Inspired by Ian Rogers who passed away last year, on Friday 23rd May, Kim Brace and Pete Dyson attempted to beat the record for Bath to Bournemouth and back. The men’s record was set by Les Bailey in 1959 and stood at 6:07:29 for 215kms at an average speed of 35.2km/hr. There was no womens record. The start and finish point was Laura fountain and the turnaround was Bournemouth Square at the bottom of Richmond Hill.

The official times from Denis Davis were:

Pete 5h 23m 21s.
Kim 6h 12m 54s

Amazing for 214.8kms and multiple roundabouts and temporary traffic lights.

Not content with smashing the Club’s Bath-Bournemouth-Bath record, Pete then set about attempting the London to Edinburgh record. On the 12th June, set off from London, and 16 hours, 56 minutes and 51 seconds later arrived in Edinburgh, breaking the existing National Road Records time by over 45 minutes and setting a new Club record.  There is a fantastic write-up over on Cycling Weekly.

This makes a great time to publish a refreshed version of the Club Record Book.  Diligently maintained by Pete Wilson for years, the committee have been working to reformat the electronic record for some time.  It is now ready to publish.  You can download the latest record book here.  Hopefully we’ll see a few more of those records attempted in the new year.

 

The club holds rider safety at the highest priority.  Club Technology Officer Richard Jacques has put together a document to inform the club (the committee and individual members) on 2 key areas of cycling technology safety equipment, with the ultimate goal of increasing rider safety in club activities.  The paper sets out some of the considerations to take into account when deciding whether you want to invest in a camera or a radar device.  Note that the opinions articulated in the paper are his own, informed by discussions with the BathCC Committee (past and present) and members of the club.

You can view the paper here: (web view) (PDF download)

 

Bath CC members were invited to attend a reception given by the office of the Mayor of Bath in the Mayors parlour at the Guildhall. The event was to celebrate the long term loan of the clubs most valuable and prestigious silver trophy set – The Tempest Trophy Set (dated 1897) which will be going in the city’s historic and notable silver display collection.

Bath CC members invited included 10 of the past 12 winners. Also past and current club committee members were there including Chairmen, Vice-Chairmen, Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, Club Captains, Communications and Trophy officers.

The event included a presentation by Dag Martensson, Trophy Officer on the history of the Tempest Trophy. He also had the opportunity to give special recognition to our Tempest Trophy winners and their exceptional achievements.

 

A Brief History of the Tempest Trophy

The club was founded in 1880 and is one of the oldest amateur cycling clubs in the U.K. It is not known exactly when members started to race or when the club held its first cycling race, but we do know it started early as the club recently acquired a Bath Cycling club plate trophy dated 1885.

The story of the Tempest Trophy starts with Sir Tristan Tempest, Baronet, of Tong Hall, Bradford, West Yorkshire moving to Bath in 1893 at the age of 28 for health reasons. It is reported he was an invalid and could not walk at the time of his arrival. However, according to his obituary “ …thanks to the Bath healing waters, within two years he so far regained his health to enable him to indulge in the pastime of cycling, to which he became an ardent devotee and was constantly to be seen flitting about the city mounted on his silver-plated bicycle”.

In 1896 he became a Vice-President of the club and was very involved in the organization’s activities. He was a generous donor and in 1897 he presented a very impressive Diamond Jubilee gold plated solid silver set to the club. The set was given in commemoration of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee.

In the early days of cycling, there were no national racing events for such an impressive Trophy set to be awarded. The club therefore started a Club 1 Mile Handicap race which was held in the recreation grounds in the centre of the city. The first recipient of the Trophy was a Mr. T.C. Learman.

Sir Tristan Tempest also added a silver “Tempest” cup to be awarded to any man who won the race 3 times. In 1906 a Mr. E. Payne from Worcester St John CC won the Tempest cup.

In 1901, the race was changed to an open 3 mile challenge race, but was changed again to a very short sprint race of  ½ mile in 1905 and continued until the First World War.

Sir Tristan Tempest died in 1909 and it is likely thereafter the Trophy set officially became known as the Tempest Trophy.

From 1960, the Tempest Trophy was awarded to the winner of the Victoria Park Road race which the club organised for decades.

In 1980, the club decided to have the Tempest Trophy awarded “at the discretion of the club committee for a members’ outstanding performance with a bias towards longer distances “. This criteria continues today in the awarding of the Tempest Trophy to a club member.

Per the loan arrangement with the Guildhall, the club will be able to take possession of the Trophy set for the annual club Awards night and other special events.

