Dear All,

We have been silent for most of 2014, so just to let you know 2015 will be more enlightening for our faithful followers. 

Just to update you on a few things.

The Cambridge-Norwich ride has continued to be a favourite with the Cider Riders although 2013 saw ED and TS travelling from Chester to Cambridge to meet up with CJ who cycled out from Cambridge to Alconbury to a local pub only to discover it had been turned into a house. Never deterred the 3 found another watering hole a few miles down the road to enjoy some refreshment.

CSM ventured single handed into Europe and made it back in one piece and has now started riding a proper bike sitting up straight

Unfortunately the following day CJ suffered 5 punctures before he made it to the outskirts of Cambridge and ran out of inertubes and patience and jumped on train instead.

ED & TS's Sunday and Wednesday rides continued a pace with various hangers on as they traveled around North and South Norfolk.

​June 2014 saw a number of Cider Riders venture up to Shropshire and as luck would have it, ED managed to find his very own Mytton Arms Pub! typical.

​On the 1st June, CJ set sail alone on the Norwich 100. He remembered everything except the sun cream and still has the sun burn lines to this day. It was a beautiful ride apart from that.

September saw Cambridge Norwich again and by chance, CJ had taken delivery of his new Donhou 064. A beautiful bit of kit living up to all expectations. Despite enjoying the Cannonade for many long trips, the Donhou is a real bit of British engineering with Campag Athena gearing and a set of wheels built by Gav at Augustwheelworks. thanks guys.

​The Cambridge run was just CJ and ED and following a new route down which we will use again, a few more hours at the Fort St. George on the river Cam allowed the Cider to quench the thirst.

Onward to Girton where ED had made amends for his earlier faux pas with ED's parents where more alcohol and pasta flowed.

As a result CJ was feeling emotional the following day and soon slowed the pace sufficiently to lose sight of ED as well as losing sight of the way home and took a wrong turn adding a good 10 miles to the journey. 

Eventually he made it home and rested!!

This was again the last major ride of the year, and the Sunday and Wednesday outings kept the hardcore going throughout the winter months.

​The 4th July 2015 saw ED, CJ and CT meeting the challenge of the Dunwich Dynamo. The first challenge however was actually gettingthe bikes to London for the start with Greater Anglia limiting the number of bikes allowed on the train. As a result we had to venture down separately and left Liverpool Street at around 22.30h. Obviously we had some catching up to do but but managed to see the red flashing lights of the tailenders as we ploughed through Epping.

​Arriving in one piece at the beach we braved the cold water which was a perfect wake up call before cycling back to Norwich via Beccles for a Fat Boy breakfast.

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN

Well its been a while since we last updated this blog so apologies to all our avid followers.

We have had a couple of trips in the intervening period with The Cider Riders venturing to Wales 

THE CIDER RIDERS IN 2015

An early incarnation of the Cider Riders were the 3 Cycleers, two of whom we now know as Emperor Dave and Tzar Steve venturing from Norwich to the wilds of Scotland 750 miles away to see PB's (now Centurion PB) new /old house! Along the way the boys lost one member, but seemed to pick up quite a few oddities from the hedgerow including a bra that they could both fit into! A further adventure the following year around Scotland with CPB and the future was set.

After a few visits to Reggies Tea Stall on Norwich Market the concept of the Cider Riders took shape and over a period of time various rides with different potential members took place.

JULY 2012

In July ED had a jaunt with George Dawes through France from Limoges, over the Pyrenees in to Spain ending up in Sitges, just south of Barcelona. He assures us that he was unaware that it was the gay capital of Europe before riding in wearing nothing but his tight lycra and a broad smile! We understand that rather than rushing back to the UK he stayed for a couple of days, enjoying whatever the local scene could offer a weary traveller!

SEPTEMBER 2012

One of those early rides was the Cambridge to Norwich ride at the end of September 2012 involving ED, TS and the somewhat inexperienced CJ. CSM was also present on his recumbent.  (It was a year to the day that TS had experienced a run in with a hit and run driver, breaking his hip and resulting in 6 weeks in bed with nothing to do other than bombard other members with his inappropriate jokes).  ED had the inspired idea to ride down the day before and take over CJ folks house. Despite CJ experiencing some unexpected cramp just outside Cambridge, the three Cider Riders made it to the Fort St George on the river Cam. Although there was a near disaster when CJ turned down another Bulmers in order to savour the nights anticipated Claret, the ride was a success and the return journey was eased by a tail wind!

