Clifton CC

Wow! Great ride from Edinburgh to Teesdale, with ta little help from the staff at a co-op near the border! After this things started to go downhill for me (first mechanical, then physical, then emotional - we've all been there so I won't go on). At this point Steen Berg sacrificed his ride to escort me home, and I somehow manged to get through the next 40 miles in excruciating knee pain, on several occasions nearly reaching for the phone to call the broom wagon, but with the help of Steen was persuaded I would never be able to look my daughter in the eyes when she asked why didn't I make it to Wass rather than just Thirsk. I got to my door in Wass in 15 hours and 40 minutes (my garmin ran out of battery passing Byland abbey reading 205 miles on the clock, and the calorie count resets itself at 9999! Please take note!). Thanks to Rob (do I get my points?), and an even bigger thanks to Steen! (Can we supply him with a titanium medal at the next awards dinner?)

Mark D.

Indeed, thanks Steen for super-domestique duties escorting Mark.

It was a memorable ride. Rained on and off (mostly on) for the first 100miles and this was compounded by too much heat/humidity to wear capes. So we needed a sit down in the warm/dry quite desperately when we arrived at the pre-booked breakfast stop just north of Hadrian's wall at 7am. Unfortunately the café was deserted. Fearing a mutiny from the troops we pushed on to Haltwistle. We must have looked a state as the staff in the coop invited us into their canteen and fed us tea and toast.

From there on the weather improved and spirits were high. Descent of Teesdale with a tailwind particularly memorable. Shame to part ways with steen and Mark at Barnard Castle. However, great coffee in the sun in Richmond. Met Kevin and Claire in Bedale who both tried valiantly to take our minds off the misc aches and pains on the last 2 hour run in to York. 220 miles and in the shower at 1730. Legs have been OK since, but my eyeballs feel like they've been sand-papered!

Chapeau to Mark, Steen, AndyG, PeteH and Ed.

Not sure I want the reputation of being the Sunday Club Runs male escort. But a friend in need is a friend in dept.

Unlike the rest I did not come up on the Saturday night on the train. As the previous week I has been on holiday in Scotland so I had spent a lazy day in Edinburgh. They found me outside the stations Burger King at 11pm with two sets of front lights non of which I could get to work. At that point nobody else had thought to bring a spare set of lights just ones that worked. Ed then arrived just before start time with an extra light plus with a bit of packing got my Hope light to work. So thanks Ed you saved the ride for me.

The other two did not mentions the drunken fights that broke out in Hawick while we were eating our sandwiches and cold pasta at 3am in the towns center. I noticed Mark and I bravely walked off in the other direction while the rest of Yorks finest stood there ground. The lads were content to thump each other than pick on strangers in tight fitting sports clothing.

It was also Ed who blagged his way into the Co-op bait room in Holtwhistle so we could help ourselves to free tea and toast. With resourcefulness like this I hope he keeps turning up.

I was a little bit pleased with myself for being able to get back home from Middleton in Teesdale using the back lanes with out the use of a map. One of the things I like about cycling is you do get to know the area you live in. With the Sunday club runs Challenge rides and a few Audax rides you get to know a bit further than that.
This was just one of the great challenge rides we have had this year. Not so many left now but if your interested I would advise you to give them a try.

Steen