Clifton CC

Our annual summer audaxes are drawing up on us, in fact they're next week! As usual, both start from Stamford Bridge scout hut on Low Catton Road. They're worth 2 and 3 challenge points respectively, and cost a mere £2.50 or £3.00 (plus £2 insurance if you're not an AUK, CTC or BC member).

The Three Bridges is a regular 100 mile (161km) club event which starts at 09:00 and takes you on a loop of East Yorkshire via the Humber Bridge and Boothferry Bridge. The Humber Bridge is probably the second hardest climb on the whole event. There's usually a fast group that blasts round in five and a bit hours, then there's everybody else who enjoys the cafe stops and takes (quite) a bit longer. There's plenty of food at the end, plus a friendly organiser (who will be 28 the day before, so you'd better wish me a happy birthday ) If you haven't ridden 100 miles before, it's an ideal place to start. It's also probably the easiest 2 challenge points on the calendar.

The Bridges and Beaches is something a little more challenging that I cooked up last year. This starts at 08:30 and heads out through Thixendale to Bridlington seafront before weaving its way through the lanes of East Yorkshire to the Humber, where it rejoins the Three Bridges route. It was enjoyed by all who did it last year: Here is the write-up of one satisfied customer. Entries are looking good this year: I've got 20 riders entered already.

If you want to enter, it would help me enormously if you could do it online during the next couple of days. Otherwise you can enter on the day, in which case please bring a pre-filled entry form with you.

For the technologically minded among you, here are the routes on Bikely, from which you can download the gpx files. Note that if you want to go to the Water's Edge centre just after the Humber Bridge, that isn't on the gpx - but you just have to turn left instead of right after the bridge.

Bridges and Beaches on Bikely
Three Bridges on Bikely

See you in a week!
Greg

Hi Greg.

Looking forward to this.

Do you know if they are any organised groups going around, or are people
riding around on their own ?

I will be riding the 100 mile route.

John.

I'm aiming to do this.if there's a decent group that want to ride together and do the beaches.then I'm up for it.if not.it's the bridges for me.

I'm doing beaches

Wouldn't mind a brisk 100, the fast group would suit me for this...but only because it's flat

John B wrote:Hi Greg.

Looking forward to this.

Do you know if they are any organised groups going around, or are people
riding around on their own ?

I will be riding the 100 mile route.

John.

You can go at your own pace, but there are usually a couple of groups that form: a fast group with the likes of Skymoos and Tony G, and a steadier group that take it at K ride pace.

ETA I'll be there until late to wait for the B&B finishers, so if you're on the 3B you can ride as slow as you like and I'll still be there when you get back.

What ave mph is brisk?

Paul W wrote:What ave mph is brisk?

I don't have a computer or anything, but brisk is when Tony stops talking and starts chewing his bar tape.

Sounds like a good speed indicator.

Last year, the fast group was more of an inters group and did 6:54. The year before, they were faster IIRC. I've probably broken some audax rule by telling you that! As I belatedly said in the post above, I'll be there until the last 225km riders get home, so it'd almost be possible to walk the shorter ride and still find me when you finish.

Thanks.I've never been on a club ride so don't know what the groups speeds are.I'm an 8.45 rider so not sure how that compares

Seriously though I think it's possible to do this ride at a good pace and keep it as a tidy group from what I remember.

The only (paltry) excuses for hills are on the first leg, where everyone's still fresh. Once you get tired, it's completely flat so sticking together should be no problem. The training ride folk got round together in under 6 hours in 2010 and 2011 IIRC. From what I know of the 8.45 group, 7 hours should be perfectly doable for you Paul.

On a side note, I see nobody's entered the YCF 100 on Sunday. Shame, I'd prefer to have a bit of competition for the club 100 champs!

Dave Cook and I am intending to do the B&B ride - company welcome.

The fast group has averaged around 19.5 mph rolling speed the last 2 years with a 40 minute café stop at Goole

I have just entered, this will be my first club event having only attended the training rides before; it would be good to get in a group with some experience, Liam