Sunday 2 Feb - road to anywhere?

The forecast looking alright for Sunday - if not sunny then at least dry with a fair southwesterly breeze.

So 9am Denholme and 9:30 Keighley could be good and then off wherever the fancy takes us (slowly, in my case, and with an early cafe stop, please). From last week's report is seems that the lie in wasn't a bad idea ... except that now my so-called 'training' is even further behind the real athletes. Ah well, we can always form A & B groups and send the fast lads off to do a couple of extra hills.

2013 Club Champions

Brian took the time trial trophy for the 30th time since 1975. During the year he broke the National  over 70's time trial record for ten miles, took the silver medal in the Vets national 30 mile championship and the gold medal in the vets national 50 by an astonishing 4 minutes on age standard.

John snatched the 2013 Road Race Trophy, he won the 2013 LVRC National Criterion Championship whilst Brian won the National Road Race Champs (with Grimpy 2nd and Peeps 5th).  The deciding factor was John's magnificent overall victory in the season long Percy Stallard National Series.
On the CycloX front John is the current age related National Champion in both the British Cycling and LVRC versions of the event and was silver medalist in the UCI World Championships held at Loisville, USA

There were two outstanding qualifiers for the Audax/Sportive trophy, Simon Fortune and 'Padiham' Chris Smith.   In 2013 Simon became the first Condor to complete the classic 1400km London - Edinburgh - London, he also completed a 200/300/400/600 series, and in a normal year would have taken this trophy with ease.  However with Chris now on the scene the bar has been lifted, a glance at the Audax web site revealed that Chris had logged 13,134 Audax kilometres (which included just short of 300,000 feet of climbing) and this doesn't include sportive s such as the Fred Whitton and the Mill & Hills. 

Sunday 26th January

Water, Water Everywhere!

Todays Riders

• Melvin
• Chris
• Irish John (VS Cycles)
• Dougie (VS Cycles)
• Adrian (British Cycling Disabled Team)
  

With grim, cold, wet weather from the outset this morning, it was swiftly decided that a quick bash up to Burnsall Cafe would be a sensible choice of route.

It was head down, ass up as we were buffeted by blustery squally showers. A fast ( ish ) pace was essential to avoid the ill effects of the cold setting in on Lycra clad bones.

Typical winter training. Clinging on to the wheel in-front whilst avoiding rain filled pot holes. Sleety snow started as we approached Cracoe with Minus 1 degree C registering on Johns Garmin. A hind puncture was the only thing to slow Melvin, which was efficiently attended to, as the rest of us shivered pathetically, and we were soon again rolling along.

A warm welcome at the Cafe was appreciated with great hospitality as usual. Once refueled and thawed, we hoped the weather would fair a little. It didn't!

Pressing on regardless past Bolton Abbey we enjoyed our first glimmer of sunshine  Splitting at Addingham, Keighley and Ingrow we made our separate ways home, to enjoy the satisfying post-ride feeling which is only obtainable by getting out there and turning a crank.

"  Winter Training rides, Win Summer Races "  APPARENTLY!

   Chris Smith

Sunday 26 Jan

I know that many of you are keen to get out, even when tomorrow is predicted to be 'slightly damp'.

In the absence of a better suggestion, shall we say 9am Denholme, 9:30 Keighley and take it from there.

It's the club dinner tonight, and so possible that some people might prefer a lie-in tomorrow ...

Sunday 19th January - Ride Report

Condor Provides a "Fearsome Visage"

Today's Riders

• Ian
• Damian
• Nigel
• Richard
• Chris
• Neil ( IMPS )

