Clifton CC

The Saturday group H ride comprised of four Group H stalwarts (Dr. D, Shaun W, Ian H and moi) plus (drum roll) not one but two new faces; John and Mark.

We had a cracking day in balmy weather, munching up the miles on a relatively benign course (cheers Kevin) and riding as a tight knit group the whole way round. Cohesion was aided by a marked lack of Group Fragmentation Zones (aka nasty hills) and everyone took a turn on the front. Special mention to Shaun for powering us along on the level bits. Dr Dave also acquitted himself well despite suffering from a touch of “Bromptoneer’s knee” acquired at the ToB York stage finish.

The Posthorn café at Leyburn provided us with a genuinely friendly welcome and reasonable service, not minding about a spot of furniture rearrangement. I had a generous helping of sausages, fried eggs and pommes de terre frites. The sausages were a little lacklustre but still eminently edible.

As we rolled back into York through Skelton on the A19 we came across Kevin and his entourage waiting to cross from Overton Lane end. I could hear him before I could recognize him - he gave us a heart-warming cheer followed by a string of “Kevinisms” - really brought a smile to my face!

A great day and a set of stats. which may even have pleased Monsieur ‘ub:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13597575

As Howard says a good day out - not too warm, gentle side breeze most of the way, a good lunch and good company.

When do cyclists start to wind down their more strenuous efforts for the winter break btw?

Q:- "When do cyclists start to wind down their more strenuous efforts for the winter break btw?"

A:- "Today", in my case!

Did my last race of the season yesterday, the Doncaster Wheelers Autumn RR. This was a short-ish (58km), fast-ish event over 18 laps of a lumpy circuit with rather too much oncoming traffic for comfort. Other hazards included a bloke walking his dog (bloke oblivious on pavement, dog running around in middle of road) and the most spectacular almost-crash I've ever seen (rider clipped wheel in front on fast lefthander, bike stood up on front wheel, flipped onto back wheel, somehow ended up pointing vaguely at lefthand verge and rider managed to jump it about three feet onto the grass and stayed on). Many attempts were made by escapees but by the final lap it was pretty much all back together and the traditional 3rds/4ths jostling for position, barging down the outside into the face of oncoming cars etc commenced. Wimp that I am, I just stayed to the rear of the bunch and then gave it full whack up the drag to the finish, the inevitable consequence being placing somewhere around 15th.

But it was a glorious day, the sun shone and it was warm. I met a couple of friends I know from my French travels and we had tea and scones, so it was almost like a high-speed club run. A couple of photos at http://constructive.smugmug.com/Photogr ... 7368_3Jtmc and http://constructive.smugmug.com/Photogr ... 7359_2k2yp.

Very much feels like time for a break now; was conscious of feeling weary and the training required to keep some form at season's end was hard work - the turbo had lost its allure. A few weeks of taking it easy now, and a chance to reflect on what's worked and what hasn't, before working out how to train for next season...

Sunday was also a beautiful day.

Phil,Ben.Andy,Tom and Bernard turned up for my happy recovery pace ride.
We headed out to Pickering, Newton-on- Rawcliffe, through the lanes to Hutton- le-Hole for a cafe stop.
We met up with Pete Skelton who was out for a gentle stroll and lunch. He claimed not to have been on his bike, bar maybe a short ride last week and something a little longer and hillier the week before but not riding at all really. Phil and Ben opted for the bread and butter pudding which I believe would have impressed Howard.
With calories to burn Bernard took us back through Malton and on an Ian Toyne route which involved going down the A64 slip road to take a left down a dead end road,crossing the river on a rickety foot bridge and on to Kirkham. We always we enjoy a bit of road on a Sunday.

Helen

Did the Yorkshire RC 50 TT on Saturday.

It was a good day and alot of good riders. I was happy with my first attempt at a CTT event with a 2.08.50

Opted for the slightly easier intermediate ride on Saturday as we had a choice of two. Myself, Claire, Cath , Elaine, Tony, Greg, Julia, and Rich headed out to Church Houses, Unfortunately Julia chose to head back at Hutton le Hole, hope you got back alright. After a pleasant lunch at the Daffy Cafe we headed back down Farndale back into York through Farlington etc. Good ride with pleasant weather and managed to arrive back home before dark thankfully with 115 miles .

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13734583

the most spectacular almost-crash I've ever seen (rider clipped wheel in front on fast lefthander, bike stood up on front wheel, flipped onto back wheel, somehow ended up pointing vaguely at lefthand verge and rider managed to jump it about three feet onto the grass and stayed on)

That was me. Matthew from Malton Wheelers. My rear tub actually rolled off the back wheel (I really cranked on the power at the corner to break away again) Managed to get it back on but that took me 40secs - didn't manage to catch the peloton up, so cried off to cheer everyone past the finish line.
Good race though. Good training for cyclo cross!

