Bishop takes up long distance cycling

[vorsprung]

http://www.salisbury.anglican.org/news/is-2000-miles-for-work-with-no-car-even-possible

I'm sure some of you are giving up bishops for lent

[Cudzoziemiec]

Good on the bish. He's even a CTC member.*

Not entirely related, but some time ago I popped into the church in Hullavington (also in Wilts) for architectural/historical/oh-let's-have-a-look-at-that, rather than religious, reasons, and bumped into the vicar. It's surprising how rarely you see a vicar in a church. He told me he'd recently done a ride for some charity with other church bods (various denominations) in which they visited 30 local churches in 40 miles. Quite a few cycling vicars, it seems.

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

[clarion]

There are some challenging trips in that schedule.  Good luck to him.

[Jaded]

He has to average 47 miles a day.

[Vince]

Not a bad idea though.

For a couple of reasons I can't give up driving, but I could commit to spending some time on the bike every day during lent.

[Pickled Onion]

A vicar on a bicycle is *the* quintessential English cycling image, and the number one reason why helmets must never be mandatory.

[Ian H]

He has to average 47 miles a day.

In a cassock? A mitre? Any other regalia/badges of office?

[matthew]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

[Auntie Helen]

He told me he'd recently done a ride for some charity with other church bods (various denominations) in which they visited 30 local churches in 40 miles. Quite a few cycling vicars, it seems.

This is the sponsored Ride And Stride (you can walk as well as cycle) which is some time in September every year all over the country. I did it a couple of years ago and visited 25 churches in the day, many of which were giving away food and cake and tea and coffee (yum!)

I visited a 26th when I got home (I live in a chapel) but couldn't count that one as it's no longer a place of public religious worship.

[Cudzoziemiec]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

[Ruth]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

C of E rarely does Saturday evening services.  This is a real issue for us stuffy Anglicans!

The new Bishop of Chichester did our big ride with us one year, back when he was Bishop of Whitby.  He was a bloody good climber.

[rogerzilla]

That's a bishop that doesn't deserve bashing.

[Cudzoziemiec]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

C of E rarely does Saturday evening services.  This is a real issue for us stuffy Anglicans!

The new Bishop of Chichester did our big ride with us one year, back when he was Bishop of Whitby.  He was a bloody good climber.

From your link:

During his time in Norfolk he was also priest in charge of Hempton and Pudding Norton between 1998-2000.

If there's anything more English than a bishop on a bike, it's got to be the vicar of Pudding Norton. On a bike! It sounds like a place invented by P.G. Wodehouse. 

[Tom B]

If there's anything more English than a bishop on a bike, it's got to be the vicar of Pudding Norton.

Or the rector of Edgefield

[Cudzoziemiec]

Both in Norfolk. A holiday in the Broads appeals now.

[matthew]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

No there are no Saturday CTC rides round my way and Saturday evening Mass is a Catholic method of observing Mass without interfeering with Sundays. 
Yes Reading CTC have a Wednesday Evening ride but I would have to attend straight from work without eating first and that feels like a recipe for Bonk. 

[PaulR]

It's wrong to report that he's taken up long-distance cycling as if it was news; he's been doing long rides for years.  But perhaps not since donning his mitre.  He preached an excellent sermon on a cycling theme shortly before he left Canterbury.

[Cudzoziemiec]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

No there are no Saturday CTC rides round my way and Saturday evening Mass is a Catholic method of observing Mass without interfeering with Sundays. 
Yes Reading CTC have a Wednesday Evening ride but I would have to attend straight from work without eating first and that feels like a recipe for Bonk. 

Well the solutions for Wednesdays are simple:
a) Find a reason to leave work early
b) If no reason accepted, slip off while your boss isn't looking
c) Take some food in a saddlebag
d) Persuade the ride to stop for a pub meal, early
e) Isn't Bledlow otp a regular on these rides? In which case, he'll lead the rides past your door, slowing down for you to catch up!

Admittedly the weekly combination of a/b and d might result in bankruptcy, but apart from that, no problem!

[Regulator]

*Come to think of it, if the Tories are the C of E in politics, are the CTC not the C of E on a bike? All those tea stops and a nice steady pace.

Can't be, too many CTC rides are on Sunday mornings, therefore the intersection of CTC membership and CofE must be like me the CTC members who do not partake in the rides. 

None on Saturdays round your way? Or even Wednesday evenings (other evenings are available)?
Come to that, does the C of E not do Saturday evening services?

No there are no Saturday CTC rides round my way and Saturday evening Mass is a Catholic method of observing Mass without interfeering with Sundays. 
Yes Reading CTC have a Wednesday Evening ride but I would have to attend straight from work without eating first and that feels like a recipe for Bonk. 

Saturday evening mass (the Vigil Mass) actually reflects the fact that the Church day runs from sunset to sunset (as does the Jewish religious day).

[teethgrinder]

Nice work!
I reckon he might be praying for a good tailwind!

[shyumu]

Really enjoying his blog so far.

[Wowbagger]

He had to borrow a cut-down staff!

The Big Girl's Blouse! You wouldn't find us cycling chess teachers cutting down on the dimensions of our demonstration boards.