Clifton CC

Well, its nearly 1100 and we've not heard anything yet! Does that mean you're all still in intensive care after the White Rose or, even longer, Sunday clubrun? And what about the Saturday crew? Was anybody racing? Reports here please.

6 of us (NickB, Andy Jonno, ChrisC, Muzzy, Arthur and me) headed out on a fairly familiar Brimham Rocks circuit for a 4 hour training ride on Sunday. Definitely a "good to be a cyclist" sort of day. Arthur cautiously swung off for an early bath which left the rest of us to work very hard around the Nidderdale Hills. It was a good group and we stayed close formation even on the hardest climbs. 77miles door to door in a gnat's todger under evens.

185 km White Rose Classic for me. Sunbathed on sunny south facing verges of assorted hills, reclined roadside on grassy knolls perusing passing pelotons, gazed with Yorkshire pride at panoramic vistas viewed from scenic vantage points and strolled steadfastly up sharply ascending hills. And as for the bike riding - such was my delight as I revelled in the challenge I stayed out on the course for over 10 hours.

Assorted Clifton jersey clad riders were encountered and more power to their assorted elbows, they looked good as always - with special mention to Gill, who was riding "unlabelled" up the Coal Road, and managed to exchange a few words, Dave and Dave for encouragement at Norwood, Willy for concern just outside Hawes and Paul C who looking totally baffled when I spoke to him on the Coal Road - I was travelling incognito to avoid bringing the club name into disrepute for giving up on a hill.

I did the 185K route of the White Rose Classic on Sunday ,Started at 8am ish a glorious morning and by 8 it was already getting quite warm, the organisation was superb, well signed and loads of food and drink at the start, end, and the 3 feed stations on route I found the course very hard and was very tired at the end, it had 3911 metres of climbing, did it in a total of 7 hours 54 minutes which got me a Silver Standard, hope I recover in time for the Tli race on Tuesday.

I did the Barton Wheelers vets race on Saturday as lone Clifton representative (come on you lot, you're all over the hill now so admit it ) and - on a weekend that will be long remembered for glorious weather, it ****ed down throughout. Two blokes took turns in attacking throughout until a break stuck; needless to say it wasn't one of the ones I took the trouble to bridge across to! I ended up in the middle of the sprint for remaining places, but outside of any glory.

Went climbing with Hannah over near Settle yesterday - a fabulous day - LOADS of cyclists out and all of them smiling!

Fantastic weather for the White Rose Classic. Got to Otley at 7:15 to register and had beans on toast to fuel up (after huge bowl of porridge at 6am). Met up with Dave C and - with no one else sighted in Clifton regalia - teamed up as we reckoned we'd be going at a similar speed.

Nice easy pace over Norwood (overtaking Mal - see above!) and up to Greenhow - resisting the temptation to chase the faster riders, then a nice descent to the feed station at Grassington. Remembering the Richmond 5 Dales debacle, I stuffed down as much flapjack and banana as I could stomach before the lovely ride up Wharfedale to Fleet Moss. We tagged on to a bunch of about 12 riders to the bottom of the climb then let them go as the gradient steepened. About two thirds of the way towards the top as the views really opened out I was gladdened by the overtaking presence of Ian H who helped encourage me over the final steep section but then disappeared from sight in an instant on the descent - I'm awed at the nervelessness required to plummet down like that!

In Hawes we spent a little longer at the second feed station, again I had to force myself to consume flapjack and banana as well as refill with 'Go'. This time it was rather more concentrated as I was to find out when I drank from the bottle later - not sure how it affects others but the carbohydrate in those things doesn't suit my system - if you know what I mean. Leaving Hawes dave had the legs so I tucked in behind and just kept up until we turned L up the nasty climb to Garstang Head. I found this much harder than Fleet Moss but kept the pedals turning and was soon rewarded by the view from the top which was simply stunning, before negotiating the tricky bends at the bottom of the decent to Dentdale.

At this point my back was starting to complain so I stopped to stretch it and Dave eased away - becoming a hare I was eager to chase all the way up Dentdale, over the climb at the head of the dale, and then down to Ribblehead and then along through Selside to Horton where I finally caught up with a little help from a passing group I was able to catch a wheel behind.

From Stainforth we ascended the steep climb over to Malham. By this time the weather was getting hot and the last feed station was seeming like a long way behind. Memories of 'the bonk' from 2 weeks before started intruding into my consciouness but the glorious scenery and a gel helped combat this. A steep descent and reascent taxed my resolve but then the realisation that the major difficulties were behind really helped me kick on past the tarn and down into Malham and the final feed station.

A slightly longer break for the obligatory (I'm getting the hang of this!) face stuffing and we were away again. Shortly after he stop I carelessly managed to lose Dave - he was behind and had a minor mishap and by the time I'd realised he wasn't there.... I thought briefly about turnng round but decided against it knowing how capable he is and kept going. Nice undulating lanes in the afternoon sun through to Burnsall then along to Bolton Abbey - feeling almost strong along here! Then across the A59 and up the final climb to langbar. What a so 'n so after 105 or so hilly miles. Thought I might be walking at one point but 'I've bl***dy well got this far so just keep going'!. Then downhill and we're nearly there. Not sense in saving energy now so spin 'em and let's see what the finishing time is.

Stopped at the finishing point and waited for Dave - a few mins later and he hove into sight - big relief for me as I'd have felt really bad if he'd had a major mis-hap and I hadn't gone back. Then a gentle ride back to HQ for T-shirt and time - 8.36 which I was happy with - esp after the 5 Dales. Had meal with Ian H, then Paul C and Gill before heading for home - tired but pleased.

