Whats been happening

I'm sorry to have to inform Mel that according to the official results published for the Virgin Cyclone Sportive he and Dr. Palfreeman only managed 2nd fastest out of the 859 finishers of the long route - never mind, there's always next year (by the way, congratulations for an awesome ride - glad you weren't telling me just to sit on your wheel).

Whilst Mel was taking the Condor jersey to 2nd place up at Tyneside, Peeps was going one better by stepping to the top of the podium at the Clifton CC League of Veterans Road Race at Boroughbridge on Sunday, obviously my advice for him to ride the race as if he was riding up the Spen Valley Greenway worked (anyone who has ridden up the Greenway with Paul will know just what I mean). What a great result for someone who's made a comeback to racing this year after over 40 years away - its said that form is temporary but class is permanent, Peeps has shown he has CLASS!!.

Brian and Grimpy made the long journey down to Shropshire on Sunday to compete in the latest round of the Percy Stallard National Veterans Road Race Series. I seached the web for the results to find that our riders were placed equal 1st together with Mick Ives - an unusual result to say the least but I was to learn that the race was actually abandonned due to a vehicle accident.

We had a good turn out at the Yorkshire Mixture 200k Audax with 7 riders toeing the startline (thats not quite true because Simon, who decided that 200k is not long enough so rode out to the start at Otley from Huddersfield but turned up a few minutes late and having signed on then had to catch us up, which he did, and within a short time found himself at the front of the bunch pushing the head wind up Wharfedale). Five of us; Myself, Big Phil, Paul Daly, Damien and Simon stayed together taking turns at the front and setting a brisk pace up to Swaledale and back via Northallerton and Wetherby, just 3 other riders remained with us as we approached the Otley sign. Damien was doing a Sterling job as lead out man, I was comfortable sat on his wheel and could see the Otley sign getting closer but was outwitted by Simon who successfully went for a long sprint - hope it caused his legs to hurt on his ride home. Oakworth Steve had been with us in the earlier stages but we must have lost him up Wharfedale - hope he had a good day. Paul Gower had yet another super ride and would have taken the over 75's trophy by a country mile had there been any more over 75's capable of riding the event, he rode round with Dave Saleem and was still full of enthusiasm when I spoke to him later that evening.

13 or 14 turned up to enjoy the best weather of the day on Monday evening's mountain bike ride. It was good to see Ian Wellock making his debut, managing to fit in a local ride between MTB trips to the Far East and Europe. Elland's Mike Thompson joined us again showing no ill effects after riding the previous days audax on 72" fixed, it was in fact an easy day for him having ridden a double coast to coast the previous weekend (Pendle 600 Audax), also on 72 fixed and taking in such climbs as Hartside, Hardnott and Wrynose.