Lots of clubruns to hear about....?
Ryedale Rumble?
Any racing?
Due to a breakdown in communication 4 weeks ago; while Nick B was riding the White Knight RR down at Doncaster, Billy No Mates here was down for the Halifax RC RR in W Yorks. Haven't heard how Nick got on, but my race was 20 laps of a 4km, somewhat agricultural, circuit - narrow lanes, loose chippings, lumps and bumps. Turned into a good race. Yours truly opened the hostilities on the first lap and got nearly minute up the road. Joined by an Airdale rider who was seriously pumped up - our 2 laps away took years off my life! The carrot of the first prime brought the bunch back to us and the break of the race promptly went away. Said break never got out of sight though and there were many attempts to bridge. I had a good 4 goes at it including one time being joined by Chris Young (yes that Chris Young). Going through the bell we could almost reach out and touch them but the bunch caught us and slowed down. My legs were by now shot and although I got round the last turn in a good position I got washed away up the final climb to the line, although there were only about 30 riders left.
Weekend Roundup
Moderator: Moderators
, which included two ice cream stops. It was 75 miles door to door which happens to be the most I've ever cycled, winding its way via Castle Howard to Hutton le Hole.17 MTBers took off to Scotland for the Club Weekend to Kirroughtree. 3 took Friday off and got a day extra riding in whilst the rest of us did the usual Friday night dash after work, getting there in time for a bite to eat.
We stayed in some fantastic group accomodation in a remote fell near Knowe (www.watersidelodges.co.uk) which had just been finished so everything was new. The owner couldn't do enough for us.
Saturday we spent the day at Kirroughtree which was a highly technical, purpose built area. The trails were mostly tight, twisty, rocky singletrack through Forest sections.
Saturday night we cooked a group meal and entertainment was either 'Owl TV' (the place had a family of Owls with CCTV coverage), 'Hunt the Adder' or 'Dodge the Midge'.
Sunday we headed back via Drumlanrig Castle. This is a private estate which the owners have built some great routes around, with fabulous views across the estate.
Great weather all weekend, friendly group and great riding...what more can you ask for?
We stayed in some fantastic group accomodation in a remote fell near Knowe (www.watersidelodges.co.uk) which had just been finished so everything was new. The owner couldn't do enough for us.
Saturday we spent the day at Kirroughtree which was a highly technical, purpose built area. The trails were mostly tight, twisty, rocky singletrack through Forest sections.
Saturday night we cooked a group meal and entertainment was either 'Owl TV' (the place had a family of Owls with CCTV coverage), 'Hunt the Adder' or 'Dodge the Midge'.
Sunday we headed back via Drumlanrig Castle. This is a private estate which the owners have built some great routes around, with fabulous views across the estate.
Great weather all weekend, friendly group and great riding...what more can you ask for?
Rode my last evening TT (run by Sotonia CC between King's Somborne and Romsey) of the summer on Thursday 17th but forgot to post a message about it in the previous round-up thread! After gatecrashing the top 10 in my last one, back to what the football columnists might call "mid-table obscurity", finishing 20th out of 32 starters with 27 mins dead for 10.25 miles. Not bad I suppose, having missed nearly 2 weeks' training thanks to a very nasty throat infection. 
Excellent weather down here at the moment, been off work for a week and made the most of it on Friday, doing a 47 or so mile loop around Andover - non-stop! Wee bit sunburnt but surprisingly fresh legs the morning after.
Dave B
Excellent weather down here at the moment, been off work for a week and made the most of it on Friday, doing a 47 or so mile loop around Andover - non-stop! Wee bit sunburnt but surprisingly fresh legs the morning after.
Dave B
Did the 188 km Ryedale Rumble on Sunday. The route included Boltby bank, Rievaulx, Cockayne loop, Farndale, Blakey bank, Castleton, Egton Bridge, Stape, Cropton, Rosedale Chimney bank, Hutton le Hole, Nunnington, Hovingham and back to Gilling.
It was a tough ride in the hot weather, managed all the climbs except the Chimney as cramp started to develop after 100 miles. The route was noted for the numerous climbs that aren't noted but energy sapping.
Anyway enjoyed the day and was happy to come away with a silver.
Well done Howard on a great ride (never saw him again after Helmsley).
Dave Cook
It was a tough ride in the hot weather, managed all the climbs except the Chimney as cramp started to develop after 100 miles. The route was noted for the numerous climbs that aren't noted but energy sapping.
Anyway enjoyed the day and was happy to come away with a silver.
Well done Howard on a great ride (never saw him again after Helmsley).
Dave Cook
I rode the Scarborough Paragon 10 TT at Burton Fleeming finished 12th out of 46 starters I think.
Sunday I rode the White Knight RR over 3 laps of a 13.7 mile circuit based around Epworth South Yorkshire, I escaped with another bloke on the second lap to get caught with Half a lap left to go, eventually finishing around 15th. Bunch sprint was very messy with a Team Swift guy swerving across into Nick B, everyone stayed upright but the momentum was lost at that point.
