Clifton CC

Will kick this off this week - doubtless there'll be lots of Etape and RR reports pouring in tomorrow! For the first event of the weekend though - the nine o'clock departure on the training ride - there were six takers, gathering under fast-moving clouds and in the knowledge that, wet or dry, the outward leg was going to be hard work and the return leg was going to be quick.

All of which proved true - good group riding got us out to Tadcaster, Thorner and Barwick before the wind switched to our backs and the flatlands after Sherburn were despatched at 30mph+. Just under 3hrs, just under 60 miles and (for the out-of-town 2hrs 30) just under 20mph. Normalised power around 230W, so no hanging around.

I was another one of 6 out on the training ride today. Really enjoyed it, a great route and a tricky head wind as Phil mentioned. May well be back for more next weekend. Thanks all for the position/technique advice as well. Phil - I forgot to mention on the ride that I actually have one leg visibly longer than the other which may well contribute to the movement/rocking in my hips. No doubt that this is something that will be solved at the bike fit on monday.

Garmin stats for those interested can be found here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/85545824

Look forward to reading all the Etape write ups tomorrow.

Thanks all

Raced the Hull Thursday RR this morning. I say "raced" but I wasn't at the races today. Didn't feel quite right from moment I got up this morning. Worst fears confirmed when I felt heavy legged and just plain tired in the warm-up. 1st half lap seemed very fast and hair-raising to say the least. Nothing in the tank going up the long drag even with the tailwind so elected to pull up. Not my finest hour. Don't think I am coming down with anything but suspect I trained a tad too hard on Thursday. I had actually gone reasonably well in the chaingang on Tuesday but probably gulty of trying to play catch up with my fitness after a holiday and forgetting that I actually need to rest a bit more before the race itself.....It's a learning curve. But hey, there's always another race! Don't know how the other guys got on, as I scooted off pretty sharpish with tail firmly betweeen legs. But Tim looked like he had atrocious luck having some sort of mechnical, causing him to stop after a few hundred yards into the race.. However, he was still gamely plugging away trying to get back on when I was riding back to HQ.

Did the hull rr today, started well..based on the fact I remembered my shoes, yay
Didn't feel to bad as I set off warming up, up the hill, I wasn't ready however for the seemingly very fast pace from the start. Managed to hang on to the end of the first of 6 laps where I was dropped from the main bunch on the climb. Found myself in a group of 5 riders, where I was again dropped when we hit the wind. Trundles round fOr another couple of laps with some other poor guy. decided to pull over so I could see the finish, not feeling I could get much more experience from racing in it.

Turned out though that I was tue only junior in the race.. So the lowest of the low as catergories go :p

Didn't seem to good for Clifton with mechanicals and maybe a puncture? But well done Paul for finishing up there in the top 20 or so

Well.. Some more experience gained, just looking forward to being in the mix




Tobz

Etape Du Dales for me. Wind and rain all the way, especially bad up that short drag from Swaledale up to Tan Hill. 108 on the clock with 10,000 ft of ascent. Well done all the cliftonites, especially Rich T who was flying....just goes to show what regular sat morning training rides does for you!

Dont worry about it to much Toby.Loads jacked before that.My day was pretty bad racing wise.Dropped chain after 500 yards cost me my mornings race and after trying to get back on i somehow was strangely pleased how long i went hard after them even if after the bunch turned left downhill and with a tailwind it was not going to happen.Kept going for 5 laps until the wind ground me to a stop.Looked like a pretty tough race in the bunch when they went past with Paul near the front of the chasing group.exellent.

Safe to say I was a passenger rather than a spectator in Hull Thursdays road race at North Newbald today because a spectator would have witnessed the front of the bunch at least once a lap?
I persuaded Tomf before the start that a gale force tailwind up a long climb really isnt a good thing - unless of course you are at the front! and so it proved. I think there must have been a special prize for the first person to the first corner such was the speed of the start. Tim apart, there must have been a few that got dropped in the first mile it was that fast? Like Cam I too have had one of those weeks - convinced I am coming down with something - so was not that confident of getting anything today. As mentioned, the tail wind up the climb to the finish line, and the fact that there was a 20 quid prime each lap meant it was bonkers - I was dropped the first two times up it and got back on quickly, had a couple of laps in the middle I was ok and then got dropped with 2 laps to go and had to chase hard in a group. You just cant get away with that and I was dropped again on the penultimate time up the climb and only kept going with some encouragement from one of my fellow chasers. Incredibly even though we were all bolloxed and going through and off at 18/19mph into the headwind we got back on to the front group which was now down to about 20 riders from 70 starters. But fairytales dont happen that often and I was tailed off again approaching the finish line. Just pleased to get round today but it doesnt bode too well for a harder race I have line up on this course in early July. I will have to do something about that.

