Tackling the ‘Lost Lanes SW’ Route 18 by Tony Peek

On Sunday 28th August five optimistic Spinners set off from Honiton Railway station.
This was always going to be a challenging route as the first major climb was out of
Gittisham up to Putts Corner. The route then took us down to Sidford before we
tackled the second major climb which brought us out on a crossroads down into
Branscombe. From here it was the third major climb over to Beer, before stopping at
Seaton Hoe for coffee, cake, cokes, bacon & egg bap and a toasted tuna and
cheese sandwich. I’ll let you decide who you think had what!

From here it was through Seaton to Colyton before heading towards Whitford and
Musbury. This is where we then went through a farmyard and turned a corner to see
the awesome sight of the viaduct: an impressive structure to say the least. Passing
under it and looking up was brilliant. From here we ended up in Uplyme where the
fourth major climb was Concorde. We then crossed at Raymond’s Hill and then it
was a left down to the tea room for an ice-cream. From here we dropped down into
Axminster, then onto Whitford and back to Colyton. This left us the fifth major climb
of the day from Colyton to Honiton golf club. From here it was down into Honiton
were we split for our homes and a rest. Many thanks to Claire Barrow, Jennie
Sleeman, Mark Griffin and Nick Gregson for joining me today. It was a tough
challenging route, but we were pleased to have done it: a tick off the bucket list.
Never again.

Next time John Burgess changes his mind after looking at the route I will be taking
notice.

50 miles with nearly 5000 ft of climb.

NELLO 2022

Three Honiton Spinners had signed up to do the Nello this year, back as an event after
being held as a virtual event for the last couple of years due to Covid.

The event was well organised from start to finish. It was nice to get a bowl of porridge for
breakfast before setting off.

Due to the event being held in Topsham, we were set off in small groups to limit the
effect on traffic.

Stephen Driscoll, Kevin Goss and Tony Peek set off together with a small group. After
leaving Exeter, they were soon in country lanes for about 20 miles, taking it in turns on
the front to save the legs for the climbs later on.

There are two different options. The Nello 55 and Nello 100. Both take the same route
over to Tiverton before splitting at the first feed station.

It was here that Tony took the 55 route whilst Kevin and Steve took the 100 route.
The 55 mile took riders out of Tiverton heading towards Crediton. This meant that there
was some challenging climbing involved, with three long climbs within the next 20 miles
before arriving at the next feed station. Tony managed to overtake a good number of
riders on route to the feed station. Once past the feed station it was on towards Black
Dog. There is a drop down into Black Dog from the top of a climb, which put you straight
into a head on buffing wind. It was here that the wind really took hold and Tony was
fighting to hold onto the bike after being blown across the road at a gap in the hedge.
Scary stuff.

From Black Dog it was on to Morchard Bishop and then Crediton taking the back lanes
to bring you out on the main Crediton road a couple of miles outside of Exeter. This was
at 55 miles which meant another few miles through the city back to Topsham. Reaching Topsham and the event station just shy of 60 miles.

Tony was in 3rd place with an amazing average speed of 16 mph with 3780 ft of climb in
only 3 hours and 45 minutes.

Steve and Kev completed the 100 in 7 hrs 27 and climbed 5761 ft at an average of 13.2
mph.

Kev said there was a “brutal headwind climbing out of Simonsbath, battling headwind all
the way home.” It was the toughest Nello Kev has ever ridden.

Spinners’ Activities 2022

Honiton Spinners have been enjoying the lighter evenings and (slightly) warmer days by doing long social rides, challenging sportives and adventurous mountain biking. We welcome familiar faces and new riders to our Tuesday evening club rides, which now include a thriving group for those wanting a shorter and (a bit) less intense ride.

Tony Peek set off early on April 10th to drive to Somerset for the Somerset Sportive Sunday ride. He had planned to do the medium route of 85 miles, but having recently had COVID and suffering with a knee issue, he dropped down to the short route of 46 miles. This still meant climbing Cheddar Gorge which he had done before so no worries. The big question was, would Tony be quicker this time ?

Thinking the Gorge was near the end of the ride like last time, he was surprised to start the climb half way round the route.

Having climbed the Gorge, riders stayed on the main road which was, surprisingly, a hilly, quad-burning route. Tony couldn’t believe there could be anymore climb once up the Gorge, but he was so wrong. With a head wind that start half way up and stayed with him to the finish line, it got to the stage whereby every time riders looked ahead there was yet another climb. Perhaps a few choice words were, allegedly, uttered.

However, Tony did complete the ride and was the first rider to complete it, having managed to knock over 4 and a half minutes off his time for climbing Cheddar Gorge. That was a nice birthday surprise to himself!