Sunday I rode the White Knight RR over 3 laps of a 13.7 mile circuit based around Epworth South Yorkshire, I escaped with another bloke on the second lap to get caught with Half a lap left to go, eventually finishing around 15th. Bunch sprint was very messy with a Team Swift guy swerving across into Nick B, everyone stayed upright but the momentum was lost at that point.
Good circuit at the white knight race. As Andy got caught another break went that i missed then there was only me and another 2 guys trying to chase them back! They weren't far in front but people refused to work and would rather sprint for 7th. I got extremely mad! We almost got them on the line when some Allsports rider incapable of holding a sprint swerved into my right hand side and his skewer on his front wheel bent several spokes on my front wheel. Luckily i stayed upright but i was fuming after this! Finished about 11th/12th. Ah well better luck next time!
Back early from my climbing trip with daughter so jumped on the bike on Sunday for a couple of hours' steady just to check that my rather knackered foot worked okay. Thoroughly wonderful experience - I'll take a week off the bike more often. Cycling's not felt that effortless all year.
Only cycling-related activity in the preceding week was watching le Tour pass by. We found a shady spot right on the road's edge, outside a bar and - coincidentally - directly opposite two lasses with Norwegian flags painted on their cheeks, heart-shaped balloons tied into their hair, and what were very definitely warm-weather-only mini-skirts. We had what seemed like an hour or so of being pelted with freebies by the publicity caravan and I now have many Skoda sunhats, big green PMU hands, and all manner of things that I shouldn't be pleased to have, but sadly am. A sunny pause, and then the day's break of four went through, followed about two minutes later by the peloton. Much shouting of "GO CAV!" (we didn't mean "go", not like that - he went the next day) and it was all over. Liberated a TdF direction arrow en route to the car. Great fun. Fantastic atmosphere. Thoroughly recommended.
Only cycling-related activity in the preceding week was watching le Tour pass by. We found a shady spot right on the road's edge, outside a bar and - coincidentally - directly opposite two lasses with Norwegian flags painted on their cheeks, heart-shaped balloons tied into their hair, and what were very definitely warm-weather-only mini-skirts. We had what seemed like an hour or so of being pelted with freebies by the publicity caravan and I now have many Skoda sunhats, big green PMU hands, and all manner of things that I shouldn't be pleased to have, but sadly am. A sunny pause, and then the day's break of four went through, followed about two minutes later by the peloton. Much shouting of "GO CAV!" (we didn't mean "go", not like that - he went the next day) and it was all over. Liberated a TdF direction arrow en route to the car. Great fun. Fantastic atmosphere. Thoroughly recommended.
I had a choice of road races last weekend - none of which I wanted to ride.
So instead I headed out on the Sunday ride.
Having despatched Peter to the Grandparents I met Nigel, Bernard & Cath at the square and we headed out via Stockton Lane. We decided to split at Bossall so I headed off with Nigel to do Langdale End via Settrington, Rillington & Snainton. Plenty of climbs and the forest drive was as good as ever - definately one of my favourite rides. Instead of dropping into Thornton Le Dale we turned right and met Bernard and Cath at Lockton Cafe (a new one for me) and very pleasant. I split from the other 3 on the way back and came back via Amotherby & Castle Howard whilst the other 3 rode back via Kirkham. Seemed to find a headwind riding south even though it was supposed to be blowing from the North? Plus it was absolutley boiling. But I was going ok and back to pick Peter up by 4 o'clock.
So instead I headed out on the Sunday ride.
Having despatched Peter to the Grandparents I met Nigel, Bernard & Cath at the square and we headed out via Stockton Lane. We decided to split at Bossall so I headed off with Nigel to do Langdale End via Settrington, Rillington & Snainton. Plenty of climbs and the forest drive was as good as ever - definately one of my favourite rides. Instead of dropping into Thornton Le Dale we turned right and met Bernard and Cath at Lockton Cafe (a new one for me) and very pleasant. I split from the other 3 on the way back and came back via Amotherby & Castle Howard whilst the other 3 rode back via Kirkham. Seemed to find a headwind riding south even though it was supposed to be blowing from the North? Plus it was absolutley boiling. But I was going ok and back to pick Peter up by 4 o'clock.
I, like Dave C did the Rydale Rumble, tried to ride all of it within myself and not trying to put in any more effort than I had to on the hills as I am still nursing a slightly sore knee.
Rode most of it on my own but seeing a few more cliftonites on the way and Howard at two of the feed stations, and was that a welcome site due to the heat as we needed to keep up our liquid intake.
The route was hard with lots of climbs including Boltby Bank, Blakey Bank, and between 90 and 100 miles Rosedale Chimney, in fact apart from the last few miles home it seemed like you were either riding uphill or down hill.
Like Dave I was happy with my silver Standard.
Rode most of it on my own but seeing a few more cliftonites on the way and Howard at two of the feed stations, and was that a welcome site due to the heat as we needed to keep up our liquid intake.
The route was hard with lots of climbs including Boltby Bank, Blakey Bank, and between 90 and 100 miles Rosedale Chimney, in fact apart from the last few miles home it seemed like you were either riding uphill or down hill.
Like Dave I was happy with my silver Standard.