Later in the month, in milder weather, 12 went on a hostel week-end to Charlbury while, in March, Chris Davies gave a slide show at Horsell describing a 12 hour time trial in the Jura Mountains with Ray Craig.  Riding across France later, Ray took a nasty tumble from his trike and had several days in hospital minus some teeth and plus 21 facial stitches.  Even so, a few days later, both Chris and Ray were among the hundreds of riders on the Paris/Brest/Paris reliability trial - a 700 mile journey with only one good night's rest.

David Loe, the 6' 6" Tower of Claygate, burst on to the scene and led a run to Ecchinswell.  A new venture - a club night at Guildford Sports Centre - was initiated by Keith Parfitt.  The summer provided a succession of perfect week-ends and Bill Inder and family, plus Les Houlton, renewed Saturday afternoon rides for new-comers and these continued fortnightly until October.  There were 24 riders in the "50" in April and during that day David Loe covered over 120 miles while Eddie Hargraves achieved 140.  Some spent Easter in Wales, two tricyclists managing to go off the road and start to roll down the mountainside.  Somerset and Dorset were explored by the Thursday Nighters in May when 10 were based at Maiden Bradley, and help was given for another sponsored ride in aid of "Action Research for the Crippled Child".  At the end of the Spring joint run with the K.W.'s, with Selborne as the lunch place, the riders joined other D.A. members for tea at Elstead where 43, including Les Warner and family, were at tea.  The cafe at Cranleigh swimming pool was discovered.  In June the Bluebell Railway was again an attraction and, in July, a C.T.C. stand was manned by members at the R.A.E. Fete while others supported the York Rally.  Also that month the 100 mile reliability ride was re-introduced, 16 starting on a hot day.  There was a compulsory half-hour stop for lunch at Medstead at 50 miles.  Five failed to beat the 8 hour limit, George Upton being one who retired after a heavy fall in the early stages.  In August, Stewart Jackson made his mark on the racing scene by winning a 100 mile time trial in 4 hours 14 minutes and, after a fortnight's strenuous tour in the Pyrenees, Russ Mantle rode 20 miles on Spanish soil, flew to Heathrow, then rode out to Warfield to join the day run for tea.  Stewart Jackson was again in the news after breaking the London/Bath and back tricycle record by a massive 41 minutes.  Wayfarers were well supported, 16 being on a ride to Selham.  Over the Bank Holiday week-end five days were spent by nine members in the Cheddar/Minehead area.

Guildford Town Show was again used in September to man a C.T.C. stand and over 20 were in the street parade.  Only eight entered for the Tourists' Trial and some got hopelessly lost in the lanes around Hurst.  Keith Parfitt was in charge of 17 on a hostel week-end to Goudhurst and, on the same day, Eddie Hargraves knocked over an hour off the Pembroke/London tricycle record, covering 220 miles in 12 hours 26 minutes.  The Thursday Nighters had a wet week-end near Blandford but the following October week-end saw 45 on the joint run with the K.W.'s to Burnham Beeches.  That day emphasised the wide scope offered by cycling for the age span ranged from nine to seventy-eight.

There were over 40 at the hill-climb and a Cotswold week-end had overnight stops at Henley and Stow-in-the-Wold.

The photographic competition results were combined with a slide show at Horsell in November, the Ripley A.G.M. produced no changes in office and the Cotteridge Dinner, attended by over 70, had C.T.C. councillor Brian Young as guest speaker and, later in the month, 24 converged on Patcham during a hostelling week-end.  There was snow, ice and frost in mid December when 8 members crossed from Lymington to the Isle of Wight for a night at the Whitwell hostel but heavy-handed distribution of grit on icy roads produced a total of 15 punctures.  Christmas tea at Tongham was followed by the appetiser run to a new venue - Horsell scout hut where 30 gathered and the last Sunday of the year was very cold with snow and heavy frost on Pitch Hill as the cyclists went down to The Silent Pool for tea.

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Web page by Chris Jeggo.  Last revised:  25 December 2004.