Clifton CC

In the Square at 0700 this morning, self and Muzzy with glint of adventure in our eyes. Nigel also - just to take photos for posterity and tell us with a degree of glee that it was -5.5deg.

It had taken me about 15 mins to get my gear on - dressing like some sort of medieval Knight. Muzzy was a few minutes late claiming that his front door had frozen shut!

This wasn't to be a "Tan Hill or Bust", just a long winter clubrun in that general direction and we'd see how conditions panned out. I'd adapted the route to keep us on the more main roads to minimise chances of ice and at the end of the day we could always rely on "Guardian Angel Broomwagen" to watch over us.

So we set off in the freezing darkness on the A59 - nice and quiet, but a bit of a drag. Turning N at Greens Hammerton on the B road, day was breaking and all was looking up. Kept taking it in turns, Paul 15 mins on the front, then me (2mph slower and for 3 mins). But, hey - teamwork.

Borobridge, Ripon then N on A6108 towards Masham. Snowy in the fields now, very pretty, but roads totally clear of ice. Still keeping a watchful eye on descents. Jervaulx looked great in the snow, but Paul declined an ice-cream. Middleham and up that sting of a climb to Leyburn. 48miles done, ten past ten and cafe just opening. Defrosted bottles on radiator - they'd been solid since Borobridge and I'd been dehydrating.

Out of the cafe after 30 mins (Howard wouldn't have liked that) and the cold took our breath away. Long descent to Wensley - probably the coldest 5 mins of my life! Stuck to the A road on the S side of Wensleydale, quiet, no ice, soon climbing and core temperature rising again. Stunning scenary - love that clump of trees on the knoll on the R - and Xmas cake icing everywhere.

Into Hawes at about midday. Honestly thought we wouldn't be able to cross the Buttertubs, but thought we ought to go and have a look. Amazingly it was deserted and ice free. Well, nearly deserted - an Autumn Tints coach tour ground past us on the steepest section - loads of Grannies with tinsel in their hair, waving madly.

Cautious descent to Thwaite, but roads still fine, so thought we should go and have a look at TH. Nobody camping at Keld! Right over the bridge and onto the 25% hairpins. So much grit that we lost traction - it was like Chesil Beach. Through that farmyard then at the cattlegrid, 3 miles from the summit, the grit ran out and the road was white over. Further progress just wasn't going to happen.... oh well, this was just about the furthest point of the traditional route anyway.

So back to Thwaite and on down Swaledale. Words cannot describe the scenery - just stunning. Turned right at Grinton and onto Grinton Moor. Paul's bike suffering in the cold - bottom gear no longer available and he toiled upwards on 39x23, threatening to snap himself in two. His freewheel also sounded like a car exhaust scraping on the road. A bit slushy at the top, but we slowed down a bit and no probs. Freezing descent to Leyburn and we were back in the cafe hugging the radiator again (bottles defrosting again). I asked the waitress if we could take the radiator with us - no luck.

On the road again at 3-30 wearing even more layers. Slight tailwind now and even with 100miles in legs were able to average evens for a fair stretch. All lights blazing and full moon helped. Retraced through Ripon and Boroughbridge. Didn't fancy A59 so opted for Aldwark bridge. Were nervous of ice lurking in the dark - but again all was fine.

Back in York, somewhat dishevelled, at 6-30 or so. Hubstats not overly impressive, but 145miles on the shortest (and maybe coldest) Sunday of the year has made a nice space for the Xmas turkey!

Well done guys, truly inspirational stuff. I know just how hard it must’ve been having done Tan Hill December with you a couple of times in easier conditions.

I was so relieved not to be going this morning, I even said a little prayer for you after reading the Harbinger of Broom’s posting!

Anyway to assuage my guilt at not joining you, and after watching some MTFU videos on YouTube, I set off northwards after lunch on my ancient 38lb commuter bike in order to test out my whizzo new Schwalbe Marathon Winter tyres. These beauties sport (or did before I set off, grr) a combined total of 480 tungsten carbide studs and “only” weigh a kilogram each. Set pressure to a mtb draggy 45psi rear, 40 front.


Operation Find Ice was almost immediately successful down Overton Lane; a very strange sensation to be riding along in almost complete control on a sheet of ice. Slight mishap at Thornton Hill Farm north of Easingwold; I was attacked by a vicious farm dog. It looked like a pit bull to me but I suppose it probably wasn’t because I noticed with a sort of horrified detachment that although it had sunk its teeth into, and locked onto, my right boot I could pedal on almost normally , rotating the entire dog round and round!


