Cliftonite

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 8:02 pm

Hi All

During this post-Jubilee lull in proceedings, I’d like to turn your attention to the Cliftonite. You probably read on the forum earlier this year about the role the Cliftonite plays in Club communications, its purpose and whether we can improve and expand on it going forward. Well, a highly select group of the cleverest minds in the land (Ros L, Jez, Michael C, Trevor J and myself) have volunteered to come together with the sole objective of giving the Cliftonite a makeover.

At this point, on behalf of us all I would like to thank Cath for all her hard work in almost single-handedly keeping the Cliftonite alive for so many years. Without Cath’s energy and determination, there’s no doubt the Cliftonite would already have faded into club folklore.

Our future plan is to publish an Autumn version containing the year’s highlights, followed by a shorter Spring version setting up the season ahead and summarising awards for the previous year. We want to ensure the magazine is jam-packed full of interesting content and will be made available via multi-channels – print, web, mobile & carrier pigeon. The great news is that the abovementioned Cliftonite Group is available to do all the heavy lifting work, including the design, content collation, editing, technical stuff and distribution.

This is where you guys come in. We need content, any content, from fellow members to enrich our magazine. It would be fantastic if all of you could start thinking about something to write about – an experience, a race, a social outing, a near-death experience, a joyous moment, a cycling holiday, a sensational finish, a fun content competition, a long draggy episode…even a period of sheer boredom on two wheels!…I guarantee you that others in the Club will find your experience worth reading about. Everything is worthy, everything qualifies as being interesting!

Some of you may even receive a tap on the shoulder to write something with a specific topic in mind. In order to ensure certain content topics are covered, part of our mandate will be to kindly ask some of you to prepare a suitable submission. We can help you with preparations if required. Please greet this request with enthusiasm and respect, it’s for the benefit of us all!

Of course we really want people to volunteer content – any content is great! Please send all submissions to the email address at cliftonite@cliftoncc.org.

While the deadline for submissions probably won’t be until the end of September, it’s better to plan your submissions now rather than wait ‘til the last minute. You can submit content at any time…our inbox is open 24x7.

The Cliftonite Group looks forward to hearing from you all!!

Darren

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Wed Sep 05, 2012 9:59 pm

Hi everyone, me again, it’s Cliftonite time! Deadlines are looming folks.

Last night, the Cliftonite editorial team met at our Fleet St press offices (ie. the pub) to discuss the mag (ie. drink beer) and take stock of the articles we had accumulated (ie. not many). We pondered our submission targets (ie. bought another round) and now kindly request (ie. beg!) that all those who can write a sentence (ie. over 4 years old) please submit an article for the mag. We’re very keen (ie. bl**dy desperate) for any submissions at all.

Please submit any articles to the email address at cliftonite@cliftoncc.org.

The final deadline for articles is the end of September - this is just around the corner!! We’re especially keen for articles on any topic relating to competitive road racing.

Potential topics of interest include things like:
- National 12 hour TT.
- Clifton Road Race day.
- Any road racing event or series summary raced by Clifton members.
- Kielder 100 for mtb’s.
- Midnight Roses Ride.
- End to end.
- Opportunities for Clifton women in competitive cycling

Please grab one of these topics and write about it!…and anything else you can think of.

We have received some half-promises for potential articles – please could you now make those submissions.

As an additional special request, if any Clifton members attended the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games and have some cycling photos, please could you submit your best images to the email address quoted above, ie. cliftonite@cliftoncc.org. This is important!!

We’ve spent a lot of time at the press office (ie. in the pub), made some great plans and now could really do with your help!

Thanks heaps

Darren

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Tue Sep 25, 2012 8:25 pm

Oh look!, only a few days to go before deadline time! The articles are pouring in, but there's plenty more space available for extras.

I've said it before - we definitely need some road racing articles, anything involving the Clifton contingent would be great. It seems quite odd that the most prolific writers on the forum are the least productive in the mag. There's been some superb racing this year and it would be fantastic for some of you to describe it in any way you like - the editor is very forgiving, basically any article submitted gets rubber stamped

I suppose it's one time where you won't get your entry returned!

