Page 11 - PBCMarch2020

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 17 No.1 March 2020 11

We finally arrived in Les Andelys in the dark, and hour and a half late, but to a welcome from
5-600 enthusiastic crowd keen to ask questions, take photos and introduce their next
generation to our strange machines. The Mayor invited us to a reception with other guests in
splendid Victorian costumes and with champagne and canapés, we soon felt human again.

Our final day to Rouen was 52kms, and again rain and wind were our main adversaries, and
spoilt what could have been a picturesque ride alongside the Seine. To raise our spirits we
had a ‘race’ into Pont de l’Arche, won by Miss America, our one lady rider who arrived with
huge cheers from the waiting crowd of supporters.

Now only 18kms to go to the finish, but a serious
8% climb was a long walk! But the descent was
exciting…! My Velocipede weighs 45kgs and with me
aboard there was a strong gravitational pull as I
reached speeds of 35kms/h! Tally HO – I was the
downhill king! Again there were hundreds of
supporters waiting for us in Amfreville la Mivoie as
we sprinted to a ‘race’ finish won by your very own
Mr Watty.

Another British victory, as in 1869, following in the foot steps of James Moore!

The biggest reception awaited us at the
finish of our historic ride in Rouen. The
feeling of exhaustion was soon lost to elation
and exhilaration at what we had achieved on
these mythical machines from a bygone era.
In 1869 it was the first distance bicycle
race, and from where all bicycle races and
indeed bicycles have come.

Vive le velocipede !

Vive le velo !