Clifton CC

I don't believe I've got in first with this - what can I say other than I'll definately be getting this TdeF video! Probably the best tour I can remember watching. Team Sky set a new benchmark for teamwork and professionalism - where was the opposition? Wiggins was just superb - never put a foot wrong, no bad days. Seven GB stage wins from four different riders. Todays stage was the icing on the cake. The French must love Wiggins - rides like Hinault - like a real "patron" controlling the race and gets stuck in in the sprints aswell. The rest of the team were just faultless and I particularly enjoyed Millars stage win. Looking forward to the Olympics road race although I'm not sure they've backed the wrong horse but look forward to being proved wrong!

As for me I was toiling up to Cockayne as history was being made in France. Seventy miles dead on. A real slog home and I arrived back in a bit of a state. Could've done with neutral service for a couple more bottles!

Totally agree with you Paul - Sky and Wiggins were a class act, and no-one else seemed strong enough to put up a fight. I think that any one of Sky's mountain goats (Rogers, Porte, Froome) could have got a top five or even won (certainly in Froome's case) if the roles were swapped. However, top marks to Nibali for trying, and to Cadel for having another good go. If he'd had the strength, his long range attacks in the mountains would have been epic!

However, my rider of the Tour would have to be Jens Voigt. What a machine! His interviews are great, and when Jens is in the break you know you're in for some great racing. Loved how he was first man to initiate the break on the Champs and was also the last man standing.

My weekend consisted of training ride Saturday - 78miles door-to-door at an average of 19.9mph, and solo ride to Filey on Sunday - 54miles, 21mph average thanks to a great tailwind, and got a lift home so I was back in time to watch the Tour When cycling through Filey, a kid even shouted 'Go on Bradley!' at me - didn't know what to make of that one

Another 70 miles lined up today in this cracking weather

Certainly amazing times we’re experiencing. Cavendish on track to beat Merckx’s 34 TdF stage wins and, between Wiggins and Froome, the possibility of multiple TdF wins over the next 5 years (whether all 3 will do this under Team Sky is another thing!).

This Saturday, the Intermediates ‘A’ group consisted of Ian H, Greg, Dave C, Dr.Dave, Allan H, Dan G, Graham, Neil S, Steve A and John C.
We enjoyed a route that feels like you’ve arrived somewhere special - Dalby forest- in perfect cycling weather of 21C, sun and light wind.
At lunch, we chewed over creating a Clifton route to replace the cancelled Ryedale Rumble sportive (more of that later, perhaps). Also chatted about Wiggins and figured he'd be rolling off the TT ramp at around 4 pm.

Then something strange happened. Passing Sheriff Hutton on the return leg, we suddenly cranked up to 25 mph for some minutes. The pack scattered into two breakaway riders, 4 more leading the chase at 10 seconds behind and 4 off the back, drafting the team cars.
Said to Dave W “this speed isn’t very social of us” and then looked at the watch. 4.07pm. Wiggins was now in flat-out TT mode. He was giving such a monumental effort that we were telepathically experiencing it several hundred miles away, by riding full gas at the same time.

So if we find ourselves storming through Strensall in a lead-out train formation on next Saturday’s social ride, it'll be due to Cavendish & Team GB’s efforts at the same time in the Olympic road race.

A day of tanlines and bare carbon, with a hilly 81 miles at 16.5mph in good company.

I've eaten up the leftover flapjack and Jamaica ginger cake from the audaxes now, but still have the chocolate digestives left to dunk. This progress is being slowed because I'm cutting down on tea and coffee before the 12 - although I mindlessly got myself a coffee by accident this morning and could feel my head ringing for an hour afterwards, oops.

Here's a writeup of the Bridges and Beaches by Graeme, who spent the whole ride trying to catch the 'fast group' of Darren, Shaun and Ian, only to find that they'd done the shorter ride and he'd finished first. He still sounds like he enjoyed it, thankfully!

paulM wrote:Team Sky set a new benchmark for teamwork and professionalism

Indeed, we've come a long way since ANC-Halfords (younger members may want to google that....) And the presenter on R5 this morning asked "is cycling the new national sport?" I nearly choked on my bagel. The lanes yesterday were full of cyclists, and not just on the valley roads - up on the high fell tops as well.

Midnight Roses ride for me. Take a bow Andy G, Sean W, Jon G and Steen. Cracking ride. Deserted lanes, heavy with the scents of summer. Mild, still but mooless night. Arrived in Skipton without melodrama by 3am. Just caught a pizza take-away shutting up shop and were able to buy a few cans of fizz. We were the only sober people in town.