Top time there Dave C - congratulations; what was your av. HR (expressed as a %age of max.) if I may be so bold as to ask?

When do cyclists start to wind down their more strenuous efforts for the winter break btw?

Wind down Dr Dave? Surely you mean ramp up? Haven't you heard of "nailing it in November" or "just do(ing) it (in December)"? I could go on (ad nauseam)...

And don't tell me that you're not looking forward to the delights of the Clifton Wed. evening training rides-the challenge of Pig Sh*t Alley in the pitch black, the joy of being selected as the Ice Canary for the night?

Me, I can hardly wait.

Hi Howard

Garmin log:

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13592331

It works out about 94%. Looks like you guys should have been doing the TT aswell.

Dave

Woah howard that's some average! I wish I was there must have been a challenging ride. Looked a nice and not that windy day on saturday, I was jelous, crossing the pennines in the car to a view of dark clouds.

I'm back in manchester and was set on doing a flat ride, I ended up doing the hilly ride, was quite tough.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/13763895

Had a cracking day out on Sunday, my first time round some of the lanes around Pickering and great weather for it too.
In my and Phil's defense on the bread and butter pudding front, we weren't the only ones to have a pudding, and after all I thought it good preparation for possible future H rides!

If autumn means more days like Sunday, then bring it on!
Had a glorius ride out through Bishop Wilton, Huggate and Millington without any serious complaint from my knee, which was good news. Then after lunch took the whole family (2 older boys on their bikes, 2-year-old in child seat on my wife's bike) up the Selby cycle path and across town to see some friends in Heslington. All pretty smooth aside from trouble crossing Fulford road and crazy wheel-eating cattle grids on the 'cycle path' which runs alongside Heslington lane opposite the golf course.
Really pleased that the boys rode there and back without any trouble, while the youngest wanted one of them to ride next to him so he could chat. It was a picture...

dave c wrote:Did the Yorkshire RC 50 TT on Saturday.

It was a good day and alot of good riders. I was happy with my first attempt at a CTT event with a 2.08.50

Bloody testers!

Results: http://www.timetriallingforum.co.uk/ind ... opic=37233

A bumper weekend of MTBing just gone.

Saturday was the Dalby round of the NYMBO Trailquest League. John And Peter Hook, entering their first event, used their local knowledge of Dalby to win the Generation category, beating the current League Leaders.

Sunday was the Moors MTB Marathon, again from Dalby. A choice of routes from a short 25k to the long 70k with 1500m climbing around some of the tough hills to the NW of Dalby. Well done to Alan H who came 2nd in the 70k event with a sub 5 hour time, John and Peter Hook (again) who did 6h10m and the Barber Family who all made it round the 25k Course.

Meanwhile, a big crowd of us headed to Ruthin in North Wales for the 'Mountainous' variety of the MTB Marathon. Camping was in the Ruthin Rugby ground and Saturday a group headed to the local Trail Centre at Llangella Forest for some warm up laps. Sunday there was a choice of routes including the mini-Marathon at 25k, a 75k loop with 2200m climbing and the 92k Course with 3500m. Lots of tails of heroism & torture but highlights were Lisa, doing her first event, took on the 75k course, and completed in around 6hrs and Jen Shaw who tackled the 92k course as her first and made it round in around 7 hours. Well done also to Seb and Bradley who knocked over an hour of their 25k times at Selkirk.

I was having a great ride, enjoying the sun and good conditions on the 100k course, when I was struck with cramp in my hamstring around 50k which put paid to my ride. The first time I've ever suffered cramp and I never knew how painful and debilitating it can be. I managed to 'hobble' (not sure what the cycling verb for hobble is) round the 75k course in about 5h20. Thanks to the wonders of mobile technology and Dr Google, within half an hour of finishing I'd managed to self-diagnose why I got cramp. It seems I've either got kidney failure, liver failure, hardening of the arteries, a heart condition, poor diet or I'm pregnant. I just need to narrow that lot down before my next big ride.

Saturday, I some how ended up with a map and the Levisham ride to lead!
I say lead, more like hanging on at the back!

As for how far, my garmin battery went flat and within seconds the map blew away, all just after the half way point! Don't tell Kevin!

A big thanks to the 6 guys who towed me round. All in all a graet day, great weather and great route and great company.

Sunday, Chris and I headed across to Whinlatter in the Lakes. Met up with Tom, Rachel and Rich (sorry we were late). We had a steady day tried the excelent new blue route then went round the red. Another great day!

Simon