National 12

MarkA · Post by **MarkA** » Sun Jul 29, 2012 4:05 pm

Looking forward to this weekends update

Gill, Tim and the Gregador in action

Any news?

G. · Post by G. » Sun Jul 29, 2012 8:28 pm

Provisionally:

Gill did 217
Tim did 233
They were taking so long to put my number up that I just left, but I think I got 235 to 238.

The day was a little windy, but nothing wrong apart from that. Nik Bowdler won and Andy Bason came second, both with 300+ provisional distances. I think Jill Wilkinson won the women with 257 or something like that [edit: it was 253]. What's the women's club record?

The course started with an out and back, which meant we passed the HQ twice on each lap. Tim started before me and passed me on the way back at the moment I set off, after that we passed each other on each lap, so we knew how we were doing relative to each other. This was never more than a couple of miles from the original start, so it was a close fight all the way through.

Thanks to my dad, Paul and his daughter for supporting us, and sorry if I was rude to anyone when my brain was addled by 200 miles of riding!

G. · Post by G. » Sun Jul 29, 2012 9:48 pm

1 Nik Bowdler Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 301.71
2 Andy Bason Team PedalRevolution.co.uk 300.86

...

24 Greg Melia Clifton C.C. York 235.49
25 Tim Richardson Clifton C.C. York 233.92
38 Gill Crane Clifton C.C. York 218.42

I guess I get to hang onto that trophy by the skin of my teeth then! Given that Tim rode over 15 minutes quicker than me for the 100, he'll be a shoe in for the club BAR though, unless someone fancies having a go at one of the other 12s?

I'm glad it's over!

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:40 am

Very well done guys. Anyone who can ride over 200 miles in one sitting gets my respect. I'm going to give it a go next year, it's another of those got to do once things isn't it...only once mind.

Tim r · Post by **Tim r** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:29 pm

I am also glad that its over!
That was a big day for all concerned and today is proving a bit of a challenge as I am not sure what hurts most (my current favourite is my left knee)
Everyone has a bad patch apparently and mine came after about six hours when I seriously thought about giving up (it just is not a sensible competition this) But after a couple of minutes rest and yet another mouthful of jelly babies normal (?) service was resumed.
I must have looked a bonny sight when I finished cos a couple emerging from their house came to check on my welfare (apparently I was staggering a bit and the wife thought I was having a heart attack!)
I would like to thank/ blame Greg for getting me into this and also thank Gill for her seemingly boundless enthusiasm for the task in hand.
It was good to see some Clifton jersey's round and about although I didn't recognise everybody the support was most welcome!
All in all a big day!

G. · Post by G. » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:01 pm

Darren, unfortnuately the promoter is stepping down this year and nobody else has agreed to take on the event, so it may not be there for you to do it next year. It would be a shame as it's a nice course, not hilly but not boring either, and not too 'bonkers' traffic-wise either.

Tim r wrote:I am also glad that its over!
Everyone has a bad patch apparently and mine came after about six hours when I seriously thought about giving up (it just is not a sensible competition this) But after a couple of minutes rest and yet another mouthful of jelly babies normal (?) service was resumed.

I had a few of those - I died on each headwind leg - but my main patch was also after 6 hours, at the end of lap 3. I made myself ride the extra 9 mile dog-leg before stopping for a break, so I'd have ridden more than halfway and be less tempted to quit. What got me going again was a 2 minute nap and a marmalade sandwich, so I think I've fathomed Grame Obree's secret!

Rob · Post by **Rob** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 8:48 am

Obviously a shame if the local 12 does go to the wall, but it's also nice to do the half day event on some new roads rather than the ones you train on week in/out. The West Cheshire event in August is worth traveling for....

Great set of results chaps/chapess - 25/26/38th in a National Champs is something to be proud of.

nige gos · Post by **nige gos** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 11:27 am

well done to you all , abs brilliant rides

team swift are stepping up and carrying on with the running
of this event i've been told.

paulM · Post by **paulM** » Wed Aug 01, 2012 10:34 pm

Yes well done all it must have been a tough day in that wind! I saw riders on the Hull Rd when I was driving out to Walkington in the morning, and assumed it was the "12" when I drove past them again driving home early afternoon!
Everyone should ride a 12 at least once in their life. You could have years of these ahead of you Darren! I have mine in my top two most satisfying (cycling) experiences - went with me head screwed on correctly and where failure wasnt an option. But I had Kevin feeding me (advice, encouragement & well, food) so how could I fail! But yes once was enough for me - it finished me for the rest of the season.

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Thu Aug 02, 2012 6:53 pm

Well done all who took part, fantastic rides! Even finishing a non-stop 12hour ride is an incredible achievement in my eyes, so to all be top 40 is brilliant

Chris Clark · Post by **Chris Clark** » Fri Aug 03, 2012 8:12 am

Massive respect from me. Olympic medals aside, this is more humbling. Brilliant. I COULD NOT DO IT.

Cyan Skymoos · Post by **Cyan Skymoos** » Tue Aug 07, 2012 3:21 pm

Is the 12 hour a motor paced event? I ask because Andrew Wilkinson did 317 miles in one at the weekend.. that's something like 26mph average for 12 hours!!!

G. · Post by G. » Tue Aug 07, 2012 4:05 pm

No it isn't. Do I detect humour here?

Also, you're selling Wilko short, he did 317.95 miles, including a stop to change a puncture! Breaking the previous record by ~12.5 miles is almost as impressive as was breaking his own 24 hour record by 16 miles last year on a lumpy course.

A Clifton rider once held the record: EJ Watson in 1969 with 281.87 miles. That was the same year as Roy Cromack broke the 24 hour record - we must have had a good club dinner that year!

ClaireG · Post by **ClaireG** » Sun Aug 26, 2012 6:27 pm

Have only just got chance to pass on my congrats to all our Club riders in this 12hr - massive rides by all.

Gill, really impressed by your total and I think this will be a Women's Club record - you are one tough cookie.

Well Done!
ClaireG