Page 88 - MERCIAN Eagle 2020

Virtual rides
Brian Edmonds
On a year when electronics is much needed to keep everyone in touch, we have also been able to ride with our friends online or in isolation online to keep up the fitness as well and the mental health from being active...
It seems difficult to understand the concept of riding with friends locally or even other riders from around the world within the safe confines of a garage or room within your house, but thankfully it is possible... I’ve been doing a fair bit of riding of this sort this year, especially at times of increasing reluctance to head out into the word in a bid to protect the loved ones.
So, I would step into the garage and place my tablet in front of
the bike, which via the magic of technology communicates to the trainer on which the bike is stood and all of a sudden, I’m transported anywhere in the world for a ride over different terrains with other riders
be it friend or not... It certainly is no replacement for time spent with like- minded friends out in the real world but being able to ride with friends safely and compete against them to morale up is a much-needed tonic!
Now as we head into the winter we are starting to try another option,
which is meet as a SRACC group within the simulated world of Zwift to ride different challenges be it a road race on the flat, a steady plod or even an attempt at beating the clock riding some of the best climbs in the world! Next May it is hoped we will be able to ride Mont Ventoux in Provence in the real world as we did a few years ago and only this morning I met with one of our cyclic friends to ride up the same climb within the simulated world... Having done it in the real world it was very similar in intensity and still very much a challenge at over 1900m
of climbing at gradient of 10% or above... So, at the end of that ride,
I was a massive sweaty mess but pleased to have completed it! I’m hopeful as a club will be able to
do more and more of these meet events to encourage health, fitness and of course the most important thing supporting and enhancing
the camaraderie amongst all our members both veterans and non- veterans. All that said we are looking forward to the day we can meet our great friend again.
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When we asked the locals, we were told the ‘Race to the Bridge’ vintage vehicle convoy was soon to pass through. Undeterred
we continued with our memorial service;
the Last post and silence was impeccably observed even by the growing crowds. We completed the service just in time before the first of hundreds of vehicles from the period came trundling through headed up by some reenactors on, of all things, bicycles which was a great surprise.
During the procession we decided that after the last vehicle had gone through, we would tag on to the back of the convoy and had our own race to the bridge. We all pushed as hard as we could to keep
up with them, but unfortunately the group got split. We eventually all regrouped and crossed and re-crossed the bridge.
That then was it, the commemorations were complete. We headed back through Arnhem and Oosterbeek on route to our accommodation. We had a little free time to sort out ourselves for the final leg the next day. We all enjoyed a few beers at a local festival a few hundred metres from out where we were staying. Talking to the local residents who were very appreciative of our
Lockdown 10 Mile Time Trial
Paul Gamston
During the two COVID-19 ‘Lockdowns’ we have not been allowed to get out together on our bikes for club social rides, so we came up with an idea to the keep the club spirit going.
Static indoor bike riding on various devices like basic rollers or turbo trainers and ‘turbo smart trainers’ has been around for many years and for many during the lockdown this was the only way to keep the old legs turning!
The 10-mile time trial is a popular distance as a rider can judge his progress on a weekly basis and this is exactly what we wanted to do with our indoor static trainers, normally takes between 20-40 mins so not too long.
Nearly all of the club members have a go at this time trail in confines of their garages, spare bedrooms or conservatories riding on their various training devices and the only rules are that it’s none competitive and any distance over 10 mile will count and
be added to the weekly result sheet that is added to the SRACC Facebook page.
The results have been very positive as
it promotes club togetherness and the individual keeps focused to try and beat their own previous weeks effort, if even by a few seconds!!
Overall, it’s been worthwhile not only looking in on the weekly result sheet but we have found that the effort to do this has kept us all in touch and the momentum has kept the wheels turning ready for when things return to normal.
efforts both now and the soldiers of the 1st Airborne Division back in Sept 1944.
The final day was an early start with us heading back to the port at 08:30hrs. The mood was a little subdued as we would have loved to stay longer especially for the official ceremony at the CWGC Cemetery. We unfortunately had a 100mile ride to complete to finish the challenge. We rolled out of Arnhem and retraced our route from a few days before. At the
with no incident and that was it. The riding complete. We said farewell to our friends Les and Pete thanking them for all their efforts. All that was left was some celebratory drinks on the ferry and some celebrated into the early hours.
The Ship docked early the next morning but due to technical issues disembarkation
Airborne Museum I pulled the group up and thanked them for their efforts and support it had been a fantastic trip with it going mainly to plan.
Arnhem 75 SRACC Commemoration Ride ...job done!
was delayed. with the road
Finally of the ship we met up transport to take us back to Lichfield. An issue with the bike transport delayed our departure, so the decision was made to send the majority back on the mini- bus and the Bike Van would follow on as soon as it could. Bikes loaded the support vehicles arrived back at Lichfield at around 15:00hrs. All team members and support crew
With the wind behind us
the pace quickened once
we were on the Dyke road
which would take us all the
way back to our rendezvous
with our Dutch guide ‘Pete’. We stopped for some more hospitality at the restaurant in Schoonhoven. The final stretch to go but before that we presented Pete with
safely back home. Bikes recovered and kit unloaded we all said or good- byes. Mixed feelings as we all were glad to be back to normality but already missing each other’s company. It truly had been a fantastic adventure. Arnhem 75 SRACC Commemoration Ride ...job done!
a Commemorative Jersey and made him an honorary member of the SRACC. We arrived at the Port in good time and
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