Doncasters Wheelers RR this morning for me. Approached this with some trepidation as my last 3 outings in cat 2/3/4 races had not exactly gone brilliantly. Managed to enter on EOL. Now know that the true meaning of the word "stress" involves fastening the largest pair of numbers with the worst set of saftey pins with 5mins to go before race-start...Anyway, massive race numbers fixed in place, I arrived at start to hear Race Organiser advise us that it would be 22 laps! I had prepared for 20, but 22...! I actually dispensed with spare inner tube and pump that I usually carry, figuring that if I did puncture it would not be too far to walk back from any point of the circuit. As predicted by Phil and Paul it did rain ( I could not get the song "It's raining men" out of my head for some reason!). This made things a little tricky and there were two fallers on the first lap. Triangular circuit of about 2 miles in total meaning there was a certain amount "queing" for at least 2 corners.
In spite of the above, I actually really enjoyed the race. I felt pretty strong going up the small ramp every lap and even manged to get into a small group of 5 which got off the front for an a minute or two about half way but this came to nothing. It transpired that 2 groups of 5 and 3 did get away and so large bunch were scrapping for 9th and 10th place. On the run-in, I managed to get myself in a good spot and things seemed to open up for me but sadly could not muster a decent effort and probably came in about 30th or so overall. I know it was an unusual race and probably an easier cat 2/3/4 than I have attempted so far but, final sprint apart, came away pretty happy with my effort.
Weekend Roundup 17/18 July
Moderator: Moderators
The Dalby MTB Time trials went well on Saturday, despite the torrential rain. 19 riders braved the elements with our very own Phil topping the charts with a blistering time. For my own part I did a PB too! Cheers Steph and Wayne (chef de partie) for a good set up. Lets do it again!!!
Sunday was the Peter Gray MR with a five strong group of Heather, Rob, Nigel, Darren N and myself. The day started with rain and this set the scene for 3/4 of the ride. I had an early spill on a slippery hairpin.
The drag up to Tan Hill was wet and windy but you wouldnt want it any other way! There was plenty of excellent climbing throughout with over 14500 feet of up recorded, but the drag up along Bishopdale from Thoralby will have a place in my memory as the most boring climb ever and I hope that I never have to ride up it again. Give me Oxnop or Chimney anyday!!
Over 10 hours in the saddle and 158 miles on the clock door to door gave me my second PB of the weekend.
Great riding with super company!
........Just a word of warning if you plan to go out riding with Heather ... she will not let anybody get on the front, especially if riding into a headwind
Sunday was the Peter Gray MR with a five strong group of Heather, Rob, Nigel, Darren N and myself. The day started with rain and this set the scene for 3/4 of the ride. I had an early spill on a slippery hairpin.
The drag up to Tan Hill was wet and windy but you wouldnt want it any other way! There was plenty of excellent climbing throughout with over 14500 feet of up recorded, but the drag up along Bishopdale from Thoralby will have a place in my memory as the most boring climb ever and I hope that I never have to ride up it again. Give me Oxnop or Chimney anyday!!
Over 10 hours in the saddle and 158 miles on the clock door to door gave me my second PB of the weekend.
Great riding with super company!
........Just a word of warning if you plan to go out riding with Heather ... she will not let anybody get on the front, especially if riding into a headwind
Allan
-------__0
--- --- \_ \¬
------ (+) / (+)______ better by bike!
-------__0
--- --- \_ \¬
------ (+) / (+)______ better by bike!
I kicked off the weekend with the Clifton MTB time trial on the red route at Dalby Forest. I spent the morning kayaking around Dalby in a monsoonal deluge. At one point on an uphill stretch, there was so much water coming down the track, you could have wake-boarded off my front wheel! I’d only ever ridden half a lap of the red route before (and got lost!) and this was my first completed full lap. I spent the entire time being paranoid about finding the red arrows and going in the right direction. I enjoyed it immensely though. My time was pretty hopeless for a time trial, even with Gill's heroics on an unsuitable bike and riding out from York, I still wasn't even good enough to win the lanterne rouge! 
TBH, I was just pleased to get round without getting lost. I felt very sorry for Steph and Allan who organised a great day and were rewarded with monsoonal rains. The set up of the team, including sponsored gazebo no less, at Adderstone Field was fantastic. Everyone still had a smile on their face at the end! 
