Clifton CC

Speaking of headwinds, it was the Tour of the Wolds LVRC race for me on Sunday. I was the only Clifton rider on the day as it happened- there wasn't a massive field in any of the age categories.

Presumably that was because everyone had realised that the long straight leading to the start / finish line was directly into a block headwind that made progress very difficult!

As it was I only managed a lap and a half with the bunch before getting dropped, bizarrely, due to the speed of the bunch on the flats- touching 35mph at times, especally when wind-assisted. I then settled into time-trial mode to complete the next 3 1/2 laps on my own.

In the end it never got to this- as I headed up the straight on lap 4 the road was completely blocked by a collision between one of the A/B riders and a car, which he had clearly gone head-on with (on the car's side of the road). The guy looked pretty banged-up but was conscious and speaking to the other riders looking after him. The ambulance and police were arriving as I turned around.

Most of the guys racing had turned around at this point and abandoned, as did I. Not sure if anyone actually finished the race.

Hopefully the rider wasn't too badly hurt- he can't have been going that fast into the wind- but his bike was a write-off and the car had some front-end damage.

Another cautionary tale about road positioning in races on public roads

The full drama is explained on the LVRC website:-

"The event was unfortunately marred by a serious accident on lap 4 in the A-B event. Simon Thompson of Newark Castle C.C. unfortunately touched a wheel and apparently was catapulted into the path of an oncoming car. He suffered a broken nose, ankle and several cracked ribs one of which punctured his lung. The organiser has visited him today in hospital and said he was reasonably comfortable despite his injuries and assured Maureen he will be back next year."

The last of the NYERRL races for me last night, joining Cam, AndyM, RichT, Martin and Tim (plus adopted Cliftonite Damian) out among the potholes at Kirby Misperton. Apart from the road surface it's an interesting circuit - lumpy and twisty and a real challenge. Especially when, as last night, there were some pretty fast blokes pulling it all along at in excess of 25mph and a glance at the power numbers this morning showed nearly half of most laps was a 300W+ bout of suffering. I managed to stick in the bunch until the run-in towards the finish where I got cramp in both legs and had to drop off the back - annoying, but then it sounded like the final sprint was the usual mayhem and hence maybe worth avoiding!

Rock Racing took the team prize in the series; next year we really should get our act together!

Felt quite comfortable sitting in the pack but think I got a bit over-ambitious trying to get in a break at the end of lap 3.

Unfortunatley, the pace ratcheted up somewhat on the fourth and I was out the back with a lap and a half to go.

Martin

Thanks to Maffers and the Malton Wheelers crew for putting on another well organised race last night. I really like the course but a shame about the pot-holes. It did feel fast last night and, as a consequence, nothing was staying away. Got involved in the sprint put made a bit of hash of that so no top 10...Going to have to step up a level next season if I want to get amongst the points I think. Worth hanging around for the prize giving at the end. The quite magnificent trophies on display drew gasps of awe and astonishment from the crowd. Forget your yellow jerseys and Olympic medals, they pale into comparison next to these beauties (sorry Maffers...I know we are on tight budget!) Darren got 10th overall in the series and Toby managed 8th. Well done guys . I collected your prize money and trophies and will post onto you if you send me a PM

Why didn't someone tell me there was cash to be won I'd have ridden more of them instead of driving round in the car!

Cam, I'm doing Walkington sunday, TT next thursday, Tan Hill, and the open 10 if you're at any of those I'll see you then.

Darren...I will be there on Sunday...see you then

Thanks for your kind words.
Those little trophies are made of the best plastic you can get.

