The big ride that took place a year ago. Next ride 26th May

The Great RNLI Ride-16th July.

They did it! Malcolm, Mark, Craig and Norman cycled in one day from Reading to the RNLI College in Poole to raise more than £1000.00 for the RNLI.  The highlights of the ride were rain all morning, strong winds all afternoon, and stinging sand along the seafront from Southbourne to Poole. This was topped by three punctures and the need for two new tyres. As Rodney Britton, the RNLI Reading Branch Chairman, said many times to them "but you made it" and they did.

They started well, arriving at the first two stops on time. They set off for the third in the rain. Then the going got tough. They got frozen while they mended their first puncture and were late arriving at the next stop but The Mill Arms, Dunbridge had all they needed.

They battled wind across the New Forest. Norman said “It was like riding in the Tour de France and having a Mark Cavendish moment racing for an imaginary finish line.”

He also said “Our RNLI Cycle shirts, which we were all wearing, caught the eyes of people we passed and we even gained extra sponsorship as a result”.

After cycling up the final hill they arrived in Poole and were greeted by many photo calls in front of the RNLI statue.

Anyone interested in riding next year please email norman.pitcher@hotmail.co.uk

New start

New bloggs starting soon.

This is the way forward

This is the fascinating film http://vimeo.com/29401217 At least watch the start to see how the Dutch made cycling normal in a carcentred world

2012Reading to Poole Cycle Ride

Next year The Reading to Poole Cycle Ride to raise money for the RNLI will take place on Saturday 26th May 2012. Please put the date in your diary and let others know if you think they would like to take part and then put them in touch with me at norman.pitcher@hotmail.co.uk

We are also thinking about a new innovation of organising two shorter rides, one along the sea front from Southbourne Coast Road Car Park to the RNLI College and Headquarters at Poole (This coincides with the end stage of the full ride) or starting the ride with everyone and ending at Sherbourne St John which is near Basingstoke and is the first stage of the full ride.

Mark Cavendish, Amy Winehouse, and Norway

Mark and his team were brilliant today but other news pretty bad.

Fashion Show before the ride.

Before the RNLI cycle ride I spent a few days in Cornwall but returned in time to get my kit ready for the ride. I also got back in time to take part in the Reading Fashion show as a male model. Over the past two years there have been many people taking part in dress making classes. Some have been beginners like me and others have been undertaking dressmaking qualifications. Everybody's work is used for the biannual fashion show.
It was a great night out and the first time I have been on a fashion runway. My favorite dress was based on a Mondrian work in grey and black.