As per discussions at Brigantes, the training rides will take a break for a few weeks while we all regain the will to live and watch the countryside go by a little more, re-starting on Saturday 3rd November. If anyone wants a 3hr ride on a Saturday between now and then, just post a new thread on here and sort it out between you.
We also talked about a "pre-ride" (27th Oct I guess) for anyone who's new to the training rides, just to pick a quiet route and go through the basics of how to ride in a fast(er) group. We'll post something about this on the run-up to it - it'll really depend on there being takers.
General strategy will be to stick with the four "points of the compass" routes and to - certainly initially - keep 'em steady. We may split into more than one group depending on numbers, but probably won't do the "slower group / faster group" thing since everyone last year was clearly offended by the thought of "slower". For anyone new to these rides I pretty much set out my stall as to what I reckon they're about on a previous thread - http://discussion.cliftoncc.org/viewtopic.php?t=3975 - but it would be good to have other people take a lead on these and we talked last night about the need to have everyone take responsibility for making them work well, ensuring newcomers know what they're up to, etc.
Here's the routes in Good Old Words, or .GOW format (not compatible with the new iPhone5):-
East:- The trad training route - York - Malton via the Buttercrambe road, Coneysthorpe, Terrington, then a loop of the Flat Ten circuit, then back to York.
North:- York - Tockwith - Wetherby then north up the A168 to Boroughbridge; Milby, Helperby, Easingwold, Crayke, Brandsby, Whenby, Sheriff, and back to York.
West:- York, Appleton Roebuck, Tadcaster, Bramham, Thorner, Barwick, Aberford, Sherburn, Cawood, and back to York (with a loop of the Bishopwood circuit en route).
South:- York, Elvington, south to Howden, Hemingbrough, Skipwith, Thorganby, Wheldrake, Escrick, Stillingfleet, Naburn, and back to York.
We tended to use different routes at different times and according to weather conditions; the "north" route is pretty much weatherproof (we did it in minus five last winter) whereas the "east" route tends to get scary in bad weather, but is a good one for nearer-the-season spring as it has hills.
Again cut'n'pasted from a previous thread, for newcomers wondering what the training rides are like, here's a summary of last year's:-
- Kicked off with steady 3hr group rides using four varied routes - from flat to rolling - so that riders knew where they were going and could find their way home if anyone got dropped. These were generally 18-20mph average depending on weather/terrain.
- As we headed into the new year we added in a bit of quicker stuff, mainly paceline riding on wider roads, or splitting the ride into two groups to add a bit of competitive element. Average speed wound up to around 21-22mph, but still very much trying to keep the ride together.
- As the first races of the year got closer we did a few sessions based around riding out to a suitable circuit and then doing fast laps in smaller groups; basically trying to get to something like race pace (despite it still being pretty cold). We used Bishopwood and the Wheldrake / Escrick / Thorganby loop.
...and that was it. As always, these rides are set up on the basis that you're doing other stuff (especially more intense stuff) some other time.
Probably should also mention mudguards since the issue was raised at the pub on Monday - while non-mudguard-users won't actually be physically hung/drawn/quartered (which is handy, since I'm often an offender in this respect) there's very much an expectation that bikes used on the training rides will have them fitted, and you can expect some verbal if you turn up without.
I think they should fit most road bikes with a bit of manipulation!
Having said that, mudguards only solve part of the issue and a mud flap is what makes a real difference. Easily made from a milk bottle and some Duct tape.[/url]
For anyone new to these rides I pretty much set out my stall as to what I reckon they're about on a previous thread - http://discussion.cliftoncc.org/viewtopic.php?t=3975 - but it would be good to have other people take a lead on these and we talked last night about the need to have everyone take responsibility for making them work well, ensuring newcomers know what they're up to, etc.