Clifton CC

Don't know whether I dare post on here anymore , but hopefully nothing contentious about this (some chance). After getting back from the Saturday ride today at 7pm my better half was naturally a bit miffed. Being out all day is not fair and I do actually like spending time with the missis and the kids. Got me thinking there's probably a lot of people like me that a full day's a bit awkward. I know there's a lot of rides already, but anyone think a regular 3 or 4 hour weekend no cafe stop ride a good idea. A slickish (20mph on the flat) ride but not the burn up, carnage all over the road sort of ride these sort of things often are. We'd keep it together. If someone was struggling (oh alright probably me), then we'd just have to ease up that week. I'd even lead it, Saturday or Sunday as it doesn't look like I'm going to be working weekends for a while.....just a thought, anyone interested?

Fate's a funny thing, got my bike out this morning for the Saturday ride and found I'd seriously damaged the back tyre on Tuesday's TLI. Didn't have a spare and really shouldn't have used it, but I was all ready to go so I risked it. Got 5 miles from home on the way back and it just popped into my head... that tyre held up. I'm not exaggerating, almost the moment I thought that.....it went bang. Why couldn't I have thought that when I turned into my street.

I'm pretty sure there is a training ride on, a fastish short 2-3 hours ride with no cafe stop, well I remember it last year.

Ah.....can anyone confirm this....and where and when.

It was on a Saturday same time as the other groups, unless it was earlier, either way I'm sure they'll be something as there will be people racing who want to do short fast runs I guess.

Tony's ride goes the same time as the social rides but it's pretty unpredictable in terms of distance/time/destination and there's no way Tony's going to tailor it to suit the needs of the club! I suspect there would be others who are up for a swift non-stopper at the weekend (I might even show up for a few myself). These things don't organise themselves so good on you - publicise it on here, get Cath to list it on the update and lead the first few to get it established.

I'm up for this.

3 to 4 hours with no cafe stop is ideal.

Cheers
Simon

That woudl work for me as well.

I'd be up for it some weeks if it's quite a fast pace.

Me too, same pressures, good idea.
In the spirit of improving ride-to-faff ratio, dare I suggest - not meeting at the square?
Given a tiny bit of forethought and internettage, you could suggest a collection point specific to the route...

A good meeting point would be somewhere out on the way to the TT's I think? Or if going out around the other side where the chain gangs where done then bishopthorpe, or where the intro chain gangs met on the fancy looking bridge near cycle heaven.

I'd be interested too. An earlier-than-10am start would also win me some brownie points (and would avoid the "which group?" faffage at the Square).

Jason.

certainly interesting as being out all day tends to lose the brownie points worked hard for with the missus. major reason why i don't go on many of the sat rides

Re. the “which ride?/faffing around at the square / it’s not fair - I never get to see my little darlings” comments above, here are a few not too taxing pointers which may go some way to addressing the “faff” and/or the “I can’t believe how late I got back” factor:

1) Turn up at the square on time.

2) Sort your bike/kit out before you get to the square.

3) Decide before you get to the square which of the (generally) 3 rides available (all diligently, painstakingly and single-handedly planned by Kevin BTW) you intend to undertake. Cath sends out a weekly email update detailing each ride’s approximate route and distance. In addition to this, I generally post a detailed map (which even includes an elevation profile) of the H group route on the discussion board Thurs/Fri. eve. If you’re not sure what the pace will be like for a particular group (i.e. will you be fit enough to comfortably keep up? or, conversely, will it all be too pedestrian for you?) then have a look at the numerous Garmin ride history files dotted around on the board for precise details of what a group’s pace actually was/how long the group malingered in the café etc. If you’re still not sure then (quickly!) ask Kevin. Kevin can sniff out your current cycling form at 20 paces (it’s one of his many special cycling related talents) and I strongly advise you to heed his wise words! A little bit of basic math will then give you an approximate return time. Add an hour to this to be conservative and to allow for a possible above average no. of punctures/ mechanicals/regrouping stops en route. And add yet a bit more time on again if the weather’s especially poor for the current season. If you end up with a computed home time that’s too late for you then simply elect to join a group that’s doing a shorter route!

There, simple innit? In the spirit of faff-freeness, let’s see if we can get at least the H group rolling at 10:10 sharp this coming Saturday…. And I’ll even endeavour to make sure that there’s no “faffing” around on the ride either to boot. Hey, I could even be persuaded to spend less than an hour and a half in the café too. Hang on, now I am getting carried away…after all these are all social rides, aren’t they? In my book social ride equals relaxed café stop! Or am I missing something? Don’t be rude!

Howard - but none of the current rides are like this proposed one.

I'm game for it. Sunday or Saturday, not bothered.

Meeting point - I don't care, but Millenium Bridge or Bish library is good for me.

Or alternate, Bish Library with Nestle.

HowardDudley wrote:In my book social ride equals relaxed café stop! Or am I missing something? Don’t be rude!

Hi Howard - your book is the same as mine! That's what a social ride should be, and you should allow plenty of time if you want to join one.

It's just that a fair few people on this thread want to get some miles in but know they can't usually commit that kind of time - so this is a chance for us to get away from no-mates riding while keeping sharp.

It shouldn't detract at all from what happens at the square already, but provide a new group for folk who currently don't get to join in much.

Does that make sense?