Clifton CC

It was the first event in the TLI East Yorkshire Road Race League last night. I'd entered the series after finding out that the Chevin series had bitten the dust - Broomwagon and Tom are both signed up for it too. It was a miserable wet night up on the Wolds (and I punctured a lap and a half before the finish - a load of mud'n'flint mix on one section of the Little Weighton circuit put paid to a number of riders) but the event was well-organised and well-marshalled.

There may well be chances to get a ride by entering on the line at individual events - check by phoning the organiser in advance (details on the TLI website) if you fancy a go. For anyone who got a TLI licence for the Chevin races, they're a good opportunity to get some road racing experience on good, safe circuits. I'm sure we can sort out some lift-sharing if anyone's up for it. You know you want to (but, okay, maybe not in the rain.....)

Quick report back from last night's EYRRL event, the second of the series, again on the Little Weighton circuit. Much more pleasant than the soaking hell a couple of weeks back (some fine photos now at http://www.hullthursdayrc.co.uk/X/Galle ... ery09.html). Broomwagon and I went off in the second group and kept ourselves safely up near the front throughout. Despite utter disorganisation (do no other clubs train in through-and-off?) we very nearly stayed away, getting caught by the fast lads about two miles from the finish. The inevitable fast, twitchy bunch ensued - nil points, but was at least within sight of the sprint for the win.

Just to repeat previous comments - there seem to be a fair few entries on the line each night and these are good, well-marshalled races which would be an ideal way in for anyone fancying a first go at racing. Next event 27th May at Walkington - all details on the Hull Thursday website.

As Phil says, these are well marshalled events on quiet roads. I feel sure you'd get entry on the line also.

Come on Clifton, lets have some more Clifton Jerseys in the bunch in these races

Hi Phil
Ill give these a go who can i contact to get a race or can i just turn up as said?
cheers Timj

Next event is at Walkington (details of location/HQ etc on Hull Thursday website) on 27th and organiser is Brian Whitfield on 01482-352484. You'd probably be okay turning up on the night, but a call would be courteous and should put you at the front of any queue. Anyone else going to give it a go??

Good, if very hard, race last night at Walkington - a circuit with an apparently endless drag uphill into a chilly westerly. Five (5!) Cliftonites off in the second group (Tom, Tim, Broomwagon, MikeG and me) and, bolstered by the additional firepower, we stayed away from the faster groups. A flurry of attempts to get away on the final lap all came to nought, and it came down to a sprint up the final climb and false flat to the line. I think I got tenth, but my ability to count while crossing the line is poor. What did the rest of the team make of it?

Edit:- 9th! Tim and Tom in the first twenty too! Results now on Hull Thursday website.

I only made it up the hill once in company so sadly didn't get to enjoy the fun at the finish, though it was great to see all the Clifton jerseys early on.

My moment of submission came when I surprised a marshall when overshooting a tight left hander trying to get back on to the bunch and overcooking it a bit. I think missed him by some margin, but I was close enough to enjoy his bemused look and raised eyebrow It's just a shame I didn't make the effort a bit earlier and it might have been a different story. Oh well, live and learn. My own fault - I really should check out the circuit before riding!

Looking forward to the race at Tockwith next Tuesday which is pleasingly almost flat, though I'm sure it won't seem like it half way through!

Looking forward to the race at Tockwith next Tuesday which is pleasingly almost flat, though I'm sure it won't seem like it half way through![/quote]


Curious to know what race this is Mike or are you referring to the chaingang?

It's the first of a series of three races on the Tockwith aerodrome, organised by Mike Gill of Chevin RRT under BC rules. I sent out the original flyer to the various racing@cliftoncc.org email lists a while back but will email it to you in case you didn't get it then. There seem to still be places - there's a 4ths only race and a 3rds/4ths - could either enter on the line or ring Mike to see if you can reserve a place.

Hi Cam,
I think there are about 10 places on each of the 3 evenings for entry on the line. They are sure to be oversubscribed so worth getting there really early if Mike can't reserve one in advance. All the Clifton entries are for the 4ths only race by the way.