Thanks ever so much for the day Dave - I really enjoyed it and would have done so much less without your encouragement and company. Maybe next year we'll go for the Silver?

I did the 185 White Rose Classic, Dr Dave has described our ride above, well done Dave, a strong ride. I thought the organisation, arrowing and food stations to be top class, a big thanks to the organisers British Cycling. I was asked to enter the Ryedale Rumble, which I replied 'already have', that's on 27th July around the North York Moors, my home area.
http://www.ryedalerumble.co.uk/

After leaving Malham, on a downhill bit I got bad cramp all down left leg, trying to massage it while travelling at 25 mph. Anyway it eventually went away, took it easy for a while, then had a good ride back to the finish.

Dont even mention the white rose classic.The worst ever organisation of an event ever.I was home at 13:00 pi55ed off.
Sorry for the rant.

What happened Steve?

Rob - 'knat's todger' is that a yorkshire phrase kid chocolate?

Nick,Nigel,Will and Bernard joined me for the club run.Could get used to this sunny weather.Been reminded not to call it a flat ride out to Farndale when it includes Terrington and Caulklees Bank.Bernard turned of at Gillamoor to ride home via Cockayne.Will was a bit unsure at the Bottom of Blackey Ridge whether he would make it up but I told him I would ride it with him and chat all the way and I was expecting answers.Well he made it up before I could tell him about the Roman's and their grain.Up and down Westerdale, a very nice cafe stop and then over to Osmotherly which was heaving with people.We headed out over the moors and on to the top of Boltby and turned for White Horse bank. A very leisurely ice cream and crumble stop at Kilburn saw us taking turns to get back to York in
reasonable time.Few times on the ride one of us might mention that Will looked a bit tired which was a mistake because it was always followed by him putting in a dig and riding as strong as ever definitly gained his hard riders badge.
Helen

I was very tired towards the end and I was at a crawl when we got to the bumps in castle howard but I got some energy back after that and thrashed it to keep up 20-22mph as we where going back into york then pushed home at about 20mph but had to stop after leaving york to get home my left foot was in pain, was a good ride though and glad I never had to stop and rest on any of the hills apart from when my chain came off and I needed the toilet. I'm surprised my legs feel fine today, no aching at all after the 127 miles it was yesterday.

Hi Chris

The biggest gripe was someone decided to remove some of the arrows at the split point between the short ride and the two longer rides (there definately was only 1 arrow when we went through).Only the left hand arrow was in place so we followed it and ended up doing the 48 mile route, instead of the 185km route.We even missed out all the hills!!!!
Why also have all the arrows in orange? I say this because we had orange dots on our numbers.So I would have thought that we were to follow the orange arrows.The rest of the people who finished the short route with us had yellow dots on there numbers we observed afterwards.So why didnt they make the short route arrows yellow, long route orange etc.

SteveWood wrote:Hi Chris

The biggest gripe was someone decided to remove some of the arrows at the split point between the short ride and the two longer rides (there definately was only 1 arrow when we went through).Only the left hand arrow was in place so we followed it and ended up doing the 48 mile route, instead of the 185km route.We even missed out all the hills!!!!
Why also have all the arrows in orange? I say this because we had orange dots on our numbers.So I would have thought that we were to follow the orange arrows.The rest of the people who finished the short route with us had yellow dots on there numbers we observed afterwards.So why didnt they make the short route arrows yellow, long route orange etc.

The divergent point wasn't all that clear - in the middle of Grassington -maybe some kind member of the public decided to 'have a laugh' by interfering with the signage? Having said this they were giving out direction instructions at the start and some pre-event checking out of the route should have made it clear that the route went up the dale to Kettlewell not down it to Burnsall.....

Gill and I did the White Rose 185k event together in about 8:40. A rare treat getting to ride all day together these days

Enjoyed the route immensely, but would have preferred Tan Hill to be included too, although maybe that would make it a bit too long for a day's ride.

Apologies Mal for ignoring you. There were quite a few bodies strewn at the side of the Coal Road. One guy appeared to be talking to me at the bottom but when I tried to continue the conversation he ignored me and I realise he had an earpiece and was on his mobile. Chose to ignore everyone else and get on with the hill climbing.

Steve, I don't think the split signs were missing in Grassington. I passed through minutes after seeing Howard and yourself at the check. They were a little small though.

A very hot day though so the sociable shandy with Willy at the end didn't touch the sides!

Someone did the same with the signs on the white rose a couple of years ago and also at the 5 dales just gone. Its not surprising and anyway,thats why you have a little map given to you to follow!

Another good value for money ride from Kevin on the 10am Saturday Club ride from the square.

Kevin handed a map to John to take one group to Helmsley and away sped a merry band, which included James & Iona, I'll leave one of them to update.

For me it was great to be back out on a Kevin ride, with Cath, Julie, Graeme, Willy, Dave B & Arthur. Graeme was visiting from Essex, staying with the Crane family to ride the White Rose on Sunday. He soon fitted in and Helen, I think he'd been called Charlie Chester and Charlie Bubbles at least twice before the cafe!

We rode out via Kirkby Underdale, then Thixendale, Huggate, Warter, Harton to the World Peace Cafe at Kilhelm Percy. At least it was a 'Peaceful' cafe before we arrived and disturbed it!

Dave broke his chain up out of Thixendale and 2 of us shamefully produced rusty, siezed-up chain breakers from our under-saddle packs! A reminder to keep a check on those tools that we occasionally rely on - it's so much more satisfying to be able to be self sufficient than to rely on 'luck' or a phonecall home. Fortunately, the Musgrave household look after their saddle pack tools and Cath produced a working chain-breaker - phew!

A swift ride back via Millington, Yapham and Stamford Bridge.
Thanks Kevin.