Clifton CC

Well having not known about the Tan Hill challenge until a couple of weeks ago (i must look at the events on here a bit closer) and also with the possibility of having to work the weekend, myself and Steph arrived at the square to find a group of about 12 waiting to go. Claire was handed the map by Kev with the words "Masham" ringing in the air, for those that wanted to get 85 miles under the belt. I felt that this would be a good opportunity to get some miles in prior to going to the Lakes this weekend to do the Fred route - I must be mad!!

Great ride that started out with 8 - 2 new guys who dropped off as we got into Helperby - the 6 remaining went to Masham and a great little cafe. 93 miles by the time we had finished at a steady 17 average, despite the puncture and Arthur getting stung!
Well done to Claire for leading the way, great ride with a great group of people. Won't make the club run this weekend as I am doing some flattish routes in the Lake District !!!

Well done to those who completed the Tan Hill, I saw one on Beckfield Lane at about 1900hrs looking completely exhausted

I guess there may be quite a few posts up here about the TH ride, but l'll go first if I may.

Memorable day's adventure. Not sure any other club in the country could take about 30 riders round a 140+ mile mountainous route. There were 18 in our group, which, while splitting up a bit over the high mountains, looked after each other all the way to the finish. Special mention in dispatches to, in no particular order - Helen for shouldering the responsibility of marshaling such a big (and comparatively inexperienced) group. Some steely determination shown by Dawn (a quality that will get you far in cycling). To all those in the group for whom this was by far their longest ride.

But it was Arnie who earned club legend status. What is he, 68? Rides in from Fangfoss, falls near the furthest point of the ride and dislocates finger (badly), calculates that the nearest A&E is too far away, looks away while Dr Dave "pops it back in" (DD didn't even give him a pump to bite on), then rides home.... to Fangfoss (160 miles?). He'll dine out on that tale for a while!

And got home to find we won the Ashes!

Rob wrote: And got home to find we won the Ashes!

And that Russ Downing won the Tour of Ireland!

I just wanted to say thanks very much to all those who helped me get to Tan Hill and back yesterday. Like others in the group this was the longest ride I've ever done and it was hard work, but it was a really good day out, and the fact that everyone looked out for each other really helped me a lot. Thanks, Dawn.

Just to back up what Rob said it was good (but nerve racking) to see so many riders at the square and that we were all able to come back to York together.
It was a challenge for me and I really do understand why Kevin has so many concerns. Special thanks to Rob and Paul for their help with the main group and to Howard for the tow to to Helperby and leading the faster group.

Does anyone know how Nigel,Shaun and Heather got on?

Helen

It was a good ride, quite tough, I pushed a little bit harder than I'd like to on one climb trying to catch the irish olympic guy up, can't remember his name, begind with a K, but he was flying up the hills like they where a short drag!

Weather was abit dissapointing on Tan Hill, was raining and windy, lukilly it was only Tan Hill that appeared to get this weather and it quickly turned back to normal, I had half a pint of guinness at Tan Hill, I don't know if it helped abit but I managed to recover after the cafe stop which is rare, I felt abit crap after and seen myself going downhill in performance as what usually happens, so I told Howard I'd be holding off abit on the climbs because I was feeling weak and tired, but to my surprise the steep hill past the firing range on the way to leyburn I recovered and was in front, howard was angry at me and said he'd not listen to anything I say again, fair dos, next time I'll say "I may be behind you on his if I don't recover"

Also to anyone who seen me with headphones in, I know how annoyed some people can get seeing a cyclist listening to music, well they where not on, I only listen to music when I'm on my own and I can clearly hear traffic.

At the end, I think about 30-40 miles left for me Howard and Chris set off, so I went in pursuit but sat about 100 meters behind because I was wanting to make it harder for me on purpose, the rocket fuel I taken helped so it was 23 into headwinds and everything then I caught back up to Howard, we seen 2 figures in the distance that I think may have being Dave C and Ian H?

In Leyburn we caught up with Shaun, Nigel and Heahter, then somewhere down the road we caught up with the other shan, and 2 other people I don't know the names of, one was the irish olympic guy, we then made good pace in a group but then we split again as said above. Heather was doing well, her longest ride, struggling abit by the end especially in a headwind so I went ahead and we slowed down to help her get back on then got her onto back of someones wheel.

So for me - http://connect.garmin.com/activity/11782170 164 miles, 18.4mph avg, pretty happy with that, I killed myself by then end but it was a rather stiff headwind from york to Wistow, this is my fastest ride over that distance and amount of hills and is also my second longest rides, the only other ride longer for me was the PG W2TD @ 175 miles.

After a ride now I think I'm going to have a cup of salty water, I've wondered why after a ride I feel ill, and I've only just thought that it could be lack of salt as I sweat so much on the bike.

Mr Grumpy had a Very Good Day Out, thank you very much. Mr Grumpy's knees on the other hand, or should that be leg, are making their contadictory opinion very clear today.

What made Mr Grumpy such a happy chap? Quite simply a knock out ride that had it all: a super route around superb countryside; a well organised bunch (thanks Helen); and much appreciated contributions by some strong riders in both setting the pace and supporting the slower amongst us, to get everyone round.

