Clifton CC

Loads of people in the Square at 10.00 yesterday, most looking sleep-deprived, jaded and dehydrated from the night before – especially me. (…btw, full respect to those Dinner attendees, like Jess, Will, Greg, et al, who managed to front up even earlier on Saturday for the butt-kickers’ ride at 9.00!)

I joined the Intermediate Ride to Thirsk and had a superb day out. Shaun W, Dr Dave, Stu, young Dan and myself headed North into a very blustery headwind, with Shaun doing the majority of the ploughing duties. I was still trying to shake off the effects of the night before when my internal puff-ometer almost blew a gasket on the first climbs through Crayke. A passing storm drenched us for 20 minutes as we headed up through Kilburn and, combined with a puncture and a nagging suspicion that the wind seemed to be shifting around to the wrong direction for the homeward leg, we were all feeling a bit miz. The rain thankfully cleared in the hills around Kirkby Knowle and we were very pleased to drop down to the café in Thirsk. We emerged afterwards feeling a lot better and, with the wind doing the right thing by us, we literally skipped home with the wind over our right shoulder to York. Well done to young Dan for hanging in there when his batteries ran a bit low towards the end. We really enjoyed the day together and aside from the 20 minutes of rain near Kilburn, everyone seemed to have a fun time. Another 80 miler in the bank for me and although my hill climbing legs still have a fair way to go, I seemed to feel stronger as the day went on…maybe drinking wine until 12.30am the night before should be my new training regime!

See you next week, - hopefully more of the K-riders will join us on the Intermediate ride!

D.

8 of us in the square this morning with a plan to head for Thorp Perrow and the cafe there. The 8 of us set off into an even stronger headwind than yesterday's and were joined around Tollerton by 4 of the Cycleworks riders also heading that way. With 12 of us the larger group made it a little easier to get some shelter, although not much easier!

The Cycleworks 4 split from us near Wath and we continued on to Thorp Perrow for tea and buns.

After a little climbing out of Thorp Perrow we then hit a HUGE tailwind on the descent into Ripon which made a welcome change from the previous 40 miles. From then on we had a mix of tail and cross winds all the way back. A good mixed group (thanks guys) and a fantastic ride in mainly sunny weather, led by Andrew G (thanks Andy). 82 miles in all for me and some good, achy legs when I got home. Felt much better than I did yesterday and the new rear mech worked a treat!

Here's to next weekend

Stuck with "plan A" and went round Cockayne this morning. Its like a twice yearly training pilgrimage. I already had it in mind as a non stop ride before it was posted and with that in mind planned to ride up the "soft" side - from Helmsley to benefit from a bit of shelter from the hills.
I too had a bit of rough to shave off after the weekends excesses and was huffing and puffing for the first hour or so. But Terrington & Cauckleys Banks soon sorted that out! The stretch through Harome from Nunnington was a bit of a grind right into the Westerley but the "clockwise"decision for Cockayne proved to be the right one as only the last uphill drag before the gate proved to be a bit blowy. But the effort was rewarded as Cockayne was as fantastic as ever. I think I saw 3 cars in the space of an hour. Absolutely flew back down to Fadmoor and the stretch to Welburn was equally fast. Straight back via Castle Howard and I semed to be holding it together quite well. The fun started on the stretch up to Thornton Le Clay. Always a struggle into a west wind and the road over Flaxton common wasnt much better. Had planned to be back for 1 o'clock as I had a few jobs to do. It was 3 minutes past when I rode up the garden path so a shade over 4 hours on my winter bike. I was quite happy with that.
And what with the club dinner on Friday & Bolton stuffing Liverpool on Saturday, it's been a good weekend!

Joined in the Saturday scrum at the Square for a change, somewhat sleep deprived as Darren noted.

Leaving the Intermediates to sweat it out into the wind, a fair sized peleton tagged on with Kevin to head onto the Wolds, a good mix of old and new faces too.

By the top of Kirby Underdale some natural selection was taking place so the group split with the healthy, sensible, early nighters heading on to Malton and the rest of us gently ushered into the Cafe at Millington by Kev. The wind had some teeth on the way back but some tidy group riding by all ensured everyone arrived back before dark and in 1 piece. We even had time for a little play on a piece of off road the MTBers use near Next Generation. Don't think Kev was amused though.

Late posting.........to report on the pedalling fun of the other group.........

As Mr Gentullio describes, at the top of Kirby Underdale......the early-er nighters split to the left, to take in the delights of Thixendale, Duggleby & on to Malton's Yorkshire Tea Rooms.

Wise-Bernard-Phil (how long will we keep this up? ) commented out of Thixendale that he thought he could feel a blister on his front tyre, "oh no" cried the unwise, cavaliers... "keep at it Mr B, onwards in this cold wind to the cafe" ........but oh yes, the clear gun shot sound as we descended near Duggleby fired the points in Bernard's direction, as he calmly controlled a spectacular front tyre blow-out! Well-handled by the Master!

So tyre-change required and then all in definite need of warm fire and warm food....

After the cafe, Bernard couldn't help himself live up to Phil L's CTC heritage, by taking us all back across the Huttons Ambo suspension bridge across the Derwent! A new road for Rob & I only 20 miles from home, after a combined total of about 40 years cycling from York!

Proved a hit, tested John Clarke's bike handling skills and placed us on the quiet lanes leading through to Menethorpe and Kirkham for a swift & direct homeward leg.

Thanks to all for the company.