A sensible and well disciplined ride today. The poor start in the weather didn't put off the keenest of Calderdales cyclists, with a large number of groups assembling at Keighley Roundabout.
We thought it would be useful to check that Ye Olde Naked Man was still open and fully operational, as this is a control point for The North West Passage ride, held in a few weeks time.
After being kindly towed on main roads out of Keighley we threw a left to Cononley via Vietnam Bridge. Back lanes gave a safe route filled with wildlife to Gargrave. Airton flashed by with the whizzing of wheels. The road over Attamire was strewn with occupying Highland cattle, with horns to skewer an unsuspecting cyclist given the opportunity.
Damian was keen to achieve KOM status, so of course I had to give a little challenge in the name of sportsmanship. Neil was off the back here for a short while as the dreaded BONK set in for him. Im sure he'll be back to normal fitness given a few more 'Training Rides'.
Limestone showed its rugged beauty as we had a technical decent past Scalebor to Settles market place. Of course Ye Olde Naked Man, dating back to 1663 has had plenty of years to perfect bacon butties and beans on toast.
We briefly refueled and chose flatish back roads via Rathmell and Wigglesworth to rejoin the main road to turn up to Bank Newton, which this time last week resembled a glacier. We churned our way up past Acecroft Holsteins (excuse the pun) towards Parrot Brow.
A speedy pace kept up as we approached Keighley with all riders climbing Ingrow ( even Ian who had showed true training grit, to pass his 4x4 to prove to himself he still had enough left in his legs ).
Here we split to ride home in the bright winter afternoons sunshine. Thanks for a great ride guys!

       Chris Smith

Sunday 19 Jan - We Settled for Settle

Chris has volunteered a detailed report - to follow later.

A rare action shot of the Condors taken 'in flight' on the way back toward Carleton. Photos were also taken in the cafe at Settle and may be added later (assuming anyone wants to see yet more shots of some lycra-clad blokes enjoying mid-ride refreshments). Richard had just put in a good turn on the front but, from his expression here, perhaps he wasn't appreciating our comments about this rare event needing a commemorative picture?

BC National Cross Champs

Anyway i gave PG instructions on my iPhone to take pics but somehow he managed to take 6 of the guy who was second in my cat but none of me?? 

                                        Eventually i manage to get an official BC Podium pic

For the record i won the  O70’s cat (not to difficult only 2 finishers- mick ives was ill- PG said he didn’t start because coach PG was present?) as a saving grace i would have been 2nd in O65’s.
Still aching never had so much off the bike to contend with ideally you should have change bike each 1/2 lap. Trainer PG really struggled as they wouldn’t give him any pit water, 
Funny really because one lap i came in to find he disappeared, turns out he was on other side of pit still trying to clear the mud. 

                                                   Grimpy actually riding 

Ian Taylor and Andy Peace were in there element in the O40’s race. Craig just seems to float on mud, wins vets then comes third in elite race
still he’s only 44?

Can't wait for a sunday soon in hell, meanwhile i'm having a detrain with Maureen - see you soon  

Slide into the Dales

The sub-zero temperatures scuppered the original plans for Sunday. My intention was to start with the Ilkley CC lads at 8.30 for Halton Gill and then join the Condors at Feizor but with minus 4 and a freezing mist hanging in the Wharfe Valley they changed plans and after a circuit around Skipton with them I met the 7 Condor stalwarts at Uttley. Pete Smith, Pete H., Ian, Nige, Damian, Steve and Chris.
It was decided that, dismally, the main roads would be the safest policy but after Gargrave we were lured onto the quiet lanes to Bell Busk where we found our first ice flow - dumping Pete Smith from his lofty perch painfully onto the ground. Nursing a sore hip Pete decided to limp homewards and after Ian and Chris had also been horizontal we were all very twitchy and reduced to walking at the first sign of any shiny bits.
This slow progress resulted in us being thoroughly nithered by Hellifield and so we headed for a warming at the railway Station Cafe there.
After tea, butties and talk of railway things we lined out and headed down the main road to Gisburn and through Barnoldswick, Foulridge and the back lane to Laneshaw Bridge. Despite the temperature rising to a balmy 1 degree we played it safe and avoided the Herders instead taking the main road over the Moss where Pete H installed himself on the front in order, I suspect, to keep Padiham Chris off it.
I turned at Steeton to return over the Cringles after a steady and sensible ride - even Damian was holding back, perhaps tempered by his ride with the chain gang to Buckden the day before - unless it all kicked off after I left them ?!

Next Sunday - another attempt at Feizor perhaps ?

Today's Vets Ride and next Sunday 12th Jan

A very reasonable turn out of 12 for the first of the new years Wednesday Vets Rides. It was a slight variation of the Bolton Bridge cafe circuit in that Mike Beecham took us up through Allerton and down to Sandy Lane and Cottingley to avoid Manningham before joining our usual route through Esholt and Otley. All present; Paul G, Paul P, JK, the Stanger Brothers, Mike B, Everard, Brian, Grimpy, Hoppy, PC Chris and myself appear to have survived the festive season in reasonable shape (although most would deny this) and it was Grimpy, fresh from recent success at the LVRC National 'Cross Champs and International duties in Switzerland last Saturday who took the honors on the Ingrow climb but there will be many more battles before the year is over. Good luck to John in next Saturdays BC 'Cross Champs at Derby.

