Clifton CC

Me, Steph and Alan all had cracking rides doing the NYMBO White Horse event on Saturday. We had 3 hours of cycling through most of the woods below the A170 between Sutton Bank and Ampleforth and also as far as Rievaulx on the other side of the A170.
I was was not sure how well I would ride as I have only been out on the Reliability ride this year (where I died horribly). Though I have been running a bit to make up.
Luckily I managed to not make any major navigational mishaps. Also I was going really rather strongly until the last hour of the three hours, especially up Wass bank. By this time I had already done everything below the A170 and only had a rather nice ride across Scrawton Moor followed by a ride back up on the Road by the Hare Inn and then Hambleton Inn. As I did not attempt any heroics going for last minute extra points I already new I was going to get back on time with 40 mins to go. Managed 425 points which put me 6th overall and 6th in the over 40's section too. First time I have got more than 80% of Andrew Windrum score, though he got something like 513 with a puncture!. Both Steph and Alan got very similar points totals so a strong Clifton showing!

Well done guys. Some good results and I see Chris made it out of bed too

Results here

Looking forward to seeing how the racers got on this week.

After a bit of a break it was out on an unorthodox training ride where Tom took us on a tour of the Wolds. Got to ride up part of one of my favourite climbs from Tibthorpe to Huggate; it's 6 miles of almost continuous upwards if you ride it right from Kirkburn and gets about as steep as I like my climbs to get (i.e not very).

Finished the ride feeling self satisified. Having lost over a stone since christmas (as I'll tell anyone that will listen) and perhaps because I was on my summer bike, whilst I'd take up my usual position well towards the back of the group I didn't have that unpleasant experience of the seeing the whole group keeping comfortable formation disappear over the horizon on the climbs (though there were a couple of occasions that the internal switch hovered over going into that "safe" mode that modern cars do when there's a fault and cut power to avoid doing catastrophic damage to the engine).

Ended up feeling a bit sorry for Tom who I think demonstrated the difference between being someone for whom if things go well might just finish in the peloton and someone who actually shapes the race, in that he never looked to be doing more than a steady club run, despite Chris's excellent climbing and Dave's usual consistency. I think the rest of us would admit to finding it pretty tough at times. I think the only solution in the same scenario is someone will have to shout "hey, Tom look at that," and whilst he's looking for what "that" is, all sneak off and ride through and off so a least he can get a bit of a work out catching us up again.

Okay, first report back from Team Clifton at the Neil White Memorial RR today, where Tim, Andy, Cam, Muzzy and I set off in foul, cold, wet conditions - Muzzy in the third group off (3rd cats) and the rest of us in the second group, chasing a bunch of juniors who were given a very informal minute's head start. Our group was a shambles, and Cam and I found ourselves off the front in a group of five until some fella who should have had better things to do dragged the group back to us and Cam and one other fella dug in a bit more and headed off down the road. By a lap and a half of seven our lack of rigour led to the 3rds catching us, and for the next few laps I just buried myself in the bunch and focused on the most pressing issues - changing gears with frozen hands, ripping the ends off uncooperative gels, trying not to drop my bidons, etc. Sometime around now it stopped raining and threatened to get vaguely pleasant, but with a bit over two laps to go the scratch group and assorted fast lads they'd swept up caught us, and it all went a bit ugly with the pace leaping up by about 5mph. Everyone strung out and a steady stream of riders were ejected out the back, my turn coming after a lap. I swept up the next two riders ahead of me to make a little working group but five minutes later Muzzy loomed into view ahead, and I left them to it, performing a two-up "straight on at the last left-hander" and back to HQ to try to regain feeling in my extremities. Full marks to Cam, who was last Clifton Man Standing, sticking in until the end despite also getting shelled out of the fast-moving bunch.

All good experience...

It was a day of two seasons on the clubrun. The morning was most definitely winter with the very cold rain starting after half an hour. It was weird - we've ridden in much worse this winter, but today's precipitation was strangely penetrating. Maybe its because most of us had been lulled into our spring ensembles.

TonyG had had enough by Helperby and headed back. Bernie swung off to do his own thing which left DarrenN, JohnC, AndyG, Cooky and self to splash on towards Masham. We had an acute attack of common sense in Masham and headed for the cafe.

30 mins later we were feeling a bit better, but still thought the high ground to Lofthouse unappealing. So took the lower level route back through Grewelthorpe, Ripon, Staveley, Tockwith and Wighill. The afternoon saw the arrival of spring and we hummed along nicely with the tailwind, an altogether much more jolly group. Back well before 3 in plenty of time to watch the Rugby with 80 odd miles covered.

Osmotherley next week.

Cooky regaled us with tales from the Sledmere 10 on Saturday - I'll let others post about it, but well done all. Would also love to hear how the 2-up went. I tip my helmet to the RR boys at Stokesley - it must havce been pretty uncomfortable amongst the wheels this morning.

I did the Neil White also. Similar experience to Phil. Billed as as 45 mile race on BC website, ended up being a 62 mile effort. Foul weather as Phil said. Somewhat surprised to find myself plus Phil in a group of 5 off the front early on and then in group of 2. Don't know what others thought but I was keen to start working work hard asap just to get warm! I think I paid for this effort in the long run however and could not cope with what felt like a massive surge in pace when the fast guys caught us (Being near the back of the group didn't help - should have been nestled somewhere in bunch.). Kept going though - picking off a few stragglers - and actually finished reasonably strong ave. 23.1 mph for the whole distance.

I too was at Stokesley this morning.
As Phil says a wet morning awaited us but off we went.I had clothed up but as i was to learn too much so.By the end of lap 2 i was off the back absolutely boiling over just couldnt push but after sheding a layer and my gloves i managed to get back with the other group and everything seemed to be going ok until the second to last lap and i was off again to ride on my own. One of those things.

