Clifton CC

It was great to have an uneventful weekend - just standard issue January weather and even a hint of sunshine. Managed my first trip into the Wolds for 2010 on Saturday, out via Bubwith, Seaton Ross and Hayton to Nunburnholme and Warter, then back through Pocklington and Kexby (avoiding the Elvington bridge which seems to be cut off by flood waters AND closed by barriers). Saw five deer cautiously crossing the road one-by-one near Hayton, and a lot of horseriders obviously enjoying the thaw too. 45miles all told.

Sunday saw the first interval session on the road - 5*5 minutes. Seemed like harder work than same on the turbo, but still much better to be outdoors.

Next week, I hope to be on the Saturday training ride.
Tom
[Sorry, all out of Roundup]

It was good to get out again

Rob,Nigel,Heather,Richard and first timer Alastair turned up for the club run and we headed of to Hutton-le-Hole via Castle Howard and Amotherby.
Visability was poor, so no view at Surprize View and for the first time ages we had to use the bridge at the ford. We had a cafe stop at Hovingham before heading back to York.

I hope Alastair enjoyed his first ride - I look forward to the write up

Helen

Nine takers for the Sunday training ride. Headed out north with the intention of also going round Hutton Le Hole but after Castle Howard decided it would be easier to keep the group working well together by keeping off the big climbs and staying closer to York. A good ride nontheless. Slingsby / Nunnington / Ampleforth / Kilburn / Coxwold / Easingwold / Tollerton. Damp early on but not bad enough for capes. I thought we were working quite well. We just need to take more care on the climbs ie don't shred the group by riding off the front or ride on the front till you blow your stack and get dropped. Keep it steady & together and then we can pick it up on the flat. Do your intense stuff during the week.
Next point - If you want to be part of a closely working training ride then sort your mudguards out! theres no excuse for not having mudguards and you really should have a rear mudflap - there easy enough to make and fit. I don't care if you only have 1 bike - buy race blades on and put a mudflap on it. It was pretty awful on Sunday and we were all pretty well covered but its on your bottles and getting in your mouth but it could be avoided. Plus it means you don't ride as close in the group. Darren's flap is a work of art and makes mine look inadequate. I will make amends for this Sunday!

paulM wrote:Next point - If you want to be part of a closely working training ride then sort your mudguards out! theres no excuse for not having mudguards and you really should have a rear mudflap - there easy enough to make and fit. I don't care if you only have 1 bike - buy race blades on and put a mudflap on it. It was pretty awful on Sunday and we were all pretty well covered but its on your bottles and getting in your mouth but it could be avoided. Plus it means you don't ride as close in the group. Darren's flap is a work of art and makes mine look inadequate. I will make amends for this Sunday!

Can I second this sentiment and extend it to all group rides, not just training rides. With my 'work' hat on, the potential health aspect of a mouth-ful of road 'deposits' isn't exactly beneficial!

Not sure my mudflap is a work of art Paul, but if an unmade bed or a cow in formaldehyde is called art then hey ho.

paulM wrote:Darren's flap is a work of art and makes mine look inadequate.

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Flap envy...

Apologies Paul for banging off the front on occasion! Especially on the smaller climbs, I find it hard to continuously work at say 85% and suffer from an urge to ramp it up and get it over with. I assure you that it's not just "showing off" as I do this whilst riding solo to an even greater extent!

I shall try to keep myself in check on the next training ride. If it's any consolation I got a severe spanking (metaphorically speaking!) from Darren after going off the front on the little climb out of Ampleforth towards Wass.

I shall endeavour to atone for my selfishness by contructing an uber flap! It'll be so long it might just double as a static electricity discharge strip-just like the de rigueur 1970s Ford Capri accessory!

Having bonked badly on the training ride the week before, I was better prepared this week and managed a lot more of the ride before starting to hang off the back. JohnS (I think) and I decided it would be better to carry straight home than to do a lap of the TT circuit, as certainly I was feeling there wasn't much left in my legs.
It was getting a bit 'racey' up the hills but nothing out of hand, I'm currently content with the fact that I don't need to be that fit in January and am prepared to ride my self fitter before the season starts for real.