WESTERLEY WORDSMITHS OVER THE YEARS
Whilst you may not expect poetry on a cycling website, it seems the West Side Crew have had some great lines over the years, not just rocking the bike, but rocking the mic too!
Sounding great, from 1938, boyz on da hoodz, deliverin’ the goods:
…and in 2020 it went a lil’ sometin’ like dis:
Winter training will have been logistically more difficult in the 1930s, indeed, the purpose of early year reliability rides such as our Westerley Winter Warmer were designed as part of the solution. However, Spring always ushered in a new fitness regime as this Westerley Ode describes:
We wonder if the next ditty was inspired by 1930s Road Rage?
From 2017 to 2019 the club ran a series of Audax rides from Ruislip on the MayDay Bank Holiday. An event was planned for 2020 but the Bank Holiday was moved and the COVID19 Pandemnic also struck. Each Ride was named after a song and the lyrics adapted:
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2017: COUNTRY ROALDS TAKE ME HOME 100km – A spin out to the chilterns then back through Missenden and the Roald Dahl Museum. Based on John Denver’s ‘Country Roads’.
Almost heaven, West of London, Chiltern riding, Out in to the shires.
Cycling’s great there, passing the green trees, slogging up the Chilterns, blasting through the breeze.
Country roads, take me home to the place I began.
West of London, Ruislip headed, take me home, country roads.
All my memories gather round here, Winter Warmer, Missenden Time Trials,
Dark and dusty, weather wet or dry, misty times or sunshine, teardrop in my eye.
Country roads, take me home to the place I began.
West of London, Ruislip headed, take me home, country roads.
I hear the call in the morning hour roads call me, the GPX reminds me of my start in Ruislip.
riding down the road I get a feeling that I should be there soon, Arrivée, Arrivée.
Country roads, take me home to the place I began.
West of London, Ruislip headed, take me home, country roads.
Country roads, take me home to the place I began.
West of London, Ruislip headed, take me home, country roads.
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2017 CHILTERN, CHILTERN, BANG, BANG 200km out into the Chilterns and over to the National Shooting Centre at Bisley, Surrey. Based on the theme song from the movie Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang.
Near, Far, on the handlebars
Oh what happy time we’ll spend
Bang, Bang, Chiltern, Chiltern, Bang, Bang
Our fine ride this weekend
Bang, Bang, Chiltern, Chiltern, Bang, Bang
Our fine ride this weekend
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2018 A Ride Called Quest 200km which included the opportunity to gain 10 points in the Cycling UK Quest as well as Audax UK points. Based on A Tribe Called Quest’s ‘Scenario’
East Berks stompin’, rippin’ and rompin’
Marlow, plus Windsor Great Park and Quainton
Checka, checka check it out
The loop’s for the troops, more bounce to the ounce
And wow how now wow, how now, brown cow?
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2018 SPOKE ON THE WATER 100km which crossed several Thames bridges as well as the weir at Hambledon. Based on Deep Purple’s ‘Smoke on the Water’.
We all came out to Marlow
On the River Thames shoreline
Route recorded on a mobile
With an allotted time
Fast zapping with the others
We’re at the best place around
Windsor, Henley, already been done
Cookham next then Ruislip bound
Spoke on the water, tyres seem to fly
Spoke on the water
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2019 GET UP OFFTA THAT TRING 100km A ride to Tring and back. Based on James Brown’s Get Up Offa That Thing
Get up Offta that Tring
And ride, then you’ll feel better
Get up Offta that Tring
And strive to breathe that fresh air
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2019 HERTS SO GOOD 200km A grand loop around Hertfordshire. Based on Millie Jackson’s Hurts So Good (Better known in the UK for Susan Cadogan’s Reggae version)
I’m not complaining
What it’s doing to me
Cause this cycling feeling
Is, ooh, so good to me
Don’t you know that it’s
Herts so good
Don’t you know that it’s
Herts so good
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2020 (Cancelled) LONDON CALLING 00km A Chiltern ride based on The Clash’s ‘London Calling’:
London calling on the Chiltern Way downs
Audax declared, let’s ride out of town
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2020 (Cancelled) GOING UNDERGROUND (200km) following the long since forgotten path of the Metropolitan Line beyond Amersham and up to Brill and Verney Junction. Based on the Jam’s ‘Going Underground‘
