Amazing Audax

I feel moved to offer my warm appreciation for this week’s magazine (Nov 17). Since this is my first letter since August 2004, I trust other readers won’t consider me attention seeking or boorish.

At least three things caught my eye: first, the photo spread from the National Hill-climb. This was quite superb in terms of conveying atmosphere and effort.

In particular, the group shot on page 30 had me chuckling — a group of happy, trendy youngsters, one sporting a poppy, having fun at a cycling event?!

Secondly, the understated but very well thought out letter from Peter Taylor which really struck a chord; there were no winners of the Sutton/varnish episode, but for me one answer is fast-tracking more female elite coaches.

Finally, Dr Hutch has been on fire recently — his on-the-money views, combined with subtle acknowledgement that cycling still isn’t truly mainstream, deserve rich praise.

Oh yes, in August 2004 I wrote to defend CW against those readers who had criticised you for over-reporting the track cycling from Athens — how times change, huh?

Duncan Scott Having read the letter from John Lunt (CW, November 10), I too have grave misgivings about the Embankment cycle path. I agree with Mr Lunt’s comments concerning cyclists to an extent but would extend the indication of risk to take into account the very random approach of pedestrians on that stretch of cycle path.

The route is of variable width and I would suggest that railings to one side of it would assist with safe and correct segregation between cyclists and pedestrians. I am not a nervous rider but I will not use the Embankment cycle path and prefer to take my chances with the traffic. The inaugural running of the Peculier Old 200 Audax your magazine recommended was amazing!

Thank you so much for sharing this event. For just a fiver we had a really accurate route sheet and a gpx file to follow around the mostly deserted country lanes of County Durham and North Yorkshire.

To top it all off was the control point at the White Bear in Masham where I think most people enjoyed at least a half of the ride’s namesake: Old Peculier from Theakston.

Thank you so much for recommending this volunteer Randonneur event.

With 2017 being the official 200th anniversary of the bicycle, perhaps more readers will consider cycling 200km to celebrate 200 years, striving to become a Super Randonneur, or even considering the 1,400km epic London-edinburghlondon. Keep up the good work promoting grass roots cycling!

Reverend G Holdsworth Subscribe to

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Noel Edwards , email

Still happy Safer with the traffic