LOUTH

Sheila arrived at the control point in Louth at around 8.20 pm. So far today, she has ridden 152 miles and will ride another 60 miles through the dark before she tries to snatch a few hours sleep.
From here, she will ride through the Wolds to Caistor and on to Barton-on-Humber, before crossing the Humber Bridge, skilfully avoiding Hull, and bearing north east towards Market Weighton and Pocklington.
Barton-on-Humber, reached after 183 miles, is now best known as one end of the Humber Bridge but was once renowned as the home of world famous Elswick Hopper bicycles. Elswick Hopper was founded by Frederick Hopper who opened a bicycle repair shop in an old forge in 1880 and quickly turned his attention to manufacturing.
By 1910, Hopper was employing 400 people and exporting his bicycles throughout the British Empire, in North and South America, in China and even in Japan. Elswick Hopper’s classic roadster was particularly popular in Asian and African countries, where it was appreciated for its durability and ruggedness. It is said that old Elswick Hopper bicycles can be found still in daily use in many countries around the world.
Fred Hopper died in 1925 but the company he founded continued to make bicycles in Barton-on-Humber until the mid-1980s. If he were still alive, no doubt Fred would be standing somewhere on the Humber Bridge cheering Sheila on as she makes her way over the estuary and into East Yorkshire.
Sheila will be crossing the Humber Bridge in the next few minutes, whence it is 27 miles to the control point at Pocklington, where she hopes to get a few hours’ sleep.
Obviously, she will be making for Pocklington like a bat out of Hull...
Good night all.