I'll kick this off, since the cycling bits of my weekend all happened on the Saturday! Was once again sole Clifton representative (how does this keep happening in a club with forty-odd people who ticked "road racing" etc....) at the Barton Wheelers Summer vets RR just on the far side of the Humber Bridge. 50km on the lumpy (but not holey - someone in Barton Wheelers has clearly chatted up the road repair lads) Deepdale circuit. The sun shone and the wind blew - it was a fair day for racing.
Since I'm spending more time at the front of races this year I'm getting a much clearer view of the regular pattern; about ten of us made repeated attempts to get off the front of the bunch until eventually a group of about five made it (while I was sat on the front and unable to respond - another common factor) and then the remaining five or so of us spent the rest of the race trying again and again and always getting pulled back. Good fun though. We eventually caught the 60+ group just at the foot of the climb to the finish, resulting in a particularly messy sprint. I was feeling relatively okay (no carrots up nose) and crossed the line next to the bloke who got third in the D (55-59) group but sadly the break which had disappeared up the road was stuffed with C's (50-54's) and so it was, again, no envelope with a fiver. (Donny Wheelers rider Fred Easton got third in the B's and did get an envelope with a fiver - "better not show the missus").
Weekend round-up, 26th/27th June
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m-k-lewis@msn.com
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 9:28 pm
- Location: Copmanthorpe
Had a great ride out with the intermediate group, although I suspect there were a few ringers in there as the pace was unusually brisk! It is not often that I ride and regularly check my speedo showing well over 20mph!
Still, I managed to hang on, though I am aware that I contributed nothing on the run in from Sherrif Hutton - thanks to Tony for the tow.
Thanks to all for the company. Hope to be out next week for the 3 bridges - wife and kids allowing!
Mark
PS No more "Benign Sex Headache" talk next time - don't ask - you had to be there!
Still, I managed to hang on, though I am aware that I contributed nothing on the run in from Sherrif Hutton - thanks to Tony for the tow.
Thanks to all for the company. Hope to be out next week for the 3 bridges - wife and kids allowing!
Mark
PS No more "Benign Sex Headache" talk next time - don't ask - you had to be there!
At my four year old daughters request all the family did some mountain biking.I don't think she was quite thinking of 12 miles, but thats what we did. The route was from Dixon's hollow in Dalby, via the Hole of Horcum (ice cream stop) to Levisham where we stopped for lunch. Part of the same route as the NYMBO family mountain marathon course. Its the longest offroad ride my youngest has done and she did very well just needing a bit of help up some of the hills, but being unfazed by the downhill bits. I carried on going via Lockton, doing some of the Dalby red route to pick up the car. 
A large group of cycling sun worshippers turned up at the Square on Saturday on a glorious day for a hit out. 11 of us headed out on the intermediate ride to Helmsley via Hawnby, while the K-riders looked to have even more revellers, 10-15 maybe (?), heading to Helmsley via Ampleforth. As Mark said, a few H-Leaguers had infiltrated the intermediate ranks to drive the bus at a nifty pace, which did wonders for fitness levels. Whitehorse Bank, whilst steep, has a couple of small 5-10 metre flat-ish sections to prevent total lung explosion; and it took a bit of will-power to ignore the temptation of the ice cream van in the tourist car park half way up. Then, after Doctor Mark had shared with us the various types of exertion that causes headaches 
, we descended to the Helmsley café at the same time as the K-riders emerged down the hill, which made for an amusing scene of around 25 Cliftonites stacked up in the queue for lunch orders. We then lapped up the sunny conditions and added extra miles to the route plan by heading east across to Amotherby, although our directional abilities at various times was laughable - Shouts of ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘straight ahead’ often ringing out together 
We belted back to York via Terrington at a slick pace which had almost every one of us taking a turn at hanging off the back at various times. A decent hit out and 92 miles on the clock by the time I staggered in the front door feeling a bit parched, but far more knowledgeable about BSH
, we descended to the Helmsley café at the same time as the K-riders emerged down the hill, which made for an amusing scene of around 25 Cliftonites stacked up in the queue for lunch orders. We then lapped up the sunny conditions and added extra miles to the route plan by heading east across to Amotherby, although our directional abilities at various times was laughable - Shouts of ‘left’, ‘right’ and ‘straight ahead’ often ringing out together We belted back to York via Terrington at a slick pace which had almost every one of us taking a turn at hanging off the back at various times. A decent hit out and 92 miles on the clock by the time I staggered in the front door feeling a bit parched, but far more knowledgeable about BSH 8 headed out for the Saturday training ride to do the usual Malton loop but in reverse, just for the perverse pleasure in bombing up Terrington Bank rather than down it 
It was a nice rolling 50 odd miles at an average 20mph. Well done to the chap in the Marmite jersey (I'm in the love it camp...) who intended to hang in there for an hour but did far better than that. Chapeau!
