Imps Dinner - all Condors welcome

I've had an email invite from Janice of the Imps, who is organising their club dinner this year.

It is on 28 November - not that far away. I'm half tempted if we can get a gang of Condors together to go along. Interested? I have a menu if that makes a difference to you!

"I was wondering if you, any club mates and partners would be interested in coming to our club dinner this year.

You may think it's far too early to be thinking about but its just 12 weeks away and I have to be really organised with it all this year.

John and Linda have reserved their places already.

Anyway just to tell you a bit about it'

It's been held at Bradley Hall Golf Club, Stainland Road, Holywell Green, 7pm for 7.30 sit down.

It's our 85th year as a club not the 85th dinner

We have the 3 course dinner, coffee, prize presentation (you can get your certificate for Skipton and Back, even though u didn't come back the right way Ian!!!!!!!!!!!) , raffle and then we have a disco till 12.30 and it's £20".

Let me know what you think - ian

Sunday 30th ?

This is what happens when you ride down a track whilst the farmer is cutting the hedge everyone punctured except Brian. A snap from last Sundays MTB ride around the tracks south of Huddersfield.

Whats happening this Sunday? Does anyone fancy a potter round the lanes north of York for a change of scenery? If so we'll meet 0830hrs Shelf roundabout.

Don't forget the Northern Dales Audax from Arnside YH on the 6th of Sept

On Road Mountain Biking

On Sunday Brian, Damian, Pete and myself assembled at Brighouse to find that Pete was test driving his new "Hill-Man Hunter"; a handle bar mounted "sat nav" able, it would seem, to search out a route between any two fixed points with a guaranteed "altitude attained" not less than the height of Ben Nevis.

Our two fixed points happened to be Brighouse and Holmfirth returning via South Yorkshire to Brighouse. I can truly say we were pioneers, boldly going up hills no cyclists have gone up before (well not on a trip from Brighouse to Holmfirth).

After climbing the cols of Upper Heaton, Emley, and Thurstonland, with numerous shorter leg breakers thrown in along the way, we finally arrived at Holmfirth. Resisting the blandishments of the Wrinkled Stocking we pressed on over the hors category climb of Hade Edge to the bacon and egg feed station at Langsett.

We returned via Silkstone and High Hoyland, then climbed Emley once again, but this time from its southern flank, before retracing our steps back to Brighouse.

All good stuff – quality training for the Three Peaks!

Vicar

16 August - muddy bikes

Cheers to Pete for proposing a road trip. Meanwhile the western section are going out on the muddy bikes - apologies for the late post. Meet 9am in Wainstalls (my house) for 3-4 hour trip that will likely include MaryAnn's cafe in Heptonstall. So far it is Nige, Steve & Ian.

Forthcoming Events

Sunday 23rd August MTB ride 9am Ritz, Brighouse with Mick Collins & friends
Saturday 29th August W Y Cycleway start/finish Mytholmroyd
Sunday 6th Sept Northern Dales 200k Audax from Arnside YH
Sunday 20th Sept Autumn in the Peak 120k Audax in the White Peak, quiet roads
plenty of hills.

Anything organised for this Sunday? I fancy a trip around Summer Wine country, cafe stop at Langsett or Silkstone, I'll be outside the bike shop in Brighouse 8.30am if anyone fancy's coming. Back home early afternoon.

Sunday 9th August 2009 Burnsall

There was general agreement in the Caty on Wednesday night that we'd meet 8.30 at Denholme Gate (Whittaker's) for a ride out ot Burnsall.

So far Nige, Ian and myself have signed up, all welcome

The Vicar

perhaps the following link will show all you stiff backs that mountain bikes are not the most dangerous of machines from which to fall

http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=6363193

good ride wednesday night by the way, especially the cross dressing options in the cat in t'well

[cheers Robin - at least I assume this is from you! - the real Ian]

Stage 1 - Hebden to Slaidburn - with Gary Imlach

Hello and welcome. My name is Gary Imlach and, with the Tour but a fast-receding memory and with the French Road Sweepers' Association threatening to go on strike over the number of water bottles abandoned carelessly by passing riders who really should know better and carry their rubbish home with them, I'm here to provide a witty and well-honed opening remark to this evening's entertainment before handing over the actual show and the boring job of providing four hours of non-stop commentary on seventeen different types of regional French cheese and sweeping helicopter shots of the elegant French countryside in summer.

Sadly I also need a job for the other 49 weeks of the year when the Tour isn't on ITV4 and with the Condor Road Club as the only gig on offer this week I'm going to have to do the best I can to give you a round-up of this minor local club ride without mixing anyone up with the real stars of the road. Now, over to Ned Boulting for a colourful piece to camera in the start village …

Thanks Gary, the start this week is actually one of the largest towns in the Calder valley and according to my extensive research has the largest number of privately owned shops in the UK with ne'r a chain store in sight. The riders have already been to sign on and are massing at the start near the main traffic lights in the High Street. One of the team vehicles must have been left out in the rain overnight because the official Team Condor bus now looks more like a red mini – and is that Bjarne "the Vicar" Riis at the wheel?

