Page 24 - PBCOctober2015

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume12 No.2 October 2015 "24

More Tales from France as Mr Watty

rides 860km on a Velocipede!

Members may remember that I introduced an Original
Member, my 1868 Velocipede to them at the Presidents
Luncheon by trying to ride into the Connaught Rooms, but
failed and crashed twice! I announced that I was the only
English rider in a group of 7 who were planning to follow
the route taken by the Olivier brothers in 1865 when they
rode 860km from Paris to Avignon on Velocipedes – the first ever long distance bike ride
and the start of cycling as we know it today. You all laughed, which spurred me on to
achieve this historical ride 150 years after the original event.

So, on 8 August, with a starting gun fired by
th
Brigitte Olivier, the 7 Velocipedists set off from Paris
on a journey of discovery. We were all nervous as we
were all riding original Velocipedes weighing up to
40kgs, had an average age of 60ish, and were unsure
which would break first – body or bike? We quickly
learnt that cobbled roads were painful, hills were a
challenge and downhills were exciting! It was a real adventure in true Pickwickian style!

And along the way we met some wonderful people who were so interested in what these
crazy old men were trying to do! Cycle clubs rode with us and organised picnics, Mayors
greeted, fed and watered us, and crowds welcomed us at the end of each day and
marvelled at our wonderful machines, which we proudly displayed despite the pains of the
day, particularly in certain contact points!

We did climb hills including the Col du Pilon at
727metres, cruised on the flat at 15kmph, and
descended at 25kmph hanging on tight! The weather was
kind with a following wind and we only got wet twice. I
wore my Pickwick Bicycle cycling jersey with pride on
every day, and washed it every night! I now have my
name on a plaque on the Velocipede roundabout in
Avignon, and I am still alive!