The Bournemouth Jubilee Wheelers 50 mile Reliability Trial signals the start of those “winter miles” for the club. The first round of the long running, 4 ride series is always a good test of off-season condition, a baseline marker for the next few months ahead. Clockwise this year, the familiar route takes us out of Wimborne to Merley and onto Corfe Mullen, the descent of Pardy’s Hill is always good fun, the wet roads and sprinkling of leaves making it a little slower this year. Likewise the drop down from Lytchett Matravers, the reassuringly mucky lanes through Morden seem timeless, “Little Belgium” one senior member of the club fondly named them. Bloxworth, Red Post, Anderson and the Winterbornes, good name for a group? Perhaps not, as the temperature started to rise. The pace is reliable just as it should be, the old hands encouraging the youngsters to rotate the front, its a good project for winter, it can be fast without being lined out! Down to Blandford Forum and up to the golf course then down to the Tarrants, the sun is bright and the wind is light. Long Crichel to Gussage All Saints continues the up and down theme, the left hander at Amen Corner always catches a few out, gear selection is key here. Past the ruined church at Knowlton the pace quickens, like it or not it is lined out now, Haythorne, Horton and Chalbury force a selection and it is fast through Gaunts Common, those on the front can definitely smell the bacon sarnies. An impressive acceleration on Colehill allowed Steve Morphew (Poole Wheelers) to lead in, a few seconds ahead of the rest. fair play to Steve, he punctured twice, chasing back on both times, so deserved his tea and cake as we all did, they are hollow victories this time of year. Rob Pilato, Bruce Cameron, Maggie Kirk and Pat Pinchen served up the refreshments as we re-rode the route, “woulda coulda shoulda”. Disappointingly only 41 signed on for the 50, well down on previous years, it would be a shame to see this long standing ride disappear from the calendar, so thank you to all who supported the event!
Completed:
BJW: Louisa Cooper, Andy Cooper, Mark Westcott, Ian Diaper, Blair Ward, Eamonn Deane, Andy Khan, Keith Hemming, Mark Hitchcott, Jonathan Charman, Gary Chiverton, Rupert Silman, Lawson Thrower, Kevin Ridge, John O’Brien
Others: Phil Gard, Chris Courage, Jason Abbott, Simon Tiney, Karen Stacey, Neil Lebbern, Peter Gray, Penny Atkin, Paul Waite, David Makepeace, Nick Henson, Mike Trew, Alan Dickerson, Will Baker, Ian Roberts, Liz Cook, Carol Tilley, Roland Tilley, Andy Vickers, Lou Dutch (?), Mike Courage, Chris Hoare, Michael Graven, Steve Morphew, Simon Lock, Mark Hardwicke