On to Kilburn, totally traffic free (but not ice free) minor roads, the White Horse magnificently pink in the now setting sun. Water bottle contents now passed through slush puppy to completely solid and useless. Considered shoving one down my jersey, but just couldn’t bring myself to do it. Thought I’d just have a look at White Horse Bank. Bank road completely ice covered with a dusting of powder snow on top. Absolutely no grit here at all. Figured I’d have a go at climbing it, contented myself with the thought that anyone foolish enough to be coming down in a vehicle would definitely crash near the top. Managed it but only by remaining seated at all times, thank goodness for my commuter’s low gearing.


Home via Ampleforth and Bransby. Started to get really, really cold. Hands and feet really painful. Considered getting off bike and lying down in a field, but compromised by reducing speed to lower wind chill. Downside of this approach is that I also reduced my body heat output …
Exposure “Daddy” light now reporting that less than 25% battery capacity remaining, strange, should have way more juice left than this. Reasoned it must be down to the temp. but switched to low power mode just in case.

Home at 7pm, 60 miles. I reckon I had only the capacity for perhaps another 20 miles or so. I hope that this puts Rob and Paul’s 140+ miles into context.

[Set pressure to a mtb draggy 45psi rear, 40 front. ]

Well overinflated for an mtb tyre, Howard --- try 28 psi for decent grip and rolling resistance.

7 santa mtbers and 1 grinch (yours truly) headed off from Wath for a jaunt down the icyest bridleway I have ever seen along the side of Gouthwaite reserviour towards Ramsgill, then a switch to the west side of the river along a track to Lofthouse. A stirring road climb up to Jordans Moss warmed the cockles which were warmed even further when Phil produced a flask of hot mulled wine at the top. A fun downhill past Jenny Twigg & her daughter Tib down to Bouthwaite led us back up ice truckers alley to a pint in the Sportsmans Inn. No casualties albeit Seb lost his back end whilst practicing dancing on ice.
Only 15 miles but damn worth the effort just for the bracing air, wonderful scenery but more importantly the great company.

Clifton Christmas Ride

You must be seriously hardcore to get to Tan Hill in this, cycling warriors :p

I went out on Saturday in MCR and it was cold enough at -1, but we had 5" of snow there made for tough cycling.

Back in Yorkshire now and surprised to see no sign of snow after what I heard was 2ft of snow fell a couple week ago.

I might brave the roads this week but the temps seem low and I never knew salt on the roads becomes ineffective below -8. I found a retro Clifton CC winter jersey that I was given that should keep me warm, I'm usually abit paranoid when wearing anything retro but in this weather I don't care as long as I can get out on my bike safely!!!

I am humbled. I rode over every icy puddle I could find this morning as punishment.

By the way, my diary says it's the first day of winter tomorrow, so that's the end of this mild autumn weather we've been having

Very impressive, I'd like to know what make of overshoes you use, I can't ride for more than an hour in this without my feet going numb.

respect! I went out on sunday for 50 odd miles and by the time i finished i had solid hands.Do you truly enjoy the pain that kind of cold gives you and for so long.How do you get going again after stopping at a cafe.I dont mind being cold as i work outside but when it sets in and you cant warm up does this not affect your enjoyment?

