Five more miles to fabulous - Saturday 14 July

5MTF is a national campaign addressed to women, highlighting the health benefits and convenience of cycling. Read more about it at www.fivemilestofabulous.com
The promotion is aimed at non-cyclists (soon to be cyclists), but experienced female riders are of course welcome too. The inaugural St Albans 5MTF ride on 2 June went very well. We had a lovely morning, sunshine and good company. As it was the 150th anniversary of the birth of the composer Edward Elgar, we began with raising four cheers to the female cyclists depicted in his Enigma Variations:

Today we are celebrating the birth of the composer Edward Elgar, 150 years
ago. This is timely for our ride, not only did Elgar go cycling as an
inspirational aid to composition, but many of his female friends and family also
cycled – at a time when cycling was quite novel even for men. Several cyclists
can be found in the Enigma variations:
§ Isabel Fitton, a viola player in
Malvern
§ Winifred Norbury, regularly used her bicycle to deliver parish
magazines and to get to choir rehearsals in Worcester, but once cycled to
Hereford for the opening of the Three Choirs Festival.
§ Dora Penny,
daughter of the Rector of Wolverhampton, who several times cycled the forty
miles to Malvern to visit the Elgars.
§ Rosa Burley, headmistress of the
Mount School in Malvern, where the Elgar’s daughter Carice was a pupil.
§
May I recommend an excellent book Elgar the Cyclist a Creative Odyssey by
Keith Allen, available from the Elgar Birthplace Museum, Crown East Lane, Lower
Broadheath, Worcester WR2 6RH., Tel: 01905 333224. Fax: 01905 333426. www.elgarfoundation.org

We progressed at a very relaxed pace, paused for Fairtrade shopping at Homewood Road URC, continued by way of Jersey Lane and Oaklands to our coffee stop at Trestle Arts Base. We returned to our starting point by was of Highfield Park and the Camp Road cycle route.



By popular request, a repeat event will take place on Saturday 14 July.


Date of event: Saturday 14 July2007
Start time: 0930h
Start place: Faber Maunsell, Upper Marlborough Road, St Albans, AL1 3UT
Brief route description including refreshment break:
Easy ride to coffee stop. I have several nearby venues in mind and will select one on the day, depending on weather, group numbers and preferences. Using cycle routes and bridleways, some road riding mostly on quieter roads and lanes.
5. Leader Rona Wightman, tel 01727 836470