Clifton CC

Well, one of the many bike rides over the weekend happened on Sunday. It was called, imaginatively, the Sunday Clubrun, and was exactly as it said on the tin. The group was a manageable size (Skymoos, Muzzy, KarlM, Richard, Neil, Flying F, AndyG and self). Nobody was left behind (although FF had to turn back early) and, although we all knew we'd been for a ride at the end, nobody was completely shredded. There was a mix of terrain and we managed to keep the group together pretty well on the small to medium climbs. There were a couple of stiffer ascents that required a quick regrouping at the top.

We don't rattle along overly quickly, but we do pride ourselves in keeping moving as much as possible and in tight formation. We covered just shy of 100miles, and, had a "K" ride regular come along, we'd have been quite happy to get back in York at 4 instead of the 3-30 as long as the guest was doing their best.

Looking forward to next Sunday already. I rotate the direction anticlockwise (last week it was Osmotherley, this week Thorpe Perrow) so next week we go West. Muzzy suggested Bolton Abbey. I fancy that myself, but this is quite a hard ride and I'll come armed with a couple of different routes to allow us to split up if required. Clocks change next weekend, so we'll need to start bringing "get you home lights" though typically if all goes to plan we 'll be back in daylight.

See you next week.

There were about 20 riders on the Yorkshire RC 2 stage hillclimb on Saturday, I came 2nd to last

Greg's guide to how not to do a hillclimb:
1) Act like your season's over after your previous climb, a fortnight before. Don't bother to ride your bike for any amount of time.
2) Don't get your legs properly warmed up.
3) Set off with pointless extra kit you've forgotten to offload (a bottle the first time, a mobile phone the second.) I was 0.4s behind someone else on stage 2, maybe I could have beaten them without that phone!
4) Do silly little sprint climbs (course record 2.30 or thereabouts) when you've been doing long stuff all year.

This was my last event in Clifton kit for the year, and my first event in the new jersey, which has now lost its safety-pin virginity. After that performance I think it's cursed, let's go back to the old stuff My last event of the season proper is the BUCS hillclimb next week, but I'll be riding for York Uni not Clifton*. The climb's a bit longer, I reckon I'll take 7 minutes, so that should suit me better - let's hope it does!

Will was there for both stages this week, Nathan for the second. Will and I were 1-all after our own climb and the Huddersfield Star climb, but he fairly whipped me this week so I've lost 2-1. He's obviously been doing a lot more than me in the last two weeks, and I've every confidence he'll do well in the national hillclimb next Sunday, as should Nathan - good luck to them both!

*and will afterwards buy the biggest portion of fish'n'chips on offer and delight in getting fat.

Sunday clubrun, not too fast, not too slow, must've been at least 120 miles for me, and I got home with the legs buzzing but not in bits. Great lanes with experienced club riders.

The longer and lower the valley, the higher the peak...works every year.

Following the Skymoos strategy, three hours very steady solo on Saturday morning under increasingly blue skies, to round off a week that included another three hour solo jaunt and a couple of "winter" turbo sessions. Have been revisiting the regular Saturday routes to make sure no bear traps have appeared since we last did 'em!

It was my first ever club ride on Saturday, out to Thirsk & back with Bernard's group sorry everyone else but I'm terrible with names

Nice day,good company will be doing it again

Thanks Phil for pointing me in the right direction group wise...

Yorkshire RC 2 stage hillclimb on Saturday

I make that getting on for half a dozen hill climbs this season. On top of time trials up to 12 and 24hrs. And PBP with qualifiers like Brian Chapman!

Plus organising our own Audax and by all accounts being a good citizen on umpteen club rides this year.

Great effort Greg.

Had a great first ride with the intermediates on Saturday.

Great company and fantastic route.

Must eat more when on the bike though - all strength disappeared about 5 or so miles from home!

Cheers all

Martin

Sunday clubrun, very nice company at good speed. The hills were pretty fast, I was pushing pretty hard with my 0,1t but managed.
I have to turn towards York earlier and thanks Rob for the good direction, I was home little after 1, because the headwind was stronger than I thought and I had about 30km to go alone. At home I did 114km with 640m of climbing. Enough for me
Thank you for the nice ride, right now I feel that I have a flue and the throat hurts, so I will see with next weekend, maybe I have to rest a little bit... But I will come for another ride back!

Glad you enjoyed the ride Martin. It was a good ride around Cockayne clockwise for a change. I'm glad Tony and Shaun were out to push that wind on the way back though. I too was feeling the strength go towards the end. It's one of the those things hat I find difficult though eating on the move. Pros make it look easy Not looking forward to the clocks going backthough as I just back in good daylight as it is. Losing an hour means lights for me on any ride for me from now on to get home.

Jon

Great ride on Sunday viewing the Autumn Tints with the Autumn Tints. And as the destination was Thorpe Perrow Arboretum tree hugging was optional! As already mentioned the ride consisted of no fuss and no heroics we just about kept the chains tight in a nice tight group. A few fewer lumps and bumps than previous weeks but I was glad to get to the cafe - a 17.5 mph average for me and just shy of 100 miles on the clock but still back for 3:30. The longest ride for me for a long while.
The Sunday rides have become the club's best kept secret and I dont understand why? For me Sunday rides at this time of year is the best riding there is - part of my yearly cycling cycle of training, racing and clubruns - great countryside, varied routes, no pressure but challenging if you want it to be. I really couldnt face the thought of "training" rides in November no matter what the intensity when the roads a bit further afield have more to offer?

After reading the comments so far about last weekend, I couldn't let things pass without also commenting, I had hoped that we would have had news about the grand childs arrival, and that I could have attempted that Sunday ride - Thorpe Perrow is one of my favourite rides especially at this time of the year!!
However, I did get out on saturday and Kevin had put together an equally interesting route, given the time of year.
Out via Farlington, Brandsby, Gilling, Ampleforth, Kilburn etc to Thirsk and the autumnal colours were brilliant, & good company at a steady pace.
And then back to York via Sowerby, Hessay, Helperby and for a bit more colour thru' Beningbrough park. 75 miles up at an average of 15. 3.
Well done Kevin for the route ( what route did you take as we didn't see you in the cafe as arranged?)

Hey Bernard
Has your new grandchild arrived yet ?
Meeting at the cafe was the theory - didn't quite work in practice
Probably more my fault than anyone else - 19 weeks off K ride through accident and injury took it's toll on my fitness., together with a puncture (Tony) and poor Elaine run off the road by a caravan - we managed only 13. something miles and didn't go to Beningbrough on the way back. I agree it was a lovely ride though and thanks to Kev for planning it.