VC Beverley RR this morning. Clifton well represented with Darren, Mart, Paul and ‘Honorary Clifton Member’ (he’s going to get sick of us saying that at some point!) - Damien. 7 laps on one of the clutch of circuits that have been used by the TLI EYRRL. This was at the Walkington one or the “…one with the interminably long 2 and a half mile drag…” as it is sometimes fondly referred as. This was made doubly difficult by a stiff(ish) headwind. I made an inauspicious start when I pressed my speedo to reset it and it popped of the handlebars into the verge…”What a pillock!” I thought . It was only a cheap one but panic momentarily set in…With no way of knowing how fast I was going or how far I had ridden I was effectively racing “blind!” . Only joking…It actually made a change…less to get distracted by.. First few laps proved uneventful. Saw Damien go up the road and latched onto his wheel with one other on second lap but did not stay away long. This proved to be the case with any other attempted breaks. By lap 4 it looked like it was going to end up in bunch gallop but then Darren had a dig halfway up the drag. Managed to hop across and much to my surprise the bunch let us go. We worked well together and I was feeling pretty strong. Darren got the hunger knock on penultimate lap (I would have given you a gel or bar if I’d had one Darren…honest! ). On the last lap, Commissarie gave us a time check halfway up drag saying we had 33 seconds (see Olympic RR organisers - it is possible to do this!). As we turned the corner at the top of the drag we had a tailwind and it was downhill. I momentarily allowed myself to think that we may actually get a one, two here! Darren’s wisely urged us to keep driving on. Very generously, he was going to give me the victory (I had given him an energy bar before one of the NYERRL races a few weeks ago so he owed me a favour!). At the sharp left hander the road kicks up before the last 200 metres. It was at this point that my legs buckled and that was that. With the bunch virtually onto us Darren had no option but to forge ahead and take the victory. I thought at least I might make top ten but got swamped in the last 100 metres, probably getting about 11th. So a tad disappointed to say the least but (when I have stopped sobbing) I will reflect that at least I gave it a good go today and that, after doing quite a lot of races this season – and thinking about all the crashes others have had the misfortune to be involved in - I am still in one piece . Damien – who has won races on this course - rolled back the years to get 4th. I did manage to win one of the primes and Darren insisted on giving me a share of his prize money which was very kind. I never found my speedo so that goes a long way to paying for a new one! Well done to Darren who has been riding great all season and has animated every race I have seen him do. Maybe his last RR for a while as he is threatening to take up TT’ing full-time (I think he just fancies himself in pointy helmet )

I don't know why but I thought today's race was 35 not 50 miles, and I only had a bagel for breakfast and didn't put anything in the back pocket...very shoddy preparation.

I waited until Dirtwheels/Crosstrax etc did their usual thing and chased the early breaks down and then attacked with 3 to go, was happy to see Cam come across - always a good man to have in a break- Cam was very strong, the strongest rider in the race, and I was gutted when you popped up that last drag fella..I was seeing stars with hunger knock but I had to take the win. I really wanted to give it to you Cam.. even if you did pretend you didn't have a gel in the pocket. I must have lost that killer instinct in my old age.

When I saw you two guys move off the front, I broke away on the left of the bunch but didn't have enough in my legs to get onto you.
I was a bit anoyed about it though, being in the winning break 'n' all that!
Hats off to you guys! Nice one.

Well done guys, sounds like you did a cracking ride!

Well done Darren and Cam. It's a hard course to stay away on as you are visible for so much of it but hats off. I'd tried on the hill (not strong enough) on the flat or downhill (not fast enough) and then again when I realised you were THE break. But having set off just before the big downhill I didn't make it before the drag and then you pulled away although I didn't get caught till nearly the top. Went and said hello to Martin to try and convince him the front was where the action is And then turned my head to a sprint. In days gone by a nice little sprint was what I fancied but since returning this year with daughter, mortgage and being the source of household income on my shoulders I don't seem to have the same relish of riding on grass verges to secure 2 points! Anyway, I have previous on this course, lots of it, so I know how to get up that final rise and then sprint (most sprint up the rise and try and hold on). Was pleased with 4th. Was strange, I did and didn't want to catch Darren if you know what I mean so was pleased we didn't in the end. No more races planned but if I can stay fit over winter I fancy my chances next year and so should Cam - you just have to keep attacking fella!

Ha ha. It was nice to see a familiar face when you dropped to the back of the bunch, Damian! I hadn't managed to finish one of the Sunday 3/4 races with the bunch so made sure that I did so this time.

Congratulations to Darren for a great win. For Darren and Cam to break away on the drag into the headwind was pretty amazing stuff. Unlucky Cam but hopefully you'll get in the points next week.

Great result for Damian too. I was half tempted to try and follow you when you moved effortlessly through the group but I didn't think (rightly) that I had it in me.

Martin

The race next Sunday up Bland Hill is made for a strong rider, and Cam or Andy can win it... I'm absolutely convinced of that. Make it a hard race and it will be a small group at the end.