day in the Borders,
and thanks to Ian.
A further four C-A-Rs are planned for 2002. To make these work, and avoid
the hassles of booking minibuses, there needs to be a bit of two-way communication.
Those who intend to go by car and have places for people and/or bikes should
announce the fact, and even phone around those they know don’t have cars
offering a place. Those who need a lift shouldn’t feel afraid to ask for
one. We should try to avoid last-minute decisions and a whole lot of cars (I’ll
admit it, like mine) turning up with one person and one bike.
We always call it 'The Hut' but a more sophisticated name would be 'Bunkhouse'. The hut has been closed almost all year due to foot and mouth disease. During this time some maintenance has been done, but of course we have had no income from it. Normally it is used not only by DA members but also by groups from other DAs. We really would like our members to make more use of it, and are certainly planning to have a Club Week-end there in 2002. Why don’t YOU have a night or two there? What, you don’t know where it is? You don’t know what you need to take? Read on!
It’s on the Moffat road just south of Broughton and (handily) about half a mile north of the Crook Inn, beside the Quilt Burn. It’s right at the roadside and has a big winged wheel at the gate. When you first see it, because of the security boards over all the windows, you might be put off a bit, but once the bolts are removed and the shutters and windows opened – and if it’s not summer, a fire lit (no you don’t have to carry a bag of coal in your panniers, Jimmy Murray does that for you) – it all becomes a lot more homely. Turn on the gas, and get the kettle going and it gets even better. All the crockery and cooking equipment you are likely to need are there. Next, if no-one has been there for a while, you might want to air the duvets – outside if it’s summer or in front of the fire if it’s not. Of course you will have taken your own sheet sleeping-bag (the kind we all used to have for hostelling). We realise that now there might be a problem as now many people don’t have these – we are thinking about it.
That’s it. It’s there, waiting to be used – for an overnight stay, for a week-end, for a week. Not all the people have to be DA, or even CTC members. The key-holder should be, but if you want to go with some friends who are not members, that’s OK. Charges are ridiculously low. Get in touch with Jimmy Murray to find out costs, availability and how to get the key.
31 Members attended the AGM in November while a further 5 sent their apologies. We welcome some new members on to the Committee - David Easingwood-Wilson and Warren Sanders are relatively new to the DA, Finlay Cairns is an old hand who has been leading the Saturday runs (among other things) for some time and thinks that being on the committee is an easier job (he'll soon learn!). We still have a key vacancy - for a social secretary. The list of the Committee is elsewhere in this issue.
In the first half of the winter season the Monday evening Clubroom has had a number of slide shows - all well worth going to, Margaret Harris has continued with a small but enthusiastic group of Ceilidh Dancers, and of course the results of their 'training' showed up in the annual St Andrew's Ceilidh. In addition there was a Hallowe'en Party for the younger children (mainly I guess grandchildren of active members, rather than sons and daughters), and the grand finale of 2001 - the Christmas Lunch, held in the Powerhouse of the Lady Victoria Mine at Newtongrange. However this grand finale was followed by a further celebration two days later when we met in the Clubroom for Mince Pies and Wine, and this was the occasion when we said 'thank you' to Dorothy Jack for several years of driving the social events of the club.
The picture below show Dorothy together with fellow-worker Jimmy Murray who looks after the Club Bunkhouse.
So what of the future? The one issue raised at the AGM was the proposal to terminate the use of a clubroom. The thinking of the proposers was that a) attendance at several organised and publicised slide shows has been very poor often boosted by Dorothy phoning round people urging them to attend, b) attendance on other evenings is only propped up by the dancing, c) the change to Monday has not made a significant difference to the numbers attending, d) Dorothy indicated last year that she would retire from her post, and despite a year since then, no-one has been found to take over the organisation. The cost of hire of the room is not a major issue - the takings just about cover the costs. Points in favour of keeping the use were raised, of course. These included the advantage of having a 'neutral ground' where people could meet on a regular basis, the fact that it was not a financial drain, and that we would have to hire rooms for special events (including AGMs!). The final outcome of the voting was to keep the status quo, but at the same time we failed to elect a Social Secretary, so when we had the first committee meeting of the year we were in the position of having the room every Monday from January but absolutely no programme. Acting on hints left by Dorothy, a reluctant new committee member agreed to approach some people to do slide presentations while absolutely categorically stating that he would not take on the SS's role!
