Clifton CC

Web-site says start time from 06:30 to 8:00 am. Am thinking of arriving at 7am for 7:30 start.

Looks like the Standard Times are easier this year - assuming fair conditions I fancy some of our experts will be 'Going for Gold'

Hi,
I am a member of the university cycling club, and am currently looking for a space in someone's car for a girl who's very keen on doing White Rose. Both the cars taking people from our club are full. Do you know of anyone in Clifton who has a spare seat? Petrol costs will be covered, of course!
Many thanks,
Annabel Sill

I have car space but has your friend got an entry sorted? If not let me know as I may have a spare.

PM me with contact details if you need the lift.

PM sent, thanks.

This is the 182 km route, May have slight discrepancies.

http://www.bikehike.co.uk/mapview.php?id=10435

I hope you all had a good day out, after spending Saturday building my new bike, I was up early on Sunday morning only to get a telephone call at 6.30 and had to drive down to Nottingham to collect a poorly wife.

Thus, I missed the white rose challenge and lost my entry fee.

So to make up for it, I went out up into the moors to Rosedale & Castleton.

It was fearsomely hot & humid, and then the heavens opened.

Having managed to get to Nunnington in one piece, I spent the next hour under cover at the cafe there, watching the lightning show before heading home and back to the slightly surreal hot & dry York.

Suffice to say, I wasn't best pleased!

Sorry to hear you missed the WRC - I looked for you. Hope the new bike is going well.

There were plenty of Clifton riders doing the various WRC distances. I set out with 5 'H' ride regulars; Howard, Dave C, Ian H and Virginie. Unfortunately Dave C punctured half way up Norwood Edge and instructed us not to wait so the group fragmented before we'd really got going. Howard was storming away in front and although I gave it a half-hearted effort to catch up it wasn't realistically going to happen.

Climbing up out of Blubberhouses towards Greenhow we entered low cloud for the first time. The glasses fogged up and visibility was down to a few yards. The legs seemed OK though and Ian and I were soon swooping down into Grassington for the first feed station.

As is my wont I dallied at the trough just a fraction too long and missed Ian leaving - he'd managed to catch Howard leaving and tagged along. Again I gave chase to catch up - and again this was a futile effort but at least it got me to Buckden in double quick time. Here I tagged on to a small group and we ascended the dale to Fleet Moss together.

Fleet Moss - for me at least - is a lesser beast tackled this way and I was pleased to see Ian hoving into view as I ascended and I caught up just as we went over the top. The fog on the top was very dense and it was nerve-racking as the sheep were nigh-on invisible in the gloom. Going down however the visibility soon improved and Ian zoomed ahead - and I was doing 49mph!

We arrived at Hawes feed stop in time to see Howard leaving. Again Ian stopped for a shorter time and we separated. Just as I was leaving Dave C came in.

The ascent of the Coal Road is never easy and it was a real grind to get up. The views over the top compensated nicely - it was glorious up there!. The descent to Dentdale is rather technical - just in front of me, near the steep bends at the bottom - one rider had obviously overcooked it but was standing up so I kept going after checking that he was OK.

I caught up with Ian on the ascent towards Ribblehead and Dave C caught us both. Ian was having problems with cramp however and on the ascent up under the viaduct I seemed to pull ahead - when I turned round there was no one behind...

The run to Horton in Ribblesdale was into a slight headwind but seemed to pass Ok until the slog up over to Malham - the steep bit after the dip I remembered from last year. Then it was the descent to the feed station and again I passed a rider who had obviously come off but who was upright.

Unsurprisingly Howard had passed through before I arrived so I had a brief rest on the grass before heading home towards Otley. I teamed up with another rider from Sheffield and we chatted our way to the final climb of Langbar. I really thought I was going to be walking up there - legs almost gone now - but made it albeit at walking pace. Then it was a case of 'time-trial' mode to the check-in and see if last years time had been beaten sufficiently for pride to be satisfied.

