Clifton CC

I'll kick it off again this week...

I immersed myself in the weekend of staring at my knees, doing the club Open TT on Saturday and the Otley 25 today - both well-run and both in glorious weather.

Now, I don't do a lot of TT's. I've done an occasional Thursday flat 10 but the last open event I'd ridden was the Otley 25 in 2004. So, my targets for the weekend were (i) not to kill myself, (ii) to see if I could better my 2004 time at Otley (and a SPOCO from 2007 on the Whenby course) and (iii) to square up to sole fellow v50 Tim R - who scored an immediate psychological victory by showing up on Saturday in a skinsuit with a pointy helmet. Fortunately, "not getting beaten by Jess" wasn't on my list of formal targets....

I've seen the serious-looking blokes warming up on rollers or turbos prior to TT's and - especially since lack of warm-up is a regular sin of mine - I decided to do the right thing and spent 40 minutes getting up to near-combustion temperatures prior to each event. Possibly as a result, I didn't get the usual wave of nausea about two minutes into each race, so I came perilously close to quite enjoying both rides. I just need to hose the sweat off the bike now.

And the results... ...I can tick off (i) - still alive; on (ii) I was inside my previous Whenby time by about 20sec and my Otley 25 time by a minute, so this getting older lark isn't too terrible (apart from the eyesight business - that's a real pain), and on (iii) Tim stuffed me by 20 seconds on Saturday but I wreaked revenge today, so kind of one-all. At the faster end of things, Clifton won the team prize, so well done to the top scorers!

I also did the open 13, this year I've made a point to myself to do more TT'ing as I don't really do much, so this year I've being doing more TT training and TT's and less club runs, and I've knocked my pb's down by well over a minute and managed to break 25mph avg for a 10, so the training has worked out. So I got a lift out to the 13 mile TT, something of a first for me, usually I just ride out, but I was fresh today as a result and kicking myself for not entering the 25 mile TT!

Admittedly at first I was abit disappointed with my time but I'm not pleased with my time, I need to put it into perspective that Open events bring fast riders from far afield, for example, if I was somehow to enter a TT against all 180 (I think) TdF riders, then I have to accept I'd probably come 181st!

Next time I'll have to do the course before hand if I've not done it before and take no notice of elevation profiles on Bikehike, I was expecting 2 large hills and as a result paced for this, bad idea , lost valuable seconds there!

Looking forward to my next TT anyway and hopefully every time I'll get better unless I'm on a bad day.


Today I went out for a ride going Leeds way, very nice day, abit of a breeze but nothing much, lots of riders out, there was a group of cyclists in the distance doing a chaingang by the looks of it so I decided to try catch them up, managed to catch up to the in Sherburn where they was met with a bad van drive doing silly things, anyway I went on my way up near Bramham, was a large group of East bradford CC riders, puncture fairy had struck them unfortunately. Felt strong so decided to push on, not quite racing pace I don't want to knacker myself out, I think that's called "tempo"? My new carbon frame certainly appears faster, 44 miles at 21.7 I was surprised, although I'm abit stretched on it at the moment.

That's around 67 miles for the weekend, I look forward to the 3 Bridges to get a nice all day ride in.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/96506429

I joined the Clifton Open TT fun on Saturday. It was gorgeous weather, perfect conditions for a race against the clock (although in my case a race where the clock always wins!)

Firstly, I’d like to thank Steve for organising a sensational day. I’d also like to thank all of the helpers who kindly gave up their time to make it a great event – their names have already been mentioned elsewhere. I especially appreciated the shouts from the course marshals, Virginie on the first corner, Greg at Brandsby and the enthusiastic Osman clan at Stillington! Thanks also to other Clubbers who dished out some great banter at various points around the course.

Secondly, congratulations of course go to all the winners from Clifton, some scarily quick times were posted. I’d especially like to congratulate all those Cliftonites who had never ridden a time trial before or who rarely do so, such as the MTB-ers. It’s great that you were prepared to throw your name on the start sheet and have a go, and post some great times too!

