Ronde van Calderdale 2

Picture shows a young Sean Kelly leading up the climb of Lee Lane, Shibden (christened Shibden Wall for the race) in the 1988 Tour of Britain (think I've got the year right), in third place is eventual stage winner Joey McLoughlin with Chris Walker behind Joey. Thanks to Gordon Turner for the photo.

Further to Ian's note the route for Sunday is :-

Start Spen Valley Sports Centre (parking, changing rooms & showers)/Roberttown/Cooper Bridge/Fixby/Ainley Top/Outlane/Stainland Dene/Krumlin/Buckstones/Pole Moor/Bradshaw/Slaithwaite/Golcar/Salendine Nook/AinleyTop/Brighouse/Brookfoot/Hipperholme/Stump Cross/Northowram/Shibden Wall/Wheatley/Ovenden Wood/Mt Tabor/Luddenden/Booth/Jowler/Wainstalls/Oxenhope/Cock Hill/Old Town/Midgley/Luddenden Foot/Sowerby Bridge/Woodhouse/Wakefield Gate/Salterhebble/Exley Bank/Trooper Lane/Southowram/Brookfoot/Brighouse and back to HQ via Cooper Bridge.

Distance is more like 75 miles than the 90 miles stated.

There will be 2 feed stations on the way round - sounds good value for £3 - with a continuation of the good weather forecast this should be a classic day out.

Note that retro/vintage kit not compulsory (although I do have a few of the retro Condor black & white kit still available at a good price).

Ronde van Calderdale

RVC - Ronde Van Calderdale - 90 mile reliability ride - this Sunday 1st April, 2012
Starts 09:30 from Spen Valley School
According to t'interweb: 

Spen Valley Sports College‎

Roberttown La Liversedge WF15 7LX 01924 325 676 spenvalleysportscollege.co.uk‎

The ride is a local version of the infamous Tour of Flanders and will include numerous cobbled climbs. 
So it also might come to be known as "Mick's cobbled-together ride". 
... RETRO and VINTAGE KIT is the order of the day with a special prize for the best dressed rider.
see http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/335447969840167/
Any further details you need - contact Mick Collins directly on 0787 292 7351 or email collins2802@hotmail.com

MTB Sunday 25 Mar 2012

Meet 09:00 at Co-Op in Hebden Bridge on MTB for fun  in the hills. The clocks go back tonight so that means an early start.

Everest Challenge 2012 - The sound of Music.

Good luck to Phil who left these shores yesterday in what is to be an attempt to become the first Condor Road Club member to conquer Everest. Phil's progress can be followed on /http://everestchallenge2012.co.uk/

Condor RR - Norland Circuit - 26 May 2012

CONDOR ROAD RACE NOTICE:
JOHN GINLEY NEEDS YOUR HELP TO MAKE our LVRC road race a SUCCESS.


Saturday  26 May 2012  - Race starts at 10am prompt
Distance 8 laps (36 miles) round the usual Norland circuit, open to riders 40 age +

Event headquarters: Greetland Community and Sports Association, Rochdale Road, HX4 8JG.

We are looking for help from all Condor club members and any other friends who can kindly spare a couple of hours watching others riders suffer. Meet from 9.00 at Headquarters. 

It’s on a Saturday to avoid missing your Sunday ride/race/sportive, the race will finish before 12.00 noon.

Riders will assemble in the layby opposite Moorcock Inn on Moor Bottom Lane, proceeding westwards to bear left into Butterworth End Lane and up through the finish area at Gallows Pole Hill, proceed to the junction with Rochdale Road (B6113) (4xMarshalls ) where left with care, continue for approx. two miles before turning left (3xM) into Turbury Lane for 1 mile crossing Clough Moor Bridge with care (2xM) and proceeding on Clough Road into Norland Village. Bear left (3xM) onto Moor Bottom Lane for approx 1½ mile to pass through the start and, soon after, the finish area. 

To Marshall the course we need (4 + 3 +2 +3) = 12 in total

In return for your help either free pea & pies or a pint will be supplied, event cars will also have fuel support. Please contact John by email: johnginley@btinternet.com  or home tel:  01274 601567 to advise him what support you can provide whilst cheering on the condor flyers who we are expecting to ride.

NIGEL (Hartley) - I've put in an entry for you already ...

The Imps are also promoting a road race on Sunday 22^nd April same venue/course and they are looking for some support which we hope will be kindly reciprocated at our event - volunteers needed - please contact Sean Smith on 01422 341101. Many Thanks .

Race Round Up

Whilst some of us were enjoying sunshine and temperatures in the teens as we were being hammered up the Nick o' Pendle, the more ambitious members were racing for real.

Grimpy, Pete Smith and Brian had travelled down to Husbands Bosworth to take part in the LVRC road race, the Fleche Waltonne. Whilst Brian was unfortunate to puncture with a lap to go John and Pete battled on through the rain and sleet on muddy single track roads. Three riders were away in what was a successful break with Pete making a lone effort to bridge the gap with 2 or 3 miles to go he had to be satisfied with 4th place - which after last summers serious crash he must have been very pleased with. John, the world masters cyclo-cross champion, took his first road race win of the year in the 'F' category (at this rate his new Willier steed will soon have paid for itself).

Simon Fortune had also made the trip down to the Midlands on Saturday to ride in the Barkston Circuit League near Granthan. He finished feeling frustrated after allowing himself to become boxed in for the gallop and was placed 10th. However his journey was not wasted as his sons, Adam and Nathan, riding for Kirklees Cycling Academy, took 2nd and 1st places respectively in their schoolboy categories.

