Clifton CC

As per thread elsewhere and previous hints, we'll start upping the speed a bit this Saturday by riding steady out to Bishopwood, doing six fast laps (about 33 miles), and then riding steady back. We'll again split into groups and for anyone who finds it still a bit swift I'd suggest popping your pips in order to stay in the group for as long as possible, turn around if dropped and join the next group oncoming - just get as much speed work out of it as you can.

Forecast is two degrees heading up to a totally tropical six, and dry, so summer bikes and absence of mudguards will not be frowned upon (especially by me, whose rear mudguard got severely modified by my departing derailleur last week).

Hi, Hope you dont mind a Hanger on tomorrow?!

Ive only been out on a Saturday training ride with you once before, but I need to work my way up to 100 miler rides again, so what better way than to get murdered by the Clifton lot?!

Is it still 9am at Exhibition Sq? I'll slope off quietly when I've been beaten!

9am in the square!

Hi.which way out of town is the route.il be riding there and once again.would rather not head into town.

Usual arrangement is to head out of town down Fulford Road - Naburn - Cawood - brief pause where the Bishopwood circuit finish line is (bit of hedge-watering) and then off in an anticlockwise direction.

Many thanks Phil.far side of town for me then.so probably see you at the square unless I set off in good time

Another week, another bit of unwanted excitement, for me! This time I came off on diesel on the Fishergate gyratory; apologies to the fella behind who went straight over me, thanks to all who stopped to make sure I was okay and who encouraged me to carry on and thanks also to the fella in Jorvik Physio who did a neat if temporary repair on my buckle-less shoe. Cautiously onwards to Bishopwood, where we found the rest of the large group still arguing over who was going in the fast group..

I went off with the remainder, which settled into a steady pace and swiftly shrank from about a dozen to about six, and was down to Tim, RichT and me by two to go. As a consequence the speed wasn't startling but the effort levels were usefully high. 21.7mph and just over 230W average.

Back home to discover a scuffed derailleur (bums!) and an irritatingly-slightly-bent hanger, plus much oozing from my forearm when the arm-warmer came off. Oww!

Good to see you and Tim were OK to carry on after that early fall Phil with no serious damage done. Hopefully bad luck won't come in threes, but I may give you a wide berth next week until you've got your hat-trick

Hope you're ok Phil - that damn road rash can be painful.

Glad to see you join back up with us Phil. Thanks for the Ride too, I was the last one to drop off your group shortly after lap 4 was complete. I had very little left in my legs. So little in fact, on the way home after lap 5, while stopping at traffic lights in York, I could barely hold my own weight up. Hopefully in the coming weeks, I can improve on that and actually complete a ride with you guys. Off to go re-fuel with a massive curry.

Yes...bad luck Phil. Expensive couple of weeks . I set off in first group of about 12 or 14 . Generally pretty smooth group riding by all. Group had only thinned out slightly by the mid way point when a couple drifted off the back. We also picked up Darren on route. It got nicely impromptu on the last lap which gave us a flavour of what it is like in a race. Whilst not popping my clogs I certainly popped my pips (if that makes any sense!) i.e. felt that we made the most of the session and was a good workout. Completely forgot to check what the average mileage was so no stats from me. The winner of the sprint was severely reprimanded for an overly extravagent celebration. No more Peter Sagan impressions or kissing the tarmac next week please

Good session yesterday. I thought we stuck together well considering it was the first speed based ride of the year. Just a couple of guys off the back early who probably chose the wrong group to join.

Bit of attacking on the last lap which was fun. Noone managed to get away.

I also forgot to press my lap button so don't have accurate stats; however, Strava tells me that we averaged 23.6 for the laps with the fastest one being 23.8.

At the 3/4 race last year the quickest lap appears to be 25.5 so we've got a bit of work to do in the next couple of weeks!

Martin

Another ride, another telling off LOL

Was a good group yesterday, probably a few too many in but at least it made for decent rests. Still some were a bit rusty or new to it and there were some anxious looks at the back, people not knowing whether they should be on that wheel or whether someone else was there. 99% of the time the guy you rode behind on your last turn is the guy you need to ride behind this time. As he starts to come past get ready to slide onto the wheel. No sprinting or surging in speed should be needed if we're doing it right. This allows you to keep looking ahead and for any dangers in the road. Looking backwards is for when you think you're in the race winning move, or bluffing that its easy in the break - otherwise its not needed. If you know you're going to miss a turn tell the guy who needs to move in. The sooner you tell him the better. If you leave it till the wheel has gone, he'll either let it go (and we slow down) or he'll chase it all the way to the front and be tired when he gets there (and we will slow down). Likewise if you're jumping back into the line after missing a few turns, tell the guy your getting ahead of. As per note above 99% of the time he is NOT expecting anyone else there.

Was pleased I was able to go with Martin when he attacked *coughs* on the last lap and then hide behind Darren for the rest of the lap. I knew 2 things, he wasn't going to let any wheels go and he wasn't going to be jumping about tiring me out. Worked a treat.

Martin, still lots of winter bikes out and our first go, I think we could clock 24 round there in a few weeks. Effort more important than the actual speed though. That's an 'easy' circuit to be pulled along at speed in a race so of course we're not going to match it here.

Was minding my own business when a group of not quite as fat as I remember old men came past, you've obviously all been getting the miles in. Decided to do a lap but ended up going all the way round and back to York.

Smooth line-out for the most part. I just sat behind and watched for the most part. I can see who's got some form. I'm not keen on all the looking over shoulders when coming back down the line. I was half expecting someone to clip a wheel. I think there was only Damien and Ed not doing it. like Damien says you should know your wheel as soon as you see the bars alongside you.

Glad you're ok Phil, do Cervelo do stabilizers