Clifton CC

Quick report on the NYERRL Race on Thu night to show that there has been some activity in the Club on the racing side this week . Clifton well represented in the race, expertly hosted by York Cycleworks, on the Bransby circuit with a tough finish up the ‘Mur de Yearsley’. Looking forward to my first race since collar bone fracture a month ago but was actually more nervous and twitchy than I expected and almost “bottled it” and sat up thinking I would make some sort of excuse! But settled down after 2 laps after giving myself a bit of talking to. After getting dropped on a tough training ride last Saturday knew my condition definitely wasn’t quite where I would like it to be at this point in the season. Luckily, although this circuit is a tough one the conditions were quite benign so I was able to sit in the wheels and felt ok. I figured that I only had one (small) match to burn and I was going to use that by giving it everything on the last climb to the finish. Alas, I found the run up to that a little tough and was off the pace...getting up the climb but well outside the top 10. On a positive note really enjoyed watching the canny and aggressive riding from the Clifton contingent. Damien, John, Eugene, Martin, Max and Paul all had really good attempts to get away with no luck but it was great to watch. Eugene came 2nd on the night ....just getting pipped on the line for 1st. But he has now acquired the necessary points to join his brother as a 2nd cat.

Always a fun race this one. A decent circuit then a huge hill to finish!

I was quite optimistic this time after finishing just outside the top ten last year.

I couldn't decide whether to try and get in a break or just save as much energy as possible. After john and Damian went on the first lap I decided that I'd launch a counter when the pack reeled them in. To my surprise, Damian managed to go again ( those colnagos must come with added spirit of Voecklar). After sharing a few turns with an overexcited young guy that came with me ( we can win this, he said - I wasn't so sure) we were swallowed up by the pack. It took me about a lap to recover which led me to believe that I wasn't on a good day.

The last lap seemed really quick and my legs started screaming as we were on the drag into bransby. I ended up crawling up the hill a full 20 seconds slower than last year.

I could see Cam a bit further up the hill and thought 'I must catch him, he's been out for 4 weeks', but I never did.

Cycleworks road race for me also. I entered this weeks ago with high expectations - ridden it for the last couple of years - a race I always look forward to - the finish is so hard only the best rider is going to win. Had two races lined up before it so I was going to be flying fit and would take the day off work etc etc. So I was ill before the Clifton road race 2 weeks ago with a bad cold which I was still struggling with and then got delayed by the crash on the first lap. I no longer have the attention span to ride round in chasing groups for 2 hrs - dnf. Following weeks road race was an LVRC event on what must have been the hardest circuit I'd ever ridden. Those guys must have had a double dose of Sanatogen that morning - I was just about hanging on until I overshot a corner. Chased for a lap on my own and you can guess the rest -dnf. The day off last Thursday never materialised so I rode out virtually straight from work. It shouldnt have mattered but it did. I still really enjoyed the evening - the sun shone plenty of people around I've raced with for years & years. The Clifton contingent was a good mix of veteran exuberance and youthful experience. But the problem was I had no expectation from the race even though I felt ok in the bunch. It was altogether with a lap remaining so I had to have a go up the hill into Brandsby - for one last time. But the run down to Crayke was a headwind so I didnt get far. That was all I had in me and never really had the legs on the finishing climb - just rode up.
So I think for me that's it after 28 consecutive seasons - as far as I'm concerned road racing is purely a results based activity so if I'm not getting any I'd rather just call it a day and enjoy riding. This isnt a difficult decision - I'm going better on training rides which is always a bad sign! Probably will still be doing those and a few Sunday rides. I can chat with Rob about the good old days.......

You'll change your mind Paul, you always do. Nevertheless, 28 seasons is exactly twice what I managed, and much of that at a level higher than me. So you can do the talking on the clubruns.

Well done to the Clifton gang for being competitive last Thursday - sounds a great adventure. That's what cycling's about.

Carl Froch's announcement and now this!
Paul, you are more than capable to get results at the LVRC and the thursday evening BC events seem to be raced in a particularly peculiar way this year. I am not trying to persuade you out of retirement but you can still get results at our age. Last weekend a 44 year old was the first person to complete a 100 TT at an average over 30 MPH!

RichardD wrote:Last weekend a 44 year old was the first person to complete a 100 TT at an average over 30 MPH!

Yeah Muzzy, how about a return to the dark side; the V718 beckons and you need to put Dunc and Michael in their places