What’s on?

 

Events etc.

🥳Big Birthday Ride on 20/05/23, Tarka Trail 09:30🥳

It has come to our attention that 2023 sees a veritable rash of significant birthdays within our Club that need to be celebrated. Properly. So with the permission of the sexagenarians (not what you think you filthy minded lot) and septuagenarians, we have dedicated all day on Saturday 20th May to ride bikes, paint the Tarka Trail pink, eat cake and laugh. WHO? All of us but especially those born in or around 1953 and 1963. And Dom the Broom Wagon who has no choice in the matter. WHAT? A relaxed and social trundle on the Tarka Trail from Meeth to Crow Point and back totalling threescore miles. That’s 60. Or Thereabouts. Half in one direction and half in the other. Nutrition and hydration will be serviced with a group lunch at Fremington Quay and a picnic afternoon tea on the return leg, with thanks to Dom who has no choice in the matter. There are lots of loos along the way. There’s even a tunnel for the Hobby Tunnelists amongst us. WHERE? Starting at Meeth where we have made special, one off Widger arrangements with regards to parking to make sure we don’t get padlocked in or out and our vehicles will be secure. By all means co-ordinate car sharing amongst yourselves. If you want to jump on or off the Widger Train at any point for a shorter day out, that’s fine but use the sign on sheet to tell us what/where/when. Here is the W3W link for navigation to the parking: https://W3W.co/abstracts.channel.roadmap WHEN? 09:30 prompt through to late afternoon / early evening. As Cheeseballs told me, “it’s a full day out with no specific end in sight, especially for Dom the Broomwagon”. REGISTRATION: You need to add your name to the sign on sheet. all we have done is create a third tab across the bottom of the weekly sign on sheet. It’s there this week and it will reappear next week too: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1CGUPVq0PQnEk2mZoOENXSGh1q10mzIrODqFfnYq5GdQ/edit?usp=drivesdk If you plan to arrive late / depart early, we need that information. If you need a map of the trail with car parks etc, visit www.tarka.org.uk WHAT TO BRING: Your bike, helmet, shoes, water bottles, lights for the tunnel. A bike bell will be useful though not essential. Waterbottle top ups will be available from Dom in the Broomwagon, who has no choice in the matter. A small ‘day rucksack’ containing sunscreen, lip salve, vital medication, warmer or cooler clothing. Pop your name on it too for lost property. Basically any essential that you feel you can’t do without that normally lives in your bulging pockets / bar bag. It will live in the van with Dom, who has no choice in the matter. Mandy, please do not bring your sink, porta loo or aga. North Devon has reasonable sanitary hygiene and running water. Lipstick will be tolerated, though application will be restricted to no more than 13 times. A small blanket or picnic rug with your name on it so you can sit on it and not get a damp chamois when we stop for an alfresco afternoon tea on the way back. The rugs will be stowed in the van with Dom, who has no choice in the matter. Money for lunch at Fremington Quay – they are going to give us a group menu and you will need to pay for this yourselves. Afternoon tea will be a DIY affair: strawberries, prosecco, scones and cream subsidised by the club kitty. Celery sticks for those identifying as athletes. If you want actual tea or something other than the above, you will need to dip into your own pockets and buy it from the cafe. If you can bake or bring scones, please let Brie know, that will keep costs down. And you can give them to Dom to put in the van, he has no choice in the matter. Lastly, most of the ride is traffic free but there is a small bit on a road and apparently there’s an Oasis at Crow Point (foliage not Britpop). E bikes: spare a thought for battery range since it’s 60+ miles. Weather: if the forecast stipulates airborne cats and dogs, we will let you know by 6 pm on Friday evening if we have to cancel. Ok, that’s it I’m sure there will be questions. Please come and join in the fun: we all know that Brie organises a banger of a party. Lots of hard work pulling this together and we want to make it special for the Birthday Crew. With thanks The Committee PS can you ➡ to the forum with your questions in and around this, not here.
Club Rides
 

WORKSHOP: Saturday 15th April 2023, Launceston Football Club

Next Saturday we are running an Off Bike Workshop from 10:30 to 13:30 at Launceston Football Club.  There will also be refreshments and CAKE, and also a stall with pre-loved kit.

