Clifton CC

Sunday clubrun for me. 8 of us completed the ride together (Nigel, Heather, Mark, Andy (Roo), Swindon Andy, Tim, Darren and self). Classic route out through Aldwark, Markington, Brimham Rocks and a Falcon-like descent into Pateley. The view of the snow capped Pennines was quite special. Back via Darley, Birstwith, Pannel and Tockwith. Nice conditions and the roads even started to dry up a bit towards the end. About 80 hilly miles and back in York not long after 3.

Well done to Mark who gritted teeth commendably on the relentless medium sized climbs on the run home. Nigel's latest bike is something to behold - 3-speed-fixed-hub gear, balanced aesthetically with a front dyno-hub. Good to have Darren B along who has clearly not lost any of the class he had when he used to thrash us all in RRs. He was al little shocked though by how much we ate in the cafe.

Decided on the clubrun this week, I wanted to meet a few more members, and I do like a cafe stop in winter.
Nice steady ride with a friendly bunch, I enjoyed it.
Cheers Rob

[Warning: this post contains graphic descriptions of the Scottish Play. Readers of a nervous disposition, and those who don't like whingeing, are advised to move on swiftly.]

Saturday I was practising being a single parent, but Sunday was a chance for a good trip into the wolds. In fact it was a lesson in how lucky we were with the Reliability. Forecast was 2celsius overnight, 4 in the morning, overcast and perhaps some drizzle (pretty much the same as the Reliability in fact), so when I woke to find a clear bright morning it seemed like a bonus - until I saw the frost. Sure enough, thermometer was at zero and there was a thin film of ice out on the road. D*mn! Maybe it was just us, so I switched on Radio York. Traffic: "treacherous - icy roads - Bridlington road closed at Stamford bridge - crashes - ice."
Seemed wise to leave it until the afternoon. I planned to head over the re-opened Elvington bridge to Pocklington, Warter, up Warter wold, back through Millington pasture, up past Givendale to Garrowby and back via Bishop wilton. It was a great afternoon, dry, a little sun and hardly any wind, and all was fine until the steering felt squishy on the climb out of Pocklington. Sure enough, front tyre was flat and I pulled in by a handy fence to hang the bike on.
Usual form: Inflate spare tube. Remove front tyre and tube, find puncture, find thorn sticking through tyre. Spend at least ten minutes removing thorn, which seems to have insinuated itself at a shallow angle through the edge of the treaded part of the tyre, then snapped off leaving no sign on the outside except a small split in the rubber. As my hands froze I resorted to using the screwdriver on the minitool to jam the thorn back into the tire from the inside, then dig it out in pieces from the outside. I was scared that if I left any splinters in the tyre they would work their way back in...
Then it was at least another fifteen minutes of fun trying to inflate the tyre. The rim has a bit of a section, the valve seemed just about long enough but it was threaded all the way up and the pump just wouldn't grab enough of it to form a seal. If I put the lockring on the valve, there wasn't quite enough projecting to get hold of; but if I didn't, the valve would sink back as I pressed the pump over it and no amount of forcing it back through the tire with my thumb was enough. In the end I found a way of hanging the wheel on the pump that just about gave a seal, at which point the farmer from the house next door appeared to ask if I needed any help, and lent me his pump which seemed to get a better grip on things.
By that I was absolutely frozen and it was nearly dark, so I charged up Warter wold to try to warm up and turned for home.

My back's still aching from crouching over the infernal tyre in the cold, but at least I've been able to buy a 48mm-valve tube today...
Tom

There were two of us for the non stop ride on sunday. Not sure if that number qualifies to be called a training ride? Had a route in mind and as there was some ice about first thing myself and Howard of Leeman rd headed out through town, Lawrence St, Grimston Bar, left in Stammy Bridge and Gally Gap road to Malton - all ice free. Worst problem was dodging huge potholes! Had proposed turning left at Eden camp but the road was shut which meant carrying on the main road towards Pickering and taking the next left for Kirby Misperton. Great Bargh, Gt Edstone, Butterwick - an enjoyable if less than direct route along the muddy pot holed lanes of the Vale of Pickering. Wildlife highlight being two female deer in a field near Salton. Left at Slingsby and the full length of Castle Howard drive. About 65 miles for me at 17.5 mph which was fine. Howard did a great ride on his longest non stop ride.
Not sure why we don't have a nucleus of riders for non stop Saturday and Sunday rides considering how many are showing an interest in racing?

Had proposed turning left at Eden camp but the road was shut which meant carrying on the main road towards Pickering

You should of ridden up there to find out whats happening.
They have taken the old iron bridge out that crosses the river Rye! Fascinating bit of civil engineering (if you're into that sort of thing). A temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists has been installed though, so give it another try buddy! This does mean the roads around there are free of cars - yipee, but a wee bit muddy - not so yipee.

paulM wrote: Not sure why we don't have a nucleus of riders for non stop Saturday and Sunday rides considering how many are showing an interest in racing?

Could the answer to this be more to do with the fact that now is the time when the hard work really starts in terms of racing starting and training quality/quantity needing to reflect this? And when people realise they haven't made the commitment they thought they were going to do to racing, then these non stop training rides become less of a big deal.
Each Saturday ride I've joined has had at least eight riders but both days added together still fall short of the numbers who expressed interest in racing/training rides.

This week, I joined the Saturday training ride as usual from the square but on the ride out began to feel the effects of a sore knee I'd picked up after the Reliability, I decided to say my goodbyes in Helperby and continued solo at the same pace but this time with a welcome tailwind for most of the run back to York. 45 miles at 18 mph ave.

I'll be out pretty much most Saturdays from now on to join a nucleus of non stop 3 or 4 hour riders. I know often it will a be a case of hanging on until I get dropped and then turning tail for home, but if I keep at it, it's gotta be of use surely.

What are the racers or wanna be racers who do the saturday training ride doing on a sunday?
Do racing cyclist still train hard saturday and sunday in winter or is that a thing of the past?

I'm doing about 8-9hrs a week at the moment, but much of it during the week (and a fair chunk of it being intervals on the turbo). Sundays are a chance to catch up with my other half, at least until races start. But yes... ...we've had a steady Saturday group but there are a fair few who have threatened race entries and haven't made an appearance yet - whatcha up to?! Will find out on the pub on Sunday....

PS:- Volunteer still needed to sort out the Saturday training ride this week, unless you're just all going to roll up and let democracy take its course...

"You should of ridden up there to find out whats happening.
They have taken the old iron bridge out that crosses the river Rye! Fascinating bit of civil engineering (if you're into that sort of thing). A temporary bridge for pedestrians and cyclists has been installed though, so give it another try buddy! This does mean the roads around there are free of cars - yipee, but a wee bit muddy - not so yipee."

I was tempted Matt but I knew it was the bridge that was shut and I dont swim so well!

"What are the racers or wanna be racers who do the saturday training ride doing on a sunday?
Do racing cyclist still train hard saturday and sunday in winter or is that a thing of the past?"

I suppose people only have limited time but anyone thinking of racing could do a lot worse than doing both days. If I wasn't child minding on a Saturday its what I would be doing. Anyone thinking they might be overdoing it - well try racing! But its a question of priorities......