Clifton CC

Only 4 in the square on Saturday morning at 10: Myself, Stu, Joe and Claire. Given the rain and wind I suppose this was to be expected. We elected to try the Wolds and headed out through Bossall, Kirkham Abbey, Birdsall, Thixendale, Huggate to Millington - well trodden roads but sensible in the conditions. A quick bite and slurp in the cafe (is it right to describe Millington as a 'cafe' these days?) then back the usual way.

Roads were well puddled but clean-washed in the main so not too unpleasant. Impressive pace from Claire when the lads forgot themselves and pressed on a bit. Joe had a slight mishap on Stockton Lane on the way back when hitting a flooded pothole but did well to stay on - albeit at the cost of a slight front wheel buckle and a sprained wrist. Thanks to all for the company and hope the wrist is not too stiff this morning...

Yeah, great ride on Saturday and thanks to the guys for watching out for me and keeping me in their wheels. It felt really good to be back on a Club ride.

Local knowledge ensured a flood-free ride with Buttercrambe bridge and bottom of Howsham hill now flooded too. Loads of surface water though..........well done to Joe for managing to handle the bike and stay on after the shock of disappearing down his pothole!

Am currently drinking hot chocolate by the open fire, keeping hydrated for this evening (!) and contemplating going out to wash my bike, again!

Thursday 27th saw John C, Tony G, Rob (the younger), Ian H, Dave C, Graham and Shaun W at the Square.
We did 60 miles at 15.5 mph and ate in Helmsley.

A low point during the ride was when one of us had to ring his girlfriend for a car lift home from Castle Howard on the return leg. We all stopped and waited whilst he made the phone call, which he thanked us for.
We smiled kindly in reply and hung around, until it became clear there wasn’t going to be room in the car for more of us, so we left him.


The ride’s highlight was Ian H cycling past his 9,000th mile that year.
We would have painted on the road “Congratulations on your 9,000th mile!”, but weren’t sure exactly where on the route to put it.
It would have also caused many passing motorists to glance at their odometer in confusion.

Karl M wrote:The ride’s highlight was Ian H cycling past his 9,000th mile that year.

Congrats Ian

Thats some going it puts me to shame with only just over 5000 miles

Sadly wasn't able to add to that towards the end of the year as have still not ridden a bike in anger for about 3 weeks now and now its 2013. Anyway happy new year everyone and hope to be back fighting fit shortly

Jon

I comprised 50 % of the Sunday ride or in a more festive vain the rear end of the Sunday ride pantomime horse with Dave Cook up front. Like about 95% of the population I've been a bit under the weather over Christmas which is probably due to the weather? Came down with something on Boxing Day which unfortunately wasnt related to anything I'd drunk. Energy levels still a bit low on Sunday but we set out well enough - destination Thornton Le Dale. We had just about managed to outrun a storm just needing to cape up briefly after Castle Howard. But things improved & the run across the Vale of Pickering was glorious with a cross / tailwind. Cafe in Thornton was doing brisk business and we sat in there feeling smug & dry as the rain came down outside!
Left Thornton on the Snainton road which meant we enjoyed the tailwind for another mile before a right in Wilton and some dodgy lanes until Yedingham. So began a slow unravelling process for me in the head winds we now had all the way home, only interrupted by a puncture for Dave on Settrington Bank which thankfully also coincided with a brief interruption in the rain. From there on it chucked it down but as we were both heading home North of York opted to go via Kirkham and cross the A64 which at least avoided the floods. Hung out the white flag on Flaxton common but thanks Dave for hanging back. Good to be out but I'll be glad when we eventually see some dry weather. Happy New Year to all!

Sunday saw me out on a southerly route heading into the wind to Tadcaster and then down towards Ferrybridge before turning east and a welcome tail wind at Brotherton, then on quiet lanes through Birkin, West & Chapel Haddesley and then Temple Hirst before hitting the Two Hoots cafe near Carlton with 32 miles up.
Then up to Camblesforth before hitting the lanes again around Barlow etc.Before crossing over the Selby by pass and into and out of Selby on a cycle route, before crossing over the A63 to Osgoby and then onto South Duffield and home via Skipwith & Naburn, with 60 miles done, the last P.. of 2012 and thinking about who as & who hasn't booked for the dinner!!
Happy NewYear to all.
PS Dave Cook must be getting the miles in as I saw him out near Cowthorpe today - well done for those first miles of 2013.
Bernard

Had a good ride with Paul on Sunday to Thornton Dale as he has detailed above. Thanks for waiting on the climbs and also the loan of inner tube(my new tube must have chaffed on something in my saddle bag and had a hole in it, should check more often but got complacent having not had a p... since May)

Went out today for a steady ride round via Tockwith (sorry didn't recognise you Bernard), Spofforth, Beckwithshaw, Hampsthwaite, Markington, Bishop Monkton. Had to divert to Ripon as the road to Borobridge through Roecliffe was flooded, as was the road through Beningbrough Hall. Great weather, even felt a bit of warmth in the sun now and then but I have never seen the fields so water logged (or so many pot holes).

Looking forward to the Clifton Dinner on 18th Jan, it should be a good night, remember that deadline for bookings is Thursday.

Miles per expectorant appear to be the performance benchmark at the moment. Coughed and spluttered a whole 25 miles on Sunday and decided resorting to the red wine recovery programme is still the best option for the year end.

I did York - Tockwith - B'bridge - Easingwold - Brandsby - Sheriff Hutton - York for a final (and rather damp) ~55 miles on Sunday, but have no idea how many miles I did in 2012! I know exactly how many I've done in 2013 though: a big fat zero. My shed key broke in the lock yesterday and I've only just got it out again, so I've been an avelope these past two days. I'm currently toying with the idea of fitting/resetting computers to all the bikes so I can actually count miles this year ... nah, it's not about the numbers. Don't be a slave to the machine!

About 5K miles for me - don't always use Garmin so exact number unknown....

Dear Claire, it was lovely meeting you the other day and( i hope you don't mind me saying) i agree with Dave in saying that you did really well for someone who's been off the saddle for a while.
i have no idea how i didn't get thrown off the bike and take you down with me; but the bike is back and ready for more( my wrist on the other hand isn't really ready for similar pot holes i have to say)

I went on the sunday ride last weekend and was looking forward to meeting Rob; but paul more than kept me busy. although it turned out to be one of the hardest rides i have ever done, it FELT GREAT !!

now am torn between the two( as i know there is no way i can cope with both !!)
i hope to see you on the 18th