... and ... it was wet and miserable going up Buttertubs (just to my liking); large chucks of Tan Hill were ridden in a solitary silence that really gave an ominous feel to the place, and without a car to be seen nor a sheep to be heard appealed to the miserable old g*t in me; grinton to leyburn was a real grind tackled in good company, allbeit with minimal conversation; the descents were brilliant and the flat miles ticked off at a fair lick.

... and finally I got to share the last 12 miles or so with hard man, and hero of the day, Arnie who had us belting along at evens or thereabouts - I think we even had a sprint for the top of Warthill pimple to celebrate the last climb of the day!

... and finally ... there might have been days when I've spent longer in the saddle but it was certainly the most miles I've put in on one day.

First well done to all who manage to get all the way round, as well to Helen for managing the day. I managed a 100 miles by way of Masham, Jordans, Pateley Bridge & then on the Ripon road climb out before turning right at the back of Brimham Rocks for Warsill & Markington and the cafe, where I had 65 miles under my belt. I then came back via Knaresborough, Wetherby, Wighill Catterton, Askham Richard & Acaster Malbis to ensure the 100.
The wind was pretty fierce over Jordans & then down to Wetherby & my thoughts where with you all on your return half from Tan Hill, so once again well done everybody,
Bernard

As above - a good day out. A few thoughts:

Wimped out of fast group - would prob have gone with intermediate bunch had there been one but didn't have confidence/miles in legs to keep up with Will/Howard - 18.x average a bit of a gallop so prob right decision

Steady progress out in mini-peloton made everyone's day easier.

Almost reversing decision to ride with Howard as his group came past after Masham then allowing sense to overcome pride.

Agree with Mal: Grey clouds over Buttertubs and up to TH - dramatic skies really emphasise remoteness combined with solitude occasioned by the fragmentation of the bunch.

Snatched lunch at TH with Arnie then chasing to catch group up. Finding Arnie 'missing' then going back to get story of the fall, finding his injury and debating what to do. Dave I'anson offering moral support to reduce the finger and then kindly ferrying message to the bunch to wait as we'd been delayed.

Finding Grinton less steep than last year so getting to cafe OK with Arnie in tow - smiles all round.

Chatting with Cath on the way back - then realising that time was passing and I was going to be in bother for getting home late.

Finding that my daughter had made me a lovely sponge/fruit cake when I got in - perfect end to an enjoyable day!

Tan Hill was my longest ride ever, so thanks to all those who got me around. My legs were really starting to suffer in the last 40Km to keep up with the great pace being set from the front. I felt good on the hills thanks to my rowing strength & lungs but hats off to all you real cyclists for your endurance and leg speed.

Now on to the next challenge... I'm hoping to compete in the Race Aeound Ireland on the 16th September but because of last minute drop outs we're missing a few people for our team of 8. Would anyone be interested in cycling an eight of the 1350miles of the best coastline (pretty much all of the coastline) in Ireland, starting on 16th September at 8pm & to be completed in 100 hours??

If anyone is interest then please get in contact on 07963 918748. Brian & Stacey are doing it in a team of 2, so hats off to them!!

Thanks again,

Dave (Not yet Olympic I'm trying!!)

For me Sunday's Tan Hill ride will be remembered for a long while to come. My longest ride by a long way and the hardest day on a bike I've had, but I couldn't have enjoyed it more, maybe something a little easier to climb on than 39x25 on that steep bit before the Pub would have been nice.
Doing a ride like this in a group really opens the door for all abilities to join together on the same ride and for everyone to have fun.

As has been said above, Thank you to Helen to marshaling us round and to Rob and Paul for so often leading the way

Echo everyones comments about the ride. Hard but very rewarding.
I would like to say special thanks to Dr. Dave for his professional
administrations when I really needed it. I don't know what I would
have done had I been by myself. My finger is still very painful but
fortunately no breaks. Thanks once again to Dave and to everyone
for making the day so special.

Helen wrote:Does anyone know how Nigel,Shaun and Heather got on?

Apparently they finished in front of the "spirited" group after a "Guiness" stop at TH and were back in York well before 5. A remarkable effort, particularly from Heather who's new to this game and was another one making do with a 39x25 bottom gear.

Nothing really new to add what hasn't been said already apart from my own thanks to Helen and Rob for leading a great ride with enjoyable company as usual. Even though it is my longest ride this year it wasnt by much consideriing what ive have done on a typical Saturday ride.

I must show my respect to Arnie for soldiering on depsite having sustained a disslocated finger. Not sure I would have. I find it diffult enough controling a bike without an injured hand.

All i have to do now is the 2 remaining event in the challenge series to attain gold. Roll on the Arthur Metcalfe ride

Jonathan

A hard but thoroughly enjoyable day for me too. I loved the strong tail wind on the way out, really felt that we were flying downwind for a relatively modest effort; exhilarating!
Apologies for the navigational “issue” I had at Masham, I’d blithely assumed that we were heading into the town just like last year, forgetting that it was only really a checkpoint for the Audax.
Not so exhilarating (for me!) was the Buttertubs climb where I was “bounced” by the Hub, Cycleworks Kim, Irish Dave and, er, possibly quite a few others!

I'm not sure where you got your “Haxby contingent” info. from Rob but I think it may have been somewhat, ahem, distorted by excessive Guinness consumption – Hello Nigel!