Articles from the Newsletter April/May 2007

£15 Bargain Bike Covered 100.000 Miles  (reprinted from The Daily Telegraph, Feb.2007) 

A grandfather has cycled 100,000 miles around the world on a £15 second-hand bike he bought in 1956. Oscar Hopkins, 73, bought the steel, ten-gear Rotrax through a local newspaper advertisement and has since ridden the machine all over Britain and across Europe. The odd puncture apart, the only damage has been a back wheel buckled in an accident in Birmingham. He reached the 100,000 milestone when he cycled from his home in Birmingham to Eariswood, West Midlands and back. Mr Hopkins estimates he has cycled a total of 280,000 miles on various bikes, the equivalent of cycling the earth 11 times. He still rides about 6,000 miles a year 2,000 more than he drives. "I can't believe this bike has lasted all this time considering it was second-hand in 1956." said Mr. Hopkins, "I've ridden across the Pyrenees, I've cycled up and through the German and Austrian Alps and through Italy, Portugal, and Norway. I've had plenty of hair-raising experiences. The Austrian Alps just after the war were pretty rough. Ironically, the most serious damage was when a car went into the back of me in Selly Oak." But the end of the road is nigh for the Rotrax, Mr. Hopkins having spent almost £1,400 on a new American-made Trek bike.

CCP - The Distance Man by Ian Hewson

CCP's a distance man: he's master of the miles

With recorded runs from childhood on lots of record files.

But the bafflement of leaders, the head counter's despair

'Cos when they do the numbers check, well, CCP's not there.

Oh CCP, Oh CCP, there's no-one here like CCP

He tops the mileage records with determined felicity.

His powers of endurance would make a fakir stare

But when you reach the tea stop - then CCP's not there.

He started at the bus-stop with the usual cheer and flair

But when you reach a junction -well, CCP's not there

He's led a decade's Wine Downs now to various parts of France

Takes photos of the scenery, the animals and plants,

The scourge of the committee with letters here and there,

But when you reach the crossroads next -well, CCP's not there.

Oh CCP, Oh, CCP there's no-one here like CCP

He likes his touring evening meal's imaginative recipe

And when it comes to touring he's something of a purist

He'll only take the minimum, the lean, mean cycle tourist

Each year for the past 50 he's clocked 10,000 miles

While we are out club riding he is out there all the whiles

You may catch a glimpse at Milland, Romsey, Peterfield or Trotton

(Such momentary sightings are usually forgotten).

His ability to disappear would make Paul Daniels stare

'Cos when you reach the junction next - well CCP's not there.

There are other distance riders with exploits widely known

Think of Culverwell or Chanin or even David Bone

But they're nothing more than also-rodes to the Condor-wheeling star

Who's heading for a million miles without the use of car.