Clifton CC

I'll kick off this week's...

Down to Harworth in Tom Simpson country for Tumby's RR, where I was joined by Cam, taking a flyer at an EOL despite a full field and ten reserves - and he got a ride! After previous 2/3/4 races this year I was approaching this one with pretty modest expectations - a start sheet with 33 2nd cats on it sends out warning messages loud and clear. After the usual words-of-one-syllable explanation of which side of the road we were expected to use, we were off.

A fairly steady first lap gave me a bit of a false sense of security but the pace steadily wound up lap by lap as attacks went off and got chased. Cam was doing all the right things by staying up towards the sharp end but despite my best efforts I gradually slipped rearwards in the bunch. When someone left a gap a few places in front of me with four laps of eleven to go I couldn't bridge it, so it was down to a solitary TT (plus a lap towing the brightly-coloured lad from JF Wilson Cycles - I offered him a chance to take a turn and he just shouted "yer kidding - I'm absolutely knackered") to the bell, and then watching the fast lads finish. A good finish in the bunch for Cam.

The numbers from the box of tricks really emphasise how success/survival in road racing depends on coping with changes in pace and effort. Up to getting dropped, I was doing an average of 25mph but peaking at just under forty, and cranking out an average of only just over 200W but peaking at a bit over nine hundred. When I was dropped, the bunch was doing 30+. The solo ride to the finish took rather more average power in order to manage just under 21mph. Moral of story - keep working at those periods of intense suffering...

Training ride for me.

Only 4 of us this week, maybe more next week eh? Me, Michael, Kit, and sorry can't remember the other guys name.

I woke up and it was heavy rain, so was on the fence about going out or staying in, I dragged myself out, roads were soaked and big puddles, but everywhere apart from my feet remained dry.

We did the Malton route and it was a good route, long drags, felt quite a tough day, not as fast as the other week, but only four of us, we all just about remained together to Malton, but then Michael stuck with us to just after Castle Howard when we crossed the main road, me and Kit pushed it, so Michael I think waited for other guy (sorry crap with names).

So it was just 2 of us from there on, we pushed on through Terrington, then down Terrington bank, thought we'd have a go at some chain gang, that was a little tricky and didn't work out due to the huge gap in ability.

I watched Kit go up that drag to Sheriff Hutton in amazement at the speed, I've not seen anyone go up as fast!, I caught up with him just outside Sheriff Hutton as he waited for me, I was just about holding onto his back wheel at 32mph on the flat but It was too much so I had to drop off, anyway as he waited for me got back on and I sat on his wheel for a final dash to Strensall, amazed at the speed.

It was a great workout for me and thanks to Kit for waiting for me.

I look forward to next week's trianing ride.

Just 70 miles for me this week, slower than the other week at just
over 20mph,

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/104802588

Speaking of periods of intense suffering it was the Ryedale Rumble route 1 for me and some other Club members. There were a few Clifton Jerseys out which was nice, but apart from a short period pre-Boltby sat with three Clifton guys and one guy from Sheffield I spent most of the ride either with my mate (who abandoned after 40 miles) or on my own

On the plus side the weather was pretty good, however the section from Lealholm to Rosedale proved to be very challenging. Although the hills between Lealholm and Rosedale- other than Glaisdale Bank- don't get a mention in the route description, that doesn't make them any less hard!

Got to the end after 8h40 in total, which was good for me, but not that good. Hopefully a year of club runs and training rides will improve this significantly for next year. I hope the other Clifton Guys had a good ride- I saw 4 in total but don't know any names due to being new to the club. Well done to all those who took part. Hopefully some good fundraising for H4H. Bring on Rumble 2012

Ryedale Rumble for me also. First experience of some of the major climbs in the area and second sportive. Set off with Tim, Pete, Dave C and Ian H before we went our separate routes or split on the climbs. Found Caper Hill into a headwind a bit of a grind to say the least. The view of it from the bottom of Glaisdale valley is intimidating, but the lack of rain and the purple heather across the descent to Egton made it worthwhile. Got a lead out up Chimney Bank by a rider who went straight up on a 39X25, while I weaved behind him on the top section, holding on for grim death.
Organisation was great and the event much better than the only other one I have done (The Wiggle Dragon Ride in South Wales). Although we can do the roads for free I enjoyed chatting to a few riders on route from across the country and the feed stations were well stocked with real food, especially the banana cake.
There is definitely a competitve edge to some people in these events. Quite a few 'splash and dash' at the feedstations and some guy tried to get me involved in some serious through and off on the flatter last section into a head wind before Nunnington. Must be the 'number on the back' effect I've heard about. Overall a great day out.

Ryedale Rumble middle-distance for myself and Steph, which felt like 'cheating' when others were doing the full route (with Chimney Bank, which I still haven't ridden). No rain for a change, which was a definite bonus - as was the volume of refreshments provided; the first ride where I might have actually over-eaten - and a t-shirt that fits We missed 'gold' by 1min4 seconds, so the cafe stop for a cola possibly wasn't our best move!!

Ryedale Rumble 1 for me too. As Richard mentions above set off with the group but quickly ended up in the middle and did the route solo but did meet a few people on the way and chatted to the BC guys at the feed stations, which were superbly stocked with proper food, energy stuff, fruit, enrgy drinks etc.

I took it steadier than last year up the steep hills but pressed on on the flat/down hills. The weather was great, a bit windy but stayed dry.

Really good event, well organised and arrowed, great food. I haven't done any other Sportives this year but from what I've heard, some of them fall short on organisation, food etc. not the rumble. Also if you marshall at the Ryedale GP you get it for free!

Dave

Rumble 2 for me, great organisation plenty of food and drink and like the above posts compared to some of the other sportives now around you felt that you got value for money with a breakfast at the start (If you needed it) and a pasta meal at the finish which was most welcome.

Like Dave, I also rode well within myself and did not put any more effort in on the climbs that I had to, on Boltby bank and Blakey riders were pushing hard from the bottom and passing me breathless only for me to spin steadly past them as they were walking halfway up, this enabled me to push on the decents (safely) and take advantage of any tailwinds.

At the finish I got a non age related gold standard again like last year on Rumble 1 and went home feeling tired but well pleased.

Ian H