Clifton CC

Rode the VC York reliability ride Sunday, left the Yorksport HQ at a brisk pace and was going really well keeping up with the front group up the climbs until just before the decent into Thixendale when we rode over a recently cut hedge with thorns everywhere was talking to Johnathan from Pocklington who has rode a lot of Our club rides a while ago and he said we won't all ride over this lot without some of us getting Pu##$$#es I said if it happens it happens within seconds I was watching the guys quickly disappearing into the distance as I was pulling 4 thorns out of my rear tyre before repairing it, the rest of the 75 mile ride I rode alone trying to keep my pace pretty high passing many more poor guys repairing their flats at the side of the roads.

Really enjoyed the route, thanks to Ian Holmes and VC York for organising the event in aid of St Leonard's Hospice.

Ian H.

A. ride on Saturday.
Six of us in the square - Graham, James, Pete, Kevin, Kevin & myself.
Destination - Otley.
The predicted weather wasn't good, but after a light shower leaving York it got better as the day rode by, with a little sun and back wind on the way back into York.
A good organised ride out with no problems apart from my legs having no real get up and go.
The roads were muddy from tractors, but the mudguards helped to keep things fairly clean.
Big thanks to Kevin and James for doing a lot of the work at the front.

Oops, I guess I made a wrong turn on my way to the square. I was waiting at Piazza della Repubblica in Rome, but none of the Saturday regulars showed up. I guess Otley was a bigger draw

Having navigated through Rome city centre during the Friday afternoon rush hour (on my way back from Lago di Bracciano), meandering through the traffic and throngs of tourists was a breeze.

After being thoroughly shaken to my core by the cobbles, I found myself at the GranFondo Roma start line, about 300 yards from the Colosseum, and followed this route kindly provided by hombredelgado.

http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/884790879

Except for the weather being much better (22C sunshine), riding down the section of Via Appia Nuova near Ciampino airport was literally like riding the A64. Things improved tremendously a few miles after the airport, as the route turned left, heading for the hills.

Lago Albano was beautifully serene with a surprising lack of traffic - pedestrian and vehicular. The climb was quiet and presented increasingly stunning views over the lake. However, upon reaching Belvedere, it seemed that half of Rome was up there, presumably to take in the views and escape the downtown tourists. Cars, motorcycles and people abound; replete with many food trucks and picnic tables everywhere.

Leaving all that behind, I continued climbing up to the summit and the rest of the day was a roller coaster, the principal memories of which are; i) a particularly steep cobbled climb into some twenty-syllable named village that escapes me for now, and ii) having a blast cruising down the many twisty descents, leaning hard into the turns with no concerns of gravel and muck throwing me off.

Sunday saw more sunshine and excellent riding conditions. After escaping downtown, but for a few local riders in full winter gear, I largely had the roads to myself during a quiet spin out the the coast at Ostia. Garmin said the route was pan flat, but I encountered many lumps and one 30% grade, that thanks to a wrong turn, I had to do twice

I rode down the coast to Torvaianica, then turned left up to Pomezia and back into Rome where I enjoyed a slice of pizza and a cold beer while watching the tourists do their thing.

All things considered it was a fabulous weekend, lots of miles, lots of hills, lots of memories and a mildly sore butt, thanks to having my chamois cream confiscated by airport security.