Page 17 - PBCOctober2017

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 14 No.2 October 2017 @17

The 2017 winners were:
The Namby Cup was won by Martin the Long Gamekeeper
(T. Field); Winkle Cup went to Sgt Buzfuz (Stephen Downham);
the Crandyke Cup was won by Allen Townsend (guest of
Buzfuz);The Jinkin's Balls award was won by Dr Payne /The
Captain. The Boz Cup which is a miniature, also went to Allen
Townsend; Boz Cup (minature picture!)

As for the cyclists………..your editor suffered the indignity of having left the most
important part of his attire at home – his shorts! Mike, his erstwhile cycling colleague of over
50 years came to the rescue with an ordinary pair of shorts, albeit considerably smaller than
would fit around said editor’s waistline. Not to worry, a belt was found and with my Pickwick
jersey pulled firmly down, we were ready for the off. That said, it wasn’t possible to get out
of the saddle on any climb. Justice Stareleigh takes up the story……………..

The day dawned bright and clear, as the elite (all four of us) of British and
Pickwickian cycling, exchanged banter, coffee and bacon butties with the mere hackers of
the golfing world. This day’s tour would consist of passing, not stopping, at various public
houses, which yours truly had frequented over many, many years. We started along side the
golf course opposite the third hole, this was The Three Horse Shoes, in yours truly's family
for over two hundred and fifty years, now sadly a private house. Over Nomans Land common,
to The Elephant and Castle.Swiftly on to Wheathampstead, passing The Swan, The Bell
(closed, nice house), The Bull and The Railway (demolished).

On past the renovated Wheathampstead railway station; no railway but worth a visit, a
fantastic wood carving of George Bernard Shaw. sits waiting for the train, as being a local
resident, he often caught the trains to London from here. On sped the group to Codicote
garden centre, where coffee and cake were consumed and with lots of banter with the G.S.
Lanterne Rouge, cycling club, which for my sins, I am a member. Suitably refreshed, past The
Goat (current club pub) and on to Whitwell, past The Bull (open, former club pub),The
Maidens Head, and The Eagle and Child, both now closed. Onwards and upwards towards
Bendish, a small Hertfordshire hamlet which used to have three pubs which have since,
all become homes.