A day on the bike around the South Hams, collecting churches. 100km just attainable before darkness fell!

View route and photos of churches

This year's sponsored event was held on Saturday 8th September organised by Devon Historic Churches Trust. Half of the sponsorship proceeds goes to the rider's nominated local church, the balance being for the Trust.

The ride was for all age groups and abilities - you didn't have to get on a bike - just visit one or more of the local churches - see map below for some in the South Hams churches. Some went on foot, others on horseback. We went by bike and ferry.

This year there was a peleton of two (Penny Punch and SO) that left Holy Cross Church, Newton Ferrers at 9am on Saturday morning. Our ranks were swelled to three at Holbeton by the addition of Brian from Yealmpton, who cycled with us as far as Salcombe before returning home for a squash match!

First half

NF Holy Cross > Noss (Revelstoke St Peter)> Stoke (St Peter the poor fisherman)> Holbeton > Kingston > Ringmore > Bigbury Court > Thurlestone > South Milton > Galmpton > Hope Cove, then lunch in a Caravan Club CL field above Hope Cove.

Second half

After lunch, on to Malborough > Salcombe (where we said goodbye to Brian) and then caught the ferry across the estuary to East Portlemouth (which we failed to photograph). Thence to Chivelstone > South Pool > West Charleton (again no photograph)> Kingsbridge > West Alvington (forgot to post the photo!) and then, as darkness was beckoning, cycled on to Aveton Gifford where we had arranged to meet a lift back home. We met up with Miranda - who had herself done a BSR ride from Totnes to Staverton - shortly after 7pm.

Total distance cycled was 54 miles, in 10 hours, including stops (ride time 6 hours). 21 churches visited. We gave the star "welcome" award to Holy Trinity, Galmpton, who not only provided a signed footpath of BRS stickers to the side door of the church, but a large selection of biscuits, cakes and drinks inside the church - see photo!

The ascents and descents we encountered were demanding (about 5,000 feet, according to www.bikely.com - see elevation profile below).

Click here for photos of the 2007 ride. Well done Penny and Brian!

Shorter alternative route

MKO visited 6 churches on her folding bike, which she took to Totnes. Her route was Totnes > Dartington > Staverton and back to Totnes by steam-train. Full marks for initiative!

Bikely route mapping version

The following map can be zoomed, dragged and will also show satellite pictures of the route. To make your own maps, go to www.bikely.com and sign up!

Elevation profile of the ride - ca 5,000 feet of ascent/descent!

Rivers flow downhill! So why not cycle downstream beside one? That's what we did last year - cycling 200 miles in Germany and Austria (Linz to Vienna) and floating for two days on Donau boat trips (Passau to Linz; Vienna to Bratislava and back).

We took our bikes with us on the plane to Vienna and then caught a train to our starting point in Passau. The bikes had to be booked specially!

View route (Moving the cursor on/off the map/photo will switch between map and Google Earth picture).

On June 10th with 2,000 other riders (including my daughter and musical friend, Frank) I completed the Halvvättern, which is "only" 150 km, in 6 hours 18 minutes (ride time 5hrs 49 mins).This is the short ride, which was a mere training run for some of those intrepid cyclists coming back a week later.

The following weekend over 15,000 riders cycled all round Lake Vättern (300km), starting at Motala. Intrepid Frank cycled the distance in 15hrs 51 mins, through the night. His son Edward took only half a day!

We took our bikes in bike bags in the hold of the SAS flight to Goteborg, with all our clothes as hand-luggage - one small bag each!

Video clip - 54 seconds

See Ride site. For results select the UK flag, click on Halvvattern and enter riders name. The search will then give the bib number; clicking on this will give the time for the rider, incluing split times at the intermediate depots

Just returned from two weeks cycling down the banks of the river Moselle/Mosel, starting in France (just east of Thionville, France and west of Perl, Germany), passing along the Luxembourg border (Remich to Wasserbillig) and then through Germany (Trier, Bernkastel-Kues, Traben-Trabach) as far as Cochem. We used a motorhome as a rolling hotel, returning each evening either by train, boat or even by bike. About 200miles cycling in all.

The bike tracks were on the whole wonderful, although the stretch between Cochem and Koblenz (along part of which we drove) was marred by the close proximity of the road and railway line in the narrow gorge between the steep sides of the valley. Elsewhere the bike tracks were generally dedicated, secure and most of the time completely unaffected by traffic.

Note the bike tracks on both sides of this stretch of the river (west of Alf)

View upstream from Cochem castle

Finally succeeded in taking part in the Cape Argus Pick 'n Pay ride in March 2008. 109km (70miles) through the foothills of Table Mountain - past my own birthplace (St James) and the last resting place of my father (Simon's Town).

Course completed as a team of two, in 4hrs 32 mins together with Clive Tollett, also from England. There were 35,000 other riders! See the Cape Argus results!

We'll do this again!

1. The stupid red car that pulled up beside a stationary me waiting at a minor road intersection and then turned hastily right into the path of a car coming on the major road from the right. The impeded car swerved left into the junction to drive behind and avoid the plonker, and then had to swerve back onto the main road to avoid the still stationary but by now heart in the mouth me.

	Plonker rating 4 for failing to stop at the junction 5 for failing to keep a proper lookout 9 (concurrent) for pulling out into the path of a vehicle (other than a bicycle) with right of way Score: 9 Plonkers out of 10 Survival message: when all else fails, stay where you are! At least the plonker's other victims have a chance of avoiding you.

2. The female driver of a silver Chelsea tractor that emerged from my right from a minor road into the path of a 25 mph downhill cycling me (the speed limit was 60 mph). She saw me as she was 2/3rds across the junction, by which time I was virtually in her passenger door. But for the efficiency of my recently serviced brakes I would have been dead.

	Plonker rating 4 for failure to stop at junction 5 for failure to keep a proper lookout 10 (concurrent) for pulling out into the path of a bicycle with right of way Score: 10 Plonkers out of 10 Survival message: always assume that women in Chelsea tractors are oblivious to cyclists, let alone the existence of major roads. Service your brakes regularly.

3. The malcontent driver who emerged backwards from his drive without looking to his right, stopping only at the conclusion of his manoeuvre, by which time I had had to come to a halt to avoid colliding with his rear offside.

 

Plonker rating

3 for entering his drive forwards, meaning he had to exit backwards.
Add 5 for failing to keep a proper lookout for cyclists toiling up the hill.
Subtract 2 for apologising
Add 2 for prevarication

Score: 8 Plonkers out of 10

Survival message: Always assume that people backing out of a drive have not seen you, despite the fact that it's broad daylight and you are wearing brightly coloured "see me in the dark" cycling gear.