80/80 – The Other End of the Age Scale,

Apex Corner 1920

80/80 – The Other End of the Age Scale

A Wartime Holiday Ride

80/80 – The Other End of the Age Scale

A Wartime Holiday Ride

An earlier scene: 1942, Banstock Road (Edgware), on the Watling council estate. A small,

skinny legged boy is taken, by some older girls, to the top of what then and still is a reasonable

hill. He is put on a 28” wheel ladies bike, just able to stand on the pedals and reach up to the

handlebars, but not the brakes and certainly not the saddle. One big push and another bike rider

is born – the girls are left behind giggling as he wobbles off. This skinny kid was me, aged just

five.

More than a year later in the school summer holidays of 1943 with bombs still falling on London,

it was decided that my sister and I should go to stay with my aunt and uncle in Hertford for a two

week summer holiday. We thought the distance was about 22 miles (Aunt lived just off the Ware

Road, on the east side of the town). We believed that we were capable of riding there. We had

previously visited my aunt by train from Burnt Oak to London then onto Hertford.

My sister Jasmine was nine and I was seven.

I had an old 24” wheel child’s bike and my sister had a similar but slightly larger machine.

During those times almost every family would have a bike of some description especially

“ladies” bikes. I don’t think we had saddle bags, but we must have had some way to carry stuff,

probably a rucksack. I can’t remember a time when I couldn’t do my own minor maintenance

and I’m pretty sure that Jasmine and I could have dealt with any small mechanical problem or

punctures, but in the event nothing went wrong. I guess my sister had a map or someone had

written directions for us to follow.

The route we used was to go to Apex Corner at the junction of the A1 and A41, north up the A1

to Hatfield where we turned eastwards on the A 414 to Hertford passing through the lovely

village of Hertingfordbury. A vivid memory I still have is seeing the road verges especially on the

A1 covered with ripening corn – a wartime government measure to provide more food.

I don’t remember being particularly tired just elated that we had made it and the first thing we

did was to walk with my aunt to the town centre and send off a telegram assuring our mother

that we had arrived safely, so there must have been some anxiety about our journey as at that

time in the war Mr Hitler was trying to kill us every day as we lived close to Hendon aerodrome

and witnessed dog fights between Spitfires and German aircraft. Traffic certainly wasn’t a

problem with very few cars or lorries although I do remember seeing gas powered vans with the

big bag of gas in what looked like a big balloon on the vehicle’s roof, there was also one steam

powered lorry parked up not far from Apex Corner and there were, of course, tractors.

When it was time to return home Aunt Daisy insisted on starting out with us, and this was helpful

since she showed us a better, more direct route, via Essendon (then and now the B 158). This

was a pleasanter road to ride on but, as any cyclist who has travelled that way can tell you, the

hill up to Essendon village is tough. It proved to be too much for Aunt Daisy on her battered loop

frame roadster with 28 inch wheels and strings from the rear mudguard to prevent any

entanglement of her dress, therefore she bade us farewell near the start of the climb and left us

to get home as best we could.

This proved to be a far better route and we arrived home without any difficult. It is a route I have

used many times since.

By modern standards I suppose this may show a remarkable faith in the abilities of seven and

nine year olds but I don’t remember it that way but perhaps a greater trust by our parents.

This was just the early beginnings of a lifetime of pleasure from all forms of cycling.

Trevor Smith

March 2026.

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May Flyer 2026

By Gordon Fisher • March 15, 2026

The May Flyer Double 100 (also known as the SWRC May Flyer) is a long-standing cycling sportive in the UK. It is organised by the South Western Road Club (SWRC) and has been running for over 25 years. The "Double 100" refers to the event's signature offering of two distinct route options for participants: The Flyer: A 100-kilometre (approx. 62-mile) route that meanders through the North Downs and Surrey Hills. The Flyer Challenge: A 100-mile (approx. 162-kilometre) route that crosses the North Downs into West Sussex and back. Event Details Next Event Date: Sunday, 17th May 2026. Start/Finish Location: Cobham Village Hall, Surrey. Terrain: Scenic but challenging, featuring notable climbs like Staple Lane, Pitch Hill, and Combe Bottom. Entry: Limited to 500 riders, with registration typically available through platforms like SiEntries. Charity: All profits from the event are donated to local charities. https://www.swrc.org.uk/may-flyer/about-the-may-flyer