Given the state of the roads, and the sort of bikes they were obliged to ride, this was a monstrous effort by any reckoning.

Two days of 103 miles each, except that the first day was rolled over into the second day, so really it was 206 miles with a break of several hours in the morning of day two.  I never took part in the pilgrimages to Meriden, living in Blackburn the distance was felt to be so much greater in total that I do not recall any of our members travelling to Meriden.  But neither were we as tough as Charlie, me thinks.  I did once ride a 240 in 24 hours, and finished as I recall quite fresh, but others would be a better judge about that !

Charlie is so descriptive today I find it difficult to make any additional comment.  A 110 mile run on the last Sunday in December is no mean feat, and the pair of them should be congratulated.  Do not forget, these guys are ‘tourists’ and regularly attend the ‘Potterer’s runs.

Well, Charlie had been hankering after better weather and more hours of daylight for some time, so today’s effort of 130 miles, coupled with a start which involved getting out of bed just after what seems a very short time after midnight should do the trick !