Stonehouse Wheelers

COMPETITION time is now in full swing amongst the professional riders of course the most famous one of all being the Tour de France or simply the "The Tour."

This spectacle continues over three weeks with hardly any rest days and often a matter of seconds only separating the leaders over most of the stages.

Apart from the race itself the spectacle of viewing the cities and countryside travelled through is itself a worthwhile look in on the TV highlights.

As a preview and warm up to this was the Critique du Dauphine with Garent Thomas having a usual fall but regaining the lead and a win.

Before this though and nearer home the British road championships took place providing a men's and ladies winners who are quite young and looking good for the future.

Frome did not ride the Dauphinne so all is a guess with Sky tactics in the tour.

His early part of the race looks a bit shaky and with Thomas taking the lead over him perhaps the win will elude him.

However Frome must feel easier now that drug accusations have been lifted but many spectators en route obviously do not agree.

Well Sky had the financial clout to clear this up.

Not to be outdone the Wheelers put on there own annual competition with a free wheel event which this year attracted a good number of members with a clear winner and probably by a record for this event.

Drugs and scheming not entering anyone's thoughts except perhaps adding hidden weights in the pannier and blowing up tyres extra hard, never! Certificates were issued but the winner's trophy will be presented at the upcoming AGM.

The last few weeks has seen the hottest and driest period for a long time (not forgetting 1976) which has produced a competition amongst the garden lawns as to which could get the brownest as witnessed riding around the locality.

The extraordinary weather also has an effect on numbers riding and for a change instead of blaming the rain and winds, the sun caught it.

One ride was shortened to forestall the heat but attendance probably has also been just affected a little with football and tennis but say this quietly.

It was reported though that a couple of cyclists rode to Russia some 2,400 miles in 24 days for the England-Tunisia match, they would have over qualified to ride with the Wheelers just a bit, so that would not have helped turnouts.

Perhaps another unusual occurrence took place when the good ladies at a local church actually ran out of cake supplies.

Not tea fortunately but reserves had to be sought.

Certainly the sun could not be affecting this necessity.

The usual annual ride to Avebury was well attended (considering distance and weather) but they decided to leave the ancient stones there.

A lovely picnic at Sharpness was enjoyed rather leisurely no one in a rush to leave the ideal picnic weather which was not too hot.

A ride to the Ampneys towards the end of July was a new area for the Wheelers to explore and this produced an enjoyable day but quite a long one due to the need to take frequent shelter from the sun and plenty of old churches to view.

Besides all the lovely sunshine some more good news for cyclists is reported for a recent survey has shown that two thirds of collisions with cyclists is at junctions, so interestingly good news for all cyclists is Driving Instructors are to be offered training on cycle safety to their students and police will be offered support to educate drivers on safe passing on the roads.

Sounds a good idea.

The higher powers are now making plans for the Annual General Meeting when after the usual reports and some decisions made everyone has a good chit-chat.

Further details about the Stonehouse Wheelers can be obtained from the website at stonehousewheelers.org.uk on Twitter:@SWheelers and teastop.co.uk