Then some empty A roads towards Clethero. As the grey dawn broke we on some mountain lanes again through Slaidburn and over the Trough of Bowland. Unexpected spectacular view of Snowdonia, The Lakes and Morecombe Bay spread in between.

Too early for the cafe at 0630 and only option to sit indoors was McDs - a rum place with 3 bouncers, who kept an eye on our bikes at least!

Then turned for home - bit of a tailwind now. Nice rolling lanes by the Lune and on towards the 3 peaks area (look different from the other side). Huge climb out of Settle towards Malham. Some guy (all the gear) blazed past us but then died a thousand deaths. Sean asked "are you local" as we cruised past. "Just come out of Settle" he replied. Nobody commented aloud, but all thought - that's what it is then, you need 190km in your legs to warm up....

Sat in the sun outside the cafe in Malham, didn't really want to get going again.... Lumpy lanes back to Appletreewick made it tricky to keep the group together, then the climb to Greenhow made it impossible! Back together though onto Duck Street and hummed back through Pannel and Tockwith. Home and happy at 1500.

Ride of the year I reckon. Thanks for the company Guys.
Just shy of 300k with 3600m of climb (50% more than Yorkshire Alps last week - how'd that happen?) Average speed about 26kph

No riding for me unfortunately this weekend, but knowing that, I had a full and at times very wet week of cycling punishment to compensate for my imposed rest days. That said, I boarded the 6am train to London on Saturday and alighted at 14.07 at Chartres for the TdeF time trail.

Experience that goes back to the 1998 Prologue in Dublin had taught me that I must find a bar near a corner entering the town that has a friendly patron and a TV. My friend set up her camera next to a holidaying British couple with a copy of L'Equipe and a pathological attention to detail nurtured from years of cricket scoring.

We all had a job to do. I was runner providing start and time splits from the bar TV, my friend was photographer and the copy of L'Equipe was to be used to register the time split of each rider as they past.

All was very systematic until Evans was eclipsed, Froome hit the split at -4+ secs and Wiggins flew through the same split another -53+ secs. All this was within what seemed to be the blink of an eye. Huddled in our positions on that corner of Chartres the last 10 riders flew by. The whirl of the helicopter and rising cheers from the crowd reaching a crescendo as Wiggins flew by my hastily purchased (St Pancras WH Smith £5) Union Flag tea towel. He even had a smile on his face.

Brilliant day, some magnificent photo's up close and personal of the world's greatest cyclists, then a train ride back to Paris.

Sunday was spent at the 200m marker on the Champs Elysees drinking champagne and talking to a 65 year Irish lady with a passion for cycling and its history that was only beaten by her dogged reluctance to stand for the national anthem when Wiggins secured his historic victory. No more to say about Sunday than that which had been written in the papers or voiced over the air-ways.

One thing I have to say however is 'I was there'. I would not have missed it for the world. The only thing better than riding a bike is being inspired to ride that bike harder, faster, longer and more consistently to a high standard. I lost a weekend on the bike but gained a lifetime of inspiration in two days.

What a weekend.

As said the Roses ride for me. A superb ride, good company, great scenery what more do you want. Let me just thank Rob, Andy, Shaun and Steen for turning up and making it a great challenge. The biggest challenge was running the gauntlet of drunken revellers on route to the square which at least was deserted. And let me just say for those wondering I didnt ride in . The stats Rob quoted sound about right the only thing I found surprising was that the Yorkshire alps ride isnt equal in climbing or more because one conclusion I've made is that there are no flat stretches of Tarmac in the dales also like the comment about the rider who passed us up the climb out of settle. Just goes to show that looks are deceptive.

Highlights for me we're the ride through the Trough of Bowland, a deceptively steep stretch of road that looks flat probably because of the nature of the landscape round you. I have a book of the top 100 British climbs and it only gets 4/10 for difficulty. Most of the high ranking ones are in the north of Britain though which explains the terrain in the dales.. Managed to ride down some new roads as well.

Now it's just a matter of recovery before I get back on the bike.

Ps I did toy with the idea of sending my comments on the ride to Darren N to see if he could add is way with words that I don't have unfortunately
Shame you couldn't make it Darren hope you enjoyed your time in Paris.

Jon

Am almost lost for words and was beginning to think I would never see it. Bradley Wiggins bloody brilliant, Team Sky fantastic not to mention Cav. This really is cycling history.