I'll kick it off this week...
...I was part of Team Clifton's Elderly Gentlefolk presence at the Derek Smith Memorial RR over at Hartshead Moor this morning, travelling over with Colin Hawxby. In the nature of vets races, I didn't see much of Colin as he was in the 40-50 race, and Dave Cook was there, but doing the 60+ race. in between the two, my lot set off with about sixteen starters as the damp roads started to dry and the sun peeped out. On the two previous occasions (both in the distant past) when I've ridden this circuit I've nearly been blown off the road by prevailing westerlies, so today was a big improvement.
Ten times up the various "up" bits of the circuit gradually wore things down until with two laps to go there were just three blokes up the road and a group of six of us chasing them. A bit of rather grudging cooperation took place but on the last time up the kick on the back of the circuit I found myself behind the wrong bloke, and getting round him when he conked out dropped me off the back of the group so I spent the remaining half-lap tailing them by a few seconds. So, ninth over the line - still no envelope with a fiver - but quite pleased to have been up near the front throughout. Legs don't 'arf hurt. How was your race, Dave? And how did the Wetwang young 'uns get on??
Weekend Round-Up - 24th/25th April
Moderator: Moderators
weekend round up
hI all
Did the open time trial on sat and again it was a well run and enjoyable day all in all 17th at 36 38mins .Seemed to struggle a bit more this year but i seem to be in all forms of cycling at moment
.Again on sunday went too wetwang on a dammp morning the pace was pretty high from the off and on the big climb i went backwards with nothing in the legs .A bit of a disapointment but there is always next week!
thanks to Steve for organising the time trial and everyone else involved except those vintage tractors!!!Heres to next week
cheers Timj
Did the open time trial on sat and again it was a well run and enjoyable day all in all 17th at 36 38mins .Seemed to struggle a bit more this year but i seem to be in all forms of cycling at moment
.Again on sunday went too wetwang on a dammp morning the pace was pretty high from the off and on the big climb i went backwards with nothing in the legs .A bit of a disapointment but there is always next week!thanks to Steve for organising the time trial and everyone else involved except those vintage tractors!!!Heres to next week
cheers Timj
Went up to Middlesborough Hospital on Friday evening to see how Arnie was getting on. Apparently he's broken the same bone as Christopher Reave did - so all are telling Arnie that he's very lucky (not to be a quadriplegic). This of course is true, but "lucky" is a relative term. The good news is that after 3 days with a 10kg mass pulling on his head, the displaced fracture has lined up. When I got there, he'd just had the halo brace refitted. This involves a big plastic chest piece that's strapped down really hard. There's then 4 big rods coming up to a metal "halo" around his forehead. The halo holds his head absolutely still via 4 probes. The probes are screwed into his skull - seriously! The holes were drilled and the screws screwed in without an anaesthetic...... so the docs could tell if they were doing any damage! Arnie said he thought his head would be crushed. He had to lie still for 24 hours before sitting up - then in a few days he could go home! I guess the logic is that its now down to 3+ months of discomfort, boredom and frustration.... and he might as well do that at home. The brace weighs 10kg, and it'll make quite a stir when Arnie next walks into his local....
I've not slept very well this week.
Anyway, fast forward to the Sunday clubrun. Very select group of 2. Not sure that 2 even counts as a group! Nice day for riding. Just me and Bernard. Classic route via Hutton-le-hole to Rosedale. Bernard at this point thought that you can have too much of a good thing and we split into two groups of one. Bernard sampled the Rosedale cafe and I went out on Egton Lane and Glaisdale Rig (possibly the finest road in Yorkshire, to be used on the run to Runswick Bay next month) to Castleton. Then back via Westerdale, Surprise View and Hovingham. Just beat the late afternoon rain. My bike is electronically challenged at the moment, but reckon about 105miles.
I've not slept very well this week.
