Weekend Roundup 5-6 March

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 2:11 pm

Outside commitments had me choosing the Saturday Intermediate ride this week. Loads of people in the Square at 10.00am, including lots of familiar faces from last year who were trying out their new bikes or shedding their winter coats.

A solid crew of 5 headed out with the Inters, leaving a nice big sociable group with Kevin. We had an early pit stop on the way out of York for Tony who had opted for a complete bike change! Then out to Aldwark Bridge, Markington and Brimham Rocks. Dan’s racing head engaged at this point when he morphed us into the 9 o’clock training ride, pounding us with a multitude of sprints on the rolling lane skirting the Rocks. We then dropped down into Pateley Bridge for the cafe.

All this time, Pete K was nursing a crook ankle which had him in trouble. In the cafe, I volunteered to take him out the back and do what they do to horses with broken fetlocks.

We debated looking for a way out of Pateley B that didn’t involve a big climb, but with the exception of hiring a river barge, we decided there aint no flat road out of Pateley (...sounds like a US country music hit from the 60’s: “Aint no flat road outta Pateley” by Johnny Cash

). Anyway, we hauled out of Pateley B., the only drama being Greg’s brakes locking in a massive power slide where I almost carved him in two! The remainder was a relatively quick ride back through Knaresborough, Tockwith and the south-west villages near York where it was nice to be dropped off first for a change. A nice ride, thanks everyone!

D.

G. · Post by G. » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:08 pm

Yeah, thanks for not carving me in two Darren, that could have been nasty. Pete, how's your achilles feeling?

Are we going to get another celebrity guest next week?

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:19 pm

I raced at Saltayre in Lancaster on Saturday, it was my first race since the TLi in Wistow when I crashed at 26mph and wrote a bicycle off.

Well the race was nice, 24.4mph avg over 23 miles, it was longer, I was not doing too good, I was sat at the back (lost my confidence totally on corners), but I got abit back, got in the bunch, we started doing through and off, I broke off to try catch up with the break, another guy followed me, and well.... it was too far, so we slowed down and got sucked back into the main bunch. Later on the break was far closer, and I was confident that I could have caught them, but being the wimp I am I decided to just sit in, after all, it was only a training session.

Got into a good rhythm, then was going down one of the straights at 28mph, when this greyhound came out of the bushed, and into it I went, straight over my bars at 28mph and then another guy proceeded to hit the dog in the ribs @ 28mph. I'm stiff all around my body, bruised ribs etc.., lucky not to be in worse condition really. Wrote off wheel, bars, and lots of cosmetic damage etc..

I was just laying on the ground thinking, I cannot believe it, me again. I was supposed to be number 13, but I got 17, just as unlucky (day of my Bday)

So "Winter bike" is banged up now and second helmet in 2 months to be wrote off, Garmin 605 scratched and a blue dead pixel on screen now, damage Wheelers Jersey, arm warmers etc..

Another guy got his Dura-Ace crank bent inwards and a fancy rear wheel broken as well as other bits.

Dunno what happened to the dog, it disappeared, but If I get the email of the dog owner I'll contact her to ask if the dog is ok and not dead.

Jon G · Post by **Jon G** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:35 pm

Sounds nasty Will but I can certainly sympathise with you having already been on the deck this year myself. Just be thankful it's not more serious and I'm glad you're OK.

Jon

Dan · Post by **Dan** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:19 pm

As Darren said 5 of us on the intermediate ride on saturday, Darren, Tony, Greg, Pete and myself out to Pateley Bridge. An enjoyable mornings ride to PB, I do like the rolling road by Brimham Rocks with it's short climbs so was playing a little there. We stopped at the cafe by the river, can't remember the name for a well earned break.

Don't know what happened in the afternoon but I never got back on the pace after the cafe so a big thanks to Darren and especially Tony for swiftly leading the way home. Tony was like a machine sat on the front into the wind. I hope your heel / ankle is ok Pete.

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 9:01 am

willhub wrote:
Got into a good rhythm, then was going down one of the straights at 28mph, when this greyhound came out of the bushed, and into it I went, straight over my bars at 28mph and then another guy proceeded to hit the dog in the ribs @ 28mph.

How fast was it Will?

Seriously though, sounds nasty - something you can't really anticipate or plan for. Hope you're OK

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 10:09 am

Sunday Clubrun saw 10 riders in The Square, an ideal number. Turned into a great day out. Early spring sunshine, quiet lanes, good company. Was really pleased how the group stayed in tight formation on all but the steepest/hardest climbs, thought we looked really professional. Close to 80 miles by the time we were back in York and some of you had a few more miles still to go.

