Clifton CC

Like just about everyone else from Clifton who'd entered Chapters Hotel BC road race, I got my entry back last week with "Sorry, full field" scrawled on it. I had a brief pout, but then decided there had to be some benefits in being old, reached for the LVRC race calendar, and found that the Fleche Waltonne vets race was happening today. A few minutes on the interweb confirmed that Market Harborough was the nearest town with a station, that it had cheap B&B's, and that it was all therefore do-able. I told myself I'd been suffering all winter to be at race pace around now, and rang the organiser. About ten minutes later the start sheet plopped into my email inbox, with Bixby at number 44. I was in the Fleche!

The organiser had run the A/B/C/D groups (ie 40-59yo) as one race, so about 50 of us rolled out under a sky clearing from early morning mist onto a rather wonderful undulating circuit through lovely country. Just over fifty miles, with a b*****d of a little-ring climb up to the finish. An early break got pulled back by about half distance, and after that pretty much everyone had a go, including me on the penultimate lap. Two groups of about four managed to get just about clear, and I wasn't in either of 'em, so the best I could do was stay up near the front on the run-in to the final lungbuster to the line. I managed to stay in the first dozen or so of the bunch (which I was pretty pleased with - hills aren't really my territory) and picked off a couple on the gentler last fifty yards. Not good enough for an envelope with a fiver though - I think was fourth or fifth C-group home, so out of the prizes. A good race though, and very hard work.

Still enjoying panoramic views of the East Midlands - Sunday travel, eh - but hope to be back in York sometime....

As outlined by Steve in the training ride thread the 'H' ride left York bound for Rosedale in company with the Training ride as far as Hovingham. The weather was foul with driving rain and a mouthful of 'grit' from the rider in front making for a less than pleasant experience. Howard, Shaun, Ian H and myself then branched off along via Nunnington towards Blakey ridge but once at Fadmoor the foul conditions prevailed, sanity kicked in and a democratic decisoin to head for the showers was taken.

Heading home I punctured nr Farlington which delayed us a few minutes - not the day for summer tyres - before arriving back at York after 65 miles of .......yuk.

Hopefully we'll be in short sleeves before long...

Sunday on the other hand was a lovely day for a training ride. Down at the square there were 6 other takers (where were the cafe riders?) all on race bikes with or without raceblades. I on the other hand had decided to put mine away and turned up on me winter bike as no races for a few weeks.
Straight up Gally Gap to Malton, Hovingham, Coulton, Yearsley, Ampleforth, Coxwold, Husthwaite, Easingwold, Tollerton, Shipton, Home - 65 miles at something over 19mph and not a flat ride. I was seeing stars when I fell through the front door but a useful workout.

..... 19.6 MPH, and that was after stopping at lights and pottering around town to get to cycle heaven

Turned up sunday for the cafe ride, but I was Billy no mates so I went on the training ride.
I know it will have been more benefit to me than the clubrun, and it was a good ride, so I'll stop moaning about the lack of a cafe stop.

Last saturday whilst not the best of weather, we took a group of 9 to Ripon via Bishop Monckton 31 miles to the cafe in Spa gardens, very wet emptied water from so called water proof shows & even the seal skin socks had to be emptied. After everybody had warmed up we returned via Knaresborough, Wetherby, Boston Spa,clifford stutton & tad, 36 miles on the return leg. It only rained after Wetherby so not bad compared with the morning.
Bernard