Clifton CC

Sunday clubrun for me.

Slightly milder than Saturday, but damper. One of those morning when it was never quite wet enough to cape up, but you were always wondering about it. Still, great to be out - lots of colour, quiet roads, lots of good company. 10 starters in the Square at 9am (an experienced bunch, it had me wondering how many times round the Earth we'd achieved between us). AndyG, Ian H, Dave C, IanK, Dan, Steen, Pete Hooke, Arnie, Duncan and self.

Anticlockwise loop of the Vale, skimming the Howardians and Moors foothills from Crayke to Bagby then across to Thorpe Perrow. Filthy lanes at times, but all kitted out well for the occasion. Can't have been that cold as we sat outside the cafe - and the date, pecan and toffee slice was to die for! Back along the pennine foothills from Masham to Ripon, thne home via Boro and Alwark. A bit further than trailed as I'd got 93 miles door to door - Arnie will have a few more. A strangely tough ride - we weren't moving that fast, but I guess it was first time out in full winter ensemble, and when this gets damp it adds a couple of kilos

Thanks for the company. Am fairly certain I'll be out next Sunday, and assuming I am, destination Jordan's Moss.

The BUCS hillclimb for both me and Andy M. This goes up Curbar Gap near Sheffield and is a fabulous event - you should encourage any students you know to enter. Mind you, they might not get in - we had a full field of 150 men, 45 women, several reserves and ~75 entries returned.

The trick here is not to go off too fast on the first steep bit, so I kept it steady up there and increased my effort towards the end. I'd been aiming for 7 minutes and I got 6.56, so I was pleased with that - until I discovered that Andy had done 6.53, the jammy beggar. Well done Andy! Those 3 seconds were enough to put him in 60th, 8 places ahead of me, so the field was pretty crowded at this point. The day was won by Jake Hales of Sigma Sport in 5.42.

Right, that's my season over, time for the teacakes!

Well what kept everybody in doors, only 5 out; was it the little bit of snow or the cold wind?
We changed route and went out to Helperby, then Sessay before making for the Coxwold tea rooms, the rain had stopped by Skelton, and most of the morning was fine with the exception of the northerly wind.
The rest of the day was good, so look what all the other 20 who stayed in doors missed. The trees where looking good in their autumnal colours and the rain give up after lunch, with a tail wind home and 60 miles done.

A bit late I know. A good winter (what happened to autumn?) weekends' cycling activity in this household both of us getting a short ride in each on Saturday followed by a works do Sat night - a pub /curry /pub thing you just cant beat. Surprisingly not too worse for wear on Sunday we went round Cockayne. As Rob has mentioned one of those days where it rained but not hard enough to need a waterproof, except that once we started climbing out of Fadmoor it started to come down a lot harder and felt a lot colder-so the jackets came out. Still some snow on the ground up there. I've never known snow round here in October before. We stopped for a few photos en route. Cockayne is always a great ride with great views whatever the weather. Nearly got caught out in the ford near Welburn. Normally its dry or just a trickle. On Sunday it was like the Yukon so we had to use the bridge -I've been caught out before!
Cath liked the other shot on the Castle Howard road. Dont worry I waited at the top. Its one of those perfectly framed shots just spoilt be me in the middle! Came back from Helmsley up the B road just to save some time. A good ride from Cath and at 70 miles her longest for a couple of years.
Photos here: https://plus.google.com/photos/10315363 ... 6182855489