Solstice Weekend Roundup.

[Rob]

Planned a straightforward 70mile Sunday Clubrun as a respite between the epics just gone and about to come.

Eric. PeteP, Pete Smith and self. Have been lucky enough to ride with some strong septuagenarians in my time, but Pete S is on another level altogether.... blimey!

Bulmer, Ganthorpe, Coneysthorpe, Slingsby, Nunnington. Quick cafe in Helmsely. Very quick, in fact, in and out in less than 30 mins. Then up the Bilsdale climb, Reivaulx, Sprawton, White Horse Bank. Coxwold, Cayke and home.

No mechanicals, no issues, rarely more than a bike length between wheels, and home in York by 1-30, with 70 miles on the clock.

Anyone feeling slightly short-changed - don't worry, I'll make it up to you next week....... details to follow when I've plucked up the courage to look at the map....

[Dr Dave]

Saturdays Inters went to Troutsdale and thence Dalby Forest Drive. Dave C, Ian H, John B, Graham, Tony G , Maple-leaf Tony, Kev, Rich, Jon G and self all together as far as Settrington where Tony G turned off. Drizzling run to Langdale End and up into the forest where Tony had a mishap on the steep section of the climb. Fortunately no serious harm done and we dropped down to Thornton-le-Dale for lunch without further incident.
Thereafter a straightforward ride back via Amotherby and Terrington.

Good riding by everyone this week - 96 miles for me.

Not sure where to go next week yet - will keep an eye on the forecast. Osmotherley and then back via Carlton Bank and Bilsdale? Or perhaps Richmond - will go through the archives and see what catches the eye

[PhilBixby]

Out to Barton on Humber for the Barton Wheelers Midsummer Road Race - a regular on the vets calendar. Anything with "midsummer" in the title is clearly going to be cursed with s****y weather and indeed it heaved it down for the hour before the race, just easing up a bit when we were all already soaked. The field was reduced due to the 50-59yo National Champs being the following day, so those remaining had a very civilised race in the absence of the fastest lads. AndyC was off in the 60+ race, and local representation in the 50-59's was just me and Cycleworks' Simon Wright.

Various people had a go at getting away, but none stuck until about two laps to go when a couple cleared off in the confusion of different age groups getting tangled up on the road. Both Simon and I had been among the half dozen who'd rowed our group along and we both got bounced by the passengers on the run to the line. About tenth or thereabouts for me; 254W NP and a bit under 23mph. Lovely Belgian tan, and good fun.

[Jon G]

Good to be back out again on Saturday. Can't really go wrong with a ride around langdale end. Never a dull route. Hope you don't feel too sore tony after your tumble. A good group to ride with and as Dave says some strong riding by many. I managed to double my mileage of recent rides I've done with the my longest ride since the tour de Yorkshire sportive. Felt surprisingly strong. Even managed a short stint on the front at the end

Jon

[Dr Dave]

Yes, thanks for the turn into town Jon. I would encourage all riders to spend some time on the front - even if it's just for a short pull. I remember when I was first introduced to group riding and was reticent about putting my nose into the wind fearing I would quickly tire and then get dropped or hold everyone up. Of course it makes sense for the stronger riders in any group to take the lions share of riding on the front but it's only by taking turns that you get fitter and it certainly helps to cement group morale - plus you get to set the pace and this can mean moderating things.
Incidentally - and this isn't meant as a criticism of any individuals - can I put in a general plea for riders on the front to avoid free-wheeling on downhill sections. This can cause chaos behind as riders in the slipstream close up on those in front, resulting in overlapping wheels, sudden braking and potential crashes. There's no need to drill it downhill but just keep gentle pressure on the pedals - it's how I was taught by Kev when I first started and although I'm sure I am still occasionally guilty of doing this I do try to avoid it. Apologies if this comes across as nagging btw....

[dave c]

A ride for me. Brilliant route, Settrington then Snainton, Langdale End, Dalby. One of my favourites. Thanks everyone for a great ride. And no you're not nagging Dr, just appreciate your input.

Cheers

Dave

[craigdabrown]

Nine of us (Julia, HannahK, JohnC, Mark, MarkB, Arny, IanW, Kevin and myself), I think, on a sort of J-Group/K-Group hybrid ride on Saturday. The weather Gods exacted partial revenge on those of us who’d stayed away the previous weekend as it was dry when we left the Square but rained pretty constantly thereafter.

Julia’s plan encompassed a cafe stop at Hovingham while Kevin chose to tackle Bransdale Loop (Cockayne) in an anticlockwise direction with a cafe stop at Helmsley.

The rain was pretty incessant after Strensall and Farlington but it didn’t feel too cold so I stubbornly resisted the waterproofs and stuck with my cycling top and arm-warmer combo. Julia and MarkB left us after the climb to Oswaldkirk and headed for Hovingham. Hannah was having a bit of trouble with her brakes and turned off for Slingsby before we reached West Ness. Unfortunately, it sounds like she had a bit of a tumble and a long slide along a road near Castle Howard. Good news is that she’s fine, despite a nasty graze on her leg and, ever the journalist, she even posted a picture on the Clifton Facebook page.

The roads up to Cockayne are currently an annoying combination of lovely new tarmac and horrible “redressing”. It’s such a shame that the Highways Agency persist with this method of resurfacing. There wasn’t too much scenery on view in all the gloom but it’s a lovely route all the same and I must be doing something right as I still felt good when we reached the bakery cafe at Helmsley.

A bit of a struggle to get the wet clothing back on after lunch and Kevin ensured we cleaned up any damp patches, from our rain-soaked clothing!, on the seating before we left the cafe and a standard route back via Harome, Nunnington, Hovingham, Brandsby and Wigginton.

Thanks to everyone and a special mention to Mark as it was a longer than usual stint to the cafe stop and the afternoon drag at Nunnington and the climb out the back of Hovingham are quite testing the first time you encounter them. 85 miles for me and, despite the soaking, I thoroughly enjoyed myself.

[Tony]

Thanks to DrDave, JonG and DaveC for posting the details of our fun but rain-dampened ride up to Dalby.

Unfortunately, I was one of several that misjudged the forecast, paying dearly for removing mudguards and eschewing essential rainwear, exception being the cape hastily stuffed into my jersey pocket as I left the house.

Lady luck wasn't on my side with a few mishaps that soured my mood throughout the day, but overall, I'm glad we went out and made the best of it.

My new Garmin 810 was going crazy in the rain. Supposedly waterproof to 1 metre, the Grade reading was way off, showing -12% on some flat sections. Hopefully, it self corrects when dried out

My tumble was a case of my misjudging the traction, or lack thereof, while standing-pedaling up a steep climb in the prevailing rain. My rear wheel spun, completely eliminating forward motion and without time to unclip, I yelled out and tumbled to the left. The ensuing bruises/cuts to my left shoulder and elbow are fine, and the bike only sustained a scraped skewer

The afternoon proved much better, weather wise, but a few more mishaps for me. Unzipping my boil-in-the-bag cape on the climb to Terrington caused the zipper to go flying (never to be seen again) and on the way home with Rich, I sustained another rear puncture and lost, but later recovered the top of my new Camelbak bidon.

Despite the challenges it was a decent route and a good day out. In light of my recent spate of rear punctures and the traction-tumble, my Continental tyres were dispatched to the bin and replaced with new Michelin rubber.