Weekend Roundup - 7/8 August

[Darren N]

I was a Ryedale Rumbler on Sunday - received the 5-star treatment in terms of event organisation…Great HQ facilities at the Harry Potter-esque Ampleforth College, bright orange sign posts at every turning on the course, advance display banners at 5km and 1km to go before feed stations which were stocked to the max with food, energy bars & various drinks, hot meals before and after the event, and of course, the T-shirt!

I did the long route 1 with Clifton’s MTB fraternity…Stef F, Paul S & Richard. We were also joined in the first half by one of Clifton’s young brigade, 17 yr old Andy ‘Schleck’ Myers who was riding route 2. We nicknamed him ‘Schleck’ because of his similar tall and lean look on the bike combined with his riding ability, bounding up Boltby and Blakey as if he was going on a jaunt up Micklegate…very impressive, Andy obviously has a great future on the bike! We were very sorry he had to leave us at the top of Blakey.

The weather was very kind to us, cloudy and relatively windless…great for those chasing time standards. Describing this course is like the lift engineer describing his university course: “it had its ups and downs” The Big 4 (Boltby, Blakey, Caper Hill & Rosedale Chimney) were obviously no stroll in the park, but the long climbs in between certainly did a nice job on my leg strength - especially the climb up from the ford after Boltby towards Rievaulx Abbey and the heartbreaker out of Egton Bridge. I’ve tended to find the Moors rides to be more severe than those in the Dales but maybe that’s just me. Having said that, I really enjoyed both the challenge and the views.

Highlights for me:

- Had a great time with the MTB crew; nothing seemed beyond them and their collective level of fitness displayed on the slopes was very impressive indeed.
- It was hilarious trying to look composed on the bike at the top of Boltby and Blakey in front of the event photographers when bathed in sweat and dying a horrible death
- Paul’s rear tyre literally blew up with a massive explosion and firework display on the road into Rosedale and we thought his ride was over, however some very innovative work with two used sports gel wrappers inside the failed tyre along with a new tube worked perfectly to get him over the Chimney and home.
- Can’t talk about highlights without mentioning the spread on offer at the feed stations. If it wasn’t for the time constraints I’d probably still be at them now
- TBH, after 111 miles in the legs, I didn’t enjoy the final kilometre up to the highest point at Hogwarts where they kindly placed the finish line

It was a great day out with the MTB-ers and Schlecky, thanks to all. Waved to many Cliftonites throughout the day, Tim R in particular, and all seemed to have a smile on their face. Definitely worth doing again next year.

D.

PS. Good luck to the select group of Clifton MTB ladies doing the TransWales event next week.

[AndyM]

I think Darren hit the nail on the head there. I had a great half day out with Steph, Darren, Richard and Paul at the Ryedale Rumble. The weather was kind too us with a nice warm temperature and a bit of sun to let us make the most of the fantastic views over the Moors.

At the top of Blakey Bank I recieved a lot of encouragement to continue and do the 111mile route, instead of the 71miles I had opted for. I decided to follow my head and complete the final ~30miles solo, and pushed fairly hard after a probably too relaxed stop at the final feedstation at Hutton-le-Hole, with two random chain drops which was frustrating. Needless to say, the others were right and I got back to the car wishing I'd challenged myself with the extra 40 miles and further two big climbs .

Nevermind, I had a great day out and enjoyed the fantastic company, a lovely route and very well stocked feedstations .

Definately signing up next year.

Andy

[PeteN]

I also had great fun on the Rydale Rumble. Had the pleasure of riding mainly with Shaun and Tim J, maintaining a great pace from the start. I was signed-up for the middle distance and whilst Shaun carried on with the long one, Tim J and I gave it some welly on the way back after the final feed. Felt for Tim J as his rear wheel spontaneously collasped with about 10 miles to go, denying him the sub-4 hour finish he deserved.
Agree with the previous posts that this is a great ride, well organised and signposted, with the best feed stations I've seen.

[dave c]

I did the Ryedale Rumble also, set off with Shaun, Tim j, PeteN, PeteK. I had a good ride apart from falling off in the ford. After that I did most of the ride on my own apart from a section with PeteK, Glaisdale, Caper Hill.

Well done, especially to Shaun and Ian H who did fantastic times.

