We will be having two collections this year to help raise much needed funds. The first will be held on Saturday 29 May on Bury Shopping Precinct. The second will be held at Tesco in Bury on Saturday June 26. Peter Carr estimates that we need approximately 26 volunteers working two-hour stints to help with the Bury Precinct collection, as it begins at 10 am and finishes at 4 pm. Please help if you can, as the more representatives we have up and down the precinct, the more money we will raise. Tesco limits the number of collectors at its doors to four (two sighted and two visually impaired) at any one time, but it is still important that the doors are fully staffed between 9 am and 6 pm. If you can help with either or both of these collections, please phone Peter Carr. Thank you.
In the January edition of Spoke, it was mentioned that each member would receive a Gift Aid declaration form with the next runs list. This form was sent out in March. As of April 26, David Jones has only received two completed forms back. If you have a form, please sign and return to David Jones asap. By doing this, the Club can reclaim 28p tax for every £1 of your membership. This will not incur any queries from the taxman. You are legally entitled to do this and it gives money to our club, instead of to Gordon Brown. Please sign and return your Gift Aid form as soon as you can, but if you are still uncertain, please ring David Jones on 0161 723 5902.
By now, you should all have received one of our new Club cycling tops which the manufacturers claim are suitable for an average nine months each year of our English weather. Could everyone please wear these tops on ALL Club runs from now on. The reason for purchasing these new tops is so that we all look like a tandem club (or a bunch of bananas!), rather than simply a group of tandem riders. As the tops are Club property, there is no charge to members. The cost of these tops came partly from existing Club funds, and partly from sponsorship from the Co-op.
In the March edition of Spoke, we reminded all front riders of a Front Riders' Meeting on Monday March 22. The purpose of the meeting was for front riders to discuss their likes, dislikes and recommendations concerning our Sunday rides. Only three people attended. Does this mean that every front rider is satisfied with every aspect of our club?
This has recently been renovated with new tyres, lighting board and safety loop. The frame is due to be repainted shortly. This means we now have two operable trailers i.e. we can take eight tandems on trailers (which we did on the recent ride around Lymm in Cheshire).
Beryl will be retiring as club secretary later on in the year. Do you know anyone who is able and willing to do the job as efficiently as she does? A knowledge of cycling is not necessary, but keeping and typing up minutes, dealing with correspondence, a willingness to attend a committee meeting in a pub in Bury approximately every six weeks and a cheerful disposition are important.
The greatest distance ever covered in one hour is 76 miles 504 yards by Leon Vanderstuyft, aged 38, of Belgium on the Montlhery motor circuit, France, on 30 September 1928, achieved from a standing start and paced by a motor cycle.