Hi all
Travelled to Walkington last night to only just get a ride!Last place available so pleased with that Joined the series after so no more worrying.Anyway the racing was exellent and the drag up the main road was pretty tough but i must admit to enjoying it the more we raced it.Tried to get away on the climb the last time with two others but the decent and tail wind put paid to that A couple more efforts came to nothing but i couldnt help thinking if we get together again as a (team)then we could do something in a race .It was good to be in a race with so many other cliftonites.
My maximum speed showed 46 miles per hour so no wonder it felt like my chain had come off when pedaling down hill!!!
cheers Timj

Gah! I still can't claim to be a bona fide racer. The long drag on the circuit was just too hard for me. I somehow managed to make it to the top with our group on the first lap, but it had hurt me badly. I hoped I could recover over the rest of the lap or perhaps it might be a little slower next time round. But it was no good, about a third of the way up, I'd had enough and the group slowly rode away from me.

Still I got a race of sorts, because by the time I was nearing the top the next group caught me and I tagged on the back and so it was time for another lap with a group. Of course once on the climb again it was time to say goodbye. I kept going but the remaining two groups weren't far behind and both passed me on the climb. After that there wasn't much to do other than ride back to the finish.

Phil, Tim and Tom made a very impressive performance considering how hard the course was and the calibre of some of the other cyclists.

You'd think I'd be dispirited but weirdly I can't wait for the next one. If I get over the climb twice before getting dropped that would be an improvement or I might have to admit defeat and ride in the first group.

It was a good night for racing, and the most satisfying race so far this year for me. Four laps of a hilly course with a long long steady climb upwind, followed by two sides of rolling descent downwind and a sharp climb back up to the finish. The wind and slope combination made it very slow on the upside and ridiculously quick on the return. Like tim I could barely get connected in my 50*12 top gear on some sections.

All five cliftonites were in group 2, with three more groups stretching up to 6mins further back. From the off it was clear all the 20-odd bunch wanted to work, but weren't sure how. Up the first drag there were shouts of "move up on the left - wind's coming from the right" "no-move up on the right, wind's from the left". A long rather wobbly pace line did emerge, which appeared each lap on the climb and evaporated as the speed picked up at the top.

After one circuit I thought we were too slow to stay away, but somehow the resolve hardened and we caught the first group in two chunks on the next lap. I was still feeling good on lap 3 and reckoned to attack on the climb to the finish, where I found 2 other guys having a go. Four of us escaped but were soon caught on the long hill.
After that it was pretty aggressive with more attacks and the pace picked up as the group realised the big boys weren't closing. I was too far back at the final sprint but was happy to cross the line moving up, not down.

The scratch finished barely 30s back which made it all the more worthwhile - our hard work at the front was clearly needed to keep them at bay. Definitely a well-run event and a good course (barely a pothole!). I hope I can get to a few more of these.

Tom

Three Cliftonites at Round 4 of the EYRRL series last night for four more laps of the Walkington circuit. A blustery evening with a crosswind rather than a headwind for the long drag, but no easier than last time. Tim and I went off in the second group, with Broomwagon still recovering from last Saturday's spill going off in the first group and then jumping in with us when we caught them. Some of the fastest boys had been skimmed off to the third group, and after a first-lap flirtation with organised paceline riding Group 2 turned into a shambles, and got caught by the third group on the second lap. The pace then picked up a bit, and Tim and I shuffled ourselves up to the front end. Apart from one bloke who flew past and off into the distance we stayed away from the fastest two groups and so there were about 25 of us shoulder-to-shoulder down the final descent. I opted for the safety of hanging just on the back, picking my own line through the final bend and then just seeing how many I could pick off on the climb to the line; answer:- not quite enough, coming in about 14th. A good night out though - 1hr 11mins-odd at 262W Normalised Power. With a few "regulars" missing there were entries on the line again - anyone else fancy a go??

Suffered like a dog tostay with the fast group at Walkington last night Phil saying the pace went up a "bit" when we were caught was a bit soft.Tried to break away up the climb only to realise we were just being caught Bad timing to say the least and payed for it on the run in at the end.Very enjoyable race though probably the deepest i have dug since i started but if you think positive you can do alot better than you think.Heres to the next one
cheers Timj