It was a good weekend to be out to judge from the number of cyclists we saw on Sunday. 5 of us for the club run Nigel,Arnie,Chris,Mick and me. We were joined at the square by a young women on a Mtb who stayed with us through
Beningborough,across the Tollbridge to the A168 crossing for Bishop Monkton. We all asked and she is getting a road bike. We then headed on for Pateley Bridge,up Jordens, stopped at Masham for lunch and back to York via Ripon and Boroughbridge.
Advert for this Sunday
Earn that Easter Chocolate and join us for a day out in the moors.
Following a Kevin route up Blackey Ridge to Castleton and back via Egton
and Pickering.
Helen
Weekend Round Up (4th/5th April)
Moderator: Moderators
I was up at Stokesley on Sunday doing the Phillip Russell Memorial RR, a 2nds/3rds/4ths race over 63 miles of scenic, lumpy countryside. Muzzy and Tom completed Team Clifton and will hopefully report their view of the day. A big field of 70 lined up under blue skies for an extended lecture from the race commissaire regarding his wishes that we stay on the correct side of the road. Needless to say this was in fair measure ignored; after about four laps the bunch was hauled to a stop for a further, lengthy reminder, while a break of six riders disappeared into the distance.
My target for the day was to stay in the front half of the race throughout and get some speed in my legs, and a finish in the bunch sealed that. I hate to disappoint the garmin crew but I have no route map to post - I can tell you though that it was run off at a bit over 24mph and my average power output was around 15W below my threshold over the 2½hrs - which is why climbing the stairs was a tricky undertaking yesterday evening....
My target for the day was to stay in the front half of the race throughout and get some speed in my legs, and a finish in the bunch sealed that. I hate to disappoint the garmin crew but I have no route map to post - I can tell you though that it was run off at a bit over 24mph and my average power output was around 15W below my threshold over the 2½hrs - which is why climbing the stairs was a tricky undertaking yesterday evening....
As Phil says, I was at Stokesley for my maiden BC road race, which was disappointing and frustrating. I wish I'd missed the start briefing, at which we were told bluntly that anyone seen straying to the right of the centre line would be disqualified. I knew I needed to be well forward in the bunch on in a cat 2/3/4 race to keep out of trouble, and as we left the car park all was well, but loads of riders passed me on the wrong side of the road before we'd even reached the start so I was nearly at the back; and it got worse when we hit the crosswind at the top of the first hill. I was slung off the back after only 5 miles of a 60 mile race.
I found another dropped rider mad enough to keep riding the course, and did four laps with him before deciding it would be more productive to get some peloton practice so I waited for the race at the top of a hill and tagged on the back. Once again, people were all over the road, but I managed to cling on for a proper lap this time, before dropping off to watch the finish. And it was a lovely day for racing.
It was disappointing I wasn't strong enough to get myself out of trouble, but frustrating that I only got into trouble in the first place because I did what I was told. What's particularly irritating is that, despite the stern warning, and several motorbike stewards following the whole race, as far as I know nobody was DQ'd for dangerous riding. If you make threats and don't follow through, you get walked all over, as every parent knows - and indeed they had to stop the race because it got so bad. If they'd simply done what they'd said and publicly DQ'd the first couple of riders to stray over the line, I'm certain there would have been no more trouble and we could all have had a fair race...
Obviously time to train harder AND be more aggressive. Or switch to TTs.
tom
I found another dropped rider mad enough to keep riding the course, and did four laps with him before deciding it would be more productive to get some peloton practice so I waited for the race at the top of a hill and tagged on the back. Once again, people were all over the road, but I managed to cling on for a proper lap this time, before dropping off to watch the finish. And it was a lovely day for racing.
It was disappointing I wasn't strong enough to get myself out of trouble, but frustrating that I only got into trouble in the first place because I did what I was told. What's particularly irritating is that, despite the stern warning, and several motorbike stewards following the whole race, as far as I know nobody was DQ'd for dangerous riding. If you make threats and don't follow through, you get walked all over, as every parent knows - and indeed they had to stop the race because it got so bad. If they'd simply done what they'd said and publicly DQ'd the first couple of riders to stray over the line, I'm certain there would have been no more trouble and we could all have had a fair race...
Obviously time to train harder AND be more aggressive. Or switch to TTs.
tom
Blimey there was a lot going on - i knew nothing about above!
More:
Bumped into first Howards group and then Bernards group Sat - about 8 and 12 strong respectively
Got a couple of hours in before heading home, calling in at Nigels shop
The fact Shaun wasn't in reminded me was riding a triathlon, i think Sat?
What a multi talented bunch we are.
I thought about Howards group as i sat in luxury spa watching the trees bend double late afternoon. A character building ride home from Filey?