The first part of this stage is a steady 4th category climb out of Hebden and down the valley to Todmorden. Turning right, the riders will face a slight headwind up the 3rd cat Col du Cliviger but we're expecting the bunch to still be together at this point without any major attacks by the big names. Phil Ligget has been called away to lend his name, if not his physical presence, to the “Phil & Mates” cyclo-sportif in the lovely Peak district. We join commentary now with Paul Sherwen and an empty chair. But first an ad break …

Unfortunately our cameras have just missed the vital moment's of today's stage while lingering on a field of cows artfully arranging themselves as a bicycle complete with a "moo"-ving chainset. Still, we can now fill a few minutes telling you about the sheltered micro-climate in Slaidburn. Sitting outside next to the main road watching the ducks mow the grass on the river bank opposite the Riverside cafe, with some of the best bacon & sandwiches within a day's ride of home, is one most delightful ways we know of passing a few minutes off the bike.

Already we have news of one surprise early retirement as Robin “Big George” Holt has had to abandon because he was “due home early for lunch” which is something you hear all too often these days even from the most talented professional riders.

The time gaps are now available and, after having to chase back to the peleton after chatting for too long at the feed station, Steve Legstrong has attacked the bunch and taken Johhny Shleck and Andreas Burnham along on his wheel.

The chasing group at 4' is being led by Team Caty with Nigel Cancellara on the front doing most of the work and Bradley “Wiggo” Robinson in support.

With the temperatures reaching highs of 14 or 15 degrees and a gentle tailwind of perhaps 10 mph it could be all the way to Long Preston before we see the catch. As we predicted, I think the breakaway have realised that the escape is futile and have sat up to wait for the bunch just before the turn onto Flat Lane as the riders now swing south on their homeward leg. The bunch have stayed together through Bank Newton and are riding a steady tempo up the 4th cat Col du Gargrave. However, it is important for all these big names to stay in the top 4 or 5 places as anything might happen to cause a split in the bunch.

In what is nearly a team time trial formation the short stretch of the A59 before Carleton rattles by at a steady 25mph. Wiggo Robinson is on the front – sitting high on his bike with that distinctive white-legged riding style and amusing hairstyle and dreaming that maybe, one day, he could really ride under the hour. Through Connonley and the efforts are now starting to tell on the riders as they attack the steep climb to Cross Hills. Johnny Shleck has been working hard on his nutrition and looks to be going well still, even though the stage today is well over 50 miles. Lance Barker tries to respond but that ageing body has given too much already and he can't match the explosive effort of the younger man. Richard Kloden keeps up well initially but then fades at the top, allowing the slow diesel engine of the big-nosed Wiggo to catch and pass just before the crest. Sadly Fabian Hartley is a demon descender but no angel delight going uphill and looses time significantly on this climb to ruin his chances of being in yellow tonight.

Now there is just one final climb – the feared Hors category Col du Ingrow. The bunch have slowed almost to a standstill on the lower slopes through the lovely alpine town of Keighley as everyone tries to avoid doing the pacemaking, until the patron du peleton and chef de gormet comes to the fore to show how it is done. Then Wiggo takes over and rides tempo up the climb as an act of self-preservation more than anything, only to find that at the Crossroads that the damage has been done and Kloden has cracked again. The front riders think about waiting here and “just potter on” for a bit – allowing Kloden to battle back up to the pack. Unfortunately, there is a tussle for control at the front as the sprinter's teams all move up – it seems like the peleton has just doubled in size as two groups merge and can't help but race each other. However, the sprint is short-lived and a blistering attack at the bottom of Col du Coq Hill sees the bunch split as two or three riders go clear to turn left on the old road and the rest battle it out towards Pecket and Hebden.

Finally, before we preview next Wednesday's exciting mountain stage over the Col du Milnrow, there is just time for our competition and your chance to win an 18 speed!! Boardman road bike...

Philip Smithies - by Paul Gower

Here are some thoughts on Philip Smithies by Paul G, who attended Philip's funeral in France on Monday 8 June 2009:

We first met Philip in early 1970 when he was riding a 12 hour time trial at Wetherby in the name of Condor Road Club. We found out straight away that a very strong and determined rider had joined our circle.

Like many cyclists born in Calderdale, Philip started riding his bike in his early teens and was soon riding long tours up and down the country. I think that if you can cope with the steep hills and hairy descents round here as a teenager, then you will be a cyclist for life - which is exactly what Philip was.

Philip joined in wholeheartedly with the social, racing and touring activities of the club, winning many races and championships. Before his illness, Philip was our general secretary for many years. He was always there to encourage younger riders to be more competitive.

Not only was Philip a good cyclist, he was also a very good swimmer, played football for Southowram for many years, and a good tennis player - in fact an all round sportsman.

Philip and Paulette had found their ideal home in Southern France to spend their retirement swimming, cycling and playing tennis in the stunning countryside. Unfortunately you can never actually predit the future and, as I said at the crematorium, its with these happy memories of Philip that we wish him well on his longest cycle ride. May the sun shine on him and a tail wiind follow him everywhere.