Clifton CC

Lots to be reported this week, I know, as I spied at least 3 Clifton groups heading out while I grabbed a sneaky hour on the road on Saturday morning. There was an Audax today as well as our usual Sunday Clubrun.

The latter for me. Steen, Muzzy, Nigel, Eric and new member Jonathon headed north through the murk. Bagged an early cafe in Thornton le Dale to let it clear and then rewarded with late summer-like conditions for Dalby and Troutsdale. Some of my favourite lanes these. Then back across the Vale of Pickering, Settringham bank and Gally Gap. We were all flagging and went a bit quiet near the end. We stayed together well though for a tad over 90 miles and home not long after 3.

Hawnby via Boltby Bank next week. A fair bit shorter, but pack your climbing legs.

I spy on the other forum that the racing snakes are starting their training rides again next week. If you'd rather not start those same loops again just yet, then there is a plan B: Switch your power meter off for a few weeks and come out with us. Get to know some new lanes, see some new vistas, climb some hills, safe in the knowledge that some of the best Clifton racing results of the last few years have come from riders that occasionally ride with us. You don't have to eat bacon sandwiches in the cafe - black coffee and Riveta are perfectly acceptable.

I was in one of those three groups on Saturday morning, setting off with Kevin after the usual priceless spectacle of him berating various riders for dress / past behaviour / whatever. The mist cleared as we left Crayke and it was glorious in an autumnal way. Until it briefly lashed down as we did the final run down the A19 into York, anyway. The fast lads were all off with the A Group so it was a much more traditional K Ride - sixty-odd miles and 160-odd Watts. Lovely.

Rob's Plan B suggestion is a good one, especially as we ended up with up to thirty riders showing up at 09:00 on Saturdays last year. The training rides will hopefully be very steady indeed at this time of year and I'm sure Cam will do a good job of shouting "knock one off" on a regular basis, but really any opportunity to put in endurance miles is good. What are endurance miles and why do 'em? It's all spelled out here:- http://www.flammerouge.je/factsheets/winterprep.htm

Rob wrote:Lots to be reported this week, I know, as I spied at least 3 Clifton groups heading out while I grabbed a sneaky hour on the road on Saturday morning.

You also saw the university club out near Murton. Hi!