Clifton CC

Another weekend of many club rides.

For me it was the Sunday Clubrun. Had been planning and replanning it all week, and every incarnation appeared to be slightly longer and harder than the one it replaced. Then looking at the map (one of those big paper things with wiggly lines) the night before, I spotted a couple of mad little lanes near Goatland that I'd not been on for 15+ years.... just had to be done.

11 competent riders in the Square and although PhotoBen needed an early bath, it still left a sizeable group (Howard, IanH, TimR, Stripped-Hat, Richard, Heather, Nigel, Skymoos, AndyG) to tackle the standard route out to Hutton-le-Hole. For once Howard's bike was "out-blinged", although Howard challenged the judges decision... Down Chimney Bank, up Egton Lane... the nature of the ride was soon set. Down into Egton then hard right and climbing again to Goatland. Out up the moor to the top of Blue Bank then turn right half way down for Littlebeck. Howard, AndyG and Skymoos sailed past it entailing a retrieval. The roads are so steep through Littlebeck that they have special high-friction tarmac.

Cafe at the top of the hill in Robin Hood's Bay. Only self, Nigel and Heather had the pride to ride down to the bottom and come back up through the crowds.... More climbing and descending to Boggle Hole then finally inland to Harwood Dale and Silpho. Great descent of the Hackness hairpins before the labour up Troutsdale, then Snainton, Thorpe Basset, Langton and home.

I guess it was 115-120 miles depending where in York you live, and 3000m of climbing. These stats do not do the ride justice though as the climbing was that very inefficient sort where the roads plunge up and down with gay abandon and a 20% gradient is actually a relief. Several very experienced riders said it was their hardest ever clubrun. Indeed it was pushing 7pm when we got back and I apologise if anyone's evening was compromised. That said, I was incapable of doing anything other than repose with a cold one and watch the athletics. The sort of evening when you are too tired to eat your tea and when you go to bed it feels like you're still moving.

Particular mention in dispatches to IanH and Howard who had ridden to Lofthouse the day before, to Skymoos for pushing a bottom gear of 39x23 without snapping himself in two (and for riding in and home from Sherburn) and to AndyG for helping out with "local knowledge" at the north end of the route...

And to all for the company.

Good luck in the Rumble

How many points do we get for sunday Rob?

Cyan Skymoos wrote:How many points do we get for sunday Rob?

Was that you I seen on the little drag on the road from Cawood about 8pm?

Sounds like a right good ride, all I did was a short 50 miles by myself.

http://tinyurl.com/2wbffs3

Strewth, that sounds hard Rob! My legs started feeling sore in sympathy.

On Saturday I enjoyed a sensational day out, joining three of Clifton’s leading ladies on a cycling extravaganza around a Tour de Wolds!

My legs had started to ache with the pounding that I’d dished out to them over the last couple of months and the call to action of a long & steady ride with good mileage suited me perfectly. Claire, Cath, Dawn, Bernard and I met early Saturday morning at “Pete’s Bench” (a memorial to cycling legend, Peter Longbottom, I discovered). Bernard stayed with us through Yapham and Millington to Huggate where he beat an early exit back to York for an afternoon engagement. That left Claire, Cath, Dawn and I to enjoy the remainder of our ‘TdW’.

We made great time to the café at Driffield, arriving at 11.00am and giving rise to a quandary for the strong contingent of 5 ladies behind the counter as to whether we were there for a late breakfast or an early lunch (lunch menu started at 11.30 ). Whatever it was called, it hit the spot nicely. Claire then navigated a great route north-west of Driffield through some rolling, picturesque countryside towards Cowlam and West Lutton, before returning to York via Settrington Bank and Howsham. We had hiked along at a steady pace, but one that allowed us to chat and joke our way around the Wolds, often involving all of us in 4-way conversations - sensational fun! [We obviously had all passed BC’s expert-level, pre-qualification exams in the skill of negotiating cycling hazards whilst simultaneously engaging in animated discussions with 3 other cyclists in the group. ] The miles simply ticked by without me noticing. The only downside was when my fellow cyclists mooted a girls’ night out and flatly refused my entry on a technicality, even as a 2nd claim!

Big thanks to Claire for arranging the ride and displaying expert navigational skills up there with the best of them, especially the tricky section out of Driffield which went like clockwork! Also huge thanks to Claire, Cath, Dawn, and earlier, Bernard, for providing me with superb company on a fun day out, I really felt like I’d been treated!…I arrived home at the nice time of just after 3.00pm and even got the miles in (95m d2d) for the Rumble in the Jungle next week.

Thanks heaps for a great day!



D.

Yes Will that was me, I was starting to wish I hadn't given Ian half my cheese and ham toastie.

Cyan Skymoos wrote:Yes Will that was me, I was starting to wish I hadn't given Ian half my cheese and ham toastie.

I wondered why you looked so knackered, did you do like 152 miles that day?

Hi all
My weekend started with a touch of flu so i thought racing was off on sunday but by Friday night i seemed to have shaken it off.
So i made my way to Little Weighton not feeling that good and not to bad either.The race was on the Walkington loop in the eyrrl so i was familiar with it.Seven laps was going to test my resolve and so it was.Usually i would try a little dig or two but i tried to save everything for the end.Most of the race was fast slow as riders attacked into the wind up the climb then caught.2 riders stayed away til the end as no one wanted to take it up which seems strange when some teams have 4 5 6 or more riders.Made it to the finish in the bunch after a little help from Paul M on the last climb so cannot complain .cheers Paul
see you at the Rumble Timj

Darren,

I’m plsd you enjoyed the Sat ride, I agree that sometimes it is just great to setoff and do the ‘Ronseal’ ride – "what it says on the tin" – no melodramas, no huge exciting adventure, no big races, good company, quiet lanes and home by 3pm.

Now as for your refused entry to our Girls Night Out…………

I have consulted article 5.2.3.4 of the Club Constitution and find that in cases of ‘Ladies' Nights Out’ then the discrimination laws are wavered…………and Men are refused entry.

This is mirrored by our Global Corporate Instructions (well, Yorkshire CTT Handbook), Regulation 89…………..

Both allow overlooking of discrimination laws so long as the total Women’s Team prize money for the season exceeds that of the Men’s…...............

Rode VC Beverleys road race at Little Weighton over 6 laps of the Walkington circuit. A new event on the calendar and the first road race promotion for the club.
With Darren B deciding on a trip to the seaside it was left to Tim J to share the experience from Clifton. To be honest it was a very narrow decision for myself especially as I was only 9th reserve. But I've had a couple of complete disasters in the last couple of weeks so it was perhaps fortunate I had this one entered to try and make amends otherwise I would have packed up for the year. I do quite like East Yorkshire events - good racing circuits and relatively safe and easy to get to. I'd had a placing on this one on my previous outing so was confident I'd be ok. I was never in too much trouble but could have done with a couple more laps. I think 3 riders got away on the penultimate lap whilst the rest of the field demonstrated why they are 3rd and 4th cats as they could easily have pulled them back. I quite fancied the bunch sprint for the minor placings but a car parked 100m before the finish line put a stop to that! So no fiver in an envelope again!
Tim hung in for a bunch finish aswell despite nearly losing contact on the final climb. That would be the worst thing getting dropped so close to the finish and all your efforts been for nothing!
I'm planning a few weeks of club runs and then maybe a North East event to finish with in September.

On Saturday I did the VTTA 25 mile TT starting above Boroughbridge. It went well (despite the wind) with a 01:00:35 which I was happy with.

Looking forward to the Ryedale Rumble on Sunday.

Dave