As I pulled in I saw Howard at the entrance loooking relaxed - obviously he'd been back for ages. A Gold standard was his due reward - Chapeau! I was happy with beating 8 hours and was 45mins faster than last year earning a Silver. The standards have been eased this year & I was only 14 mins off a Gold myself (which I think says more about the standards than me if I'm honest).

A few minutes later Ian and Dave came in together showing proper Clifton support and solidarity (sorry guys!), then Virginie got back so we all sat on the grass in the now-burning sun and shared tales until it was time to head home.

Thanks to all for the camaraderie!

On my way round there was this little boy, riding with dad and uncle. I saw him at the finish (182km and 4000 feet!) and he said it was a bit hard. But they had to do an extra 20 miles ferrying a replacement wheel for uncle who had wrecked it!
Uncle said he was 14! And climbed like a mountain goat! So since we're doing french hats, how about this one.

willyh wrote:On my way round there was this little boy, riding with dad and uncle. I saw him at the finish (182km and 4000 feet!) and he said it was a bit hard. But they had to do an extra 20 miles ferrying a replacement wheel for uncle who had wrecked it!
Uncle said he was 14! And climbed like a mountain goat! So since we're doing french hats, how about this one.

I think you mean 4000 metres (well, they say that 3800+ metres is the total climb but I suspect this may be an exaggeration).

A smashing day out; here are my recollections both good and bad and in no particular order:

My car “failing to proceed” at 5am Sunday. I’ve had it 8 years and it’s never not started before, ever!

Seeing WillyH arriving at the start in a gleaming red vintage Volvo (cars, specifically my car - the useless heap of ***, were on my mind at the time). It was the star of the car park and looked in concours d’elegance condition, well at least from where I was standing… so chapeau Willy!

The guy in front of me locking up and flying into the verge, and then the hedge(!), accompanied by acrid rubber smoke just as we had passed the first “Cyclists Beware, Dangerous Descent Ahead” sign thoughtfully provided by the organisers… He was OK, physically…

As Dr D comments above, descending Fleet Moss in low viz. whilst straining to detect sheep in the mist.

Riding alongside Dave Lloyd for a few miles. Whilst we never actually exchanged names, I presume it was Dave Lloyd as he had “Dave Lloyd” printed on just about every piece of his apparel as well as on both wheels and on every main frame tube. Mind you, lots of motorcyclists appear to be named “Frank Thomas” so one shouldn’t leap to conclusions I suppose…

Being bought a pint by “Tullio” at the finish, cheers Paul!

And, of course, it was great to be undertaking the event in the company of so many other Cliftonites. Now, roll on the Ryedale Rumble!

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7681376

Since we're at it, here's my WRC story...

Having enjoyed the Ron Kit I decided I'd give the WRC a go, so opted for the middle distance route having never ridden a sportive before. I've seen the growth of these events and read about them in the comic on a number of occasions , so decided it'd be ok.

I drove past the hq just in time to see Willy et al leaving, got to the car park, got ready and rode back to the hq hoping to see a friendly face, but there was no-one I recognised, so off I went by myself. So armed with the knowledge that you should pace yourself and find a group of similar ability for the start, I hopped on the first group I came across until the first downhill into Otley, where i shot off the front!

The hill up Farnley was good, it's amazing how much better you go with fresh legs, I normally grovel up here. Norwood was hard, the visibility bad at the top and I was by myself. I also couldn't see on the next descent to the reservoir due to low cloud and fogged lenses. I latched onto a couple of Hope racing lads for the A59 section, then began an interminable series of ups and downs with other riders either faster or slower than me and I ended up riding up to Greenhow alone.

Clocked 50mph on the descent to Dibbles Bridge, before remembering just in time that it was a right angle bend on the entrance and just missing the wall! Arrived at Grassington, but still no sign of a red and black jersey, so didn't hang around, just refilled my bottles and off. The next section I couldn't find anyone to ride with, and one of my major problems is trying too hard and going too fast when riding alone. from the long/medium route split (I wasn't tempted!) I occupied a no-mans-land passing the odd rider or being passed at speed. A quick stop in Littondale to divest the armwarmers and gilet, down a gel and some drink, then I joined up with a Huddersfield Star rider to the bottom of the climb past Pen y ghent.

