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indexThere were three of us who decided to travel to Calais to join the Solex Club Spirales on its first rando (what we would call a 'run'): David Casper, Nick Devenport and I. We had decided on a quick warm up before the big one at Sars Poteries the following weekend, and so it was that Les trois Anglais rolled up early on Sunday 31st May in front of the Hotel de Ville in Calais. We moved on to the official starting point in a large depôt, from where Jean Maurice Duhaut officially welcomed us, together with about 20 local Solexistes. There was to be a morning and an afternoon run, with a lunch in-between.
The morning run took us along the coast, and then up the long ascent to Cap Blanc Nez - Nick on his 3800, David on his roller-drive Bianchi Aquillotto, and myself on the shaft-driven 6000. The 6000 managed the long climb with light pedal assistance. The others took a little longer, with Messrs Casper and Davenport on reaching the viewpoint, describing the view thus: "Oh! My *** legs! That was *** hard work!"
Jean Maurice added that with cyclemotors, it was always going to be a choice between speed and power - you could have one or the other - but not both. Mr Casper muttered something about his Cucciolo, which I didn't quite catch. We buzzed along some pretty green country lanes, and returned to base for a splendid lunch. Of course we didn't touch the wine, nor even the local cherry beer at the pit stop at Ardres later on, retaining a completely clear head all afternoon. We skirted the Channel Tunnel terminal, and we did stop to see a shuttle train disappear into the tunnel as we cyclemotored over the railway tracks.
Back at the depôt we all gathered for a debriefing and refreshments. It then struck me what a well-organised club this was. They are all clearly potty about Solex, with the emphasis on riding and enjoyment. David won a prize for having travelled the furthest, and Les 3 Anglais were each presented with a 'Solex Club Spirales' bottle of wine. That old Solex, in bits in my shed, I must find time to get going - in time for next year's rando.
First published, August 1998