 

Bath CC Tempest Trophy Winners 1981 to 2023

Tony Thorne (Life Member) won the Tempest Trophy 3 times. The 1st one in 1981 and the 3rd time 24 years later (2005). For performances and setting club records in Time Trialing, both 10 miles and 24 hr

Pete Wilson (Life Member) won the Tempest Trophy 2 times, also in Time Trials. In 1987 for a new impressive club record (441 miles in 24 hrs). The second time almost 20 years later winning the National Veterans 100 Mile Championship.

Petes wife Janet Wilson (who unfortunately passed away) also a very strong cyclist, won the Tempest Trophy 2 times for club Time Trial records and later for her National Women’s Veterans 24 hr record.

Rob McMillan won the Trophy in 1999 for a 50 Mile Time Trial with a speed averaging 27.3 mph.

Rob Pears has won the Trophy 5 times. The first in 2000 when he shared it with his wife Gillian and then 4 more times for outstanding Time Trials, setting club records and winning National Championship titles.

Derek Fisher (Life member) won the Tempest Trophy in 2008 for his long distance and time record from Lands End to John o’Groats and back.

Gillian Pears was also awarded the Tempest Trophy on her own in 2013 for several Time Trial club records

David Stoyle won the Tempest Trophy for an outstanding 24-hour Time Trial in 2015.

Martin Croxford won the Tempest Trophy in 2017 for significant long distance Audax performances. Martin has become a legend among members for his long-distance rides, on a Fixie Bike (one gear and no free-wheeling)

Kim Barfoot-Brace who has been very successful in Time Trials, has been awarded the Tempest Trophy 3 times out of 4 during 2018-2021. She has set several club records in Time Trials, including one in the 12 hrs category where she beat both the club Women and Men records (273 miles). In 2021 she became a National Women’s Champion and set a new National Veteran Women record (278 miles).

Charles Thibault won the Tempest Trophy in 2022 for finishing and placing 99th out of 300 riders,the Trans-Continental race from Belgium to Bulgaria in 13 days and 5 hours. A self-supported race over a distance of 4000 km.

Oliver Bridgewood was awarded the Tempest Trophy in 2023 for finishing an ultra endurance race called Tour des Stations Ultimate 1000, riding 1000 km over 25 alpine peaks in Switzerland. He finished 6th out of 20 riders in under 72 hours.

 

 

In 1905, my Great Grandad, Harry Maslen (on the left in the old photo) set a Bath C.C. 12 hour distance record of 148 miles. He did this on fixie dressed in tweed (He’d missed the club kit officer’s order deadline for the skinsuit).

With a lack races to go for this year I decided in a moment of madness I’d try to equal his record and to do right by Harry, I’d do it on the oldest bike I have, my 3 speed Raleigh Superbe. This former Policemen’s bike weighs a measly 16KG stripped down, 1KG of which is rust. The bell stays on as it gives me something to do.

I’ve done TT’s, a sportive, triathlons and lots of training rides but I’m still a way off 148 miles and I’m starting to realise Harry Maslen was more than a bit handy on a bike and he was definitely BAD ASS. Our lives overlapped by one year and we did meet. I can’t actually remember this but whilst trying to get me to burp over his shoulder he must have passed me the family bicycle pump, a metaphorical baton for the love of bike riding because it’s definitely in the blood.

To honour the heritage of the record I have trained and will riding in a Bath CC jersey (kindly loaned to me by David Stoyle). I will be however riding in the East Midlands, venturing into the Peak District where I know the roads and strategically the cafes. I know as serious cyclists we accomplish many amazing feats of endurance on a regular basis but to me this is a bit special, it’s definitely a one off. So in doing this I’d like to try to make a little money in aid of Rainbows Hospice, the only hospice in the East Midlands for children and young people. (Rainbows.co.uk) If you’d like to support my efforts that would be wonderful. Please gift aid if you can. My just giving page is:- https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/chris-redding2 or go to Just Giving and search Chris Redding.

PS Does anyone know who my Great Grandad’s pal is on the right in the old photo above?

The update of this is in June I equaled the Bath CC 1905 12 hour record of 148 miles which I did on a vintage Raleigh Superbe for charity. With that came 6,936 feet of ascent (plonker). On a 3 speed I paid for this BIG time but at least standing up my bum got a break. My finish line was rather conveniently a pub car park which is another good reason why not to do this record stuff on a dual carriageway. I had to ride very hard in the last 20 miles to match the record as it became clear I’d overcooked the scenic route idea and was in danger of missing the record altogether. I’m no stranger to racing but this final 20 miles was probably the deepest I have had to dig riding and where my admiration of true 12 hour riders was forged. As the pocket watch struck 12 hours I had ridden 147.976 miles. I’m rather hoping I can round up because I’m not doing it again.

To date this challenge has raised over £1,300 for a children’s hospice and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who donated, thank you!!

PS I’m now really hoping that one of my other Great Grandparents DID NOT swim the channel!