Average pace 16.1 mph Total climb 2382 foot 47.21 miles.

After that experience, Tony Peek challenged himself to the 64 mile route and Sara Trumper braved the 37 mile route at the Taunton Flyer, a local sportive starting just outside Honiton at Smeatharpe. Although, says Tony, it was good not to set off in the early hours, the weather was not kind. From the time Tony left home to getting back home it rained. It was so cold that his legs were freezing and never warmed up all the way around. Maybe long leggings should be worn next time! The route, which took riders around Devon and Somerset, with lots of hills, formed a figure of eight. Despite recent injury and then cramp slowing him down, Tony achieved a Gold Time in 4hrs 16 mins. After the climb out of Hemyock – again – Tony received a medal and a welcome can of ale, but asked, ‘Why is there always a hill at the end?’

Sara Trumper also got very cold and dirty and wished she’d worn long trousers. It was a beautiful scenic route, but marred by the relentless rain! She achieved a superb Silver Time, but missed out on a Gold Time by just 3 minutes! She put this down to have spent so long trying to warm up at the food stop! Gold next year, then!

Craig Boyde has been tackling huge distances this season already, including a superb attempt of the 2022 Brevet Cymru, achieving 350km of the 400km overall distance. Craig diverted to Aberaeron instead of New Quay and then headed straight back to Llandovery. Poor food choice at the Tregaron control and a lot of faffing in Aberaeron meant that he lost a lot of time. 

He had thought about pulling out at the coast, but having looked at the options, he decided to continue. Despite the lost time, he made it back as far as Abergavenny, but, being short of time, It he finally decided to cut the ride short. 350km is an amazing distance to ride in one day!

After the driest April for many years, several Spinners set off early on May 1st to catch the ferry and cycle all round the Isle of Wight in the pouring rain. As they are a friendly group, they encouraged each other round the hilly route despite the cold and lack of anticipated views. The Isle of Wight Randonnee is a predominantly self-guided rather hilly route, with food stops at the checkpoints. 
Dawlish is a popular destination for Spinners, so one Sunday morning, an enthusiastic group worked off their coffee and cake with a climb up Mamhead and then, just in case they had any more energy, they took on the rather steep Clapham climb near Haldon Forest.

Payhembury Duathlon 2022

Honiton Running Club and Honiton Spinners are planning a Duathlon on a Sunday 10th July 2022 from Payhembury Village Hall (post code EX14 3HT) starting at 10:30am. The route is a 6.1 km run, 25 km bike ride and 3.9 km run. Its a ‘club members only’ event (so we are covered for third party incidents) and to cover our costs we will only be asking for donations on the day (£5 per person is suggested). Any profits will go to the local school which is allowing us to use their playground for the transition area. Refreshments and toilets will be available in the Hall and there are plenty of parking spaces. Early birds can park in the Hall spaces. Later park in the space opposite the Hall entrance. 

Participants can either do all 3 legs themselves or there can be a team of 2 or 3 to do separate legs. Juniors below 18 yrs must be accompanied on the bike ride and below 15 yrs for the runs. There will be prizes for the first solo male and female and first male and female teams and finally one for a mixed team. To help us prepare it would be good if you could complete the signup form for your team either on line click here or print out form click here and give to Roger or Jennie on a club night. The 2021 results are below. 

Spond

The start of the new evening ride season is fast approaching!

Back in October 2021 we decided to trial using Spond. This is a system used by clubs and groups to organise their members, club activities and events.

After successfully using Spond through the winter, we are now adopting it as the go-to place for ALL official Spinners rides and events.

Reasons for using Spond:

  • Spond is a one-stop shop for all Spinners groups to which all members have access.
  • Insurance purposes. An event on Spond is a Honiton Spinners club ride (excluding Sportives and holiday events).
  • Ride leaders will know who is riding. Anyone turning up who has not indicated ATTEND should do so before setting off – via the App or via reply if they use email.
  • Spond records data of who attends a ride which can be downloaded from the Spond website as an Excel file.
  • Gives access to a rider’s mobile number if they become detached from group (providing the rider has agreed to share the mobile number).
  • Emergency contact details can be stored and accessed.

You can join Spond…

On your phone via the Spond App. Once you have installed Spond and created your account you will need to enter our Group Code BBODK.

There are currently 10 sub-groups: 

  • Group 1
  • Group 2
  • Group 3
  • Group 4
  • Group 5
  • Winter Weekday
  • Weekend Social Ride
  • Spinners Holidays & Weekends
  • Off Road Ride
  • Night Ride

Initially users will be addded to the groups that they rode with last year. Please contact Hannah via messages in Spond to request to be added to or removed from any additional groups.