As for me, I was never really at the races. A cooking at the Spurn Head 160 miler the weekend before is no way to energise for a 13 mile TT! Nevertheless, I enjoyed the competition and have already vowed to be better prepared for next year. The amusing point was when I chased a cyclist ahead of me with about a mile and half to go. He held me off for a little while but when I finally nailed him just before the line, I saw that he didn’t even have a number on his back and was just out for a Saturday afternoon stroll! By the way, if anyone finds a set of lungs on the side of the road between Stillington and Sheriff Hutton, they’re mine.

It’s back to the long stuff again for me from now on, starting with a 10 hour mtb enduro event next weekend.



D.

I did the Vic SUtton LVRC race over in Warter yesterday along with Tim, Dave and Richard in the A and Bs and Andy doing the C and Ds. Lovely warm day for a change. Tough but enjoyable course with a hair-raising descent and a hard climb. Anticipating an early attempt at a break I opted to stick near the fronts to be in a position to respond to anything. Fairly successful in this until I lost a little ground going up climb at end of lap one of 5 - hammer had started to go down and rider in front of me managed to unclip forcing me to lose a few precious yards but I managed to scramble onto the coat- tails of a group. Things had become stretched out by this point and I think a break of 7 or so got away. I remained in chasing group all way round and felt fairly strong. Probably my most satisfying race this season. As ever, a learning experience! Sounded like Richard had an eventful ride with a tale to be told?

Best ride from York based rider was done by Keith (aka Dom S. Teak) in E, F,Gs where he got second. Well done Keith!

Enjoyed watching the TT on Sunday. Rode out on the tandem, stoked by Siobhan. Claire took the scenic route with Bernard and met us at Stillington. Great to see Kevin showing the old class and well done to all of you willing to put yourselves through a very public examination!

Sunday Clubrun followed. Select group in the Square of SeanW, AndyG, SimonW, TonyG (who was to take an early bath) and self. Osmotherly was the destination and I thought I'd rebellious and go round clockwise. Made a great change - the Kilburn throw Felixkirk to Osmotherly was a fantastic roller-coaster with the views up to the escarpment looking splendid under the cloudless sky. Almost an hour sat in the sun outside the cafe, then the mountain road back through Hawnby. Ice-cream in Helmesley before the classic Nunnington route home.

Great ride, perfect clubrun conditions and 90miles tapped off with no melodrama. Thanks for the company.

I'm not out next weekend, but recommend the 3B ride (we devised the route as a clubrun 7-8 years ago)- pretty flat, but with a surprising amount of interest along the way. Enjoy. If you're going to be in The Square on Sunday - worth posting here.

Hi
Did the vic sutton on sunday with said men.Wierdly enjoyed the race except the Armstrong Beloki episode with Richard?Just about got himself out of trouble.The race itself was a learning curve for me.My first hilly race really and even though i felt ok i found myslf in the wrong place when the splits appeared so ended up chasing from group three but we did not work together .The feeling is if i had fought to stay up towards the front i would have stayed in the group 2 ok.Finished in group 3 a bit disapointed but knowing only self to blame.Heres to some more on tuesday with Paul!!cheers ps Cam looking good.

Another learning experience for me at Vic Sutton too. I placed myself towards the front at the queue to start but for some silly reason couldn't get clipped in - by the time I got the cleat engaged the rear of the bunch was 30m up the road and accelerating fast! Put the hammer down and gradually caught up but was well into the red and when road next kicked up couldn't hang on so lasted less than a lap

Kept going full bore until 2/5ths distance but with no one else to ride with it got tiresome so packed to watch the rest battle it out. Hilly course really sorted out the men from the boys - much tougher at race speed than my previous races - need to get fitter and shed those extra pounds if I want to be able to race properly on this sort of course. Hoping for better next w/e...

Dave - I've nearly done the same, at my first Tockwith race I mis-clicked twice and nearly got dropped at the start. Not a good way to settle pre-race nerves!