Next week its Jordans Moss. I know many riders shy away from going west, but trust me, I know some good quiet lanes that way too. See you in The Square - bring your climbing legs.

R

paulM · Post by **paulM** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:41 pm

I was one of the Sunday 10 - for the first half of the ride anyway.
At Middleton on the Wolds after 40 miles the group took a left in search of Millington. I carried straight on for North Dalton and Warter. Sharp right up the hill - Huggate and down the long long descent into Wetwang. It would have been rude not to go up Life Hill and admire the potholes on the way to Sledmere. Left at the top - Fimber, Thixendale and up the steep climb out of the village for Uncleby. Back via Buttercrambe. 82 miles at 18 mph. Not a particularly sparkling performance but I'd made the most of my opportunities and good weather the previous week for some rides so no complaints and it was a lovely dry day. First race next Sunday.

Broom Wagon · Post by **Broom Wagon** » Mon Mar 07, 2011 8:15 pm

Maybe it was because I was doing the Sunday ride for a change, that my poor old brain was more befuddled than usual and I turned up at the square with two pumps but no tubes! But heck wasn't it nice to ride with some people again, who how can I put it, have been on the scene for quite a while.

Pretty soon we were on our way and although I'd claim to know Wold roads almost as good as anyone, Rob took us on a road: Spring Rd? just past Market Weighton which was excellent and one I've not ridden; a very quiet, really gentle climb into the Wolds with excellent views to the left, I shall definitely ride that one again.

In no time the ride was done and I was home again and I must have enjoyed it because I'd thought it was a pretty short ride but was amazed to see just shy of 70 miles on the clock.

Intention next week is to do the usual high velocity masochism of the Saturday training ride, but if its wet on Saturday or there's a lack of interest because of Phil's absence, it'll be the Sunday ride for me again. Though Rob's mentioned something about bringing climbing legs. I don't have any of those, so I'd just have to use the too short, bit too hairy for my liking, legs, I usually use.

willhub · Post by **willhub** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 12:16 am

Jon G wrote:Sounds nasty Will but I can certainly sympathise with you having already been on the deck this year myself. Just be thankful it's not more serious and I'm glad you're OK.

Jon

Dr Dave wrote:
willhub wrote:
Got into a good rhythm, then was going down one of the straights at 28mph, when this greyhound came out of the bushed, and into it I went, straight over my bars at 28mph and then another guy proceeded to hit the dog in the ribs @ 28mph.
How fast was it Will?

Seriously though, sounds nasty - something you can't really anticipate or plan for. Hope you're OK

Thanks.

The most damage has probably being done to my confidence but I hope to get it back quickly by doing more chaingangs and training sessions. I got literally no scratches or cuts and no visible bruises from it, so pretty lucky, just sore around the ribs and back especially if I sneeze of cough so I'm pretty much fine.

I'll just be keeping my eye on those hedges for dogs flying out of them in the future!!!

IanH · Post by **IanH** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:28 pm

Sorry about your crash Will, glad you did not hurt yourself too bad, I can understand how your confidence must feel after this accident which was totally unavoidable by the sound of it, however when you next race or train with a fast group I would not recommend keeping an eye on the hedges just in case a dog jumps out again, having said that I nearly hit a deer when it ran out in front of my bike a couple of years ago near Stamford Bridge but these events must be very rare.

All the best for your future races Will.

Ian H

Dr Dave · Post by **Dr Dave** » Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:44 pm

Guess I'd better report on Kev's ride this week.

As I was looking for a longer steady ride this week I decided to catch up with a few riders I hadn't seen for ages and tagged along with Kevin's group. It was good to see Cath, Bernard, Ian H, John as well as kev himself. There were also also another half-dozen riders I hadn't met before. It was bright but chilly all day as we made steady progress out through Tollerton to Easingwold, then across to Coxwold. Somewhere here Cath (who had her perpetual hacking cough!) and Bernard headed back, whilst the remainder looped round to Byland Abbey via Oldstead, and thence to Helmsley via Ampleforth (no White Horse Bank heroics this early in the year!).

Lunch was taken in the Ice Cream Parlour cafe where ample cheap plates were served, before a steady ride - now downwind via Harome to Hovingham, then to Brandsby. Kevin branched off to take the youngest member of the group back home towards Easingwold whilst the remnant tracked back via Farlington.

Hub-stats of 75 miles door to door at 15.4mph was just what I needed. Thanks to all for a good ride.