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Anybody here joining us for Tommy's Ride in Marlborough on November 10th? We're running this event to raise funds for the Royal British Legion on the Armistice 100 weekend, with support from RBL, the forces cycling unions, local bike shops and businesses, and we hope to get 300 riders out there, riding to remember. If you want to sign up and join, us or you know anyone who might, you can find full details here:
http://www.trailbreak.co.uk/tommys-ride/
We could also use a couple more volunteers to help out around the start, if you know anyone local who might like to get involved.
Who is Tommy? Because it is related to armistice Day and Tommy Robinson and friends have been hijacking this for their own twisted reasons Tommy + armistice Day make me suspicious and I didn't see an prominent explanation of who Tommy was I thinknit is important to make it clear.
Best of luck.
'Tommy' was a common nickname for WW1 soldiers, I thought that was fairly well known - hadn't even occurred that anyone would think it would have anything to do with Tommy Robinson. To be honest, I'd forgotten he even existed until you mentioned him!
EDIT: thinking about it, if this was some nasty EDL scam masquerading as something legit, would they really put Tommy Robinson's name right in the title? Enough about him though, he's a nasty piece of work, and it's a bit sad if people hear 'Armistice' and 'Tommy' together and think of him. We're on the level, we've been running MTB events for nearly 30 years, we've worked with lots of charities in the past, and we're proud to be working with RBL on this one. Hope that clears things up.
This is Tommy.
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WW1 British soldiers have always been called 'Tommys' Nowt to do with Robinson.
I must admit, I was skeptical, thinking this might in some way be involved with Yaxley-Lennon.
I knew about the Tommy reference, yet still that waste of oxygen was my first thought, sadly.
Well, in a small way, hopefully our little event will do something to help reclaim the name for it's rightful place in history. We have spoken with the British Legion about the event and while I can't go into detail (because it's not our announcement to make), they have asked that the funds we raise go towards a particular project that is very much about raising the profile of the good things about their work and the act of Remembrance. We're excited to be part of that, and hopefully the result, and the sight of a load of MTBers lining up and riding for a good cause, will send a lot of positive messages.
It looks it! Long way up country for me, but I'd like to see that sometime.
For the older generation, a Tommy will always be a soldier from the Great War. I'm doing this ride for sure, plus its a good ride out for me from Portsmouth, gives me a chance to camp in Savernake the night before and ride on trails I've never done before. Hope you have a good food truck there at the start!
Excellent Rob! We'll have catering there, start and finish.
Surely Tommies would be preferable to Tommy's to avoid any perceived link to the narcissistic oxygen thief that is Yaxley Lennon? It would also calm many grammar pedants nerves, Tommies being plural and all that.
Not too far away from me so if I'm off I'll try and make it. I like doing these types of events, usually a great atmosphere, a good way to explore a new area and the money goes towards a good cause. Should know by the end of the week.
A mate and I are in; planning on doing it on Cx bikes at the moment.
I’ve been meaning to ride around that area all summer, this gives me a good reason, so I’ll be there
ocrider - I see your point about Tommy's / Tommies, but 1: Tommy is often used a singular identity to encompass ordinary British soldiers of that war as a whole, as well as individually. So Tommy's was quite deliberate as it can be read as personal to the individual soldier as well as to the fallen as a whole. And 2: as I said before, Yaxley-Lennon hadn't even entered our minds, so we didn't even consider the issue. As a rule, I find life's a lot better if you don't give his sort either a moment's thought or the oxygen of publicity.
Still, at least no one has asked whether this is a benefit ride for the Pinball Wizard!
downshift - all good for CX bikes on the event! Any off-roader welcome!
@trailbreak-martin yeah, fair enough about making it personal rather than one huge number. I can see exactly why, it's just unfortunate that the aforementioned total **** chose that particular moniker.
To honour the other Tommy you could always attempt the ride blindfolded with ear protectors, stabilisers optional?
Just signed up for the long distance.
Enjoyed it on the whole.
The weather along the Ridgeway was a squalish headwind. Did not enjoy that bit. At all. Not in the slightest. Terrible.
3hr41min for the long route so not bad considering the aforementioned slog.
a Tommy will always be a soldier from the Great War
Kipling started this in 1890 with his poem, one of my favourites about the lot of the common soldier.
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away"
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
Was a good day out that. Weather was a bit grim at one point, heavy freezing rain isn't fun! Had a good laugh with a few riders round the route too. Pity I had my Enduro bike as it was tough pedalling it along the flat with sticky tyres but it's the only one I had working, was still fun though.
Did the long route with my friend Rob Colliver, 3hrs50 for the long route. Sideways rain at the west end was not fun, but it brightened and got back just before 1pm, heavens opened soon after so we were lucky.
Thanks to the organisers.