Anyway, fast forward to the Sunday clubrun. Very select group of 2. Not sure that 2 even counts as a group! Nice day for riding. Just me and Bernard. Classic route via Hutton-le-hole to Rosedale. Bernard at this point thought that you can have too much of a good thing and we split into two groups of one. Bernard sampled the Rosedale cafe and I went out on Egton Lane and Glaisdale Rig (possibly the finest road in Yorkshire, to be used on the run to Runswick Bay next month) to Castleton. Then back via Westerdale, Surprise View and Hovingham. Just beat the late afternoon rain. My bike is electronically challenged at the moment, but reckon about 105miles.
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m-k-lewis@msn.com
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Well, a group of 9 set off from East Gilling on a wonderful Saturday.
We headed out via Ampleforth, Oldstead, Kilburn, Boltby Bank, Rievaulx, Helmsley, the lovely Cockayne loop (which I've not done before and which is truly lovely - though a bit hilly), Farndale, Blakey Bank and back via Nunnington.
It really is the most beautful ride. We had lunch at the Feversham Arms in Church Houses, where one too many chips made Blakey Bank a bit painful, but we flew back through Hutton-le-hole.
We think we may have seen Dawn at some point on Blakey, though not sure - we couldn't catch her!
See you all soon.
Mark
We headed out via Ampleforth, Oldstead, Kilburn, Boltby Bank, Rievaulx, Helmsley, the lovely Cockayne loop (which I've not done before and which is truly lovely - though a bit hilly), Farndale, Blakey Bank and back via Nunnington.
It really is the most beautful ride. We had lunch at the Feversham Arms in Church Houses, where one too many chips made Blakey Bank a bit painful, but we flew back through Hutton-le-hole.
We think we may have seen Dawn at some point on Blakey, though not sure - we couldn't catch her!
See you all soon.
Mark
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Broom Wagon
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It sounds tough for Arnie. On the Wednesday before the accident I saw him in the cafe at Morrisons. I should have said hello but I was with the kids so I didn't want to hassle him. Hope he gets well soon.
With some of the strong chaps away racing you'd have thought the Saturday training ride would be a bit sedate. No such thing: with the flat roads, this week, good weather and everyone taking turns and working extremely well together we bowled along riding; I made it 65miles, before turning for home, in about 3hrs 6min - approx 20.7mph average.
I nearly came a cropper in that I took a carb drink and two gels, but one bottle of water. Having used the gels I think I was starting to feel the effects of a bit of dehydration and called a halt whilst I nipped in and joined a long queue in a garage for a bottle of water - sorry I know it's supposed to be a non stop training ride.
After that it was back to business and I soon felt better. Towards the end it speeded up with a couple of impressive long 25-28mph turns by Howard and Pete? (if that sort of stuff doesn't help me prepare for racing I don't know what will).
With some of the strong chaps away racing you'd have thought the Saturday training ride would be a bit sedate. No such thing: with the flat roads, this week, good weather and everyone taking turns and working extremely well together we bowled along riding; I made it 65miles, before turning for home, in about 3hrs 6min - approx 20.7mph average.
I nearly came a cropper in that I took a carb drink and two gels, but one bottle of water. Having used the gels I think I was starting to feel the effects of a bit of dehydration and called a halt whilst I nipped in and joined a long queue in a garage for a bottle of water - sorry I know it's supposed to be a non stop training ride.
After that it was back to business and I soon felt better. Towards the end it speeded up with a couple of impressive long 25-28mph turns by Howard and Pete? (if that sort of stuff doesn't help me prepare for racing I don't know what will).
It was MTB World Cup weekend at Dalby Forest this weekend.
It kicked off on Friday night with a Street race (the Pro Eliminator) in Pickering. The route was a short sprint lap of the town, up and down the hilly streets, through back alleys, over flower beds, through a graveyard and down some steps - all within inches of the specatators. The format was a time trial as the 1st eliminator down to the final 16 then head to head races (4x style) through to the final with events for Men and Women and cash prizes for the winners. The field was a mixture of current pros, up and coming XC riders and some 'legends' from recent history. A crowd of us went up, watched some great racing and then went for a curry and debrief.