More:
Bumped into first Howards group and then Bernards group Sat - about 8 and 12 strong respectively
Got a couple of hours in before heading home, calling in at Nigels shop
The fact Shaun wasn't in reminded me was riding a triathlon, i think Sat?
What a multi talented bunch we are.
I thought about Howards group as i sat in luxury spa watching the trees bend double late afternoon. A character building ride home from Filey?
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bernard turgoose
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:21 pm
The saturday intermediate group followed Kevin's route out to Driffield, with 2 people leaving us one at North Grimston to head into Malton & Malcolm Craven heading off to Sledmere at Cowlam cross roads after we had a snapped chain to deal with on the climb upto the X rds. At no time did we get the feeling that we would have a hard return home from Driffield into a very strong wind - someting that Malcolm would no doubt have had to deal with on his own back to Stamford Bridge. I decided to take a slightly more southern route back to hopefully get some relief from the wind- but I am not sure if this was the best thing or not, taking us via Lund, Goodmanham, M/weigton etc back to York arriving back three & half later. With everybody having helped to ride out front for a while, with 88 plus miles recorded I didn't have the inclination to ride the long way home thru' York to make it 90 miles.
Toby's(?) snapped chain puts him in hallowed company; Fabian Cancellara suffered the same fate in the Tour of Flanders!
I knew I was in for a hard time when I had to pedal down the hill into Sledmere to get up to the magnificent velocity of 17mph. Still it's all good for the character - a remorseless grind (I won't embarass myself with the speeds and gear ratios I resorted to) got me home windswept and with very sore eyes.
At least I only had about 20 miles of it. The Filey Brigade must have faced at least twice that distance and Pete, Bernard, Richard and Cath a good 30 plus.
But all in all it was yet another great day out with big sky views, good company and a little healthily competitive hill climbing.
I knew I was in for a hard time when I had to pedal down the hill into Sledmere to get up to the magnificent velocity of 17mph. Still it's all good for the character - a remorseless grind (I won't embarass myself with the speeds and gear ratios I resorted to) got me home windswept and with very sore eyes.
At least I only had about 20 miles of it. The Filey Brigade must have faced at least twice that distance and Pete, Bernard, Richard and Cath a good 30 plus.
But all in all it was yet another great day out with big sky views, good company and a little healthily competitive hill climbing.
This weekend the MTBers went off to Penrith for some skills training.
14 trainees (+ some hangers on) landed in Penrith on Friday evening to a warm welcome from Paul at Norcroft Guest House. It was then off to the local for a meal and initial briefing from Steve and Tony, the instructors.
Saturday was some intensive skills coaching in a private Forest with purpose built obstacles and downhill course. Riders were broken down and built up again on their balance, track stands, bunny hops, wheelies, jumps and general trail skills before being let loose on the downhill courses to put it all into practice.
Sat night was the customary meal out and drinking competition between the girls and boys (girls won hands down this time!).
Sunday the weather was great and they were carted off to Whinlatter Forest for some more practice on the Altura Trail then out on a big, technical, cross-country ride for more practice and coaching around Blencathra.
I took the opportunity to practice some hill work myself, on road, with Jodie on the tug with 2 good rides Sat and Sun.
I haven't caught up with everyone since the finish but from what I saw and heard everyone seemed to enjoy it and get lots out of the coaching.
Instructors and Paul at Norcroft made the weekend as they couldn't have been more accomodating.
Round 2 is already on the cards for Autumn.
14 trainees (+ some hangers on) landed in Penrith on Friday evening to a warm welcome from Paul at Norcroft Guest House. It was then off to the local for a meal and initial briefing from Steve and Tony, the instructors.
Saturday was some intensive skills coaching in a private Forest with purpose built obstacles and downhill course. Riders were broken down and built up again on their balance, track stands, bunny hops, wheelies, jumps and general trail skills before being let loose on the downhill courses to put it all into practice.
Sat night was the customary meal out and drinking competition between the girls and boys (girls won hands down this time!).
Sunday the weather was great and they were carted off to Whinlatter Forest for some more practice on the Altura Trail then out on a big, technical, cross-country ride for more practice and coaching around Blencathra.
I took the opportunity to practice some hill work myself, on road, with Jodie on the tug with 2 good rides Sat and Sun.
I haven't caught up with everyone since the finish but from what I saw and heard everyone seemed to enjoy it and get lots out of the coaching.
Instructors and Paul at Norcroft made the weekend as they couldn't have been more accomodating.
Round 2 is already on the cards for Autumn.
This week only rode Sunday again. A solo loop out via Kirkham, up Birdsall bank then back into the wind via Buttercrambe.
I even managed to get back home to watch the final half of the Tour of Flanders, which I found being streamed live on the internet, Stijn Devolder again powering off the front for his second solo win.
I even managed to get back home to watch the final half of the Tour of Flanders, which I found being streamed live on the internet, Stijn Devolder again powering off the front for his second solo win.
