The Findon Gentlemen's Cycling Club

Updates from Roy as he progresses – assuming he has enough energy.

Day three and final 100 miles – Day started off with us all going the wrong direction, but after doubling back and climbing the ex’s of all ex’s we managed to make up a bit of time. Hard first third, fairly flat second third and then very tough climb over and into Penzance when the heavens opened and the wind virtually blew us back where we came from. Once in Penzance heading to Lands End the wind shifted to behind us so the last 8 miles was easier. The race to the finish began at 6 miles before the end and yours truly pipped the finish line.

All together an amazing experience, good group of people and well worth the challenge.

Day two – Incredibly tough ride today, Yeovil to Launceston stopping in Exeter for lunch. Legs were numb by the end so not sure what tomorrow is going to be like. 205 miles completed, 98 to go, Lands End here we come.

Day one – set off late from Hindhead and had very slow people to start with, however they soon gave up and we were able to go at a reasonable pace. Weather was brilliant and ride was very scenic. Got to our destination at 7:30 after 110 miles but then had to go find someone who was lost. Feeling like I’ve had a ride but not as bad as i was expecting. Tomorrow is the big one. If I’m still able I will update tomorrow.

The ride event details.
Three Middle Aged Men In Lyrca (MAMILs) from the IT Department at Vinci Construction will embark on a gruelling jaunt of cycling 300mlies from Hindhead in Surrey to Lands End in 3 days, via the 1360 Medieval Route starting on Friday the 11th September.

If you know Roy and Matt (The youngest and best looking one – his words))… you’ll know that this is a HUGE personal challenge, whereas the third member of the group, Graham, cycles to work daily, and is probably more used to modelling Lycra! J

Colleague, Julie, is accompanying them (in a van) as Team Support (driver/refreshments/spare parts & first aid kit), she deserves your sympathy too! (Can you imagine the whinging about chafing, she’ll have to listen to?)

The three are taking on this great challenge to help raise funds for the COINS foundation, which is a not for profit organisation of the COINS group. The aim is to use the power of business to create a better and more sustainable future, for Nepal and Community Projects in both the UK and overseas. Please use the link to see more of the great work carried out by the COINS Foundation: http://coinsfoundation.org/

The VINCI IT Department MAMILS, would really appreciate your sponsorship, which is best done by clicking this link to the Just Giving page, so that you can donate the additional Gift Aid too. Any contribution will be most greatly received:

https://www.justgiving.com/vinci-it-cycle-team-2015/

Day 1 Morning
The group will be meeting the other riders at the Cookie Bar, Hindhead in readiness for an early start:-

Click on this link to see the route.

Day 1 Afternoon.
Click on this link for the afternoon route.

Day 2 Morning
Click on this link to see the morning route for day 2.

Day 2 Afternoon
Click on the link for the afternoon route for day 2.

Day 3 Morning
Click on this link to see the morning route for day 3.

Day 3 Afternoon
Click on this link for the afternoon route for day 3 to journey’s end.

You can follow Chris Budd’s Pacific crossing on his friends’ yacht via this link:

Www.afarvi.blogspot.it

Eight gentlemen of the FGCC met at the Gurkha Tandoori on Friday 20th February for our annual celebration of all that the Findon Gentlemen’s Cycling Club represents, to present awards for great achievements in the previous year, and to enjoy the Gurkha fare – as one gentlemen (PT) later commented “Not Gala Night was, as ever, such a great success on the libatory front that utter cobblers was talked for a considerable time.”
All were dressed formally as is required for such a great occasion, though with Mr Roche dressed in local style in support of the people of Nepal as well as his people in Tana Rata.

After ensuring all glasses were refreshed – with Gurkha or Cobra beer naturally – toasts to absent friends took place, becoming increasingly surprising at the overall numbers (around 20?)as various members and former members were recalled. The multiple toasts might have caused an increase in the creative discourse, at one point leading to the subject of the Good Book with a quotation and debate as to which version, with one member (clearly afflicted by Gurkha) mistakenly trying to refer to the KJV by stating the “St James Version”, but his slurring pronunciation sounding more like “the Sid James Version”, this immediately becoming a source of great entertainment.
Such was the nature of “utter cobblers” discussed during a highly entertaining evening, which became even more so as medals for achievement and toasts were made individually to members present.
A great evening with the damage being evident at the end – not quite such a sad reflection on our ages in comparison to 2014.

On January 9th PT circulated the statistics of attendance on 2014 rides as follows:-

So the bling award returns to RT and was presented during breakfast at Julia’s Kitchen in Findon after the Saturday morning ride on 10th January.

Whilst RT was honoured to receive the award again, especially as 1.67 Everests takes him higher than the highest of the “Canton-ese” hills, it must be highlighted that PT came in a highly creditable second place considering the distance from Mayfield to Findon.

RT attempts a “selfie” proudly showing off the Bling award:-

The 2015 Annual Planning Meeting was held at Nepcroft at the start of New Year’s Eve celebrations. Apologies received from PT, we were still quorate with Messrs Mead, Allen, Roche, Kruger and Thomas present, assisted by a polypin of Dark Star bitter sourced by Mr Roche. A video conference with Mr Budd in Italy established that he will be mostly absent from FGCC events for yet another year, though we look forward to seeing him at the EPM in January and he has committed to a Budd’s “bacons” trek ‘n brek to Pulborough the following day.
Changes to the draft calendar were as follows:
Not Gala Night brought forward to February 20th for reasons I cannot remember – Dark Star must have already started to take effect.
Downslink brought forward one week as our regular PM for this event, Mr Roche (John to Mrs Deekes) sells tea on 4th week of every month.
Monarch’s Way ride pushed back one week as 4th April is Easter weekend.
Independence Day selected for the Mayfield Ride – PT having offered any weekend that month.
In a change to tradition (sharp intake of breath) the new boy RK suggested that the Go West ride take place on a Saturday and Sunday in order to enable RT to participate, and it was assumed that having organised the event so well in 2014 TK could be PM (word had it that he had agreed previously). The new boy was sternly advised by Mr Roche that one change to tradition was enough for the evening – “young upstart!”
AM, RT, and ZA offered dates for trek ‘n breaks to add to CB’s and JR proposed a brek or curry night at 8 Tudor Close. Finally a couple of special birthdays for the ladies have been added to the calendar, which has been published on the website in the usual location.
Finally there was a short debate as to when we should hold centenary anniversary rides in celebration of Agincourt, the Magna Carta and/or Waterloo but with no conclusion,the meeting having been conducted more swiftly than usual following a 10 minute warning given by Mrs T half way through the proceedings.
After a fine dinner provided by Mrs T and welcoming in the New Year, those present proceeded to the place where the late David Richards fell following a gala night at Nepcroft. Mr Roche proceeded to re-enact the event, complete with glass bowl, though maybe not of the same fine Waterford crystal standard as Mr Richards lost that night. As is the custom a memorial was created if somewhat belatedly (some debate as to whether the original event was ’98 or ’99) following which the FGCC elegy was recited. As we started to return to Nepcroft RT unintentionally re-enacted the DR event by falling off the back onto the road, though ensuring that the paints and brushes were not damaged whilst claiming that he had not been able to see properly when probably the Dark Star had more than a little to do with the fall. An entertaining end to the evening.