by Rob
Mon Nov 27, 2006 8:55 am
"Ah.....Rob, changed your mind about inviting me along to the Sunday club run eh....must be scared of me riding everyone off my back wheel Laughing
Seriously, though, I would love to come along on Sunday and the Saturday ride would be ideal training for what I'd like to do in 2007, but the fact is my level of fitness at the moment (I've plenty of excuses for it, but you've probably heard them all before) would mean I'd probably be off the back before you even got over the ring road.
Still I'm hoping to get on bike a little more seriously from now on, so hopefully I will have club level fitness(ish) by February, for my annual club run or as some know it, Clifton Reliability"
The above post on another thread was in response to me imploring BW to get out on more clubruns (and then deleting it after reflection as I was starting to sound like a worn out record). The response above though means I just have to post a response as it leaves the impression to all that read it that the clubrun is just for the super-fit. BW was, after all, riding off the front of the Clifton group in the long Audaxes just a couple of months ago.
So, let me try again to dispel some myths:
Club runs are about compromise.
You may not go exactly where you want, by the route you would normally choose, be out for you optimum length of time, stop at the cafe you would normally frequent or ride at your normal speed. You may not be the strongest rider in the group or even be the last to crest the climb (horror of horrors).
But you will be paid back in spadefuls for that compromise. You will go to new places, via new routes, meet new friends, get to know old friends better, get advice/encouragement/support, get further/faster for the same energy, get enthusiastic, want to ride more.
Now, somebody is going to be the weakest in the group (shock, horror), but here's the thing, as long as they're trying, as long as they're committed to keep coming out then everybody will give them as much encouragement and support as they need! Furthermore, I cannot remember the last time anybody was knowingly left behind on a clubrun (Sat or Sun).
We had a fantastic ride yesterday. Our 73 year old president joined us after the cafe to take the total number to 16. The views and the light were breathtaking. We had a steady morning, sticking together on the flat, regrouping atop the biggest hills. Then after the freewheel competition a Snaregate I took a group of 9 off for some extra/brisker miles while the rest returned to York (63 miles, back at 2-30). By the time we got back at 3-45 we'd got 85 miles on the clock. Memorable day, all tired but happy.
Seriously, though, I would love to come along on Sunday and the Saturday ride would be ideal training for what I'd like to do in 2007, but the fact is my level of fitness at the moment (I've plenty of excuses for it, but you've probably heard them all before) would mean I'd probably be off the back before you even got over the ring road.
Still I'm hoping to get on bike a little more seriously from now on, so hopefully I will have club level fitness(ish) by February, for my annual club run or as some know it, Clifton Reliability"
The above post on another thread was in response to me imploring BW to get out on more clubruns (and then deleting it after reflection as I was starting to sound like a worn out record). The response above though means I just have to post a response as it leaves the impression to all that read it that the clubrun is just for the super-fit. BW was, after all, riding off the front of the Clifton group in the long Audaxes just a couple of months ago.
So, let me try again to dispel some myths:
Club runs are about compromise.
You may not go exactly where you want, by the route you would normally choose, be out for you optimum length of time, stop at the cafe you would normally frequent or ride at your normal speed. You may not be the strongest rider in the group or even be the last to crest the climb (horror of horrors).
But you will be paid back in spadefuls for that compromise. You will go to new places, via new routes, meet new friends, get to know old friends better, get advice/encouragement/support, get further/faster for the same energy, get enthusiastic, want to ride more.
Now, somebody is going to be the weakest in the group (shock, horror), but here's the thing, as long as they're trying, as long as they're committed to keep coming out then everybody will give them as much encouragement and support as they need! Furthermore, I cannot remember the last time anybody was knowingly left behind on a clubrun (Sat or Sun).
We had a fantastic ride yesterday. Our 73 year old president joined us after the cafe to take the total number to 16. The views and the light were breathtaking. We had a steady morning, sticking together on the flat, regrouping atop the biggest hills. Then after the freewheel competition a Snaregate I took a group of 9 off for some extra/brisker miles while the rest returned to York (63 miles, back at 2-30). By the time we got back at 3-45 we'd got 85 miles on the clock. Memorable day, all tired but happy.