Page 81 - Cormorant Issue 20 2017

Exercise CORMORANT VELO 17: Tales of the Shrivenham Velominati
Lt Col Chris Murray
EXERCISE CORMORANT VELO 17 saw 47 students and Directing Staff (DS) from ACSC 20 cycle from Shrivenham to Portsmouth,
in order to sail over to France to join Exercise CORMORANT FINALE. Whilst in France groups cycled routes that took in
some of the notable sights of Op OVERLORD. Groups then cycled the return leg from Portsmouth to Shrivenham, to complete a total of 293 miles over the course of four days.
Cycling a cionados are generally aware of The Rules; a set of 95 rules that form one of the pillars of La Vie Velominatus (the life of cycling disciple), they serve as an induction into the fundamental principles of living life as a cyclist. Since the Cormorant Velo peloton
Exercise CORMORANT VELO 17
formed, it has been possible to notice considerable obedience, as well as a few transgressions, of these sacred rules. The chief among The Rules is Rule
#5: Harden the f*** up. Throughout the winter only a small and dedicated cadre could be found to be out braving the cold, wet and windy Wiltshire weather,
in preparation for the ride. However, as the Spring slowly moved in, increasingly large numbers of ACSC 20 students, escaped the con nes of the Cormorant Hall Lecture Theatre to discover that thing called ‘daylight’ and gain a much needed top up of Vitamin D. The 79 mile ride down to Portsmouth through some stunning countryside was accompanied by
a glorious summer’s day; cycling really doesn’t get much better than that. All groups made excellent progress, stopping at a variety of charming country pubs for a shot of carbohydrate along the way, arriving at HMS Excellent by late afternoon. It was during this trip that exceptional adherences were made to Rule #7: Tan lines should be cultivated and
“
Hydration is a serious business
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Chief among
The Rules is Rule #5: Harden
the f*** up’ ◆◆◆
If Carlsberg did support crews