So the situation is that between February and March there will be some scheduled events (dates are not finalised as this goes to print), and if you want to keep the clubroom then you will need to put your feet (or your wheels) where your mouth is and turn up on Monday nights or we won't be back in the autumn - oh! and we will need someone to organise a programme too, this could be you.
| Jan 28 | Cycle Forth Envelope Stuffing |
| Feb 04 | Cuba for Cyclists - slide show by David Easingwood-Wilson, (no doubt assisted by Joan!) |
| Feb 11 | T.B.A. |
| Feb 18 | Stirling Castle's Great Hall Restoration - slide show by Duncan Peet |
| Feb 25 to Mar 16 | T.B.A. |
| Mar 25 | T.B.A. (last evening unless....) |
At the AGM the Melrose Trophy was presented to John Martin. Among other things John was at one time Treasurer, and since then has audited the DA's accounts for several years. The Zoller Trophy was presented to the Secretary, Mike Harrison, in acknowledgement of the work he has done in publicity and promotion of the club in the last few years.
is back to its original name after a year of being the 'Festival of Cycling'. The dates are 15-23 June, so get these in your diary now. Hopefully the next issue of Cycle Forth will be out about that time with details of special events. This time instead of having a 'Bike to Work' DAY, the whole week will be used to encourage travel to work by bike, this gives flexibility to fit in with other events as well as preventing people seeing it like Christmas Day. Bike to Work isn't meant to be something you do only once a year, you can do it more often.
Fausto Coppi Road Bike. 23'ally. Shimano Tiaga Group Set and Hubs. Welta stylus V rims. Vredestion tyres 700c. ITM anatomic bars and stem. Selle Italia saddle. Brand new racing machine £600 (cost £800). 0131 539 5136
Raleigh Randonneur. Extras: dynamo lighting, computer, kick-stand. 22'. 3000 miles on the clock. £400. Phone 01890 818033 or email alexmassie@supanet.com
For a few years now we have not been able to find a source of traditional (or modern) club jerseys. We have succeeded at last, and orders can now be taken for any size, in a wide range of styles - with sleeves, without, with pockets, with zipped pockets, for those with a bit of middle-aged spread - whatever your needs they are made for you in the club colours. In this photo you see 80% of the group wearing the club colours. Why don't you?
The western entrance to Hopetoun House Estate, near Abercorn Church, was closed off recently by installation of a locked gate. Cyclists use this route regularly, and Lothians DA immediately alerted Graeme Malcolm, the W Lothian Cycling Officer. He has taken the matter up with the Estate factors, and we are hopeful that, when the main gate is locked, a side gate will allow passage to cyclists and pedestrians.
Yet another problem of access is the path through the Hermitage of Braid, which currently has 'No Cycling' notices at each end. Yet the path is potentially a useful and important east-west route from Morningside and Greenbank to Liberton. It has the advantages of being off-road, sheltered, and fairly easily graded, as it follows the valley of the Braid Burn. There is absolutely no reason why cyclists shouldn't use it, sharing it with pedestrians just as many other similar paths throughout the city are shared. And the ban on cyclists is even more nonsensical when the first section is actually a (traffic-calmed) road for vehicles!
Some years ago the Director of Recreation agreed to re-consider the matter, but nothing happened. And an official letter to the previous Transportation convener, Mark Lazarovicz, also produced no response. We now have a new convener, Andrew Burns, who seems enthusiastic and a supporter of cycling, so we'll try again. If you think the ban is nonsense and would like to cycle the path, please write to or visit your Councillor about it.
West Lothian Council is studying the possibility of designating some of its road network in the Bathgate Hills as ‘quiet roads’ where non-motorised users (walkers, cyclists, horseriders) have priority. The scheme is already being tried out in six counties of England and so far seems to be successful.
The problem with the Bathgate Hills area is that it is favoured for recreation and has several places of interest – Beecraigs Country Park, Cairnpapple Stones, Torphichen Preceptory etc. But it is used by motorists as a rat run between Linlithgow and Bathgate/Livingston. And the traffic moves far too fast for the condition of the roads, “making them dangerous and unattractive for non-motorised use”, in the words of the Brief for the Feasibility Study. There is therefore the potential to identify parts of the network which do not serve a strategic role and designate these as quiet roads, and to link sections of these with existing or planned paths to improve the overall network of recreational routes. These could also be part of the ‘core path network’ which SNH is promoting under the Access Legislation.