Sunday I went up with the family for the main event, the Elite Women's and Men's races. The course was very well worked out being a mixture of existing Black trails, and some new sections purpose built, all giving the crowd good views of the riding and the riders some tough, technical sections but plenty of overtaking points elsewhere. A great showpiece for Dalby.
Those of you with Sky they're apparently showing it Thursday evening on Eurosport.
It kicked off on Friday night with a Street race (the Pro Eliminator) in Pickering. The route was a short sprint lap of the town, up and down the hilly streets, through back alleys, over flower beds, through a graveyard and down some steps - all within inches of the specatators. The format was a time trial as the 1st eliminator down to the final 16 then head to head races (4x style) through to the final with events for Men and Women and cash prizes for the winners. The field was a mixture of current pros, up and coming XC riders and some 'legends' from recent history. A crowd of us went up, watched some great racing and then went for a curry and debrief.
Sunday I went up with the family for the main event, the Elite Women's and Men's races. The course was very well worked out being a mixture of existing Black trails, and some new sections purpose built, all giving the crowd good views of the riding and the riders some tough, technical sections but plenty of overtaking points elsewhere. A great showpiece for Dalby.
Those of you with Sky they're apparently showing it Thursday evening on Eurosport.
On Saturday I did the club's open TT which went well with a bit of luck with the spacing of the tractors in Stillington and a boost fron Kevin and all up Marton Hill. Thanks to Steve and all the helpers for a well run event.
I did the LVRC race as detailed by Phil. I had a good a good race, kept with my group but no legs left at the end, still next time.
Did the Croft race last Tuesday which was hectic/fast, got dropped and then had a little race with 4 of us. It put it in perspective when Chris Newton comes past lapping us going probably 10 mph faster!
I did the LVRC race as detailed by Phil. I had a good a good race, kept with my group but no legs left at the end, still next time.
Did the Croft race last Tuesday which was hectic/fast, got dropped and then had a little race with 4 of us. It put it in perspective when Chris Newton comes past lapping us going probably 10 mph faster!
Sunday's Road Race at Wetwang was mostly decided by a crash at the start of lap 2 (of six). The main feature of the course is Life Hill, a long steady climb with a twisty, potholed descent which was the obvious danger area, and as the safety briefing pointed out, the road there was wet and slimy after earlier rainfall. The first time through it I was very uncomfortable with the crowding, so the second time round I deliberately got myself into a space in the group and eased off to give me a few metres gap for safety. Sure enough, a shout went up, somebody flew into the right verge and then we were all braking and sliding with guys toppling over left and right. I was mashing the brakes, aiming for a gap to my right with my back wheel beginning to slide out when a bottle came bouncing under my nose. As I jinked round I slid into a guy on my left who I think went down, but somehow I was still upright and rolled through [apologies to whoever I hit, I'm not sure what else I could have done].
Of course my instinct was to slow down but the leaders had obviously pushed on. It looked like about ten guys were ahead of the crash, disappearing round the corner, with another ten or so having skidded through, and maybe a dozen down and a lot more held up behind, including PaulM and timj I think, effectively out of the race.
I sprinted up to the corner and fell in with a group of four, including a couple of Maltonites, who were chasing hard. We worked well and picked up another couple but after a few miles we still hadn't closed the gap with the leaders. Then the lead group shed a couple of riders, and when we caught them it was pretty clear they weren't going to help chase down their mates up the road, and the sting went out of the chase. But we attacked Life Hill hard enough that me and another guy slid off the back. I thought I could catch them again on the descent but ended up finishing that lap mostly on my own.