Sunday 12th January

Thanks to Richard and his i-phone for the above pic. taken at Hebden cafe last Sunday, I was eventually served with that mammoth bacon & sausage sandwich when everyone else had finished their lunches, I had no time to chew it, it had to be swallowed whole.

Next Sunday its again 9am Denholmgate, 9.30 Keighley roundabout - perhaps Feizor? - gives us options of main roads or back lanes depending on weather conditions.

Grimpy's Cross News ?

Just done only my 3rd & 4th cross's of the season
Third Event 
December 29th LVRC Nat Champs

Sorry about the quality of pic, gave my iPhone to another non technical winner? I'm flanked by the Jewson duo Mick Ives and Graham Clements struggling to get my jersey on. If i recall correctly i was 25th in the overall the winner was Darren Atkins who is presently leading the BC nat trophy series. For you old sods like me you will remember his Father the great John Atkins. Superb course at Moreton Morbury, fantastic decent but due to my condition lots of heavy breathing.

Fourth Event 
World Masters UCI champs 4th Jan 2014- Venue Gossau in Switzerland (about 20km from Zurich) 
An eventful trip.
I made the decision to go a few days before the event dreaming i had the condition? 
Took the north sea ferry and drove down to Mulhouse in France close to the
swiss border for my overnight stay leaving me with about 100mile trip to the venue. 
Arrived via sat nav.(how did we mange without it), in reasonable shape considering the long drive on Saturday morning about 3 hours before the event start time at 13.00. Signed on to the 65 + championship event with no over 70's cat. The last time i road in the over 65's i was 5th but that was 3 years ago? Still because i was an ex world champ i was on the front row of the grid. So with ego built up the gun fired and we were away. Off road into the glue and down the first decent, Vic Barnet (2013 over 65's world Champ) falls but i stay on and go through the pits in 5th place. But already my bike is clogging up due to the conditions (5C in the swiss alps in January) we need some snow. Reality jumps in I've no support just a spare bike which i dropped in the pits, i did ask Mick Ives if Jewson team support could assist. ' Best you take yourself so you remember where it is'? Still you can float when you are in the grove and have the condition?
Gradually i am past by a few riders and am going backwards quick. So its into the pits and onto my spare bike. Fatigue easer's and i start to move with less pain. The welcome bell sounds but the spare bike weighs more than PG's machine and its getting clogged up. I pass the pits and my girl friday (lovely young girl whom I've never met) shouts I've jet cleaned your bike i smile saying dreams do come true?
Away on the light machine and up goes the speed and my moral, i catch one guy with a stars and strips jersey and see another ahead who i thought i caught on the line. But computer result shows same time and behind him still i was only sprinting for 8th. So sorry guys best i could do was 9th? still they were all younger than me? Well it makes me feel better. Also if you are going to win you have to race and train in your specific event. So next year i'm resolving to get in better shape? Its the long drive back -still i found a new friend but don't tell maureen.
Finally i see i will be able to get an hammering on the road soon on the sunday (training) runs, but before that it's the BC national champs in Derby this Saturday.
Cheers Grimpy   



     



     

KETTLEWELL 5th Jan 2014

There was a time when the first Sunday run of the new year, billed as a "training run", heralded the start of longer and harder rides to build fitness after a social season.Unfortunately for some of us,in this era of all year round Audaxi and sportives, a high level of fitness has been maintained by many members for whom a jaunt to upper Wharfedale presents no challenge whatsoever.

                                                                                                   
Half a dozen Condors, mainly from the above group, left Keighley accompanied by a similar number of Paul Milnes Cycles chaps at a fair gallop with Damian and Padiham Chris pulling on the front, my computer reading numbers starting with a 2 most of the time! A more sedate pace ensued after Skipton when Pete Horne took a turn, although from my position hiding near the back we could see that some condors were eager to push on, overlapping and bunching up behind Pete and impeding passing traffic. It didn't go unnoticed by others in the group who were shouting for a more disciplined peleton. Perhaps some of us need lessons in "club"riding?                                                                                                                  
The cafe being shut in Kettlewell we thundered through and took the back road to Conistone at just about maximum safe speed for a winding, greasy, twig and branch strewn country lane, to arrive at the Old school house in Hebden, and still only 10 past 11!

