A great turn out of cliftonites at Richmond on Saturday, although it stayed dry the wind was blowing up the 1 in 4 out of Kettlewell see the results and photos.
http://www.richmondcyclingclub.co.uk/sp ... esults.pdf
http://myeventpics.co.uk/root/EventPics ... /main2.cfm
How was the weekend for you?
Bank Holiday Weekend Round up
Moderator: Moderators
-
like my bike
- Posts: 697
- Joined: Mon Mar 06, 2006 3:19 pm
- Location: The East
My report from the Richmond 5 Dales.....
Apart from backache everything was fine for me and I was enjoying myself - right up until I ran out of energy just as I hit Park Rash!
I'd been riding in company with Dave Cook as far as Kettlewell and was beginning to believe that I was going to get round without drama. I should have known better!
I began to suspect that I might be in bother when it took a great deal of effort to keep a respectable pace along the flat section between the first short climb out of Kettlewell and the really steep bit. The headwind was....an irresistable force! I determined that I would pedal up the first steep bit but cramp in the quads resulted in my gracefully subsiding to the floor halfway up. Dave eased on past and I assured him I was OK and would soon be away again. Unfortunately there was no way I was going to be restarting on there so I cleated my way up around the bend only to find that my water bottle was almost empty and I was still getting cramp with the rest of the climb still to do! Eventually I managed to ride the easier bits and cleated the steeper sections at the top but getting up there took forever -by this time Dave would be halfway to Leyburn!
The headwind over the top was.....extremely forceful but gradually as I descended into Coverdale I managed to regain a little composure and rhythm and made slow but steady pace towards Leyburn. A final gel in the marketplace and I crawled my way up and along towards Richmond, meeting Willy along the way. He emerged from the 80 route and looked in considerably better shape than I was. We rode together for a mile or so before I advised him that he shouldn't worry about me and that he should go at his own pace......so he promptly dropped me!
By the time I finished I was really tired but it has been a learning experience. In retrospect I should have eaten and drunk a lot more in the earlier stages when I felt fine and why-oh-why why didn't I fuel up at Kettlewell???
White Rose in 2 weeks time - 15 miles further and 700m more climbing........
Apart from backache everything was fine for me and I was enjoying myself - right up until I ran out of energy just as I hit Park Rash!
I'd been riding in company with Dave Cook as far as Kettlewell and was beginning to believe that I was going to get round without drama. I should have known better!
I began to suspect that I might be in bother when it took a great deal of effort to keep a respectable pace along the flat section between the first short climb out of Kettlewell and the really steep bit. The headwind was....an irresistable force! I determined that I would pedal up the first steep bit but cramp in the quads resulted in my gracefully subsiding to the floor halfway up. Dave eased on past and I assured him I was OK and would soon be away again. Unfortunately there was no way I was going to be restarting on there so I cleated my way up around the bend only to find that my water bottle was almost empty and I was still getting cramp with the rest of the climb still to do! Eventually I managed to ride the easier bits and cleated the steeper sections at the top but getting up there took forever -by this time Dave would be halfway to Leyburn!
The headwind over the top was.....extremely forceful but gradually as I descended into Coverdale I managed to regain a little composure and rhythm and made slow but steady pace towards Leyburn. A final gel in the marketplace and I crawled my way up and along towards Richmond, meeting Willy along the way. He emerged from the 80 route and looked in considerably better shape than I was. We rode together for a mile or so before I advised him that he shouldn't worry about me and that he should go at his own pace......so he promptly dropped me!
By the time I finished I was really tired but it has been a learning experience. In retrospect I should have eaten and drunk a lot more in the earlier stages when I felt fine and why-oh-why why didn't I fuel up at Kettlewell???
White Rose in 2 weeks time - 15 miles further and 700m more climbing........
The five Dales was tough this year in comparison with last, the wind blowing in an unfavorable direction made the return from Kettlewell to Richmond a tough one. Park rash is hard from the Wharfedale side on a still day never mind with a fierce headwind, I was reduced to approx 3 mph on the lower section of the climb. Anyhow, I really enjoyed myself, will pencil it in again for next year.
