Topic Title

What were you all up to then?

I know Steve was TTing somewhere as I think was Nigel. Not sure about everybody else. How did it all go?

I was with 12 others touring the Yorkshire Dales (Claire, Steph, Cath, Elaine, Simon W, Simon R, Kevin, Chris, Bernard, Willy, Howard). Fairly hard riding as there was a stiff headwind all day on Saturday. While most of the party made sensible and efficient progress, Chris and I forged on to do a circuit over to Kirkby Stephen. The view from the top of Swaledale was something else - Howgills, Lake District, Eden Valley and N. Pennines all spread out in front of us. Straight out of the hostel on Sunday morning we all had to contend with Fleets Moss. Most "cleaned" it, but struggled to contain breakfast!. Fantastic descent of Langstroth Daleand home via Bolton Abbey. Final 2 hours rather cold and wet, but everyone did really well; 150 miles over two days with no heads dropping - great to see.

Cancelled race entry on Sunday due to family dramas. Session on turbo to keep legs sprightly for Wednesday evening race. Things can only get better!

Went to Lincoln to watch Premier Calender Road Race and cheer on Kit. It was a tough day with heavy rain combined with the legendary Michaelgate 1 in 6 climb taking its toll. It looked like Kit had taken a fall early on, with a bit split in the feild some of the big names struggled, local Dean Downing 'Deano' took the victory. Photos to follow on web.

Thursday

East Riding League race 1, Andy S got 6th, I was 2nd, Matt had a strong ride too.

did round 2 of fulford cycles weds evening t/t series - 10m
on arkingdale - walshford course with a 22:44 for joint 1st place
how come you can never buy a second when you want one
it was wet and windy so was pleased with ride.

then on sat did drighlington bc 25m t/t on the disforth to leeming bar
course and did 55:48 for i believe a top 10 finish - thats only my second
25 this year and have done 2 - 55's already

mike rennison rode and did 57:26 which was a very good ride as well
well done mike !!

Pics from the Hostelling Weekend and the Lincoln GP now up. See the front page.

I did the Alford RR in Withern, Lincolnshire (Event 5 in the LVRC Percy Stallard Series). The race was on an excellent winding circuit that went up into the Lincolnshire Wolds before descending back down into the coastal plain. The pace was fast from the start and, with the combination of pace and undulation, I got dropped from the A/B group, and ended up finishing the race with a bunch of older category riders.

As can be seen from Andy's pictures, I rode the Lincoln GP and fell off on the first lap on the A57. Some of my skin, shorts, jersey, gloves, shifters and cleat, along with one of my bottles was left on the tarmac, I'll be back next year to collect them.
After chasing back on I found that the split had already occurred so our group trundled round in the rain until we were pulled out with two laps to go for being embarrassingly slow and holding up the traffic.
Thanks to Andy and family for cheering me on, it's a great race to do and encouragement always helps - come again next year and I promise to do better!

kit - lets hope that's your one and only bit of bad luck for the year

Well, I had planned to escort the hostellers to Masham or beyond, but when I drove past Alan in Stockton Lane at about 8.30, realised it was a 9.00am set off not 10. Sorry gang! I made myself ride out to Pateley and up to Greenhow as a pennance. Great pictures.

I rode the Fred Whitton, something I was nervous about considering I knew all about its reputation and I'm no climber. In the event, it really wasn't too bad, 7 of the 10 big climbs were mainly in the saddle long drags and I don't mind those. Honister was a b*****d though and when I passed a guy flat on his back half way up I thought he'd died (though someone told me later he just had cramp). Ended up walking Hardknott too, but everyone else seemed to do same. I'm sure plenty rode it, but I didn't see anyone do it while I was there.

It was amazing the amount of people that turned out to watch all along the route, cheering and clapping as you went by, going over Whinlatter, there was so many people there it made you feel really special.

I did the ride in 7hrs30mins & 31sec, which I'm not at all disappointed with considering I thought I'd do well to finish in 8hrs. Put me 185th out of the 632 who finished the ride.

I rode round 2 of the British Mountain Bike Series in saturday at Sherwood. Awesome racing, huge fields. Because I didnt score any points in round 1 (due to a clash with my wedding day), I was not gridded up (first 20 riders called forward on start line), and thus started about 2/3 back down the field of about 45. I didnt think starting here would be a problem as I can normally move up easily enough, however, on the first lap I was putting in my usual overtaking moves and simply holding position! I was conscious of not overcooking it too early either (despite my HR exceeding 180bpm for the first lap!). I simply had to ride my own race, which was a little frustrating, interms of ignoring other riders paces and following my own feel, but a conservative ride was essential, beacause I simply havent ridden that hard for that long this year (I averaged 173bpm for over 2hrs!). I did however feel good on the last lap, but rolled in in 24th place, along way off my best of 8th place at Sherwood in 2005. Great course though, flat and twisty. I just need to race the mtb more, and remember to plan my wedding at the end of the season in future! Roll on round 3...

P.S. Ride of the weekend to Ian Wilkinson, who beat Oli Beckinsale (nat champion and commonwealth silver) on Sat and got 7th in Lincoln GP on Sunday!!!!

Charlie

Is Wilkinson the guys that works full-time as a bricklayer ?

That rings a bell actually. Crikey!!

He is indeed a bricklayer by day, also won the girvan three day earlier on in the year too.

East Riding League 1 RR RESULTS

1 James Struthers Lindsey Road CC
2 Andrew Johnston Clifton CC York
3 Paul Hickman Malton Wheelers Road Club
4 John Askew Hull Thursday RC
5 Mark Walker Hull Thursday RC
6 Andy Stanforth Clifton CC York
7 Peter Fielding-Smith
8 Matthew Enticknap Malton Wheelers Road Club
9 Nathan Chester Hull Thursday RC
10 Vincent Cartwright Hull Thursday RC