A tribute ride today to celebrate the 29,000 miles cycled in one year, by BILLIE FLEMING, back in 1938.
(Her name then was Billie Dovey.) She holds the record to this day, for the most number of miles cycled by a female in one year. She covered the whole of the UK, and cycled an average of 85 miles per day (often more). She had a 3 speed gear bike.
On the 15th February 1823, she just did 13 miles to visit friends. Groups of women all over the country replicated this distance of 13 miles today. I managed 25 miles cycling from home to join the group at the start in Crowthorne.
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| Billy Fleming (Dovey) in 1938 |
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| Billie had one puncture during her 12 month, 29,000 mile ride - we had one today too! |
Todays route map is not 100% accurate, as I cannot remember the exact route through Bracknell! We followed much of the "blue" cycle route, passing close to South Hill Park, where we stopped for a photo call, with South Hill Park in the distance. Route map to Stavernake Park (takes a few seconds to open)
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| Caroline, Chris, Susie, Carole, Jill, Kelly, Daphne and Julia |
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| The fountain in the distance in the grounds of South hill park, where after a few more miles we will stop for refreshments. |
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| A dog walker kindly took one to include me... and her dog. Shame it was not in focus. |
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| Reached out destination. Stavernake Lake. |
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| Kelly and her bike pretty muddy by now! |
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| Soon to be followed by a puncture. Caroline had no hesitation to dive in and assist. |
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| It took her no time at all, as we all watched in admiration! |
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| Eventually reached the view of the fountain from within the grounds of South Hill Park, for tea stop |
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| After refreshments, we retraced our steps and one by one peeled off as we arrived back in Crowthorne. A few more miles for me to go! |