Less mileage than most, by the looks of it. Intervals on the turbo yesterday to try to get a bit more speed in my legs, and the only other cycling-related activity was posting one of my much-loved Rolf wheels off for repair. One of the spokes had tugged a bloomin' great tear in the rim, such that it was bouncing off the brake blocks by the end of the last TLI, so off it went for a new rim and spokes. Thanks to Rolf not exactly being common in the UK, it's winging its way to the Spanish distributor... ...hey ho.
A merry bunch of Clifton MTBers and roadies descended on Ruthin to join about 1200 cyclists for the Sportive/MTB Marathon weekend.
We camped, with several hundred others, at the Rugby Club in Ruthin from Friday. On Saturday, in sunny conditions, Gill did the 80m Sportive around the hills in the area, including the infamous 'Horseshoe Pass'. Meanwhile, Ruth, Steph, Seb and Joe did some off-road training courses with Cycleactive. Steph then managed to sweet talk none other than Nick Craig into personally maintaining and setting up the suspension on her Scott (bet he wouldn't have done it for an ugly fat bloke!). After the Pasta Party in the evening, and a quick trip to the Rugby Club bar
we had an early night in prep for the MTB Marathon.
On Sunday 1000 riders lined up for the mass start. Seb and Joe (both only 13!) and Ruth took on the 25k Marathon and, despite 1000m of hills, made it round before the rain started. Big effort by all as it's the toughest and longest ride all have done. Steph, Alistair and I opted for the 100k, 3000m, event. The route took us through some breathtaking scenery in N Wales, starting in the sun but finishing in heavy rain. Despite a puncture and a couple of timewasting, mechanical hiccups, we made it round, very weathered in about 7 1/2 hours. Again, big effort by Steph and Alistair as it's the hardest MTB ride either of them have ever done, by some distance. A, well deserved, Chinese meal was enjoyed by all on Sunday evening.
We camped, with several hundred others, at the Rugby Club in Ruthin from Friday. On Saturday, in sunny conditions, Gill did the 80m Sportive around the hills in the area, including the infamous 'Horseshoe Pass'. Meanwhile, Ruth, Steph, Seb and Joe did some off-road training courses with Cycleactive. Steph then managed to sweet talk none other than Nick Craig into personally maintaining and setting up the suspension on her Scott (bet he wouldn't have done it for an ugly fat bloke!). After the Pasta Party in the evening, and a quick trip to the Rugby Club bar
we had an early night in prep for the MTB Marathon.On Sunday 1000 riders lined up for the mass start. Seb and Joe (both only 13!) and Ruth took on the 25k Marathon and, despite 1000m of hills, made it round before the rain started. Big effort by all as it's the toughest and longest ride all have done. Steph, Alistair and I opted for the 100k, 3000m, event. The route took us through some breathtaking scenery in N Wales, starting in the sun but finishing in heavy rain. Despite a puncture and a couple of timewasting, mechanical hiccups, we made it round, very weathered in about 7 1/2 hours. Again, big effort by Steph and Alistair as it's the hardest MTB ride either of them have ever done, by some distance. A, well deserved, Chinese meal was enjoyed by all on Sunday evening.
How to make a right meal of 100-mile Dales challenge rides:
1 -Go out the night before, not hitting the sack at 1am.
2- Put off getting the gear ready till the morning
3- Ignore the alarm set prudently for 5.30 am
4- Then wake at 6.45 in a panic
5- Set-off finally at 7.40 after good breakfast, preparing en-route food, checking everything twice
6- Arrive Richmond 8.45, check in, find 95% of riders left almost an hour before. Spirits sink.
7- Go back to car, put on clobber. Cutting NE wind makes legs chilly. Doubt wisdom of earlier decision this is a shorts day. Spirits sink further. Can't find socks. Spirits hit rock bottom.
8- Decide to set off at 9 with bare feet, looks racy but feels dreadful. Get waved-off By Helen 'n Nick, also late starters.
9- As miles mount things improve in one direction (Stang, Buttertubs etc all very maneable, deteriorate in another direction as feet get towards to condition of absolute numbness.