In the absence of a report from Howard with his Garmin stats I'd better report on the Filey ride:
6 of us - Howard, Chris C, Shaun, John C, Ginny and myself set off as planned. A nice breeze sent us happily away over Acklam to Filey in the sunshine. We made good progress, passing Mark A as already mentioned and were soon tucking into lunch in a friendly cafe.
After lunch we headed back only to find that the wind had increased and that we were going to have to grit our teeth on the way home. It really was a struggle into a gusty headwind back for 50 miles. Stupid me had spent most of the previous week climbing fells in the Lake District (and had also done most of the Fred Whitton route on the Wednesday including HardKnott and Wrynose), consequently I found that my legs were decidedly drained resulting in an absence of anything like my usual ooomph. Fortunately everyone else took pity on me and abated their pace so that I wasn't left to struggle back alone - thanks guys.
By the time we reached Kirkham Shaun and I were proceeding at a noble 14 mph and the others - quite reasonably feeling that we were almost home - gradually pulled ahead and so we made our own way back. I was heartedly glad to reach home with 101 miles on the clock, feeling like a rung-out dish cloth.
A good ride which has served to further my cycling education.....
6 of us - Howard, Chris C, Shaun, John C, Ginny and myself set off as planned. A nice breeze sent us happily away over Acklam to Filey in the sunshine. We made good progress, passing Mark A as already mentioned and were soon tucking into lunch in a friendly cafe.
After lunch we headed back only to find that the wind had increased and that we were going to have to grit our teeth on the way home. It really was a struggle into a gusty headwind back for 50 miles. Stupid me had spent most of the previous week climbing fells in the Lake District (and had also done most of the Fred Whitton route on the Wednesday including HardKnott and Wrynose), consequently I found that my legs were decidedly drained resulting in an absence of anything like my usual ooomph. Fortunately everyone else took pity on me and abated their pace so that I wasn't left to struggle back alone - thanks guys.
By the time we reached Kirkham Shaun and I were proceeding at a noble 14 mph and the others - quite reasonably feeling that we were almost home - gradually pulled ahead and so we made our own way back. I was heartedly glad to reach home with 101 miles on the clock, feeling like a rung-out dish cloth.
A good ride which has served to further my cycling education.....
Nothing much to add to what Phil & Tom have already said. Not my favourite course this one although one I've ridden more than any other. Toms right in what he said - we spent ten minutes getting lectured at the start, and then when a break gets 20 secs the commisaire stops the bunch for, well, bunching. But hang on your organising a race for equally matched 2/3 cats on a flat circuit and the organisers happy enough to take 80 pre entries - what do you expect! This is a race I set quite low standards for myself which I only just manage to maintain but anyway I stayed tucked in and never got into trouble. Well done to Phil for doing the same but 20 places further up the bunch and to Tom for being brave enough to tackle something well above entry level as a first atttempt - but you need to keep banging the entries in and not expect too much in return for a while at least.
I had a good April planned but found out at the weekend I'm 9th reserve at Wetwang in 3 weeks time and unlikely to get a ride, and last night that I hadn't got a ride in the Bridlington CC event this Sunday. Presumably though I'm still in the Elite race myself and Nick entered on the Sunday in between - a NE division event. The committee is meeting Pete Sutton from BC's Yorkshire Division soon. One of the questions I'll be asking is why as an organising club we are repeatedly kicked back in Yorkshire division events?
I had a good April planned but found out at the weekend I'm 9th reserve at Wetwang in 3 weeks time and unlikely to get a ride, and last night that I hadn't got a ride in the Bridlington CC event this Sunday. Presumably though I'm still in the Elite race myself and Nick entered on the Sunday in between - a NE division event. The committee is meeting Pete Sutton from BC's Yorkshire Division soon. One of the questions I'll be asking is why as an organising club we are repeatedly kicked back in Yorkshire division events?
Paul, following on from your thread with regards to BC race entries, I myself have failed to gain entry into any of the three races I have tried to enter including Wistow, Wetwang and Bridlington, the best offer so far was 8th reserve for Bridlington. Is this a common problem, as this is the first year I am attempting BC road races?
It's nothing to do with preference of riders-it's first come first serve. Wetwang in particular would have been full a couple of months ago like it was last yr.Benny wrote:Paul, following on from your thread with regards to BC race entries, I myself have failed to gain entry into any of the three races I have tried to enter including Wistow, Wetwang and Bridlington, the best offer so far was 8th reserve for Bridlington. Is this a common problem, as this is the first year I am attempting BC road races?
Likewise in five years I've never had an entry sent back (although I have been reserve on occasion, but have always got a ride) but then I send entries in really early. Whether this is a good principle for organisers to work to is certainly questionable - and worth discussing with BC, but it currently seems to be the way it goes.