On Sunday, I fronted up to the 210 km long route of the Peter Gray Memorial ride. As Allan said, 5 of us (Rob, Nigel, Heather, Allan and I) headed North from Tockwith into a black wall of cloud which basically unloaded on us off and on all day. Danny C also did the entire ride at his own pace, bobbing up often throughout the ride.
Big thanks to Rob for brilliantly navigating us through the day, including an extra loop around to Leyburn from Middleham due to a nasty car accident which closed the road. Rob also managed the speed of our group magnificently, recognising that Allan and I had dispensed some battery reserves the day before in the Dalby deluge.
Tan Hill was resplendent, as always. The ride into the teeth of a headwind with occasional rain from Reeth up to the pub was a hell of a slog. We were then stoned by sleet on the way to Keld and couldn’t let rip on the descents due to the hellish loose chippings.
Who was the dill who said this ride would be easier than last year!…oh, that may have been me!
Butter Tubs and Fleet Moss were replaced with a 25 per center at Oxnop and an inopportune wall at Kidstones after Aysgarth (as Allan mentioned). Add Greenhow before Pateley B and the legs were really feeling it.
The road closure at Middleham, the miserable weather conditions and the loose chippings on the road cost us a lot of time and we only made it under the 12 hour time limit by about 20 minutes. This was a tough ride, worth 40 points rather than 4! Allan and I accumulated 6 challenge series points over the weekend – 4 for the road and 2 for MTB – we reckon 6 points in one w/e has to be some sort of record!
Lots of thanks to Nigel (who didn’t let anybody down by obliging with a pint of Guinness at the THP ), Heather (who sprouts wings as soon as the spirit level shows an incline), Rob (a master at this group riding caper) and Allan (my fellow masochist!)
D.
TBH, I was just pleased to get round without getting lost. I felt very sorry for Steph and Allan who organised a great day and were rewarded with monsoonal rains. The set up of the team, including sponsored gazebo no less, at Adderstone Field was fantastic. Everyone still had a smile on their face at the end! On Sunday, I fronted up to the 210 km long route of the Peter Gray Memorial ride. As Allan said, 5 of us (Rob, Nigel, Heather, Allan and I) headed North from Tockwith into a black wall of cloud which basically unloaded on us off and on all day. Danny C also did the entire ride at his own pace, bobbing up often throughout the ride.
Big thanks to Rob for brilliantly navigating us through the day, including an extra loop around to Leyburn from Middleham due to a nasty car accident which closed the road. Rob also managed the speed of our group magnificently, recognising that Allan and I had dispensed some battery reserves the day before in the Dalby deluge.
Tan Hill was resplendent, as always. The ride into the teeth of a headwind with occasional rain from Reeth up to the pub was a hell of a slog. We were then stoned by sleet on the way to Keld and couldn’t let rip on the descents due to the hellish loose chippings.
Who was the dill who said this ride would be easier than last year!…oh, that may have been me!
Butter Tubs and Fleet Moss were replaced with a 25 per center at Oxnop and an inopportune wall at Kidstones after Aysgarth (as Allan mentioned). Add Greenhow before Pateley B and the legs were really feeling it.The road closure at Middleham, the miserable weather conditions and the loose chippings on the road cost us a lot of time and we only made it under the 12 hour time limit by about 20 minutes. This was a tough ride, worth 40 points rather than 4! Allan and I accumulated 6 challenge series points over the weekend – 4 for the road and 2 for MTB – we reckon 6 points in one w/e has to be some sort of record!
Lots of thanks to Nigel (who didn’t let anybody down by obliging with a pint of Guinness at the THP
), Heather (who sprouts wings as soon as the spirit level shows an incline), Rob (a master at this group riding caper) and Allan (my fellow masochist!) D.
Last edited by Darren N on Tue Jul 19, 2011 9:09 am, edited 2 times in total.
-
Simon Donoghue
- Posts: 58
- Joined: Fri Jul 20, 2007 11:01 am
Went to ride the 4th Cat / Go Race at the Stockton Cycling Festival - really well organised - just a shame about the torrential rain and very slippy surface. About 20 of us went off which soon settled down to a tighter group of around 15. Barriers, crowds and commentator gave it a good atmosphere. Attacked for the first prime and caught them napping - £10 in the envelope - slightly mistimed the final sprint but managed to get a third and a chance to stand on the podium with £20 in the envelope - great event great result for me
Darren, I think I deserve the Lantern rouge as I rode my lovely new bike from home to Dalby in the deluge.