10- All focus is on Hawes, where feet rescue looks promising, and is finally achieved in a mountain bike rental place in an Industrial Estate, after being tempted by the oh-so-warm-looking hiking socks widely promoted everywhere else in the town
11- Make fundamental decision that with motivation at mega minus levels that Fleet Moss and Park Rash in a gale are not for me, especially as I'll meet both anyway in the two weekends ahead: Grimpeur and White Rose.
12- Begin to enjoy life again, and spirits begin to rise even tho' ride back to Richmond into teeth of a gale was no cup of tea.
13- Sun arrives, and hey-ho, ordeal nearly over. Bliss complete on ride-in to finish. Dr Dave's earlier acount takes over here.....
1 -Go out the night before, not hitting the sack at 1am.
2- Put off getting the gear ready till the morning
3- Ignore the alarm set prudently for 5.30 am
4- Then wake at 6.45 in a panic
5- Set-off finally at 7.40 after good breakfast, preparing en-route food, checking everything twice
6- Arrive Richmond 8.45, check in, find 95% of riders left almost an hour before. Spirits sink.
7- Go back to car, put on clobber. Cutting NE wind makes legs chilly. Doubt wisdom of earlier decision this is a shorts day. Spirits sink further. Can't find socks. Spirits hit rock bottom.
8- Decide to set off at 9 with bare feet, looks racy but feels dreadful. Get waved-off By Helen 'n Nick, also late starters.
9- As miles mount things improve in one direction (Stang, Buttertubs etc all very maneable, deteriorate in another direction as feet get towards to condition of absolute numbness.
10- All focus is on Hawes, where feet rescue looks promising, and is finally achieved in a mountain bike rental place in an Industrial Estate, after being tempted by the oh-so-warm-looking hiking socks widely promoted everywhere else in the town
11- Make fundamental decision that with motivation at mega minus levels that Fleet Moss and Park Rash in a gale are not for me, especially as I'll meet both anyway in the two weekends ahead: Grimpeur and White Rose.
12- Begin to enjoy life again, and spirits begin to rise even tho' ride back to Richmond into teeth of a gale was no cup of tea.
13- Sun arrives, and hey-ho, ordeal nearly over. Bliss complete on ride-in to finish. Dr Dave's earlier acount takes over here.....
Nick and I rode the 100mile Richmond 5Dales option.Sorry to miss the 8 o'clock start we were told you all looked good in the 'new'club colours.
Its a really good ride and the views over the moors were breath taking.I was remimded of the suicide bunny book at one stage there can't be that many cars up there.Not sure about the whole tag malarky I suppose it depends on how you approach the event but no one told the feeding stations that I like a cup of tea and apple pie.I thought the boys at Kettlewell were serving their detention quite cheerfully although they told us no one would pick them up till the last rider had gone through and they had no way of knowing when that would be. I think they also said no one else stopped for a chat and was there a big hill up the road?The wind was something else climbing Park Rash(couldn't chat on the first bit) and we had to peddle hard to keep moving on the descent.It made it feel a long ride back into Richmond compared to last year riding it with the Clifton steam train.
Bernard led the Sunday ride and the plan was to go over to the Humber Bridge.I'm not sure if that was changed as the wind was very strong on Sunday.
Helen
Its a really good ride and the views over the moors were breath taking.I was remimded of the suicide bunny book at one stage there can't be that many cars up there.Not sure about the whole tag malarky I suppose it depends on how you approach the event but no one told the feeding stations that I like a cup of tea and apple pie.I thought the boys at Kettlewell were serving their detention quite cheerfully although they told us no one would pick them up till the last rider had gone through and they had no way of knowing when that would be. I think they also said no one else stopped for a chat and was there a big hill up the road?The wind was something else climbing Park Rash(couldn't chat on the first bit) and we had to peddle hard to keep moving on the descent.It made it feel a long ride back into Richmond compared to last year riding it with the Clifton steam train.
Bernard led the Sunday ride and the plan was to go over to the Humber Bridge.I'm not sure if that was changed as the wind was very strong on Sunday.
Helen
I went to the the Peak District with my family. We managed 13miles on the Tissington trail on Friday. Not bad for a 5 and 7 year old on their own bikes. Though I did have to help the youngest back up the hill from Alton to Hartington station if the face of a strong headwind. We then did a 24 mile round trip on Saturday taking in Middleton Top, Tissington and Carsington with my 2 year old on a child seat. When we got back home on Sunday the first thing she wanted to do was get on her own bike and start peddling.