Another member of Team Clifton/Not Feeling Too Good This Week But Better Give It A Go, It's a Nice Course And Races Don't Grow On Trees (snappy name, you should see the jersey). Felt rough on Saturday, rolled out for a quick pre-race loosener, then felt rougher (and soaked in sweat). Felt better Sunday morning so decided to Give It A Go. Warm up was seemed fine so I was optimistic as we flew off along the top of the Wold. First lap was fine - until we got up the Big Hill to the finish, the sweats started again, and I slid back. Thought of ditching right there, but carried on and somehow got back in the pack half a lap later (first time I've ever overtaken the race car!) thanks to help from a few other off-the-back specialists. Approaching the village once again I wasn't sure I'd survive another Hill, so when my tyre sprang a leak I wasn't too upset, and walked back to HQ.
For some reason it was an incredibly jumpy race; I've hardly used the brakes so much since I bought the bike. On the narrow, gritty, fast downwind section it was in many ways more comfortable chasing the pack than being in it, because you didn't have to keep stabbing the brakes to avoid some phantom rabbit up ahead.
As I left, a guy with two punctures was being dropped off by one of the marshalls. "The course is gritty and is not suitable for the lightest of tyres..."

I did the Drighlington BC 25TT on Saturday. It was quite a tough day with a strong wind and rain but felt good. I was on course for under the hour until the last couple of miles did me in, slightly uphill and head/side wind. No pb either, 01:02:51

Well done to all the Cliftonites on the RR's, Etape and Tyneside Vagabonds tt (link to results below) battling the wind and hills.

http://cyclingtimetrials.org.uk/Default ... &tabid=109

Dave

Well I joined John S on the start line of Round 2 of the Nutcracker XC Series yesterday.

My race number was 747 but I certainly wasn't flying compared to the lead riders. It's my first proper race for a couple of years and how quick you forget how intense these things are from the start.

The course was cleverly designed to have the strong wind in your face up the 2 main exposed climbing sections, but never to get the wind on your back, as you were in the trees at that point. I'd have preferred a more technical course so that success was dependent on skill aswell as having 3 lungs

After 3 laps I'd lost sight of the leaders and the thought of setting off into the wind again for the 4th time was just too much...but I did it anyway to get the practice.

No idea where I came but, having done the Fred Whitton only last Sunday, I was realistically only targeting a top 50% position, so hopefully I managed that. Needless to say John beat me.

I think Jack, one of our Go-Ride lads, entering in the Junior Race in the morning. I wonder how he got on?

Reading about all that easy stuff people were doing this weekend - racing it was proper hard cycling for me, the Etape Du Dales. In my opinion this is the second hardest ride I know (the long version of the Dales Grimpeur Audax being harder), tougher than the Fred Whitton, harder than the Wiggy 300K. I last did this ride in 2007 and it's always rankled that I was 8 minutes off getting a gold standard time then. But 4 years older and a good half a stone heavier how much slower would I be now? Regardless I'd have a crack at that gold standard time. I'm never going to be much of a climber so I'd take the climbs steady but go like the devil's own horde was chasing me on the descents and try to hook up with groups of fast lads for the couple of flat sections on the ride.

With a forecast of occasional light showers it was worth a go. Within an hour and a half the occasional light showers, were temperatures stuggling to get over 10 degrees, low cloud on the hill tops, block headwinds and driving heavy rain. With no rain cape, not even a gillet, I was wet through and freezing and just wanted the ride over. Riding for a time was out the window with me struggling into the lashing rain on the climbs and cautiously doing the descents, not able to see through the driving rain and worried about the slippy roads. I didn't even get help on the flat bits, no groups of fast lads from whom I could get protection from the weather. I ended up grinding on into the wind on my own passing the odd cyclist looking just as dejected and unhappy as I was. The only Clifton rider I saw was Dan and that was before the bad weather had set in and my mood had really turned black. How it would have helped to have seen some of the other Clifton riders in the remaining six hours.

Eventually the suffering had to end and I completed the ride. By the time I tried to call my missis to say I was on my way back I was shaking so badly I could hardly hold the phone.

So I have to admit it was an extremely unpleasant day: cold, wet and miserable and I'd never put myself through that again.....but given the conditions, I was only 31 minutes slower than I was in 07. What if 2012 is good weather and I could do the descents spinning out in my hardest gear rather than hard on the brakes and what if it just works out that on the flat bits I end up with a groups going like the clappers, what if I got rid of a few more pounds and swapped the 25 sprocket for a 26. Damn! It sounds like I want to make gold in the Etape Du Dales my target for 2012.

Looks like it's going to be a vintage weekend of tales of derring do and heroic exploits in the extremes of adversity - well done to all. Keeping up our end Bernard and I plugged purposefully round the Wolds (again) in the 100k Malton one pointer. It was a good day out and whilst not up to the speed, distance or ascents chronicled elsewhere it lacked little in remorseless challenges of wind, ups, downs and places of refreshment. The latter presenting an opportunity for me to make a break to be be first back (I didn't stop at the last one) only to find myself beaten to the car park by assorted roadies - but since they didn't pass me betwixt Fridaythope and Norton I deducted one of us went the long way home (me) or the short one (them). And all for the princely sum of a quid.