Riding the red on my new wheels was the most fun I have had on a bike in ages and a very good work out. My granny gears were sorely missed. My legs ache in a really funny place from clambering down the scarey bits, my arms ache from pulling the pretty ineffective brakes and my shoulders are very sore from carrying it round like a handbag.
I did 66 miles, not sure how many were walked/ran and how many ridden. The saddle was so aweful that I have never been so pleased hop off a bike before.
I must apologise to the guy on the green bike as I had a dose of turrets from flying over a drop off that I did not see when he was in earshot.
A big thank you to Steph, Wayne and Allan, despite the weather trying to ruin it the event was fab!
Riding the red on my new wheels was the most fun I have had on a bike in ages and a very good work out. My granny gears were sorely missed. My legs ache in a really funny place from clambering down the scarey bits, my arms ache from pulling the pretty ineffective brakes and my shoulders are very sore from carrying it round like a handbag.
I did 66 miles, not sure how many were walked/ran and how many ridden. The saddle was so aweful that I have never been so pleased hop off a bike before.
I must apologise to the guy on the green bike as I had a dose of turrets from flying over a drop off that I did not see when he was in earshot.
A big thank you to Steph, Wayne and Allan, despite the weather trying to ruin it the event was fab!
Mountain bike TT for me too... Really enjoyed it, though admittedly on the drive over in that torrential rain I was thinking perhaps just 'showing support' by turning up would be enough rather than actually riding... Wasn't allowed though; after some 'encouragement' from Miss Fountain and Wayne I did my turn! Was great fun and for the first half, when raining the hardest, a very quiet red route with very few people to get by. Passed Gill early on, who I have to say was all smiles on her new cyclocross - well done Gill, you are my hero!! I rode waiting to be overtaken by the 'big boys', but their starting times were long after mine so it didn't happen which was a nice change...
On checking today both front and rear brake pads are bald
I guess that will be what my Big Bear Bikes voucher will be spent on!
The dual road / MBR TT was a great idea; I hope we can do it again next year - and maybe get some more roadies out on both?
On checking today both front and rear brake pads are bald
I guess that will be what my Big Bear Bikes voucher will be spent on!The dual road / MBR TT was a great idea; I hope we can do it again next year - and maybe get some more roadies out on both?
Yes a very disappointing turn out from the roadies! I hoped they would come and show the mtbers who's boss, maybe they were too scared 
I don't know if it is worth doing the combined trophy again, there's no point if only mtbers turn up. We'll talk about it at the committee meeting I guess. I am glad that everyone who did come enjoyed the day, even though the weather was rubbish! I enjoyed it, hiding away in the signing on tent with the BBQ and kettle on for most of the day
I don't know if it is worth doing the combined trophy again, there's no point if only mtbers turn up. We'll talk about it at the committee meeting I guess. I am glad that everyone who did come enjoyed the day, even though the weather was rubbish! I enjoyed it, hiding away in the signing on tent with the BBQ and kettle on for most of the day -
bernard turgoose
- Posts: 231
- Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 8:21 pm
The other Peter Gray Memorial Ride
Well after reading the previous notes about the MTB rides on the previous day & then the epic of the 220 ride by the famous 5; this really was a series of rides over the weekend in the mould of PG, he must be looking down on us with a big smile on his face!!
The shorter ride also had a much changed route, going out via Pannel & over the top near Beckwithshaw, before dropping down to Norwood Bottom & then on to Farnley & Otley -all in the rain with a fairly fresh head wind.
After Dunnies bacon sandwiches & drinks( these must be the cheapest in the country), the rain had eased up & we then retraced our route back to farnley before doing the slog up Bland Hill to Norwood edge & then onto Penny Pot, before crossing the A59 for the descent into Kettlesing, with a bit of brightness - Nidderdale looked as pretty as ever.
The climb of Clint bank then took us to Burnt Yates & over to Bishop Thornton, through Studley Royal & into the Sun parlour cafe, for the rain to start again , but the tea & gooseberry crumble provided enough sustanance for the final leg back to Tockwith. With 70 miles & 1800 plus metres of climbing for the four of us Ian H , Dawn & Steve, I believe that this warrants 2 points for the C/series, especially including the ride out & return giving me 88 miles and the others having to do more, especially Ian; I will have to check with the organisor next year before deciding on the points to be allocated; from what I saw of the 220 route revision & the reports above it was definitely a four pointer.
Well done to those with a 6 point haul from the weekend.