There were plenty of stragglers stll out there determined to finish; with so many eliminated there were still places to fight for. I passed one, fell in with a couple whose bikes were well decorated with shrubbery, who then escaped on the hill, and rode the last two laps with a guy from Chevin who was keen to work. We caught one of the original chase group just before the final climb, and I had a point to prove about that. hill so let them get a few lengths before sprinting past at the finish to take ?20th. Technically I think that makes me an a*hole, not a sprinter, but it *was* a race.
Up until the crash it was going pretty well: I followed my plan of sticking up front right from the briefing, and tucked in behind the leaders on the neutral section. I lost a fair bit of ground on the first descent but picked my way back again, and even had the legs to nip ahead a few places on the first climb. But right after that was the wipeout... I asked at the finish and heard that a few bikes were ruined, and a couple of guys had gone to hospital, one with a broken collarbone, but everyone had walked away at least.
Still, it was a very well-organised and friendly race (top marks to Hull Thursday cc - and thanks Paul for staying to give me a shout!) and a good lesson for Kippax in two weeks, which is a bit like a mini Wetwang in reverse - sharp twisty climb followed by long, straight descent.
Tom
Of course my instinct was to slow down but the leaders had obviously pushed on. It looked like about ten guys were ahead of the crash, disappearing round the corner, with another ten or so having skidded through, and maybe a dozen down and a lot more held up behind, including PaulM and timj I think, effectively out of the race.
I sprinted up to the corner and fell in with a group of four, including a couple of Maltonites, who were chasing hard. We worked well and picked up another couple but after a few miles we still hadn't closed the gap with the leaders. Then the lead group shed a couple of riders, and when we caught them it was pretty clear they weren't going to help chase down their mates up the road, and the sting went out of the chase. But we attacked Life Hill hard enough that me and another guy slid off the back. I thought I could catch them again on the descent but ended up finishing that lap mostly on my own.
There were plenty of stragglers stll out there determined to finish; with so many eliminated there were still places to fight for. I passed one, fell in with a couple whose bikes were well decorated with shrubbery, who then escaped on the hill, and rode the last two laps with a guy from Chevin who was keen to work. We caught one of the original chase group just before the final climb, and I had a point to prove about that. hill so let them get a few lengths before sprinting past at the finish to take ?20th. Technically I think that makes me an a*hole, not a sprinter, but it *was* a race.
Up until the crash it was going pretty well: I followed my plan of sticking up front right from the briefing, and tucked in behind the leaders on the neutral section. I lost a fair bit of ground on the first descent but picked my way back again, and even had the legs to nip ahead a few places on the first climb. But right after that was the wipeout... I asked at the finish and heard that a few bikes were ruined, and a couple of guys had gone to hospital, one with a broken collarbone, but everyone had walked away at least.
Still, it was a very well-organised and friendly race (top marks to Hull Thursday cc - and thanks Paul for staying to give me a shout!) and a good lesson for Kippax in two weeks, which is a bit like a mini Wetwang in reverse - sharp twisty climb followed by long, straight descent.
Tom
I've been very ill - I suffered a severe case of selective memory syndrome 3 weeks ago which caused me to enter the open time trial on saturday, without my knowledge, when I had already entered Wetwang RR (which now has to be entered in January) on the Sunday. This affliction causes you to forget the reason why you never race twice in 2 days - 1. you never go aswell on either day, 2. you are tired on the second day, 3. its a load of faffing about, 4. its expensive...........
Actually I had really been ill (really been ill isn't as bad as been really ill) and preparation for Saturday involved getting my bike in better order than my body. A great event as ever and thanks to Steve for organising. Dont know where the riders that make the difference between calling it a club event and an open event were though. Maybe there was a race up a motorway somewhere?