I'd better send webmail a message in advance to prepare the inbox at cliftonite@cliftoncc.org to be inundated!

Thanks heaps,

D.

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 9:05 pm

Thanks to everyone who has volunteered to complete a Cliftonite article for us, we really appreciate it.

We know that some people have been away and have asked for an extra 7 days to make their submission. As a one-off extension, we're happy to extend the deadline to next Sunday evening, 7th October. We have to draw a line somewhere in order for us to finalise the mag so this will be the final deadline date.

If there is anyone else out there who may be tempted to start tapping away at a laptop to describe a cycling experience, please feel free. A week is a long time in cycling! ( - not sure I've got the right sport there).

Just to reiterate a previous plea, if anyone has competed in anything vaguely resembling a road race, or have worn a number on their back in a bunch gallop, it would be great to hear from you. All submissions will receive an extra after dinner mint with their coffee at the Club Dinner - a hugely tempting offer, I know. Please submit to the Cliftonite address as detailed previously.

...so, this Sunday, 7th Oct, last calls.

Thanks heaps
Darren

Darren N · Post by **Darren N** » Wed Dec 05, 2012 11:26 pm

Hi Folks,

Well, it’s almost ‘Ta Dah!!’ time. The 2012 Autumn Cliftonite is currently churning out of printing presses faster than a Clifton club runner can say yes to a toasted teacake!

The current plan is for Postman Pat to strut his stuff at the beginning of next week, so barring snow interventions or printer meltdowns, you should have the 2012 blockbuster on your bedside tables by the end of next week / start of the following.

Just to set expectations at a suitably low level (to ensure they are exceeded!), you need to think laterally about binding. We’ve saved huge sums of money for alternative Club projects by adopting a new approach so we really hope you like it.

Two final comments from me:

Firstly, I’d like to give a huge thank you to fellow members of the Cliftonite team for putting in a massive effort to get this project over the line. It was an absolute pleasure to work with Michael C, Trevor J, Ros L and Jez to produce the mag this year. Demonstrating more enthusiasm than Rob on a Winter solstice ride to Tan Hill, the team delivered what I think is an outstanding result.

Secondly, another big thank you to all those budding journalists in the Club who happily gave up a small amount of their time to tap out an article for us. It may be more obvious than asking Phil Bixby whether he owns a powermeter but this mag simply would not exist without contributions from members so many thanks to all the contributors.

That’s it from me. Keep an eye on your post box, and if your dog has an appetite for eating your post, you may want to keep it away from the front door for a week or so. If you’re a paid-up member and haven’t received a copy by 20th Dec, then please feel free to email cliftonite@cliftoncc.org.

Have a great Christmas and stay safe on those Winter roads.

Darren.

like my bike · Post by **like my bike** » Mon Dec 10, 2012 8:57 am

Arrived this week great job, well done to all involved.

cath · Post by **cath** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:35 pm

Cliftonite arrived today - looks fantastic!

mikeh · Post by **mikeh** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 5:54 pm

Cliftonite arrived this morning. Great job, packed full of reading through the winter months until at least the spring. Get some copies out to the dentist and doctors waiting rooms, better reading than 'Hello' or 'Cosmo' and it may inspire some new members.

G. · Post by G. » Tue Dec 11, 2012 7:27 pm

Wow, I'm going to need reading leave to get through this lot! Croatia, Georgia, Norway; we really have been spreading ourselves around, haven't we?

Toby's article was a wince-inducing read. Have a grand time and do good in Canada!

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Tue Dec 11, 2012 10:36 pm

A couple of stitches or a bit of glue down the spine might've kept a bindery assistant in a job.... but we don't care, it looks great and good job done by everyone involved, cheers.
Great piece on the Mountain Mayhem and inspired to have a go at something similar myself now.

Melly · Post by **Melly** » Wed Dec 12, 2012 12:10 am

What can i say very very good, having been the "Editor & Printer" of an underground publication whilst working underground in my mining engineer days to counteract a dreadful management "moral" boosting news/joke effort. I am impressed. Left very shortly after, just before being exposed and sacked, was 15 years ago but I guess now they would say it went "Viral" management were pissed to say the least.

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