The scheme might involve closure or partial closure of some roads, traffic calming measures, signage etc. The problem is that access has to be maintained for residents and land managers, and there must be vehicular access to, for example, Beecraigs. But there is still much that can be done to discourage through traffic and to slow down the essential users. For us cyclists, it is a development we welcome heartily, and we shall be consulted.
The Study has a very tight time schedule and the final Report is aimed for late Feb. 2002. Clearly the Council are keen to seize the initiative and be the first Local Authority in Scotland to promote such a scheme.
The bridge which forms the missing link in the Water of Leith Route, at Chesser, has finally been completed after much delay. The last issue reported on the path connecting the Visitor Centre at Slateford to Gorgie Road. Up till now it was necessary to use the residential streets of Chesser to reach Gorgie Rd. The new bridge now takes the path round the back of an industrial estate, but despite this unpromising location it is quite an attractive stretch of river just there. WoL volunteers have recently done a massive clear-up of rubbish in the area.
Two problems remain – the crossings of Gorgie Road, and of Balgreen Road a little further down. These are horribly busy roads but there is no pedestrian crossing at the point where the Route crosses. At Gorgie Road the nearest crossing is 200m away, and about the same at Balgreen. Pedestrians and cyclists are usually unwilling to make long diversions and will take the risk of crossing directly.
Please if possible write to your local Councillor about it. There’s a long waiting list for crossings in the city, but the more pressure we exert, the more likely is the Council to do something about it.
George Pennel who ran the famous Peebles bike shop passed away at the end of November. "George's" was a Mecca for cyclists of all ages, persuasions and interests, and drew custom from far and near to the well-stocked establishment up the vennel off Peebles High Street.
On arriving at the shop and exchanging greetings, the invitation was extended to put on the kettle and help yourself to tea or coffee, and for most who had cycled there, this was an irresistible temptation. After the exchange of news (or gossip?) over the cuppa, one was invited to inspect items of interest - not all new - sometimes just rediscovered or unearthed and to feel free to rummage through the extensive stock - some interestingly old. A lot of this was held in suites of many drawers salvaged from the former chemist's shop and the drawer labelled Sod. Bicarb. had been re-labelled Hub Spindles, whilst the next drawer - Pot. Sulph. was now More Hub Spindles and next to that Pot. Perm. was Even more Hob Spindles! There were even drawers with just the pharmacy labels remaining, and others interestingly titled Miscellaneous. Despite the mysterious system, one rarely left without the sought item or a suitable substitute, even the wee bit that goes at the back of the whatsit of a 1959 thingamy. It was, in short, an 'institution' with a character, and many a youngster would cycle down to Peebles just to replace a brake cable or light bulb knowing that he would get his welcome cuppa at George's and a break in the trip.
Over the years the DA and other local cycle club runs used his patio or yard for lunch or the tea stops, and whilst riders spent time selecting and comparing items from the shop, the kettle would work hard to satisfy demand. In all the years I have known George I cannot recall ever having seen him on a bike, but his knowledge of the pastime was enormous and his advice on the choice and selection of items of equipment was very sound.
On several occasions I have observed cyclists who were experiencing 'problems' on the road come down the vennel wheeling or carrying their machine - the tale of woe listened to carefully, and then be advised of a local eating-place. While they were absent, 'all hands' were summoned to effect an efficient repair to permit the journey to resume after the repast.
He helped to establish the local cycle club - the Tweeddale - and his workshop was its clubroom for a long time. For many years he turned out to marshal at cycle events run by local clubs and supported them by taking advertising in their publications and donating prizes. He financially supported the DA Borders Group by subsidising distribution of its newsletter. At one time, when cycling was at a low ebb he was a photographer and came to the DA Clubroom to talk on the subject and on more than one occasion judged the annual Photographic Competition.
George retired from business in the summer of 1999 and has since been living in the little house in the lane beside the shop with his cats (he didn't think the cats could cope with a change of address at their age).
There was a very large attendance of cyclists, including many CTC members, at his funeral on St. Andrew's Day when the Revd. Jim Manson (a cyclist) delivered an excellent celebration of George's life, and Ian Hutcheson read his Ode to George to a very appreciative gathering. As was George's wish, the collection of nearly £800 will be divided between the Macmillan Nurses and the Cats Protection League.
He will be missed by more than cyclists.
A typical scene outside George's shop in June 1999 when the DA ride dropped in for lunch - but most of the bikes are not ours!