Dave

[willhub]

I did the Ryedale Rumble, was pretty much a failure for me.

At the start I felt ill and was nearly getting sick, I managed to feel better and set off with Howard, was feeling pretty rough all the way round, still managed to beat most people up Blakey and Boltby though, although I pushed the hardest I had ever pushed at the top of blakey as some guy from Chevin Cycles flew up the hill and overtook me, so I caught him up then he started going faster at the top, so I gave it my all to overtake.

Probably good hill training but bad for getting a good time in a sportive and Howard was not very happy with me. I carried on with Howard when I caught up with him at the feed stop, but the 33% descent somewhere near Egton bridge? caught me out so lost Howard there and I walked down it, I feared my tyre might blow the rims where that hot and the tyre went that hard.

So after that I carried on by myself towards the end, I lost all power, I was just crawling up hills, and I got overtaken by a few people, but I had to let them go.

I got to Hutton Le Hole and stopped there to munch on some gels and cake, I've figured if I never stopped there, apart from getting my time done, I would have got cold there, my time was 7 hours 9 mins, I spent about 7 mins at the feed stop as I was that dead.

Anyway, the last 20 miles was interesting, I got a small amount of power back, so I started upping the speed, there was this guy in HTC Columbia kit on a yellow Giant I believe, and also a black vauxhall Astra I believe it was. This guy seemed to be catching me up, so I had to put some of the power I had left into the hills, and he never caught me, now all the way back, I seen this black car, following behind me, stopping, then doing the same, sometimes overtaking me and pulling in, anyway, got to the long stretch coming into Ampleforth College, coming up to that S bend, this guy was right behind me, with this car behind, he was going to overtake me, I kept the outside line which meant me going through some pot holes, he had to brake or he'd have cut me up. So on the last bit I gave it some then settled down and went steady up the hill back to the college, I felt like telling him it's not a race.

On the pictures I see him, coming into the finish on his drops. Was very suspicious, wondering if the car was towing him along at parts :\


Anyway, as I said, major fail, I'm taking a week off the bike now.

I look like a right tramp on the photos, no wonder people hated it when I was overtaking them on the climbs, looked like I just came out of the gutter on a shopping trolley.

[Dr Dave]

Another Rumbler here. Had a chat with Howard and Will at the start and decided that given my current moderate level of fitness that I'd best head off early and make my own way round at a pace I could manage. Nice morning so enjoyed the scenery! Was overtaken by the aforementioned after 20 mins or so but then repassed them as Howard punctured. Positively dribbled up Boltby - funny how much easier the hills are when you set out to trickle up them rather than bury yourself!

Like many I came a cropper in the ford - frankly I feel that the decent to the ford and the ford itself is an unecessary and slightly dangerous route which should be altered. Several other people 'went for a swim' whilst I was there! Luckily no damage to rider or machine so continued my solo way round, being passed again BY H & W at the first feed, then again took my time on Blakey before enjoying the long decent through castleton to the next stop at Lealholme.

Was passed just after this by Shaun going at a terrific lick. By now I was starting to feel my recent lack of long rides. Last year I'd had to walk Caper Hill and Rosedale and feared that i'd reprise this but actually found that my earlier moderation enabled me to keep going - albeit that I was doing 3mph at one point

Legs started cramping after Rosedale and my back has lost it's resistance to full days in the saddle - it didn't 'arf ache on the final few miles but I crawled back to Ampleforth with a smile.

It's a diferent experience when you don't 'ride for a time' but I was happy to see that I equalled last year's time almost to the minute - despite my transponder having a glitch which meant I had to explain when I'd started to the timekeeper so my 'official time' is a few mins out.

