2011 Challenge Series

[Rob]

Some great rides on there, and it's nice you don't have to pay through the nose every week, with lots of free clubruns and cheap as chips audax rides included.

Glad you think so - this was the original idea:
Not too much driving.
Reasonable entry fees.
No need to enter too much in advance.
Just challenging and accessible riding.

See you on a few.

[Jon G]

Some great rides on there, and it's nice you don't have to pay through the nose every week, with lots of free clubruns and cheap as chips audax rides included.

Glad you think so - this was the original idea:
Not too much driving.
Reasonable entry fees.
No need to enter too much in advance.
Just challenging and accessible riding.

See you on a few.

You've probably answered Allans query about the Etape du Dales not been included.

The idea been to include events that aren't limited numbers but saying that there are couple of Sportives in there.

Looking forward to some of those rides though like the Robin hoods bay and spurn-head.



Jon

[Cyan Skymoos]

I know Jon

I'm sure the Etape du Dales will be a challenge Allan but writing a cheque for £40 would hurt me more than the ride.

I will definitely do some rides Rob.

[Jon G]

I know Jon

I'm sure the Etape du Dales will be a challenge Allan but writing a cheque for £40 would hurt me more than the ride.

I will definitely do some rides Rob.

I can't really comment having entered the Etape du tour for last three years which costs a bomb.

Decided not to in 2011

Jon

[Broom Wagon]

This'll be a bit contentious - in my view there's too many points available - to get gold you should have to ride most events - but you could get gold by riding just 4 events (admittedly hard ones). To get gold it should be a hard challenge - or maybe there should be platinum too. That's my two pennorth and I've never got gold anyway

[Jon G]

This'll be a bit contentious - in my view there's too many points available - to get gold you should have to ride most events - but you could get gold by riding just 4 events (admittedly hard ones). To get gold it should be a hard challenge - or maybe there should be platinum too. That's my two pennorth and I've never got gold anyway

Maybe it would be worth suggesting that the points needed should be higher or that you have to ride a minimum number of events like with the SPOCOs to qualify for the award.

Jon

[Broom Wagon]

More points to get gold or less points for the events - either would do just as well.

[Darren N]

Just catching up with this topic.

Firstly, big thanks to Bernard, Rob et al, who have kindly organised this challenge series. It's a great list with some new rides and plenty to go for. I think the points structure is great too...some easy access to a bronze medal through the tiddlers and a real stretch to get gold but importantly, is still accessible to the novice.

Secondly, while we're making suggestions, this challenge series has increased massively in interest in recent years and deserves a level of formality both to preserve its integrity and to be fair to all those who pay their money on time, opt out of other commitments in advance to plan it into their schedules and turn up on the day to complete it. Can we please add a sentence on the Challenge page which basically says: "To qualify for the points, riders must complete the organised event as arranged on the day." This will eliminate the nonsense of people missing deadlines and requesting judgement rulings outside the event, such as "I missed the entry deadline, if I ride it solo for free the day before, can I still get the points"...or "I did a hard club ride yesterday, can I have some points"...or "I drove around the official course in my granny's robin reliant yesterday, can I have some bonus points?" Please can we make this black & white...you do the official event, you get the points, no arguments, no embarrassment.

While we're discussing events, I support Allan's view, 14 Clifton riders have democratically voted with their feet that the Etape du Dales on 15th May is accessible; worth considering IMHO.

Thirdly, I really would encourage anyone out there at any level to give these rides a go. Some people have the mistaken belief that they are only for hard riders. Provided you even have a scant ability to do some occasional teeth gritting, you'll get through it and enjoy the huge satisfaction of completing it. These rides gave me some fantastic memories last year, so give them a go!!



D.

[Allan]

Thank you for the support there Darren, cheque is in the post!
It does say on the challenge web page that - 'Other events may be added - suggestions welcome!'
I note Cyan comments on the cost of this particular event but the Pock challenge is £22 also.

[Jon G]

Darren your right the events should have to entered on the day otherwise it just defeats the whole point of the series . I can't imagine anyone been awarded for completing a TT or a race in their own time.

And good point Allan never spotted that about the Pocklington Challenge. But in my opinion because entries have now closed in the Etape du dales it can't really be included. Same goes for events like the Fred Whitton. Does the Pock challenge have limited entries?

Jon

[At the back as usual]

While we're discussing events, I support Allan's view, 14 Clifton riders have democratically voted with their feet that the Etape du Dales on 15th May is accessible; worth considering IMHO

D.

Firstly what kept you Darren!!

If you are going to start adding events from all over the country (like the Etape) then those who have entered the Fred Whitton which is also accessible should get points too, my point being that you would have a similar scenario as the "Can I do it tomorrow as I missed the entry date etc" with people asking "can this be added or what about this one"

I think the list is good as it is, Bernard and company have done an excellent job in suggesting more events than the previous year and there are some rides that sound interesting - especially the overnighter

Anyway that's my thoughts, hope to see you lot on a few of them, all being that I can get my damn Achilles problem sorted out

Allan cancel that cheque

[Dr Dave]

Just an observation that in 2011, with the rise in popularity of Sportives, it seems reasonable to suggest that the list should have a mix of 'traditional 'audax/club runs and 'modern' sportives so as to cater for the preferences of as many members as possible.

[Broom Wagon]

Back to my previous whining - there are enough points to get gold three times over, can I have three medals if I do? - too many points.

Let me set the scene: a cyclist's social evening, there's alcohol flowing, uncharacteristically people start bigging up their cycling achievements for the year. One chap, he's done the Fred Whitton in gold standard time, climbed Hardknott on a 42 x 11-21 without walking. Another, set PBs for 12 and 24 hour TTs this year. Another rode PBP, rode for 72 hours without sleeping.

Then.... there's a sort of creaking rasping noise like someone trying to talk who'd given it up years ago (a waste of energy). It's coming from a chap that somehow they'd not noticed until now: clawed hands, hunched back, red eyes staring 1000 miles into the distance. He's wearing cycling shorts (obviously cycled here even though it's -10 outside) knotted veins tracing their way over bulging thighs and calves.

Slowly, painfully he croaks out.....I've...got...gold...in the Clifton....Challenge...series . There's silence, people start to edge away, even a chap who rode to Tan Hill in the coldest winter for 50 years feels a moment of nerves. People are afraid, very afraid....that's what gold in the Clifton Challenge series should mean

[like my bike]

Pock Pedal 400 places. wait for Cliftonite if your thinking of riding.