Bernard
The shorter ride also had a much changed route, going out via Pannel & over the top near Beckwithshaw, before dropping down to Norwood Bottom & then on to Farnley & Otley -all in the rain with a fairly fresh head wind.
After Dunnies bacon sandwiches & drinks( these must be the cheapest in the country), the rain had eased up & we then retraced our route back to farnley before doing the slog up Bland Hill to Norwood edge & then onto Penny Pot, before crossing the A59 for the descent into Kettlesing, with a bit of brightness - Nidderdale looked as pretty as ever.
The climb of Clint bank then took us to Burnt Yates & over to Bishop Thornton, through Studley Royal & into the Sun parlour cafe, for the rain to start again , but the tea & gooseberry crumble provided enough sustanance for the final leg back to Tockwith. With 70 miles & 1800 plus metres of climbing for the four of us Ian H , Dawn & Steve, I believe that this warrants 2 points for the C/series, especially including the ride out & return giving me 88 miles and the others having to do more, especially Ian; I will have to check with the organisor next year before deciding on the points to be allocated; from what I saw of the 220 route revision & the reports above it was definitely a four pointer.
Well done to those with a 6 point haul from the weekend.
Bernard
Got back from the Pyrenees on Sunday so still recovering more from the drive back then the cycling. Hope I'm ok for Saturdays ullswater ride.
Even though I've seen the Tour pass by umpteen times before it still is a sight to see and certainly would recommend to anyway if they get the opportunity. Have given up though clambering for stuff thrown from the caravan having accumulated enough over the years. But one item still eludes me and that's one of those PMU giant hands.
Was good to ride some new climbs which included the ones the pros did on Saturday but also to ride up the Tourmalet when you havent ridden 90 miles before hand. The secret is to ride them the day before the tour passes or you tend to get stopped at the summits by the gendarmes if you ride on the day.
Hopefully good prep for Saturday but saying that I think the benefits of altitude training are somewhat cancelled out by the consumption of good French food and wine. So I'm not sure how I'll perform. I probably weigh more now than before the holiday
Jon
Even though I've seen the Tour pass by umpteen times before it still is a sight to see and certainly would recommend to anyway if they get the opportunity. Have given up though clambering for stuff thrown from the caravan having accumulated enough over the years. But one item still eludes me and that's one of those PMU giant hands.
Was good to ride some new climbs which included the ones the pros did on Saturday but also to ride up the Tourmalet when you havent ridden 90 miles before hand. The secret is to ride them the day before the tour passes or you tend to get stopped at the summits by the gendarmes if you ride on the day.
Hopefully good prep for Saturday but saying that I think the benefits of altitude training are somewhat cancelled out by the consumption of good French food and wine.
So I'm not sure how I'll perform. I probably weigh more now than before the holiday Jon
On Saturday I went to Driglington BC 10 mile up near Wetherby, I thought I'd get away with the rain but just as I got to within 2 miles of the HQ the heavens opened. I have not being in rain like that ever, the roads were absolutely flooded, I would have being dryer in a swimming pool.
I found the event was delayed by 30 mins, then an hour, I was thinking of going home as I was soaked and the field of riders was diminishing, but it actually turned out to be a rather nice day.
Never done the course before, had 3 roundabouts in it, had to navigate them 5 times, went extremely slow round them, had to stop at one to give way, got overtook by number 5.
I felt surprisingly good and had a good start, I ended up with a time of 24:24, which I would have being happy with, but because I felt really good was disappointed only because of taking into account doing a 23:41 on a tougher course.
I took a slightly different route home, was going to loop around to York but I got lost and ended up a dead end, so I just got onto the A59 for a couple of miles then went to Tockwith, no more rain and a tailwind home and a good 70 miles for the day.
I found the event was delayed by 30 mins, then an hour, I was thinking of going home as I was soaked and the field of riders was diminishing, but it actually turned out to be a rather nice day.
Never done the course before, had 3 roundabouts in it, had to navigate them 5 times, went extremely slow round them, had to stop at one to give way, got overtook by number 5.
I felt surprisingly good and had a good start, I ended up with a time of 24:24, which I would have being happy with, but because I felt really good was disappointed only because of taking into account doing a 23:41 on a tougher course.
I took a slightly different route home, was going to loop around to York but I got lost and ended up a dead end, so I just got onto the A59 for a couple of miles then went to Tockwith, no more rain and a tailwind home and a good 70 miles for the day.