All in all a Grand Day Out and well done to everyone - esp Shaun and Ian for excellent times and Pete K who I thought did well. Looks like I'm going to either have to train a bit more or get used to having my butt kicked all the time

[shaun]

As indicated earlier I was another Ryedale Rumble rider. A great ride and one that it felt better for doing it for the second time. Going into the ride I thought I would struggle but once going things settled down and I was able to find a good rhythm.
I still hate hills and find them hard but the hilly rides with the H group over the last couple of weeks seamed to help climbing up Boltby bank being painful but manageable. This however led to the decent to the ford before Rievaulx where I remembered the grit (and Kevin’s warning) but still nearly over cooked it and then got cocky with the ford where I found myself getting wet before rembering the warnings of how dangerous it can be. I would certainly add my own warning to those of others the ford look like a clear bed of cement and quite safe until you were on the floor and then you realised how slippery it really is.
Latching on with Tim and some Harogate Nova riders helped keep a good speed up through to the top of Blakey Bank from where I continued solo, Tim having decided to cut the route short and the others disappearing up the road.
Climbing up Caper Hill rolling is one description but steep is the one I would use I particularly didn’t like the bit where a car overtook me with the passenger filming the guy in HTC strip overtaking me.
The ride over the tops to Egton Bridge was great but care had to be taken on all the loose chippings where the road had been resurfaced, particularly the descent into Egton Bridge. From there it was a case of digging in and just pushing on as best I could to the end.
It was strange to get back and find that when Ian finished we had almost identical times and he must have been about 5 minutes behind me all the way round.
Dr Dave if you can look as fresh at the top of Blakey as you do in your picture the you just need a few more miles to get back into it.
Again congrats to everyone getting round.
Shaun

[At the back as usual]

Just like everyone above I was a Rumbler on Sunday and had a goal of under 8hrs set in my mind for completion.
Started off with a group of 4 Cliftonites and a couple of other guys from Middlesborough. Lost most of them up Boltby (like you Shaun I too hate hills, might be easier if I was lighter ) caught up with them again at the feed station at Helmsley but a little bit of wrong information from one of the group led me to turn around to ensure I didn't have to bip out, lost minutes here. Chased after them until Blakey Bank where having lost them and Ian H who passed me, found myself decending to Leaholme more or less alone. Met Dave C at the feed station and must thank him for dragging me to Caper Hill - certainly wasn't expecting such a hard climb and was a struggle after Boltby and Blakey Banks. Got my second wind - or was that my 3rd or 4th - on the top and plowed on to Hutton Le Hole where I was nearly T Boned by a mindless female driver turning into the car park before the junction, but with a bit of careful braking and cyclo cross riding I luckily avoided her, would have been a bad one as I was doing over 30mph at the time. Had to sit at the feed station for over 5 minutes while I relaxed as I was shaking like a leaf and latched on to a group of 4 from Middlesborough who were kind enough to allow me to tow behind. With 5kms to go I went solo again and narrowly missed the Gold award by 2 minutes - there is always next year - Team Clifton to be organised Mr D.
Overall I was very happy with my result and I am looking forward to the Tan Hill Audax if I can enter on the day.

Have to also speak highly of the organisation of the event, by far the best I have had the priviledge of doing this year and I've done a few - would go as far as saying it was better organised than the Fred.

[Jess]

Well, I'm going to break the mould as I didn't do the Ryedale Rumble this weekend - though reading some of these reports, I really wish I had!

Just a wee 85miles out to Cockayne and back with Kevin et al for me on Sat. Was a great ride, with some spectacular views, good company & a few nice climbs to boot, or at least it was until we got drenched at Castle Howard & I actually couldn't really see for a few miles.

Hope newcomer Richard (who was out with us til he realised how far we were going!) got on ok in the Rumble. Lots of thanks to Kevin for all the advice & the gear tables - I have been revising!
Thanks also for the Milky way and the tow home when I lost it on the last 10 miles in - most considerate, especially since I'd cockily told him to 'put some effort in' on the last climb ( that'll teach me! )

[timj]

hi all
I was a rumbler also .Forgot that i havent been riding long distance epics this year and it showed.After a good brisk start we made good time to Blakey where i would normally stay with a wheel or push on but something told me 70 miles was going to be enough for the day and thank goodness i did.Nunnington with PeteN we could smell the finish after eating up the miles from Hutton le hole PING go two spokes and my day is over .Still it could have been Castleton and the lift home might have been a little tougher to wangle.Good two up Pete anyway.
Raced at Tockwith on Tuesday finished in the bunch in first race and enjoyed 15 laps with the 2 3 4 racers in the second so not to bad
another
good week on the bike

Timj

[timj]

hi
Just seen results from sunday hats off to Ian h and Shaun respect
Timj