                                                                                             
              Breakfast allowed a chance for some stragglers to catch up including our own Richard (the vicar) who had lost contact coming out of Skipton. Peter decided that porcine based products were the best fuel for the return journey and promptly ordered a sausage and bacon butty, not helped by the power cut shortly after our arrival, this monster of a sarny eventually arrived as some people were paying and donning helmets!
Poor Pete didn't even have time (or room) for flapjack or some other delaying frivolity.                                                
           Appletreewick and the back road to the cavendish were cracked off in ever decreasing numbers of riders after breakfast and Addingham Moorside selected as the route back to the Aire valley. I knew at some point my legs would start complaining and they duly obliged on the start of this climb, Melv, Damian and others jousting for the summit as me, Pete and Oakworth Steve brought up the rear.On cresting the hill I was suprised to see that they had waited for us and we descended to Silsden where we picked up Richard who had gone over cringles.

            Damian, who had been having his own forays off the front all day in the style of a scout sent ahead to see if the way is clear, finally disappeared into the distance before Keighley and we were left in the company of the Pennine cycles group for a sensible climb of Ingrow. I really could have done without that strengthening southerly wind and accompanying rain as I battled over Fly Flatts to home.

Early Season Events

A few dates you may wish to enter in your diary.

Saturday 15th February  The North West Passage 200k Audax, 2014's first 'Monument', the oldest Audax on the calender and supported by the Condor since the 70's.

Sunday 23rd February  Halifax Imps Reliability Ride, same route as last year, a bit hilly with 'Le Tour in Yorkshire' run-in.

Saturday 8th March  Yorkshire Gallop 200k Audax, a circuit of the Vale of York Racecourses.

Sunday 16th March  Ronde van Calderdale Recce'  A look at the cobbles to come on the 6th of April. Meeting at Brighouse 9am, joining the official route at the top of Rastrick  and missing out the Fly Flat and Cock Hill sections.

Sunday 23rd March  Todmorden Loops 100k Audax. One for the hardriders, catering 2nd to none, enter on-line via the Audax UK website  http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-995/

Sunday 30th March  Wheelbase Spring Classic. Excellent and popular sportive route from Staveley, a reasonable entry fee and good feed station.

Sunday 6th April  Ronde van Calderdale - need I say more - a classic sportive on our doorstep promoted by our friends from Kirklees Cycling Academy and 3RT. You can relax for the rest of the year after finishing this. Enter on-line  https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/102030/Ronde-Van-Calderdale-2014

Sunday 13th April  Spring into the Dales, 110k Audax. A perpetual favorite brought to us by CTC Calderdale, enter here http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-162/  Who will have the honor of breaking the skin on the rice pudding?

Saturday 26th April  Imps LVRC road race. Condor will be helping with marshaling so if you're not riding the race your assistance is required.

Sunday 27th April  Red Rose 200k Audax. Another CTC Calderdale day out with lunch at Glasson Dock, http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/14-99/

New Years Day Ride Report and Sunday 5th Jan

It was great to see so many keen cyclists at the start today and although the weather was a little inclement at times enthusiasm was not dampened as we made our way to the iconic 'Sids Cafe' at Holmfirth.

Pinkie and Mick Collins did a good hard stint at the front through Huddersfield until our prayers were eventually answered just out of Honley when Pinkie punctured.

After a good breakfast stop we set off in the rain on the Isle of Skye road in moderate temperatures with a buffeting cross tail wind, the main problem being keeping the bike on the road in the strong gusts.

However we were sheltered in the valley from Greenfield to Denshaw before turning right over Buckstones and down to the Works in Sowerby Bridge where Mr Gower was collecting 2014 subs (Still only £6 - payment requested as soon as possible).

SUNDAY 5th Jan
Meet Denholmegate 9am or Keighley 9.30 for Wharfedale. Note that the cafe at Kettlewell is closed so we will have to decide cafe on the day depending on the weather.