My lad, Peter, finished his GCSE's recently, so just to take his mind off things for a few days I took him down to Lourdes. On the way we stopped off at Clermont-Ferrand and stayed with friends over night. As we had our bikes with us, Peter and I had some practice at hill climbing as there are two nice rides near to where we were staying, but we only managed one.

'Race you to the top Dad', yelled Peter as he flew past me.

As I was puffing and panting like an out of tune steam engine by this stage I was in no fit state to reply, and let him get on with it. Having done this ride in the past I remembered that there was a very nice café at the top, so you can imagine my disappointment when I discovered that it had closed down!

While we were admiring the view, Peter said those words that send shudders down the spine of every parent, no matter how old the children may be,

'Dad, I feel sick'!

He had made the mistake of going too hard too soon after breakfast, and cooling down too quickly, and I shall spare you the gory details of the next few minutes, but he came down the hill an older, wiser man.

After dinner we continued our journey south and arrived in Lourdes for 9pm. We did all our booking and travel arrangements over the Internet, but we discovered that not everything is fool proof doing things this way. We thought that we would be staying in a modest three star hotel, but we were actually in the lap of four-star luxury! It seems that whoever compiled the Lourdes web site put the E-mail address that we used against the wrong hotel! But we did enjoy it nonetheless!

The following day Peter and I went on a little bike ride. There was a Randonee event that day on a section of the route that would be used on the Tour. The local cycling clubs take advantage of the closed roads and have the most amazing rides with a very high turn out. Peter and I did try to get to Hautacamp, but on that day there was blistering heat and I couldn't do it. We had something to drink (non-alcoholic I must add), and headed for home. We got mixed up in the Randonee and I overtook a bunch of fast men. Peter stayed with them for a bit, chatting. Between them they devised a plan to catch me up and pass me, which they did with consummate ease, and they moved Peter to the front to bring him home like the champion of the team.

But what a difference a day makes. Peter and I swam out to the foot of Hautacamp. We should have cycled but it was so wet that any two-wheeled activity should be left to the professionals or the seriously insane. We ensconced ourselves in a café, warmed ourselves up and waited for the Tour to arrive. I took our video camera with us, the results were, ….interesting! I shall not be giving up my day job! There was a television in the café, so we could keep abreast of events in the Tour. When Otxoa came past us, it looked like he was only just warming up. But my hat goes off to Lance Armstrong. He was two bunches behind, yet he made up nearly 10 minutes on that one hill to take the Yellow Jersey.

We would have liked to have followed the Tour for a little longer, but time was against us, so on the Tuesday we set off for home. The organisation that must go into staging a bike race that lasts for three weeks must be phenomenal. Long may the Tour continue and long may there be cyclists who have the ability to ride such gruelling events.

Page 3 Model

Make: Zeus

Owner: Alice Edwards

Vital Statistics: Frame tubing, Columbus Gara, size 52cm

Equipped mostly with Shimano RSX with a few unnamed bits to complete it.

Maximum Speed: 70mph, but it has to be said that the bike was in the back of a car on the motorway at the time!

Has it ever let you down? Only a few punctures. The last evening league that I did I found yet another pothole in the road and caught it. Only when I got to the clubhouse did I realise that I had yet another puncture, and I was down to my last tube. It is amazing the amount of attention that a bike in bits draws! All of a sudden I was surrounded by willing helpers who were only too keen to get their hands dirty while I sat back and enjoyed the scenery.

Have the RTTC banned it yet? Not yet but given enough time then I am sure that they might find something so unforgivable about it, like tear drop tubing, that they will deem it an unfair advantage when placed on a roof rack.

IN A MOMENT OF MADNESS RON HAS AGREED TO RUN AN EVENT WITHIN AN EVENT

SO AS PART OF THE LAST CLUB RACE OF THE YEAR NAMELY THE CLUB 18.5 ON THE 15^TH OCT YOU MAY WISH TO TAKE PART IN THE

SPLITZER SPECIAL

SPONSORED BY THE SAS ( SYKES AND SONS !!!!)

AND YES YOU’VE GUESSED IT THE PRIZE IS A BOTTLE OF WHITE WINE AND A BOTTLE OF SODA

THE RULES SUCH AS THEY ARE IS THAT THIS IS A ( NOTE THE POLITICAL CORRECTNESS ) A PARENT AND PROGENY COMPETITION.

SOLO EVENT BUT TIMES OF THE TWO ENTRANTS TO BE ADDED TOGETHER

SO GRAB YOUR GRANNIE (OR GRANDAD ) OR KICK A KID OUT OF BED

AND GET ON YOUR BIKE. YOU DON’T GET THE TREASURER GIVING THINGS AWAY VERY OFTEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

TERRY SYKES

Events for August

5^th August F1/25

12^th August F1/10

19^th August N15/10

20^th August F1/25

27^th August F1/25

Entries to Lyndon Lewis no later than 14 days before the events you wish to enter. Usual rules apply

And Finally

The Evening League 2000 is nearly over. There is only one race left and most of the major places have been decided. Most riders have seen a steady improvement over the last 14 weeks, but some like me have just been consistent. So I should eat less chocolate and drink less beer, so perhaps next year I may see some improvement!

But one story that amused me was that one of the competitors only gave his bike the minimum inspection at the start of the season, but he couldn't understand why he was slower this year than last. He put his poor performance down to all sorts of reasons, made adjustments to his training plan, but still no improvement to his cycling. So he had a better look at his bike………and discovered that the back break was binding! After the fault was rectified there was no stopping the young man (no pun intended) while he went on to improve his standing, and buy the coffees for his mates. And finally ,finally there were several club members who went over to France, many of you will have had your bikes out on holiday. This is your newsletter and, you have been warned, unless you wish to hear about my holidays and see my video of the Tour….send some copy NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!