I was one of the cycling massive that did the Etape du Dales, over 1,000 riders! Not sure I’d want to be the toilet cleaner turning up for a normal day’s work at the rugby club HQ on Monday morning though!

It would be far too easy, and a tad predictable, for me to discuss the negatives – the freezing temperatures, rain & blustery winds...instead, let’s extract the positives!

· It was a 9 hour, 112 mile ride and it didn’t rain for the entire first 2 hours!!

· Plenty of Cliftonites on hand for the fun…mostly Steph and Lisa, but also various cameo appearances from Allan, Emila, Dan, Simon and the flying Rich T. Sorry we missed you Broomy!! Congratulations to Emila for completing her longest ride ever!

· It was a typical Dales ride, a real see-saw, you’re either facing up or facing down. I enjoyed the climb up the backside (so to speak) of Fleet Moss and Buttertubs. On a climb between Feetham and Langthwaite, I was busy dishing out some good-natured banter to my fellow Cliftonites grinding up the hairpin below me when I was told off by a spectator sitting in the comfort of a 4x4 for not trying hard enough! The climb before Nateby was also a granny-ring grinder. The ‘best’ climb of all was the ‘Coal Road’ between Garsdale and Dentdale, - a bit like Rosedale Chimney, a couple of very steep hairpins and then ramping endlessly upwards into the misty clouds – very nice! Plenty of ‘walking dead’ on that one. Steph, Lisa and I ground our way to the top and then synchronised like a well-drilled Red Arrows team for the official photographer!

· The effects of my Grand Day Out at Wiggy the previous w/e began to kick in towards Stainforth where I had ‘a bit of a low’. Luckily there was a feed station before the final long climb up to Halton Gill and a couple of very nice chocolate energy bars brought me an instant turn around for the remainder.

· And then there were Steph’s ‘gloves’!…improvised from clear plastic bags designed to hold bananas! At Tan hill, waterproof socks were made from the plastic bags used to hold disposable tea cups. Both worked magnificently!…look out for them on the Clifton shop this week “cycling gloves, one owner, used once, as new: £5”.

· How good is Tan Hill on a wet, windy day!…I’m thinking of buying a holiday villa there for my summer hols; lazing by the pool on a sun deck, magnificent!….

· Steph and Lisa both displayed some maniac-level form on this ride…I’m going down to the bookies to put a lazy tenner on them finishing on the podium for the female pairs this w/e in the 10 Under the Ben,…It wasn’t me that told you though…;)

We finished at a gallop, soggy but satisfied. Thanks especially to Steph and Lisa for the brilliant company. A massive event “enjoyed” by 14 Cliftonites…maybe worth some challenge points next year?



D.

The Etape was particularly horrible. Think I would have just gone home if it wasn't for Darren and Lisa! Road riding in such conditions is just grim! But it was all down to the weather, if it had been a nice warm sunny day it would be a really nice ride. I disagree with Broom Wagon, I think that the Fred Whitton is tons harder than the Etape. For me there is no comparison, the Fred has the steep passes and they just keep on coming. The Etape seemed more rolling, with a couple of steep climbs to keep you on your toes (and to keep you from getting hypothermia!)

Hey Darren, he didn't even get us all on one photo! He decided you were best off on your own....

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/ ... tuff/4.jpg
http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/ ... tuff/3.jpg

I rode twice across Wales at the weekend!

This was the Bryan Chapman Memorial 600km, my longest Paris-Brest-Paris qualifier (and the hilliest with 8300m ascent), which started by the Severn Bridge and went to Anglesey before returning. I haven't been to Wales in a while but it confirmed all my suspicions: lots of hills, rain and sheep! Starting at 6am, I hit Anglesey at 9pm sharp and headed back to the sleep stop at 400km. On the way, some bad, sleep-deprived arithmetic made me think I could manage 500km in the first 24 hours so I entertained the idea of foregoing the sleep stop. By 400k though, I was feeling distinctly unsensible and got a half hour kip to set me safe again. I'd been about 40th (out of 140ish starters - and yes I know, it's not a race) when I arrived at the hostel, but lack of sleep saw me leapfrog most of those, so by the time I hit 24h (my distance: 457.5km) and the next checkpoint, I was one of the first. Sadly, this meant that the bacon sandwiches weren't ready for me

The rest of the morning passed in a daze as I paid for my almost-sleepless 24h antics and slowed down in exhaustion, until I was caught with 40k to go by a faster rider who gave me a tow/workout to the end. I finished at 2.35 Sunday afternoon, 32 and a half hours after starting, with six other riders already home. They included the national 24h champion John Warnock, so I'm not complaining about that!

For Darren's interest, the same Rapha guys who beat him back to base on the Wiggy 300 were here, I rode with them for a while on the first day. This time, Clifton finished ahead Rapha (not Condor - they're just guys who work for Rapha) so we're all evens now.

Here are my photos from the ride. For good measure, here's someone else's shot of us relaxing with a cuppa afterwards.