Intermediate club ride for me on Saturday. A small select group of 5 started but we sadly lost Tony G somewhere around N Grimston I think with front tire blow out. He said he was branching off anyway so that left myself, Ginny, Simon W, and Andy to continue to Driffield. I wasn't kidding when I said in the 'intermediate ride' thread that I may struggle abit as the lack of miles began to show before the cafe stop. The nagging SE breeze didn't help. But with the prospect of an additional few miles once back in York to get home I was grateful for the cafe stop. However I wouldn't agree with Steve when he says the climb between Tibthorpe and Huggate is his favourite. I was struggling at this point but thanks for waiting guys and thanks for a good ride. Door to door 115 miles and by far my longest ride this year. Things can only improve I guess. Already looking forward to the next time.

Jon

Well done the Stokesley massiv - sounds like the Clifton acquitted themselves well in foul conditions. Meanwhile, the rump of not-yet-racing racers subjected themselves to my haphazard navigation on a long Saturday tour of the wolds. Six of us left the square in fair overcast conditions and made good progress via the Stamford bridge cycle viaduct (thanks Dr Dave) and onto Route 66 for Pocklington. We veered off through Yapham up to Millington for a lovely, wind-assisted climb out of the pasture and on to Huggate, but soon after I got distracted and what should have been a good rattle down to North Dalton finished at Wetwang instead.

With Broom's help we replanned on the hoof and continued down the Beverley road, and eventually got back on track via Tibthorpe. From there it was back to Pock on the hilly Warter road and on home via Barmby Moor and Sutton.

The idea had been to get down to Etton to ride the RR circuit there and we never got close to that, but we did get plenty of good steady climbs on decent roads which kept everybody working without tearing the group apart. I think everyone enjoyed it; there was some good climbing (especially from Chris) despite various riders giving up the little ring for Lent, and Broom seemed to scent lunch once we got back on the flat, pulling us back to Sutton with some quick turns. My acting must be improving if it looked like I wasn't working...

About 64miles at a shade under 19mph for the out-of-town section seems fair for such a winding, hilly route. Of course the sun finally broke through in the last half hour. How did it go at Sledmere?

tom

Rob led us very well today, showing flexibility on the route destination when it felt like we were heading to the top of Everest in a blizzard. My numb extremities welcomed the Masham café.

This morning was one of those days when you get your full value for being a member of Clifton CC. Had I been riding solo, I may have considered throwing in the (wet) towel. Instead, everyone helped each other through the bad weather and on to a brighter afternoon through good humour and steely determination. I’m now much happier sitting here at the end of the day with 85 miles in the legs than the alternative of soggy gear and only 20 miles knocked off.

Well done everyone, a crap morning but a strangely enjoyable day by the end.



D.

I did the Sledmere 10tt on Saturday along with Chris, Timr and Darren. It was a very well organised event, thanks to Keith, Matt and all the other Malton wheelers.

I had a good run for the first event of the year, surprised at ending up 2nd vet std and a tenner in an envelope. It was a hilly course with good roads and surprisingly warm weather.

On Sunday I joined Rob's ride as detailed above, couldn't have been more extreme conditions in the morning but a great afternoon, 100.3 miles d to d.

Dave

A really good Trailquest on Saturday and the Clifton riders did very well. Just over 100 riders were out and we took the 5th - 8th positions!

It was a little chilly waiting around so I wore tights, arms and a Gillet, but after 5 mins of racing I was boiling. Managed to get my arms off and undid my gillet but just rolled my tights up above my knee (I wasn't about to stop to take them off!) so looked very stylish indeed

There was a bike shop there (muddy bums) and a cafe too so it was all very sociable and nice. I hate riding on my own but seemed to be chattering a lot in the first two hours, lots of people going my way. Didn't see too many people in the last hour though, maybe I picked a weird route!

I couldn't make the club rides this Saturday, but I went out with a work colleague.

We headed out via Tockwith and across the Cattal bridge (it says the road is closed, but bikes can get through), Aldwark bridge, Alne, Easingwold, Coxwold, Oldstead, White Horse bank, Hawnby and lunch in Helmsley. Back via Harome, Hovingham, Sheriff Hutton, Strensall etc.

It was a great day out. We passed the MTBers at the gliding school at the top of white horse bank (I think I even heard Steph!), then they passed us from various different directions for the next hour or so. The knobbly tyres make a hell of a noise coming up behind you. They don't hang about, I did feel as if I was letting the roadie brigade down a bit as they all went flying by!

Not sure what I think of the regular cafe we use in Helmsley. It is very well situated, but the lack of a loo is a pain and the food isn't brilliant.

Pretty tired when I got back. I really need to get the miles in before the C2C - I am a long way off being ready!

My son wanted to go for a ride on Sunday so I went out with him for a 26 mile blast around Tockwith, Thorpe Arch etc. Pretty depressing really - he nearly killed me!

Mark

Yup I was at the Trailquest too! Unfortunately I absolutely died at 2 hours, thanks to very little biking over the winter

Bit disappointed considering I did rather well (I thought) for my first ever one... 2 years ago. But then again, I suppose the classic "its a good idea to take 2 litres of water plus my entire tool box (plus 3 course meal) in my backpack" approach didn't exactly help matters either.... next time I'll be back to sipping dew off leaves and the trusty zip-tie to fix all.

I must say, having shadowed Steph for a few points, she deserves all the points she got - absolutely flying!

Well done to all!

Chris

The Sledmere time trial was a massive shock to my body, which is much more accustomed to café stops than burning legs, lactic acid and retching.

I definitely need to sort out a more “areo” position on the bike.

There are some pictures from the time trial on the following website,
http://www2.clikpic.com/printmyride/gallery_407583.html