It was a nice rolling 50 odd miles at an average 20mph. Well done to the chap in the Marmite jersey (I'm in the love it camp...) who intended to hang in there for an hour but did far better than that. Chapeau!
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Simon Donoghue
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:01 am
Raced at Croft TLI on Tuesday - with the new tagging system which records place, time and fastest lap. Fantastic evenings racing in the sun - and my best performance to date. Stayed up with the top 15 through the first and second primes - and feeling good with 3 to go moved up into a strong place (7th I think) ready to mix it on last lap. When the snap came the rider in front failed to respond - and being boxed in lost place as fast lines came through on left and right. A bit of quick recovery and "grass-tracking" and unconventional cornering got me back to 32nd place on the line !! Enjoyed hooking up with the training ride on Saturday as far as Sheriff Hutton (thanks). Great ride up Settrington Beacon yesterday afternoon whilst what seemed like the rest of the country where watching England lose.
I've had a weekend of TT's.
Did the Brid cc 10 mile on Saturday along with Chris C, Claire, Nollaig and Mark A. Great course around Burton Fleming. The first uphill bit didn't seem uphill as we had a tailwind. The last 2 miles with a headwind combined with a gradual uphill was hard.
On Sunday I did the Otley 50 mile TT. (Start time 7:06). I was really happy with my time (02:03:54) which was 5 minutes quicker than last year, 6th out of 26 in 55+ class.
Did the Brid cc 10 mile on Saturday along with Chris C, Claire, Nollaig and Mark A. Great course around Burton Fleming. The first uphill bit didn't seem uphill as we had a tailwind. The last 2 miles with a headwind combined with a gradual uphill was hard.
On Sunday I did the Otley 50 mile TT. (Start time 7:06). I was really happy with my time (02:03:54) which was 5 minutes quicker than last year, 6th out of 26 in 55+ class.
Took the Sunday Ride up to Thorpe Perrow as trailed. 7 takers in the Square. Muzzy and Mike Moss went off to batter each other while Nigel, Shaun, Andy, Howard and self went on from Kilburn through Bagby and Topcliffe to the the Cafe. It was a good day to keep moving! Saw some of Dave C's competitors battling the wagons on the A168 - didn't look fun; have to say.
Cracked on for home and rarely dropped below evens into the slight headwind. Shaun commented that he hoped the England players would put as much effort in as we had in getting home to watch them! Somehow we knew what the answer was going to be.
Cracked on for home and rarely dropped below evens into the slight headwind. Shaun commented that he hoped the England players would put as much effort in as we had in getting home to watch them! Somehow we knew what the answer was going to be.
A large number set off from the square on saturday morning for a nicely paced 'K ride' to Helmsley. Was a lovely day for a ride and a handful of us had a great run up White Horse Bank which certainly got the lungs thumping!
Enjoyed a stop in Helmsley at the ice cream cafe where somehow the intermediate group and both halves of the K ride turned up at exactly the same time! It was a picture to see so many queueing out of the door.
The run back from helmsley was a flat run with some fun races over the crests by castle howard.
Got home after 80miles in the saddle and had a very big plate of pasta!
Enjoyed a stop in Helmsley at the ice cream cafe where somehow the intermediate group and both halves of the K ride turned up at exactly the same time! It was a picture to see so many queueing out of the door.
The run back from helmsley was a flat run with some fun races over the crests by castle howard.
Got home after 80miles in the saddle and had a very big plate of pasta!
After the relative success of my ride to winchester the other week I decided another early start was in order to take advantage of the long hours of daylight that we have at the moment.
As I will be unable to do the three bridges ride and allways wanting to cycle over the humber bridge I got set off at 4;30 ish and was on the bridge at 8.00 in glorious sunshine with the place pretty much to myself. I do like a good bridge and must admit that this is a beauty!
Anyway pressing on into lincolnshire on what it has to be said were pretty boring straight flat roads I headed for Cleethorpes for a well earned second breakfast.
With one eye on the football clock ticking I got myself set off back toute suite.
The humber bridge on the return leg was heaving with runners doing the bridge half marathon, which looked hard work in the heat.
Anyway what with thousands of runners and a slightly worrying knee pain I arrived home at half time and was left wondering why I had bothered rushing and should have spent longer at the seaside which was glorious!
I hope that all the three bridgers have a good day!
