Clifton CC

Houston, we're clear for launch.....

.....well as long as things don't deteriorate.

Some provisos though:
We take this stage by stage, there's lots of opportunities for bale-outs if necessary and we don't want to get mountain rescue out.
I'll massage the route to keep us on roads most likely to be gritted (not the A1 though...)
Come prepared - don't rely on a mobile phone to get you out of any eventuality on this ride!
Don't think you'll be sent a white feather if you give it a miss.

On the plus side, this could turn out to be a fantastic winter ride and you have to start an adventure to give it a chance.

0730, very prompt, from the Square.

Rob and group

Have a good ride - I am sure it will be one of those days to remember

Helen

Hi Rob

I will have to give it a miss as I have work on Sunday night and I am not sure of getting back on time.

Have a good ride.

Dave

boo!

Just come off a telephone conference with Muzzy where latest conditions and current snowfall discussed. Decision reached to cancel.

Options to reschedule over the next couple of weeks.

Thanks for the info Rob, luckily the whole carbo loading isn't really my thing so i'll still be able to sleep tonight.

Still up for the ride when the temps get back to positives.

Right I'm off to open a bottle,
Mark

Oh no! I feel a bit sick because I've just "forced" myself to eat a whole packet of Tesco's Finest Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits in the spirit of (bad) carb loading! Thought I'd check the forum one last time before retiring and find that (to my relief if I'm honest) we're not going.
Ah well, prob. for the best with the Met. Office forecasting -7deg C for York at 0900 I'm not sure I could even make it to the square without crashing. Was quite looking forward to staying for a night (or two?) at the Tan Hill Inn and perhaps then hiring their SnowCat for a breakout attempt- with the bikes in the back of course!

As with MrSH, I'm game for this as soon as the temp. climbs a little

Looks like this winter must be harsher than last winter? I looked at my weather gadget to see that it was -7 here and -9 in York!!!!!, it's not -5 both places, I was considering cycling home but I'm getting the train, still, the 1 mile commute to train station in -5 will be terror. I'm going to have to put 5 shirts and 2 sets of shorts on in this and leg warmers.

It looks like it's going to climb to 0 you could have still gone surely?

"It looks like it's going to climb to 0 you could have still gone surely?"

Will, you missed off the - someone might think you're serious!!

Discretion very definitely the better part of valour there chaps.

Mark

I must admit i was wondering whether you had gone or not. I think you have made a wise choice.

Jon

HowardDudley wrote:Oh no! I feel a bit sick because I've just "forced" myself to eat a whole packet of Tesco's Finest Chocolate and Ginger Biscuits in the spirit of (bad) carb loading!

Claire's just reminded me of a story. It must have been 15 years ago. I was having a good season; set new PBs at 25, 50, 100miles and had entered the South Manchester 12hour and was pretty confident of improving on my previous best in this event. I raced the weekend before then dutifully "tapered" with a sprinty hill session on the Tuesday and just an hour's spin on the Thursday. I took off my 53 chain ring and replaced it with a 49. Raised my bars about 1cm. Fitted new tyres. Started on the carbo on the Friday afternoon and spent most of Saturday preparing the fuel for the event on Sunday (8 litres of carbo drink, various sandwiches, bars and cakes, all cut to just the right size and individually wrapped in foil, piles of bananas with stems pre-cracked for easy opening, dried fruit in individual little bags.....) On Saturday evening we shipped all this across to Claire's parents in Sale, had a huge plate of pasta, final push to ensure full hydration, then an early night. The alarm was set for 3am (I had an 0630 start). We both got up, although feeling rather bilious I had a "hearty" breakfast, then we loaded all those calories and liquids into the car, race bike onto roof rack, spare wheels, biddons, spare tyres/tubes/tools/jerseys/arm and leg warmers/embrocation/maps/schedules etc. All that fuel into cooler boxes and into the boot. We climbed in. "Have we got everything?" I put the key in the ignition and turned it - not a peep - totally dead - the coil had popped.

Calculations - possible to ride to the start? No. Taxi? You kidding me?

Not happy.

Can I see the funny side now though? Er, no...

Great story - glad you're still here to tell it!
I couldn't have ridden today anyway, but hope I'll be able to make the new date. Looks like it may be a couple of weeks before 'sensible' weather reappears though...
tom