We have visitors! A Team from Passion Fit Coaching www.passionfit.co.uk based in Cheltenham are coming to talk to us: Loren Ward is their Head Coach, Tom Ward is their Coaching Strategy Creator and Lydia Dant is a Coach and Professional Triathlete.

Merwyn has been working with the team from Passion Fit and she thinks that our club and our members will really benefit from from their refreshing attitude to self progression on (and off) our bikes

“We are a group of like minded female cyclists who have come together to be part of the Widger Spoke Easies. For some of us, this is to make new friends, for others it’s exercise accountability, maybe it’s learning the area around us, enjoying the outdoors or even just for the cake 🤔. And some of us ride to compete.

Historically, there is a pattern in the evolution of our members: over time, we might start thinking about challenges that we would like to achieve with our cycling: sportives, having a go at a local time trial / hill climb, riding a century (100k or 100 miles), making the jump across to a quicker pace group on club rides, doing a multi-day event like CHSW or entering a triathlon. Maybe you want to be a ride leader or a coach. There is a lot to think about when it comes to something you would like to achieve. But it’s not just about the physical effort on the bike. Psychology is a massive part of your progress and the pathway to success: the way you think and deal with your thoughts has a massive impact on how you ride and ultimately whether you achieve your PERSONAL ambitions”.

Loren, Tom and Lydia have a lot to offer us and we really want the club and our members to benefit.

The workshop with Passion Fit is off bike, but we are going to run a couple of rides afterwards: Most probably divided into Quickers and Steadies depending on numbers. Our visitors are going to join the rides too if they can. The rides will leave at 2:30 pm, and we will need a few leaders if you can offer.

Parking: please park at the far end of the football club car park. The top end will be busy. You can leave your cars at LFC while you ride.

There will be an extra page added to the sign on sheet for the workshop.

E-bike info and try out session, Saturday 28th Jan 11am

On Saturday 28/01/23 at 11:00 am we are hosting a get together for the club, our neighbouring clubs and the local community, all about electric bikes.  A handful of our local bike shops are attending with demo bikes. Adam from Cycletech Launceston is going to do a chat all about what they can offer different users.  We will cover practicalities like type, range, function and maintenance. And then there will be a chance to ride a demo bike too.  The event is taking place at Launceston Football Club.

AGM and Christmas celebration

Our club AGM and Christmas party is this Saturday 26th November at Launceston Football Club.  Check your email from the club for all the details and please let us know on the sign on sheet whether you can come or not.  You know what to expect – lots of food, fun and laughter.

Workshops coming up

We have several great workshops planned in the next few months. They are on Thursday evenings at 6.30pm.

Puncture repair at Tam’s house – 7th April,
Hill Training at Mount Kelly Primary School – 21st April,
Route planning using Strava and Garmin Connect at Diana’s house – 26th May

If you have suggestions for other sessions get in touch with a committee member.

Indoor training

Now that it is too dark to ride on Thursday evenings outdoors, and the weather is sometimes foul, Merwyn has kindly agreed to organise group online Zwift sessions for those that have indoor trainers.  These take place every Thursday evening and on Saturdays when the outdoor ride is cancelled.  Please get in touch with Merwyn through the main Widger Whatsapp group if you would like to join in the fun.

Party Time!

Our AGM, Prize Giving and Xmas party is to be held at Tregadillett Village Hall on December 4th at 6pm.  Please let us know if you are planning to come, and sign up to bring something from the Food List.  More information will be coming via WhatsApp.

CONTACT:
Email: info@widgers.club

Road cycling for women of all ages and abilities with the emphasis on safety, confidence, community and fun!