If you have any issues with setting up or using Spond, please let Hannah know via messages in Spond.

The Spond Help page is also very useful: https://get.spond.help/l/en

To anyone thinking of cycling again in 2022…

Are you thinking of doing some cross training as part of your fitness plan, or can’t run as a result of injury, or just looking for a gentle spin on your bike with a social group?

Honiton Spinners has a new group aimed at those who are thinking about extracting their bike from the depths of the garage and are looking for a gentle, short social ride. It would suit anyone who wants to build up riding stamina, or who hasn’t ridden for ages, or who just wants a bit of fresh air after work with lovely company.

We have 5 pace groups, so there are plenty of options. We meet at 6.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays near Honiton, starting on 29th March. If you can’t join us for club nights, we also have a social ride on Sundays, with a compulsory coffee and cake stop somewhere nice!

Honiton Running Club and Honiton Spinners hold a joint Duathlon every year, so this is a good way to get to know us and to make up a team.

Spinners Evening Rides 2022!

The sun is shining. It’s the Spring Equinox. Evenings are getting lighter. The clocks change next weekend, so let’s welcome Honiton Spinners evening rides 2022! Members will be sent an email with specific details, but as a warm-up, here’s what your committee has in store for you:

  1. Evening rides will be on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting on 29th March.
  2. Five pace groups, all starting from the old A30 layby at 6.30.
  3. Spinners Mile Challenge on Long Range Hill/Birdcage Hill on the fourth Thursday in each month April to September
  4. Spinners Loop Challenge on a six-mile local route on the second Thursday in each month April to September
  5. Spring family BBQ on 7th May near Cotleigh.
  6. Longer Sunday rides starting from places such as Exmoor, Dartmoor, the Somerset Levels.

The committee encourages you to download the Spond app, or website (ask John or Hannah if this is new to you) so details of club rides, sportives and contact details etc are available. Finally, membership is due on 1st April via the British Cycling website. You don’t need to be a member of BC. Ask Ben if you have any questions.

See you soon!

Jennie

Tony’s Spinners Sunday Social ride to Starcross

On Sunday March 13th, 10 brave souls turned up for a 9.30am start at the Old A30 layby and in true style it rained on us right at the start. We were going to go to Dawlish but I cut the ride short due to some strong blustery winds and heavy downpours. On the way out we cut through West Hill and down Aylesbeare coming out at the airport. Then taking the back lane across to Clyst St Mary before turning up past the Exeter Chiefs . This brought us out by Countess Wear so a little Wiggle through the houses and we joined the main Rd using the cycle path over the Exe and canal. It was whilst crossing the bridge that Tony in the lead got a proper drenching by a car soaking him through to his skin.

We then followed the canal path past the Turf locks and onto the back of Powderham. There was then a debate on where we should stop for coffee, having none of it our leader rode on to the next stop which was a hut which sold coffee and cake at Starcross carpark complete with shelter from the sun. Yes that’s right. We stopped and the sun came out.

We then headed back along the canal path after observing the deer. Following the cycle path right up past Middlemore and turning right to follow the path to Blackhorse Lane. It was here that JB needed a rest so he got a puncture.

Being a gent he told the ladies to carry on leaving 4 guys to fix it. I went with the ladies to make sure they got back OK. My excuse and I am sticking with it.

A very windy blustery wet raining pouring soaked dry gusty sun shining ride. Tony rode with John Burgess, Roderic Inglis, Jennie Sleeman, Liz Polley, Lyn Pike, Nikki and Julian Gigg, Kevin Goss and Sue Jones.

Spinners ride to Moretonhampstead

On Sunday 19th September, Tony led a hardy bunch of Spinners on a 60 mile ride to Moretonhampstead and back, climbing over 5000ft. The good weather kept up their spirits and the cycle through Exeter High Street was interesting. Rod took the wrong route when he went off with a guy who was cycling by himself. Rod thought it was Dave who was also riding in a red top! Tony apologised for the climb out of Moretonhamstead, but blamed Garmin for the route.  They set off after the coffee ‘n cake break to drop down a little hill before hitting a climb that even Nikki & Julian moaned about. It was brutal after the rest, as the legs were not ready for it. JB got cramp with10 miles to go so Kevin, Stephen and Tony nursed him back, only for JB to beat the 3 of them up to the top of Long Range.

Well done to Tony Peek, John Burgess, Stephen Driscoll, Roderic Inglis, Dave Hawton , Julian & Nikki Gigg and Kevin Goss for completing a challenging ride.