Where do I start. I'd like to say Sundays ride success was due to meticulous planning and preparation. This wasn't the case. I'd done the previous Sunday ride, a couple of steady half hour turbos in the garden Mon & Tue and 45 miles on the road up some steep hills on Wed as I had a day off. That was it.
We realised on Thursday we needed a new toilet which I had to go and buy on Friday and fit - on Saturday. This was succesfully completed by 7pm on Saturday. Coupled with this Cath was ill so to avoid disturbing one another I got about 3 hours kip on the sofa. I actually didnt feel too bad apart from back ache and sore legs even before I'd turned a pedal. Plumbing is not ideal prep for cycling. But to be honest I've had this ride in my head all year and nothing other than weather was going to stop me doing it. Failure wasnt an option and when I say weather I dont mean cold because if you wear enough you will warm up!
This is what I was wearing when I set off: Nike thermal cap, helmet, 2x good quality thermal l/s vests, clifton l/s training top, short sleeve clifton top, lightweight gillet, flourescent vest, shorts, Alexa ultratherm tights (fleecy lined and the bib literally zips up to my armpits), thick warm socks, heavy duty pro race neoprene overshoes, heavy duty madison waterproof winter gloves. By the time I had that lot on I could hardly breath but it was just about enough to keep the heat in and cold out! I also had plaggy bags over my shoes tucked under the tights. After the first stop I put a pair of lining gloves on under the madison gloves and after the second cafe stop I swapped gilet for a Goretex jacket.
At no time on this ride did I think "this is dangerous" or "we've made a mistake" I made a mistake during the week however ignoring cycling's golden rule of never mending something that wasnt broken before a big ride - I changed the gear cable - It worked fine on the workstand afterwards but I couldn't get it to stay in bottom gear on the ride which was a bit frustrating.
We had both planned for every eventuality - we both carried loads of food, chocolate bars and stuff that goes down easily, credit cards because we weren't sure we would get back the same day. Failing to get stranded at a pub full of Theakstons at Tan Hill, a pub full of Theakstons at Muker would have sufficed! I had grippy tyres with puncture proof belts inside as I really didnt want to have to stop for punctures.
There is not much I can add to what Rob has already posted. Highlights for me - the first cafe stop, snowy views across Wensleydale, the River Ure completely frozen in Hawes, the stunning view from the top of Buttertubs (dont suppose you can post the snaps Rob?), the snowy views across Swaledale, the second cafe stop and the moonlit ride home. And yes the decent from Leyburn to Wensley was probably also the coldest 5 minutes of my life.
Kind of glad yesterday wasnt today. I think a high of minus five would have been a bit much and if we'd had Saturdays weather the roads might not have been cleared? I was suprised how my steering seemed stiffer than usual and gear changes sluggish - can only assume the cold was affecting the grease. My computer also stopped working. Yet these things are all fine now. Maybe that will be what I'll tell the grand kids - it was so cold the grease froze!
A special thanks to Rob. He does himself an injustice as for most of the ride he was doing the leg work and most of the thinking and it was only thanks to his plumbing skills for 2 hours on Saturday I was there at all.

Amazed you went for it, impressed you got that far, relieved you got back in one piece! Try as I might, I just can't see steep descents with hands too cold to hold the brakes and the constant threat of ice as exciting, just horrible. Chapeau!
I did get out on Saturday for just under an hour, and came back with frozen hands. Stuck to the turbo on Sunday.
-10 again this morning. Looks pretty tho...

"Amazed you went for it, impressed you got that far, relieved you got back in one piece! Try as I might, I just can't see steep descents with hands too cold to hold the brakes and the constant threat of ice as exciting, just horrible"

I've checked Tom but nowhere in our accounts did we say we couldn't hold the brakes on descents? Unless you have a circulatory problem perhaps you just need thicker gloves!
As far as I was concerned the roads were dry and all well gritted - only one short stretch with slushy snow on the road so we took it steady. This wasnt a risky ride in my opinion - believe me if it was we'd have turned back. I cope ok in the cold but I've had loads of practice - years of regular commuting and winter club rides. I've experienced worse in races but still raced well. I think its good prep to have done some cold weather riding if you are racing early season. Sorry but you'll never see me turboing on a weekend especially at this time of year - training is for after Christmas!

Paul, you're obviously forgetting I'm really a soft southerner!

I didn't make myself very clear. I'm quite paranoid about ice (having fallen on it a couple of times, once very painfully) and my hands are always the first thing to succumb to the cold (come to think of it, this may well be a circulation problem...). So whenever I thought about the ride I had visions of hair-raising descents with hands frozen to the bars, and I just couldn't see myself doing it. But you guys *did* do it, and that's more than impressive.

As for turbo, the less said (and used) the better. Last winter I held out until January; this winter is just worse.
tom

I agree with Paul, the roads are for the most part fine, what put me off was the sub zero temperatures, 2 hours in that is enough for me.

It didn't really suprise me that Rob and Paul did it, they are the ultra hardcore, but it doesn't mean the rest of us are soft.

Chapeau. Even if I was fit, which I'm not, I doubt I would have ventured out so far, starting so early, and for so long, in those temperatures. My hands have been like five frozen fish-fingers after just my 20 minute commute this week, and that is with two gloves per hand.

Sadly, you went too early to qualify towards this (only Rapha, or possibly Assos, could run a competition where first prize is three items of clothing and second prize is a high-spec off-road light system.)

Amazing ride, Paul and Rob.

When the the temp stays as low as it was I find it difficult to even breathe properly, especially when pushing a bit plus frostbite in fingers!

Anyway, fantastic ride.

Dave