Last year the Pickwick Bicycle Club held the first Penny Farthing Racing at Hayes Track in Minet Country Park. This year it also incorporated the UK Penny Farthing championship. I advertised it on the A's & B's Whatsapp groups, the response was surprisingly good. 18 signed up for the ride.
The 11's stop was at the Pheasantry
in Bushey Park, and in dribs and drabs the throng assembled. We managed
to leave just before 11 and in 2 groups, myself leading the first and
Simon leading the second. The route there consisted of lots off-road,
along the River Crane, Hounslow Heath, a nature reserve at the side of
Heathrow and Cranford Park (where we encountered, abusive travellers,
their caravans, dogs and very vocal children). That soon passed and onto
the little churchyard where Tony Hanncock's remains are buried.
We were then soon at our lunch stop, The Botwell Inn,
Wetherspoons, in Hayes, where a friend of mine, Tony Cates from the
Uxbridge CTC group, joined us. Service was a little slow for
Wetherspoons, but we were soon fed and watered and ready for the 1-mile
cycle to the cycle track. There were lots of bikes, Penny Farthings, old
and new, there was even one on display for a company that still made
them!
There was plenty of time to look at the
bikes and chat with the owners, but eventually, the race was underway.
The speed at which leaders achieve was a fast "A" ride pace, and the
final lap would have had Mark Cavendish smiling. When the racing had
finished, our whole group did a lap of the track, but at a more moderate
pace.
Then heading back towards Bushey Park on
a less off-road course. And at various points, the group gradually
dispersed to make their ways home. A really lovely day out, only around
25 miles for me, but a great event to see, look out for the same time
next year! Thank you all for your company and to Simon for leading the
second group, plus those who back-marked.
Tony..
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