Clifton CC

I was about to respond to a heartwarming post in praise of Cycling, Clifton and Clifton Cycling, when it disappeared - taking its thread with it. What happened? Michael, did the 'no news but bad news' mafia lean on you? Or did you break some hidden rule about club promotions

I've not deleted it, so I'm assuming the author must have done. Shame. It was a good post.

I wrote it, felt it was cheesy so deleted it, but now, back by popular demand!!

(to any potential new wannabe cyclists...)

In contrast to the discussion on professional cycling, I just wanted to add a completely different perspective on amateur cycling, well particularly local cycling, and particularly my view of Clifton Cycling club.

18 years ago I had a nice Raleigh Banana racing bike and I started University in York. This bike was nicked, I sulked, I went to the bar, I spent my 20s in the pub getting fat and unfit and playing the occasional game of football.

Mid 30s I decided to do something about this, I toyed with cycling again, I was a regular reader of this site and often thought about joining and participating in the club and eventually I went on my first sunday ride. I never looked back.

I couldn't recommend joining Clifton Cycling Club strongly enough to anyone reading this who is toying with the idea. Cycling is such a fantastic sport, get hooked and you're sorted for life. Look at the time trial times of guys in their 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s and challenge any of your anti cycling friends in their 20s to beat them, see what happens. Some people dread their next decade, me, I'm going to look forward to them all, gives me another shot at competing in a higher age group!

It's not just the racing, nor the wide range of rides on offer for all ability levels, it's the support you get off members on here too. Will thought of buying a new bike, he got ONE HUNDRED replies. I fancied getting into road racing, within a couple of days there are experienced riders offering to lead groups.

Professional cycling isn't having the best of periods, but to me, amateur cycling is thriving in York and as a relative newbie I just wanted to say thanks to all the more experienced riders who always bend over backwards to help.

Michael (had enough waffling now, Look North weather will be on soon! )

Good to have it back! But look North Weather hasn't been similarly revived I fear.

Nothing wrong with a spot of cheese.
It got me all reminiscing about Raleigh Bananas. I borrowed one to ride into town from Uni in about 1990 - what an experience - the plastic down-tube shifter broke off in my hand on the way back up Green Dykes Lane.

Anybody got any other bizzare product - cycling links? There's always been some obscure Italian ceramics company happy to sponsor a pro team. But my three favourites have to be:

The "Pop Tarts Hot Spot Sprint" competition in the old Kellogs Tour of Britain. Imagine Duffers trying to commentate on that....

The Milk Race - no problem with this on the face of it - but the winner of each stage was obliged to down a pint of milk from the bottle on the podium... and we had to watch as it all dribbled down his chin and onto his new jersey.

Claire bought an MROZ team jersey the other year - you know what girls are like; the colour matched her bike or something. Anyway, Chris Carter looked up MROZ on the wonderweb and apparently its a Polish slaughter house.

Any more?

Amgen sponsor the Tour of California. They are one of the worlds biggest pharmaceutical companies who just happen to manufacture EPO.
Just had visions of the winner substituting the milk bottle with the syringe on the podium.....

Anyway Im glad Mike reposted as I thought it was a very good post, especially this bit

Some people dread their next decade, me, I'm going to look forward to them all

Me: "18 years ago I had a nice Raleigh Banana racing bike and I started University in York. This bike was nicked,"

Rob: "It got me all reminiscing about Raleigh Bananas. I borrowed one to ride into town from Uni in about 1990"

Anyone else spot the coincidence here???

18 years ago I had a nice Raleigh Banana racing bike

Is this the one you were thinking of?

Thought not...

Is that a banana or are you just.....

oh, never mind.

Same bike, but the shot I got from the police after it was nicked was this..

.... I'd 've got away with it to, if it wasn't for you pesky kids!

Haaaaaaa! Thats brilliant! It does feel a bit weird laughing to yourself!...

Rob wrote:Nothing wrong with a spot of cheese.
It got me all reminiscing about Raleigh Bananas. I borrowed one to ride into town from Uni in about 1990 - what an experience - the plastic down-tube shifter broke off in my hand on the way back up Green Dykes Lane.

There can't be many people, it would seem, who haven't owned one of these somewhere down the years - I used to do my paper round on one (coincidentally, round about 1990)! Raleigh also made a 'proper' Banana team replica with a 531c frame and Shimano 105 bits at about the same time; much as I wanted one, it was sadly out of my folks' price range as far as Christmas or birthdays went....

Dave

Rob wrote:The Milk Race - no problem with this on the face of it - but the winner of each stage was obliged to down a pint of milk from the bottle on the podium... and we had to watch as it all dribbled down his chin and onto his new jersey.

On a similar theme, I wonder if any winners of the races that have been sponsored by brewers over the years (Amstel Gold, Vaux Grand Prix, etc.) have been under obligation to sink a pint on the podium?

Dave