I turned up in good time at Richmond, set off in the group and wasn't forewarned that there was a nasty little climb within 400m of the start, and from a standing start at the traffic lights again.
I got dropped at the top of the hill, stopping for the toilet, and never caught up.
Got to Hawes, having skillfully avoided the rabbit culling that had seemingly gone on earlier, and headed back on the 80m course as my good lady wife had arranged a birthday party for me that night and I was under threat of death if I was late and the headwind and thought of the 2 last climbs meant I was not going to take on the 100miles.
Went out yesterday for a couple of hours in new sparkling birthday present kit, and heading back to York from Healugh (sp?) my rear mech decided he wanted to go into the spokes of the rear wheel, sending me flying, making a mess of me, the bike, and the brand new Assos kit that had been worn for less than 2 hours.
Today is painful.
I got dropped at the top of the hill, stopping for the toilet, and never caught up.
Got to Hawes, having skillfully avoided the rabbit culling that had seemingly gone on earlier, and headed back on the 80m course as my good lady wife had arranged a birthday party for me that night and I was under threat of death if I was late and the headwind and thought of the 2 last climbs meant I was not going to take on the 100miles.
Went out yesterday for a couple of hours in new sparkling birthday present kit, and heading back to York from Healugh (sp?) my rear mech decided he wanted to go into the spokes of the rear wheel, sending me flying, making a mess of me, the bike, and the brand new Assos kit that had been worn for less than 2 hours.
Today is painful.
This was my first attempt at a Sportive/Dales challenge. I took it fairly steady in the first half trying to save my legs (still recovering from 1st TT on Thurs) for the big climbs later.
The climb up Fleet Moss was ok with a little assistance from the wind but Park Rash was difficult with the headwind but I made it ok.
Hope your back feels better Dr Dave.
I got in a group which helped the ride back to the finish
I really enjoyed it and was happy with 7.24, look forward to Dales Grimpeur on Saturday.
My rabbitt loving daughter would have had a heart attack!
The climb up Fleet Moss was ok with a little assistance from the wind but Park Rash was difficult with the headwind but I made it ok.
Hope your back feels better Dr Dave.
I got in a group which helped the ride back to the finish
I really enjoyed it and was happy with 7.24, look forward to Dales Grimpeur on Saturday.
My rabbitt loving daughter would have had a heart attack!
Raced Round 2 of the Midlands XC at Cannock chase on Sunday. Not a lot to say really - Great course, with some nice decents and lots of great single track. Conditions were damp. I rode ok, in a kind of 'this pace 'll do' time trial kind of way and finished 7th.
P.S. I can recommend DirtWorkers to all you MTBers out there! An invaluable peice of kit!
P.S. I can recommend DirtWorkers to all you MTBers out there! An invaluable peice of kit!
Well done Charlie! Good ride.
A good pic of you looking too clean - http://www.robcrayton.fotopic.net/p50718256.html
Can we have a copy for the website?
A good pic of you looking too clean - http://www.robcrayton.fotopic.net/p50718256.html
Can we have a copy for the website?
Last edited by Tullio on Tue May 27, 2008 11:53 am, edited 1 time in total.
Another good turnout by Clifton again at the Richmond 100, I had one or two comments from other riders saying that is a strong turnout by us and also last year.
My gameplan was to ride at my own pace, push on where I could, and take all the climbs steady so i felt within myself, also to eat and drink as I was riding as often as possible, this worked well for me but the hardest time I encountered was been on my own into the headwind for several miles until I caught ap to a group of about six, then we managed to keep changing the lead to help each other out.
Felt OK all the way round but glad to see the finish where I could tuck into my Baked spud and beans.
Pleased with my time of 6.37.
My gameplan was to ride at my own pace, push on where I could, and take all the climbs steady so i felt within myself, also to eat and drink as I was riding as often as possible, this worked well for me but the hardest time I encountered was been on my own into the headwind for several miles until I caught ap to a group of about six, then we managed to keep changing the lead to help each other out.
Felt OK all the way round but glad to see the finish where I could tuck into my Baked spud and beans.
Pleased with my time of 6.37.