Clifton CC

I managed a bit more cycling this weekend than normal. On Saturday I did the Evans Ride it MTB events long ride (31 miles) in 4hrs 38mins, which seemed to be good going, as I was never passed and a lot of riders were pushing at the end.

The route went from Sutton Bank along the edge North taking in Boltlby Forest and Black Hambleton, and managed to take me twice up the 200m climb from Kepwick onto Little Moor. The route also went close to Hawnby and Rievaulx before returning via Old Byland.

I managed my usual trick of falling off painfully. Luckily some nettles were there to cushion my fall. Should have known with the place being called Nettle dale wood.

It was a rather well run event for which I borrowed a Pinnacle Tharpu Peak 3.0 full suspension bike and Gore clothes. It was rather muddy with some of the bridleways unrideable. I must have looked a sight covered in Mud and blood at the end! Certainly my two year old kept on jabbing me on my poorly knee and saying “Dad fall off” in disbelief .

On Sunday we did the Evans Ride it Road event as they had an 11 mile family route.

The route went North from Sutton bank to Sneck Yate Bank, before turning East to Murton Grange then South through the ford to Old Byland and back.

Both Rosemary (7 years) and Amelia (5 years) managed to ride about 11 miles on there own bikes. Rosemary managed the entire route with my wife Rachel and Laura (on childseat), though Amelia turned round with me half way at Murton bank and came back the way she had come. She didn’t want to go down the steep hill. Knowing her bikes brakes I don’t blame her! We all a lovely meal at the Black Swan in Oldstead before spending 20 minutes driving through about three hundred runners who were coming from Byland Abbey. Didn’t kill any of them.

Yorkshire Velo 10 TT for me on Saturday, slow time of 24.13 put me well down the field but cant complain having just recovered from a cold earlier in the week. Was good to see a handfull of Clifton riders there with Oliver Dixon taking the win in the 12/15 year olds, I believe he is a club member although he was riding for Woldgate College on this occasion.

9 MTBers set off to the Dales for some riding around Swaledale today.

Gill and Steph did a mammoth 5 hour Trailquest in the area in May and came back enthusing about the technical trails so offered to show us round.

We did a large loop starting from Reeth and ascending the hills to the South of Grinton before heading West over the moors then accross the River Swale and completing the loop, with a few excursions, on the moors to the North finishing off with a tremendous descent down Fremington Edge.

The terrain is very rocky so the big travel bikes were in their element, whilst those of us on short travel and hardtail felt the blows more. It also took its toll on inner tubes with 6 punctures through rock damage. I don't think Chris was enjoying the early terrain, nursing a 'tired and emotional' head from a party the night before.

Great weather though (at last!) and amazing vistas across Swaledale from the summits.

Thanks to Gill and Steph for planning the route.

like barberj did both days of evans cycle events.

ended doing medium ride on sat as my brother still has a chest infection but stil did in 3hr 20, i thought it was that slow could have walked quicker

sundays ride was alot better did long route ( 64 mile ) which took you over the cockayne route but from hutton le hole - gillamor side which i have never done before always done other way, 5,500 ft of climbing, all on my own - passed a few riders even waited for a lad on a specialized but he just stopped as he was getting closer took 3hr 48.
nice sunny day - hard work but enjoyed it, was expecting it to be longer.they said they shortened it because it was so hilly - puffs

An amazing 23 Cliftonites completed the 3 Bridges Audax yesterday.

With 56 riders in total enjoying the good weather / company etc.

Thanks for supporting.

MarkA wrote:Thanks for supporting.

Thanks for organising.
Great event. Was thinking that it could equally be called the "Tan Hill Antithesis"! Unlike most challenge rides, most of the field were amassed into some very large groups; made for a very sociable occasion.

Have ridden this 4 times now and sooner or later we're going to drop for less benign climatic conditions - it will then be hard!

It was hard enough for me! Many thanks to BroomWagon and the rest of the my group for dragging me the last 10 miles to the Google cafe stop after I blew big style. Some food fixed things enough to get me home.

Riding more miles in a day than I ridden in any two week period for the last month lead to me being totally cream crackered by the end of the day ;(

Thanks to Mark for organising and to everyone for good company and a good ride.

Thanks Mark, a good day out with good company. I always think the ride over the Humber bridge is well worth doing. Well done for sorting the weather out for the day too, made a nice change to have sunshine and not get soaked, I was beginning to forget what that was like. Can you do the same for every day until November .

Rob's right about this one though, if we ever get a strong head wind on the way back through that open country around Adlingfleet - this "easy 100" could be character building.

Another thanks to Mark from me. Thanks also to BroomWagon, Arthur, 'Alpe d'Huez' and 'Jake the Snake' for the company on the way round.

I rode the Yorks 10 champs on Saturday with Andy J.
Recorded 22.33, a time I was happy with, although somewhat frustratingly 10 places took up the next 30 seconds, so I placed 20th.
To illustrate my point, Ali Kaye finished 8th in 21.58, 35 seconds faster than me. Don't get me wrong, Ali did a great ride and I could not have gone any quicker, its just a shame for my placing that the competition was tight!

Good event and well promoted. It also featured the most elaborate start sheet of any TT...ever.