Sunday 18 March 2012 - "Some mothers do 'ave 'em"

We ignored the potential delights of Mothering Sunday and gathered at the appointed early hour in Hebden Bridge - me, Pete H , Neil, Mr Barker & Robin. Starting with a steady climb up over Long Causeway we followed the route of "seasons of mist" out on the ridge road toward Whalley. I thought an early tea stop was in  order but we continued on to do a loop round skirting Waddington and swiftly through Colne to attack Widdop.




Mr Barker has decreed a plan which involves meeting at half-eight in Hebden Bridge.

From there out to the wild west of Whalley, Downham and back over Widdop. If anyone is keen we can start over long causeway. All welcome.

Ian

Club Run Silverdale

MTB Report - Studley Pike

Well done Simon - we look forward to reading your full write-up soon.

Meanwhile, a small group enjoyed a day on the hills. I met Robin and Steve in Hebden, along with Chris & Graeme (two mates of Robin's and potential Condor recruits). Taking ourselves up to Studley Pike for a play in the rock garden we had a surprisingly dry & clean route covering about 30 miles in total. There are some more pictures here on Flickr, but really the only shot that matters is this one outside the cafe in Heptonstall. Our pleasant rest in the sunshine was as always complimented afterwards by flying down the Blue Pig descent. But the camera was safely stashed in my pack for that bit, plus the others were too far ahead ... Ian.

Fortune wins at Tameside

After being DNF in his first 2 road races Simon today didn't just find his way to the finishing line but sprinted away from the bunch to win in style. What a great achievement for someone who only 2 weeks ago had never raced on a bike ( I'm assured that last years Paris-Brest-Paris was not a race). Congratulations from all Condors, I'm looking forward to hearing a blow by blow account .

Today's Club Run
We eventually made it around the Silverdale route after several postponements due to adverse weather. We were a depleted pack due to the alternative attractions of a mountain bike ride from Hebden Bridge. Myself, Damian, Richard and Pete W battled the headwinds from Denholmgate collecting Nigel at Keighley (yes that's correct, Nigel - I wonder if its now Melvin's turn to go missing for 6 months).
Nigel turned off at Rylstone leaving the four of us to fight the winds in the hope that once we turned up the Silverdale road from Halton Gill we would pick up a bit of tail, but that wasn't to be as the breeze funnelled down towards us between Fountains Fell and Pen-y-ghent.
The road from Stainforth; sun, clear blue skies and tail wind made all the effort worthwhile. Predictably on the 1st sunny Sunday of the year, Settle was packed to capacity so someone came up with the bright idea of going down to Hellifield Station where we were assured the cafe is always fairly quiet (or so he said). Anyway I was wrong the station cafe was full with a Harley-Davison motor cycle convention and the staff (all one of him) was moments away from a heart attack. Now in desperate need of a cup of tea we made our way to the Dalesman at Gargrave via Bell Busk - success at last - cholesterol butties and tea - just the job after 60 odd miles without a break.
From Gargrave home we had the usual burn up with Pete W, recently returned from a weeks training block in Tenerife, again inflicting pain on us mere mortals (there is speculation that his fat rear hub hides an electric motor not a power meter). 92 miles @ just over 17mph.

Sunday 11th March

I'm not going to suggest Silverdale for tomorrow in case I put a curse on the weather - we'll keep it to 9am Denholmgate, 9.30 Keighley and take it from there.

MTB alternative option - 9am from Co-op car park in Hebden Bridge - give me a ring/text if you are thinking of coming. Route will involve going 'over the hills and far away'. And a cafe stop, hopefully. Ian.

RVC - Ronde Van Calderdale - 90 mile reliability ride

RVC - Ronde Van Calderdale - 90 mile reliability ride - 1st April, 2012
A 90 mile reliability trial starting from Spen Valley school on the 1st April. Its a local version of the infamous Tour of Flanders and will include numerous cobbled climbs. Route will be fully sign posted but you will also be given a route sheet.
Certificates at the end for various finishing times.
Hopefully one or two feed stations but this will be confirmed later.
... RETRO and VINTAGE KIT is the order of the day with a special prize for the best dressed rider. Check out the pictures from last yrs event for inspiration
Price to enter will be £3.00
Start time will be between 9.30AM
Money raised will go to Kirklees Cycling Academy.
This is a ride using open roads and the highway code must be followed at all times


http://www.facebook.com/#!/groups/335447969840167/
Any further details you need - PLEASE could you contact Mick Collins directly on 0787 292 7351 or email collins2802@hotmail.com ***AFTER 8TH MARCH***
Best wishes
and good luck to all who attempt it

Sunday 4th March

After two hectic weekends its back to usual tomorrow, 9am Denholmgate, 9.30 Keighley for a hopefully steadier ride into the Dales - suggest perhaps Halton Gill and Silverdale or if the weathers not too good we can turn left at Arncliffe and go over Darnbrook to Malham.

Didn't do either of the above routes - weather not so good and I was suffering from a cold. I met Melv on the way down to Keighley but by that time I'd decided to get home for lunch so I left Mel at Skipton and he disappeared up on the Grassington Road with Chris Young and some lads in BC Talent Team tops and came home via Bolton Abbey and Otley. It was 2° and sleeting, there were numerous cyclists out in Wharfedale and I was amazed to see many wearing shorts and track mitts - they must be 'ard.
PeteH 5/3/12

New club clothing order has arrived, Steve Cavell and I have been out all morning making deliveries from my saddlebag but I need a rest now so if you want to arrange to collect yours give me a call on 07649821349 or 01422 205547. Note that I have got a bit extra for stock so give me a call even if you didn't order but have now decided you need something.