Julius Caesar was warned to beware of the Ides of March (according to Shakespeare) but Jolly Cyclers will want to be-aware of the Rides of March …. there is just one more March West London Cycling Weekend to go in 2025 and already riders have been turning out in numbers throughout the year to date. We are wondering what summer rides might be like in July (the month actually named after Julius Caesar)? January was great then February saw great numbers too (a month shortened by Julius Caesar to ensure that his month, July had 31 days, to match August, named after Augustus Caesar, another Roman Emporer).

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So, what did the Romans ever do for us? Well the egos of their emporeres seems to have messed up our calendar, by adding two extra months (July and August), such that September, originally the 7th month (Sept means 7), became the ninth month and despite Oct meaning 8 and Dec meaning 10, October and December became the 10th and 12th months.

What has this got to do with cycling you may ask? Not a lot, and anyway, we cyclists remember July as Tour de France month and August as West London Cycling’s Randonax month, more than the vain Roman emporers whose egos created them.

Next week, we visit Stonhenge on Saturday, you’ll be pleased to hear that nobody knows for sure what that was all about so we’ll stick with cycling in next week’s Gallery posts! Sunday’s ride goes to Cookham, we are not sure it has any ancient history anyway?

AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY RANDONAX ENTRIES OPEN ON SATURAY 5th APRIL AT 7am

AND NEXT WEEK:

Your Sunday 23rd March Picture Gallery