Clifton CC

Sunday Clubrun for me. Eight riders in the Square (the optimum number I always think, when it gets past 10-12 its time to think about splitting the group up). It was cold, frosty and bright. The first gritted roads of the year. Switched to the clockwise route for Jordan's (not least because I was back on gears after 6 weeks of fixed gear while my Ti frame was re-rewelded.... ) I can beast the fixed up the mountain road from Masham, although its not pretty! From Lofthouse side I think I'd snap in two! I digress - that wasn't an issue today and great to be back on my favourite bike.

So, the route took us out through Markington towards Brimham. Got a bit murky up there and it took some imagination to enjoy the view. Richard (a new face) turned for home with Tony G. The rest of us dined like kings in the cafe the other side of the bridge in Pateley. Won't tell you what we ate - the racing forum types would despair! DaveB headed for home which left self, Muzzy, AndyG, Dan and James to face Jordan's. I'd like to say the new road surface helped the climb, but I'd be fibbing and gears or not, I was last to the top. Still, nobody minds waiting up there - what a spot!

Easier terrain from there, but a long ride home. Top hard-man points to James who coped really well with his first clubrun - never complained, but I reckon he was secretly seeing stars at the end. And who's been training Dan? He was riding really strongly.

All pretty stuffed coming back into York. Would have been 98miles door to door for me, but couldn't resist going round the block . There's something special about 100miles, and 32 years after my first tonne ride I still get a bit giddy about it.....

Now that was a proper ride, a cold, cold day that never really warmed up. I felt the same but it was a great measured effort by everyone concerned & a great mix of social and challenge ride. clockwise meant an early cafe and the roast dinner with yorkshires followed by steam pudding was epic but could have done with a couple more miles of valley road before the climb out of Lofthouse to follow it. It was still lying a bit heavy for me although it was the only time I got anything approaching a sweat on! Just short of 100 miles for me I reckon, which is still my longest ride of the year, although my winter bike is completely without gadgetry at the moment. But it was 4pm on me wristwatch when I rode up the garden path with time in hand before another sunday dinner!