Training ride, Saturday 4th

[PhilBixby]

Well, I was intending posting a suggested route (out to the Sheriff-Stillington circuit and three laps) but bumped into Dave Cook at last night's club committee meeting, where he said "See you at Barton on Saturday". Which was useful, as I'd put the race in my diary on the wrong day and the start sheet was hiding in my Junk Mail folder. So I'll see Dave but not the rest of you - can someone take charge, choose a route, and ensure it all goes smoothly please? Ta!

[mart66]

Sounds like a good route to me.

Straight up Haxby Rd, Strensall , Sheriff - then 3 laps?

We were a bit low on numbers last week due to the Seacroft race. Not sure how may people have entered the Nidderdale one. We'll see on Saturday I guess.


Martin

[Sharpy]

May try and get out, would have been better if it was bishopwood as I still very much in recovery, but try and come along.

[mart66]

It'll be like a recovery ride for you Sharpy, I'm sure

The circuit is good prep. for anyone doing the Walkington race on 13th I reckon. The drag into Sheriff is quite like the one out of Walkington.

[Fiona]

Sorry for the thread hijack but i'm thinking of doing the women's race at Walkington and it'd be really helpful to know the route beforehand. Does anyone have a link/description of the course please?

[PhilBixby]

Assuming it's the usual, it's here http://htrc.co.uk/club-sections/road-racing/rr-courses/

[timj]

Should be there this week .It seems like a good circuit for training on.Just have to watch the pot holes on the flat ten.

[nigelt]

I plan to be out. Might jump on at Haxby seeing as you're heading this way. You still planning on riding straight up Haxby Rd Martin? If so I'll wait outside Haxby cycles

[Fiona]

Assuming it's the usual, it's here http://htrc.co.uk/club-sections/road-racing/rr-courses/

Thanks Phil.

[Sharpy]

I will be out i think, planning on 2 laps, been doing a bit mire but don't want to overdo it and put the recovery back.

[WillK]

I will be out. Route sounds good bit more interesting than Bishopwood!

Will

[mart66]

I think it would be rude of us not to now, Nigel.

See you there.

[nigelt]

I counted 11 of us this morning for the 3 laps of the Sheriff race circuit. We rode as 1 group until Sheriff and then split into 2 groups, with Damien acting as DS for team 'biscuit' and me DS'ing for the second group- perhaps we should be called the 'wafer' group as we're not quite up to the biscuits' standard (yet...)?

The biscuit 6 headed off and my gang of 5 wafers followed shortly after. Our group worked well together for the first lap and a half and then reduced to 4. We picked Liam up at the start of lap 3 and continued to work well, until Stillington, that is!

Unfortunately a shower during lap 2 had left the the roads damp and greasy, and despite easing off on the corners, as we negotiated the right-hander just before Stillington, John Mc went down at the front of the group, leaving me with nowhere to go except straight over the top of him

John was battered and scraped in a few places and I smacked both of my knees pretty hard, but we both got off pretty lightly, considering.

After picking ourselves up and checking the bikes (which, as was pointed out several times, was the most important issue ) we restarted and continued the third lap, however by the time we reached Sheriff Hutton Bridge for the third time I started going backwards and finished a good few hundred metres behind the others.

I guess they then continued on for another loop. I turned round and headed home at a very steady pace.

Great work by our group with tidy through and off on the lumpy part of the circuit and Muzzy's patented line-out on the flat 10 which worked very nicely.

I have the three laps at an average of 21mph. Happy with that given the lumps, the wind (especially from Stillington to Moxby Lane) and the small group size.

This suggestion was excellent, and I believe that it is probably more beneficial for building race fitness (other than by racing) than any of the flat circuits we've been doing. I don't climb well at the best of times, and tackling the drags on this circuit at something approaching race pace can only do me good.

It's also a really good suggestion as it gives me an extra half hour in bed

How did the biscuits fare?

[WillK]

Biscuit group fared well thanks Nigel. 6 to start - me, Tim J, Martin, Duncan, Liam and Damien. Felt very brisk (perhaps too brisk) for the first half lap before we settled into a more sensible pace but unfortunately not before we had lost Liam. Worked well as a group with some sensible calls from Tim and reversing the rotation in the cross wind on the flat 10 section. Surprisingly wet in parts too so we sensibly tip-toed round the bends (sorry to hear about John Mc's spill). Lost Tim on the last lap so 4 of us worked hard to complete a really good ride. Not sure of the Stats but felt quick for that course and the conditions. Entirely endorse Nigel's comments about the route - most certainly far better training and infinitely more enjoyable than the flatter circuits. Thanks all and enjoy Flanders tomorrow!

[Sharpy]

I had a lie in and then went out on the TT bike... Must try harder!