This was Lins 80 mile ride on her 80th birthday raising funds for the Ark Cancer Charity. David organised, and co-ordinated the whole event including the reception at the finish.
Lin, David and Alistair were riding the whole route from Poole Quay to Old Basing with Len and SueC providing refreshments and support along the route. The ride started in the sunshine from the Old Customs House on Poole Quay and ran along the quiet quayside beside Poole Harbour before joining the roads through Lilliput to the Shore Road Promenade at Canford Cliffs.
With the wind behind us as we rode along beside the surprisingly empty beaches, we had not gone far before the promenade was covered in the fine sand, blown across from the beach., slowing us down and forcing us to walk through the deepest parts. At West Cliff, the promenade was shut for construction work and we had to walk our bikes around it on the beach. The wind-blown sand continued to make difficult riding all the way to the end of the promenade at Southbourne where we were glad to be back on tarmac roads. Shortly after, we met up with Len and Sue at Tuckton Gardens beside the River Stour in Christchurch.
After topping up our water bottles we rode through the centre of Christchurch and continued on the NCN2 to our next stop for a coffee at Noohn Coffee Shop in Burley, 22 miles in, where we met up with Len and Sue again and where Steve Bailey who was riding with us to Stockbridge, joined us. After the short break and welcome coffee, we followed the gravel track through the forest climbing up to the Canadian War Memorial on Boldrewood Road at the top of the hill. After crossing under the A31, instead of taking the next gravel track we stayed on the road, adding a little to the distance, to Ocknell Plain to pick up the route again and bypassing Fritham to Longcross where Len and Sue were waiting with more drinks and snacks.
After this we had a nice downhill run with a short section on a potholed track to West Wellow to cross the River Blackwater at a ford, though we took the footbridge as it was too dee to ride through, then a sharp climb up the valley side and on over Doctors Hill to the Lockerley road then across the level crossing at Dunbridge then up the hill to the cycle path at Hall Lane where Len and Sue were waiting and then Mick and Rod joined us there for the rest of the ride. As we rode past Houghton, there was some light rain, but not enough to put jackets on for the short distance to our lunch stop at Meadows in Stockbridge where the rest of the crew for the final leg were ensconced.
Steve Bailey left us here but we were joined by Greta, GrahamB, Helena, JohnM, Mark, PeterH and Carol for the last 30 miles over familiar territory. There were a few drops of rain that kept the roads wet as we rode through Chilbolton and at the start of the climb over Newton Down, Graham had a puncture and Mark and JohnM stayed with him to help as the rest rode on. As we reached Hunton, Mick's rear tubeless tyre was soft so he put some more air in but at Weston Colley it was flat again and would not seal, so Alistair waited with him whilst he inserted a plug and reinflated the tyre. By this time the rain was heavier, so it was jackets on. The now leading group were joined by Kelly and Cameron at Micheldever and by the time we got to Hatch Gate Mick and Alistair had caught up again. At Oakley, SueP joined the ride as we continued into Basingstoke. When we got to Alencon Link, the Air Ambulance Helicopter had landed on grass beside Eastrop Roundabout, ready for take-off, so we stopped to watch the spectacle until it flew away. We stopped outside the Basing Bakery for the whole group to catch up before riding that last few metres to the finish at The Bolton Arms where there was a sizeable crowd to cheer Lin in. The stats for the whole ride were - 80.8 miles with 1003m ascent.
At the pub whilst refreshments were consumed, Lin was interviewed by The Gazette. Then there was a reception in the pub with speeches by David, Alex [Lin's son], Helena Maskell from the Ark charity and Myrddin Rees, the cancer surgeon who founded the charity. In addition to the approximately £3500 that had been already given in donations, the raffle on the night raised another £500 for this most worthwhile charity - thanks to everyone for their contributions.
David compiled a quick video of photos taken on the day with the recording of a song written and sung by Alex, Lin and Len’s son, can be viewed on line by clicking this link - Lin's 80 mile ride in aid of the Ark Cancer Charity