After a quick practice TT on Saturday (as in short, not fast) I stuck the children in the car and drove over to help 'push-off' at the club TT. It was a good event, fantastic weather, lots of friendly riders & helpers and the most fantastic cakes (we did leave *some* for competitors...). Kids were impressed by the wacky bikes and aero hats on show. It took me a while to realise that most competitors don't want to be balanced dead upright at the start, but would rather the bike sat a couple of degrees over towards the pusher-offer so at least they know to push away from that side at the 'go'. I think I'd better skip the obligatory 'impressive range of equipment on show' skinsuit gags. As far as I know, every entrant started + finished which is an impressive record in itself. Just have to try racing it myeslf next year...

Planned to get lots of miles in on a sunny Sunday evening, but should have checked my tyres more carefully before I left. Just half an hour from home I had a blowout, and realised that the p*re I'd sustained at Thursday's Newbald handicap race was worse than I thought; there was a tear on the tyre that was gaping ominously (I *swear* I checked it when I fixed it, and it was OK then; I guess it must have worsened int he interim without my noticing). With only one spare tube I had to call it a day, stuffed a muesli bar wrapper into the tyre as primitive prophylactic and rode home to watch the sunset from my garden while fitting a more solid training tyre and swearing at the rim it refused to slip over.

Added to a flat on the commuter bike earlier on, I think that's a record three in one week for me! Still, a good weekend. Have gone off Ultremo R1 tyres; definitely fast, but too easily damaged; I've stuck in an order for some Ultremo DDs which allegedly have flint-proof sidewalls. Hope to test them at this weekend's Clifton Flintfest round North Newbald again.

"Another learning experience for me at Vic Sutton too"
"As ever, a learning experience!"
"The race itself was a learning curve for me"

I admire the lot of you - I've avoided the Vic Sutton since it shifted to the current circuit; hair-raising descents really aren't my forte (partly through having seen people skittled on 'em!). Full marks for whatever each of you achieved!

Well, I was another contender along with Phil in the Weekend of staring at my knees

Great 13m TT on Saturday, well organised & lovely cakes! (thanks to all involved) I haven't ridden this course this year at all & it was a gorgeous sunny day so I was definitely on for a PB.
Anyway - checked back to last years results and I and managed to be 6minutes & 13 seconds faster this year. Which does beg the question 'what the hell was I doing last year?'

Legs felt a little tired on Sunday but on to the Otley 25m. Again another PB a s I've never ridden a 25mile TT before (triathlon doesn't count).
Pretty pleased with my time there as well. Though I am gutted that I managed to hold off Shaun for pretty much the whole way round (he was 3 mins behind me) - right up until he caught me on the line. Robbed!

A good weekend on the bike all in all & a nice set up for Ripon Triathlon this weekend.

I did a 3 day XC stage race in the Brecon Beacons as a pair wth Anne W from Saddle Skedaddle this weekend. We were coming 6th at the end of stage 2 and pulled it back on the final stage to finish 3rd

It was rubbish because some thugs came and stole a whole load of bikes from the tent village in the night, including Annes and also my friend Marks. They were not happy but luckily we'd got a spare one so could finish the race.

Report for all 3 stages here

Well as I was on my way to Dublin this weekend with a few of the bikes and some other stuff from the house, I thought what better way to waste a bit of time than making a detour to Coed Y Brenin and do a few hours in the MTB Centre - got up earlier than I had intended to and made great time to Wales.
Last time I was here I broke my arm and I wanted to lay that ghost to rest.
Got there just after 8am and the place was already full of MTB'ers waiting to get off. Spoke to a few in the cafe who were doing the Beast, too long for me so I decided to do the Cyflym Coch trail - about 11km of Red Route with plenty of fast flowing sections and a couple of technical climbs / descents - took about 2 hrs to get round and although I had a few scary moments I had a great morning's mountain biking.
Quick shower, food and back on the road just before 12 to get the ferry, all in all a great morning