During the remainder of the year and the early part of 2013, ED was constantly planning and re planning the route, time table and general mechanics of a  trip to be named The Black Forest Boogie! Why no one else offered to assist ED is still a mystery to us all. Early July 2013  fast approaches and a number of the members will set sail, ED and TS with their new Donhou hand built bikes. (Don 41 & Don 42).

FEBRUARY 2013

In the interim, ED, CJ & CTT had the opportunity to visit the cycling mecca of the Velodrome along with some other fellow cyclists on the fixed wheel, no breaks mean machines. A boozy evening and required curry were the pre session training carried out by our intrepid three if not appreciated by some room mates the night before. Two 1 hour sessions were fantastic fun up until 1 hour and 55 minutes when some young cyclist thought he could slow down on the banked bend, slipping down and wiping out ED, breaking his collar bone in the process. A evening at the Manchester Royal Infirmary confirmed the worst, although the fringe benefits for CTT and CJ dressing ED in rubber gloves outweighed any earlier concern and ED made a swift recovery to ensure the BFB was on track.

JUNE 2013

June 1st Norwich 100

The Norwich 100 was a long awaited event and ED, TS, CJ, CTY & CBJ all turned up to venture round. Unfortunately, CJ put his back out two days before, on holiday whilst "wiping the dogs"! No one has yet worked out what this really means. Despite the fact that he couldn't walk, he could sit on a bike after a fashion and set sail early, anticipating bugging out at 25 or 50. He was soon joined by CBJ at the Boundary and a steady pace was set awaiting the arrival from behind of the remaining three.

Unfortunately just short of Reepham, CBJ, distracted by a number of riders who he thought were fly tipping in an adjacent field, didn't notice the two unfortunate stationary cyclists in the middle of the road and 17 stone met with slight resistance. One ambulance later and £1000 worth of damage, CJ, being a loyal companion, set off again, leaving CBJ to hobble back for ham egg and chips at the Adam and Eve.

CJ was met by ED,TS & CTY in Reepham and quickly abandoned again to his bad back and sedate pace. We are happy to report that all 4 met up again at the Coach and Horses, having completed the 100, to sink a couple of CHBs!

At the end of June the long awaited and eagerly anticipated Cider Rider Cycling Shirts arrived from Germany, adorned with not only our generous sponsors logos but the now well recognised Cider Rider. All members seem pleased with the quality of these snug items and the suggestion is that they will fetch a pretty penny on the Black Market!

6th JULY 2013

And so it begins. The Cider Riders leave Norwich at 4am to travel to take the tunnel in to France and onward to Germany. Who's idea it was to leave on the day that the Welsh..............sorry, The Lions, were making history Down Under is anybodies guess. Rest assured however  one member who did not make the trip was seen at 10 am striding down Unthank Road wearing nothing but a Lions Shirt and Kilt (well done CPW)!

The first days ride seems to have gone without a hitch although the general consensus seems to be that the quality of the car manufacturing industry in Germany is not mirrored by the quality of the German drivers. ED appears less than impressed. Another concern is the constant attention of the wild life throughout the Black forest area. Centurion Hustle in particular was savaged by Wild Boar as he made his way along the hilly reaches of the Schwarzwald and, had Centurion PB not had the wherewithal  to fend  off the frenzied hog with a multitude of his many varied spare spokes, the incident could have requires CH continuing with only one leg. 

MORE FROM THE BFB SOON

On the 24th July a "barrel" of the Cider Riders ventured out for the Wednesday night ride. This is a regular jaunt for ED and TS but they were joined by CA, CJ & CSM and, barring a slight delay in the arrival of CSM who had been valiantly trying to squeeze into his Cider Riders shirt without success, the 5 set off in the direction of the Reedham Ferry with the promise of a Bulmers or 3 at the Coach. It was noted that CA on more than one occasion set a pace that had challanged even ED and had TS blowing out of a hole that he had not anticipated.

CJ made sure there was no stragglers by bringing up the rear and found holes he didn't even know existed! After 33 hot sunny miles through the Norfolk countryside, Bob and The Coach and Horses was a welcome sight, providing not only Cider but apples to boot. A moment of concern was had when TS poured his Cider over CJ's legs, but he assured us all it was just to cool poor CJ down rather than loosing the use of his hand due to the amount of ice he was hiding in his pint glass!

After a ride home with only slight "apple legs" all riders survived another gathering of the Cider Riders!