Clifton CC

Again apols for missing AGM.

The 2008 Audax events - 3 Bridges and Tan Hill saw nearly 100 riders on the road. Our best year yet. And i want to say thanks for supporting. Plus thanks to helpers.

Moving the 3 Bridges to July seemed to be popular? We had a lot of "first time" riders with the club and I am glad to report quite a few came back to do the Tan Hill.

Question is - what to do for next year?

I am happy to continue but wondered after 3 years whether one or both the existing events were getting a bit "stale".

I wouldn't want to see the routes disappear so we could keep any we drop as "permanents".

In my opinion the Tan Hill is so embedded in Clifton history we should keep it going.

But as i haven't got a lot of spare time wanted to make sure made best use of it!

I had an idea for running two new events on same day - with the option to do both if really keen! So one about 90k and another about 110+. Heading into Wolds and Moors respectively starting centre of town. The downside is both would be routes Cliftonites could ride anytime (and probably already have). The positive is i think these distances are great for new riders and also popular with people who are normally quite happy riding solo or with smaller groups. Plus it showcases some of the best cycling territory in the country to people outside the area.

The other idea was for an off road event on bridleways around York - not quite sorted how feasible this is but thought we may combine with a family oriented event.

On a different note a few people have expressed interest in riding events longer than 200k. The perfect starter at 300k distance is Keith Bentons Wiggy 300. I've ridden it in the past and enjoyed it and several Clifton members rode it this year. I know Clifton support for the longer Ron Kit ride this year was appreciated by Keith and Anne so maybe we could extend next year with a good showing in this event.

Why not just keep running both as they are? I don't think events like this need changing every year and I enjoy both

Mark,

before this year's 3B I would have said that it would be worth a change or start alternating and doing 3B every other year. However, the move to July gave the event a new lease of life this year, making it very much easier (fitter riders, easier conditions). As such it opened up to a new market sector if you know what I mean. It became a very achievable 100miler. I'd say stick with it - its a very useful stepping stone for newer riders.

R

Mark

My thought is that both events offer only 1 choice of distance and route.
Woud it be possible to add a couple of other options on either event?

3 Bridges is going to be hard to play around with unless you add to the distance and I don't know how popular that would be.
It could be lenthened by adding in a loop in the Wolds or going out to Hornsea or even Spurn Point.

I think there is greater scope to offer other routes on the Tanhill Audax.
You could have 3 distances on offer with the traditional route being the longest. The shortest distance could go out as far as Masham before turning to go back to York via Fountains Abbey.
The middle distance route could carry on to Castle Bolton and then straight over the firing ranges to Reeth (grimpeur firing ranges loop).

If you were thinking about something new I like the sound of Rob's Driffield,Dalby,Langdale End suggestion.
Either as a challenge ride or as a replacement for either of the other Audaxs. The advantage being that as it would be new it might be easier to come up with a 2 or 3 route offering.

Helen

Helen wrote:If you were thinking about something new I like the sound of Rob's Driffield,Dalby,Langdale End suggestion.
Either as a challenge ride or as a replacement for either of the other Audaxs. The advantage being that as it would be new it might be easier to come up with a 2 or 3 route offering.

The problem with making it an Audax though would be control points.....

Rather like the 3B, being flat if I'm going well it gives me chance to mix it a bit with people I wouldn't normally be able to ride with.

I shall be doing Keith Benton's 300K, be nice to ride it with you Mark. We should publicise this a bit on the forum nearer the time, be nice to have a good group of the old black and red.

Don't forget the Grimpeur, Clifton seem to be making this something of our own these days.

I've toyed with the idea of running an Audax which does all the climbs on the Howardians and the edge of the Wolds, it would be a tough Audax, cafes for controls at Terrington and Kirby Underdale, Driffield? Already got a name "The Howard Wold Ride." Maybe we could ride the route sometime and you could tell me what I need to do organise an Audax, perhaps we could make it a joint one?