I knew about 30 secs into my warm up on Sunday that I was going to be in trouble. Wetwang RR is a great event and I rate this as a safe circuit but the decent before the climb up to the Sledmere junction was in a shocking state. In hindsight perhaps the organisers should have extended the neutralised section to the junction on the first lap or perhaps the riders should have used a bit of common sense. As neither happened a guy with a number on his back but no helmet (seriously - but then presumably had no brain anyway) hit a rough patch , panicked, finished up on the r/h verge, over the handlebars, his bike slid back into the road in front of the guy in front of me. I thought if he goes down so do I but he managed to ride over it! And this is half a mile into the race. I rode round at the back of the bunch till the top of the finish climb at the end of the first lap and called it a day, not wanting to alarm my fellow competitors anymore with the sounds of my breathing! What a difference a year makes - this time last I was away in the first break!
But at least I am still in 1 piece as is my bike. Half a mile further on and that wasn't the case for a number of the other riders.
Well done to Tom for seeing it through. Tim was another Saturday veteran who finished on Sunday at the same time as me. You just have to keep banging in the entries and turning up. I got dropped in this event on the opening lap in the mid 90s never to regain the bunch. The next time I rode it I won....
Actually I had really been ill (really been ill isn't as bad as been really ill) and preparation for Saturday involved getting my bike in better order than my body. A great event as ever and thanks to Steve for organising. Dont know where the riders that make the difference between calling it a club event and an open event were though. Maybe there was a race up a motorway somewhere?
I knew about 30 secs into my warm up on Sunday that I was going to be in trouble. Wetwang RR is a great event and I rate this as a safe circuit but the decent before the climb up to the Sledmere junction was in a shocking state. In hindsight perhaps the organisers should have extended the neutralised section to the junction on the first lap or perhaps the riders should have used a bit of common sense. As neither happened a guy with a number on his back but no helmet (seriously - but then presumably had no brain anyway) hit a rough patch , panicked, finished up on the r/h verge, over the handlebars, his bike slid back into the road in front of the guy in front of me. I thought if he goes down so do I but he managed to ride over it! And this is half a mile into the race. I rode round at the back of the bunch till the top of the finish climb at the end of the first lap and called it a day, not wanting to alarm my fellow competitors anymore with the sounds of my breathing! What a difference a year makes - this time last I was away in the first break!
But at least I am still in 1 piece as is my bike. Half a mile further on and that wasn't the case for a number of the other riders.
Well done to Tom for seeing it through. Tim was another Saturday veteran who finished on Sunday at the same time as me. You just have to keep banging in the entries and turning up. I got dropped in this event on the opening lap in the mid 90s never to regain the bunch. The next time I rode it I won....
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Friday myself and Steph were part of the group that watched the MTB World Cup in Pickering, thoroughly enjoyable evening which included a couple of spectacular crashes, thankfully no one was seriously hurt, credit to Pickering town council for a great set up, let's hope the city centre racing here in York is as successful.
Saturday it was a bit of Fred training for both of us and we ended up out via Castle Howard, Kirkbymoorside, up Chimney bank and across to Blakey bank too. Stopped off in Hutton le Hole for a bite to eat before setting off for home via Nunnington, Hovingham, Terrington bank. 94 miles door to door at about 16.5 average
Sunday we went to watch to World cup again in Dalby, absolutely brilliant day watching the pro's hammer round the course
Off to Gran Canaria for 6 days Fred training then back for a couple of days rest before the challenge on the 9th May
Hopefully back to normality after that and I can get out on a couple of club runs
Saturday it was a bit of Fred training for both of us and we ended up out via Castle Howard, Kirkbymoorside, up Chimney bank and across to Blakey bank too. Stopped off in Hutton le Hole for a bite to eat before setting off for home via Nunnington, Hovingham, Terrington bank. 94 miles door to door at about 16.5 average
Sunday we went to watch to World cup again in Dalby, absolutely brilliant day watching the pro's hammer round the course
Off to Gran Canaria for 6 days Fred training then back for a couple of days rest before the challenge on the 9th May
Hopefully back to normality after that and I can get out on a couple of club runs