This wasn't the monster I'd worried about and once the steep bit was over I pressed on at speed across the top - too hard again. The horrible climb up onto Malham Moor (I grunted like a womens tennis player!) was made worse by a photographer positioned to capture the indignity for ever! I was blowing a fair bit on the top but like the novice at these rides I am, I kept on pressing down to Malham. Finally saw another Clifton jersey (William? Sorry rubbish with names) had a quick chat but he was off. Decided to have a proper breather and eat something.

Out of the feed and straight onto the next climb, which made me a little nauseous, a feeling I would keep to the finish. Every little effort, and I could taste the banana, oatbar and SiS bar and drinks in my mouth! The stretch from Hetton to Thorpe was horrible as I still couldn't find anyone to ride with. Through Burnsall, I was either up out of the saddle or freewheeling, before finally on the climb out of Appletreewick I caught sight of the Clifton jersey ahead. Unfortunately I needed 5 mins to steady my breathing and my stomach. A bit more food and drink, then off via Barden Tower and Bolton Abbey to the barbarically included climb of Langbar!

I'd (not) been looking forward to this for about 2 hours by this time, up the first steep bit where a large group of riders were staring in disbelief that we hadn't yet reached the top and yes, we did have to go up there! This group included William(?) again so I stopped to chat and get my breath back before we rolled onto the next section. Of we went, I was by now rocking all over the road, being passed by cheats with triple or compact chainsets, when I finally realised that the person pushing their bike in front of me wasn't getting closer, and admitted defeat, and pushed the bike up the steep bit.

From the summit(!) timing station (there was a bit more climb in the descent), I managed a heroic face for the next photographer before racing a mercedes down the hill, then trying to tt the finish. This involved squeezing across the bridge past a wide 4x4, before finally clocking in at 6.05:04, and a silver standard. I was relatively pleased with this until I found out today that one of my Directors beat me by 5mins!

Anyway, I'd do it again, but I'd definitely not go so fast in the beginning. It would have been worth slowing the odd mph, to get the benefit of group riding and I'd also have not wolfed down food so quickly or sporadically. It's ok, I'm young(ish!), I'll learn! The skid marks on the descents were indeed something to behold, the first into flattened vegetation and the second directly at a dry stone wall! Certainly made me concentrate for a while.

I rode the last 30 or so miles with a combination of cramp in my adductor and hamstrings and feeling really tired, thanks to Dave C who was also suffering with cramp but still got me round sticking to his rear wheel, if it hadn't been for Dave there would have been no way I could have got round to earn a silver.

Ian H

Enjoyed the day, pity about the puncture and missing a turn (should have relied on GPS rather than arrows).

Road races, TT's, Sportives, Audaxes, Club rides, Touring, enjoy them all and try not to fall off doing any of them.

Well done to Howard for getting Gold and to all other Clifton performances.

Stats for WRC:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7674897

Stats for Sutton Spoco:
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/7875573

Dave

Have looked at all the results - I'm sure the accuracy isn't 100% but I've calculated very unofficial 'placings' for some members who did the long route. I know, it's not a race but I thought it'd be semi-instructive to compare...

Sorry to not do all Cliftonites but it takes ages to reorder and label all the times/riders.

I counted 301 finishers for the 182k route

Chris Train: 15th
Howard: 52nd
Dr Dave: 89th
Tullio: 102nd
Ian H: 122nd
Dave C: 123rd
Virginie: 172nd
Willy: 263rd


Dave Lloyd: 26th (for Howard's info, this one!)

The fastest time seems to be 6.08.07 - pretty impressive in my book.

70 riders earned a Gold, 125 a Silver and 105 a Bronze.

It's amazing how .2mph results in such a massive distance between riders finishing!!