The Wheelers' Weekend in Ardres - Some Impressions

From Richard Henderson

I thoroughly enjoyed the trip to Ardres. It was well organized with Peter even collecting my bike on Friday evening to give me the extra time on Saturday morning to let me fulfill parental duties by taking the family to swimming lessons first thing on Saturday. We arrived at Dover in good shape and did manage to get on the ferry despite the best efforts of Sea France. Once on board we settled down to an enjoyable crossing - discussing whether Barry and Rob (Danny's friend from Lea Valley) were going to attempt the 160k or not with the Giro D'Italia and the Cup final on in the background. After disembarking and sorting things out in the car park, Peter led us the 10 miles to Ardres. One abiding memory will be 'Lord' Valdis cycling along in his casual attire (jeans and a black jacket) amongst the group of lycra clad wheelers. We met up with Graham, Sonia, Liz and Danny in a cafe by the lake before heading to town to try to find the two hotels. Parking ourselves outside a bike shop, naturally enough, different groups went looking for the hotels, until we got a bit restless while Jason was away and so we all went for a quick 2 min ride through the main square.

We all checked in, parked the bikes outside, with Rob negotiating successfully to put his brand new bike inside, before freshening up and heading to the restaurant. I was lucky that my double with Danny turned out to be a family room that could have accommodated 5 people, so we had our own room and en suite each. At the restaurant we enjoyed a good meal, with Bruno in particular waxing lyrical over his t-bone steak that had only been shown the pan from the other side of the room. A great end to a good day with everyone looking forward to the next day's event.

I slept really well, though there were reports of some phantom snorers at breakfast - a piece baguette, jam and coffee - and with that we headed to the start by the lake. I think the organisers were surprised that we turned up so late to do the 100k (and it was only 8:30 am), and with some comments that the route was a bit hilly ringing in our ears, we set off on the 100k (Danny, Rob, Peter, Barry, Valdis, Richard, Jason) leaving Bruno to wait for the others and the shorter route. Rob did enter the 160k but decided to do the 100k after 15 mins as the two routes were supposed to diverge after only a few km out of Ardres. The route was superbly marked so I only made one wrong turn in the first few mins (apparently it took the organisers 12 hours to spray paint the markings on the route the day before), and we left Ardres with a steady climb followed by a fast downhill and some hairpin bends. We followed a pleasant route through the countryside before hitting the first really steep hill after which we gratefully found the first refreshment stop (35 km).

The next bit of the course was fast with the wind behind ending with a long fast downhill where most people hit 40 mph. Barry had some bike troubles and cycled with Valdis, leaving a group of 5 of us (Peter, Rob, Danny, Jason and Richard) to plough ahead. Sadly the downhill with the wind behind us had to end and back we climbed (with a side wind) up a very long drag to the second pit stop (60km). The hosts there reliably informed us that there was only one more big hill and then it was downhill all the way home. So after 70 km we hit the hill - brutal for the first section - and to top it off a 2-3 km gentle climb into the wind. Our group then rolled into the final refreshment stop (80km) and just before we left, Brian, who had set off about 30-45 mins after us from the start, caught us up. He was helped (or was that hindered) by not being able to stop at any of the previous refreshment stations as they had all packed up and shut down before he reached them. Anyway with true grace, we left him eating chocolate and set off for home, and we all caught out by the short, very sharp climb just 2 mins from the stop. From there on home, it was mainly downhill. I fell behind suffering some stomach pain, so Peter, Danny, Rob and Jason lead the 100k cyclists in. Brian caught me on the home straight, and at the end we met up with the rest of the Wheelers and settled down to some superb local hospitality - beer, sandwiches, certificates, banter, a song and cemented relations with Les Amis Cyclos de l'Ardresis.

We rode back to Calais into the wind again and managed to get an earlier ferry. At Dover, Danny and Graham took the other drivers to the car park to save us all from cycling 4 miles up hill, and we then parted company and headed for home.

The whole weekend in my opinion was a huge success and I would go again another year, as the company was good and the racing was excellent. Thanks and great credit should go to Peter first for his suggestion to go Ardres, and then for his planning and organisation. And to cap it all we won a trophy!

From Brian Hill

An excellent weekend expertly organised by Peter. Due to a breakfast time difference, Steve and I started the 100K ride about 50 minutes after most of the others. By the time I reached the first two refreshment stops they had packed up and gone, but I eventually reached the final stop just in time to find most of the Wheelers finishing their drinks and ready to go. A quick hello and they promptly left me again. I finished the oranges and ate lots of chocolate before setting off in hot-pursuit to meet up at the end and find out we'd won the cup for “Best International Team".

From Jason Thorpe

My first cycling foray into foreign fields has left me wondering how long it will be before another is planned?

The trip included some wonderful hospitality, rolling French countryside, the occasional big hill and a taste of home with a nasty head wind. But alas not a pothole in sight!

I would like to thank Peter for all his hard work arranging the trip, which I feel was a huge success.