New ride route a great success
THE greatest challenge that the Paris to Hayling Charity Cycle Ride has faced in its 23-year history was met with outstanding success as 200 riders set out on completing the new Le Tour de Tours route between July 13 and 20.
Some 140 riders set out on the longer 440-mile route which took six days to complete with a further 60 on the three-and-a-half day ride.
They all enjoyed some fabulous weather and scenery, especially in the Loire Valley, the southernmost area ever ridden on the event.
Early indications are that around 100,00 was raised during the week.
We are still the Paris to Hayling, but after 22 years of visiting either Paris or Versailles and having reached the phenomenal amount of 1million raised last year, we thought it was time for a change – and how welcome it was.
Every day's cycling was different, with some shorter 50-mile days in the case of St Malo to Rennes and Laval to Angers, but also some more challenging days, such as the 88 miles between Rennes and Laval - diverting via our twin town of Gorron for a lunch put on by the Gorronais.
There was a 95-mile trip between Tours and Alencon, which was thankfully not too hilly, and a mid-range 71-mile day to finish off, between Alencon and Caen.
That was followed by the last night gala dinner party in Caen Castle, where the riders were once more entertained by the Crooners, a group brought over from Hayling – and they did it for free!
Almost half the riders had sported fancy dress - notably the Sussex Brewery Mime Team, the Cross Channel Faeries, Batwoman and Ghostbuster – on the final day.
Sadly, there were more injuries than normal, with four hospitalizations - two male riders had to leave for home early, another one with an injured arm, from which he recovered to keep cycling.
And one of the ladies came off, fracturing her arm, which was operated upon, but she was able to return with the rest on the ferry.
There were quite a few minor injuries to legs, knees and elbows, but the majority were determined to continue and finish.
The new six-day route was devised by a combination of eight committee members: Pete Alloway, Meryl Browne, Fred Dyer, Sarah Farmer, Lynne Harris, Tony Hart, Rick Hutchings and Jon Tawse, with their superb efforts contributing hugely to this year's successful ride.
Their work was much appreciated by one and all.
President Pete McQuade did a great job of the mammoth task of booking 32 hotels in all of the destinations and the brilliant baggage handling team of Rick Gibbs, Mike Harrington, Dave Hersee and Mark Cook worked with great aplomb, notable for only misplacing one bag all week, which was soon resolved.
Meryl Browne is to be congratulated for ensuring the last night party was enjoyed by all, with dancing into the early hours, after hundreds of miles on the road.
Kerry West contributed tirelessly throughout the year, dealing with rider communications and a host of other tasks.
Rod Elliot put in a bravura effort as support crew manager, never relaxing until everything was all in order for each day, right up until the end.
Now we have to start planning for next year, but we feel that we now have a wonderful platform to build upon, with only minor "tweakings."
A report of the days of the ride will appear in the September issue, together with photos.
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Weather for Hayling
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: -4 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 4 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North
