Clifton CC

This ride is part of the challenge series but there are no confirmed details in the Cliftonite so was wondering what the distance is planning on been and probable route. I'm assuming been a Sunday club run it will start from the sq. at 9am or will it?

Jon

Hi Jon, been away or would have posted about this sooner.

0900 start from The Square.

The Challenge is to ride all 7 climbs out of Thixendale without making a U-turn. I reckon this is going to be hard. Started working out the mileage, but lost the will to live after about 3-4 climbs. Let's just say its going to be along way. I'd also recommend the use of a variable gear mechanism (as invented by the other Tullio from Vicenza).

Now, although this is going to be hard, I'm hoping for a relaxed atmosphere - no riding for a "time".

A couple of people have asked me to look at changing the date for one reason or another (eg it's Easter Sunday). Snag is there is something on almost every weekend now, so am just going leave it where it is. If the ride is successful then I'm sure we'll ride it again sometime.

Oh, and for this ride more than most I reckon a record of the ride on one of those GPS thingies would make interesting reading posted on here on Sunday night!

7??

I can only count 6 of the tarmac variety or 8 including all permissible routes. A real challenge should take in all 8 I think.

This sounds suitably insane! I'm away Sunday but might try and do it Saturday. I have mapped a possible route in MapMyRun. Using the six roads I have worked out a route that is 38 miles and 1762 ft of ascent (not including the ride out from York). See link below. Is there a 7th route out or was that an error?

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/32033566

6, I reckon Rob is just messing with us. I've been up them all, I've even raced up and down a few in the days of the old Skelton 2 day.
This should be a great ride. I did notice on the intermediate ride a few weeks ago that the Water Dale road had lovely new tarmac.

Well, this has certainly grabbed your interest! Right, are you sitting comfortably? OS map out on the table, glass of red to hand.

The climbs (going round anticlockwise):
1. Water Dale - that draggy one going W, then
2. Martinholme
3. Breckenholme
4. Gill's
5. Gritts

Then I was going to have the Burdale climb to to Fimber. But this only goes up to 130m... and if I was going to have this one then there's also the one from this road S to Fridaythorpe, which tops out at 170m. So, slight change of plan, I'm going to make it the 6 climbs out of Thix that break the 200m contour:

6. Warram Percy Wold

With me so far?
OK, on Sunday we'll ride out through Bugthorpe and up the Kirby Underdale climb. Then, we need to climb each of 1-6, so:

Down 3
Up 4
Down 5
Up 6
Down 1
Up 2
Down 4
Up 5
Down 6
Up 1
Down 2
Up 3

Including the ride in and out I reckon its about 85-90 miles, depending on how much weaving about you do, and the astute amongst you will have noticed that on top of the 6 Thix climbs, there's a fair bit of grunting to do to link them up.... In fact, given the complexity of the route, I'm sure you'll forgive me if I've miscalculated by the odd mile or 10....

See you in The Square at 0900 on Sunday.

PS - sorry Tullio, there are a few bridle paths we could have added on, but you can have too much of a good thing you know!

Thanks Rob

Looks like an 'interesting' ride. See you there Sunday. Will probably opt to drive to York with the prospect of a 100ish mile round trip to/from York. Will post my Garmin stats for everybody's perusal afterwards.

Jon

One extra point is that the shop in Thixendale is likely to be shut and cafe options are all well off the route. So would be worth having your back pockets stuffed with provisions. There was a house today with peanut cookies for sale at the end of the drive - so let's hope she/he has a baking day tomorrow!

Does the the village hall still serve tea and cake on Sundays 10am-4pm? Not sure about Easter Sunday though?

I have mapped the route using Rob's instructions. Assuming I have interpreted them correctly it is about 90 miles.

Have I got it right?

http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/32370724

Nick Waggett wrote:Have I got it right?

It's hard to tell, but after climbing (5) you need to get to the top of (6), which means cutting out to the B1248...

Oh heck! That adds about 5 miles or so.