As I will be unable to do the three bridges ride and allways wanting to cycle over the humber bridge I got set off at 4;30 ish and was on the bridge at 8.00 in glorious sunshine with the place pretty much to myself. I do like a good bridge and must admit that this is a beauty!
Anyway pressing on into lincolnshire on what it has to be said were pretty boring straight flat roads I headed for Cleethorpes for a well earned second breakfast.
With one eye on the football clock ticking I got myself set off back toute suite.
The humber bridge on the return leg was heaving with runners doing the bridge half marathon, which looked hard work in the heat.
Anyway what with thousands of runners and a slightly worrying knee pain I arrived home at half time and was left wondering why I had bothered rushing and should have spent longer at the seaside which was glorious!
I hope that all the three bridgers have a good day!
The h ride went to Bridlington on Saturday. Nick S, Shaun W, Dr Dave and myself. Unfortunately, Dr D had to turn back early due to a dodgy back, hope you recovering OK Dave. Shaun got on the front on the way out and battered the fresh easterly into submission.
Great al fresco lunch in Brid and then a run downwind home. As a special treat, I led the group down Garrowby. A memorable experience for Nick as his Cervelo Soloist went into a "death weave" aka shimmy at about 50mph. Fortunately, he manged to control it and stay on board. Maybe I'll give that hill a miss for a while...
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/38238043
Great al fresco lunch in Brid and then a run downwind home. As a special treat, I led the group down Garrowby. A memorable experience for Nick as his Cervelo Soloist went into a "death weave" aka shimmy at about 50mph. Fortunately, he manged to control it and stay on board. Maybe I'll give that hill a miss for a while...
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/38238043
I rode the Spurn Head 400 audax from Halifax this Saturday. For some reason (probably lack of sleep the week before) I felt bad for a lot of the route and so got a slow time time (23:30), but it's the finishing that's important on these things
Riding along Spurn Head itself was quite fun, though the combintion of concrete cobbles and sand has previously been described as "Laurence of Arabia rides Paris Roubaix" and I'd recommend some winter wheels if you ever give this a try. If I do it next year I may try it on the fixed bike - no risk of clogging the gears with sand and the ride itself is fairly flat.
The organiser was running some 600km rides at the same time as this one but given the heat on Sunday, I was very glad I chose the shorter option. I might have fried otherwise!
Riding along Spurn Head itself was quite fun, though the combintion of concrete cobbles and sand has previously been described as "Laurence of Arabia rides Paris Roubaix" and I'd recommend some winter wheels if you ever give this a try. If I do it next year I may try it on the fixed bike - no risk of clogging the gears with sand and the ride itself is fairly flat.
The organiser was running some 600km rides at the same time as this one but given the heat on Sunday, I was very glad I chose the shorter option. I might have fried otherwise!
as detailed above by DaveC & MarkA, the Brid CC 10mile course around Burton Fleming was another master stroke by young Kevin for our Open Series Club Competition.
The rolling quiet lanes course made for an interesting test and what Dave didn't state above was his win of the V60 category in the event. Chris and Mark finished 6th & 15th respectively and then Nollaig taking 1st lady (and getting photo requests at the end too!), backed up by self as 2nd lady.
It was great to be a part of the Clifton team. Timetrialling is really best described as a solitary sport, where most of us race only against ourselves. However, there was a great team spirit as we finished one by one and the Clifton riders sat on a sunny grassy bank waiting as each one of our team rode in to the finish. We sat and shared our ride experience with each other and then all rode back to the race Headquarters together. Several heads turned as the red and black jerseys rode en mass into the Car Park - rarely seen at timetrialling!
I enjoyed the course and will be back in Sept for the last series event where we all commented that we'd like to make a better account of that last hill!
11 Clifton riders entered for the Otley 25 this Sunday, again on a quiet traffic road near Borobridge. Looking forward.......
The rolling quiet lanes course made for an interesting test and what Dave didn't state above was his win of the V60 category in the event. Chris and Mark finished 6th & 15th respectively and then Nollaig taking 1st lady (and getting photo requests at the end too!), backed up by self as 2nd lady.
It was great to be a part of the Clifton team. Timetrialling is really best described as a solitary sport, where most of us race only against ourselves. However, there was a great team spirit as we finished one by one and the Clifton riders sat on a sunny grassy bank waiting as each one of our team rode in to the finish. We sat and shared our ride experience with each other and then all rode back to the race Headquarters together. Several heads turned as the red and black jerseys rode en mass into the Car Park - rarely seen at timetrialling!
I enjoyed the course and will be back in Sept for the last series event where we all commented that we'd like to make a better account of that last hill!
11 Clifton riders entered for the Otley 25 this Sunday, again on a quiet traffic road near Borobridge. Looking forward.......