Friday, October 30, 2015

Dinners & CTC Insurance

Imps Dinner & Presentation Saturday 28th November
 
I don't know if anyone would be interested but i attached a menu for our dinner.
 
We don't have long speeches,in fact no speeches,  no welcoming and toasting going on - just a beautiful meal, presentation, raffle and then dancing to live act.
(Well last year was the first time in many a year we've had a live band but they went down so well - I've got another band lined up for this year.
They'll be playing mostly hits from the 50s/60s and ensure me they'll have everybody up dancing - which last years band did the instant they started playing.
 
i have just 8 places left if anyone is interested.
 
John & Maureen, Brian & Danuta, Paul & Alwyn and John & Linda are all ready booked
 
Could you post if you think anybody might be interested
 
thanks
Janice  Janliz@scartop.freeserve.co.uk>  
Halifax Wheelers Menu 2015
.doc

Wednesday Club Christmas Dinner Weds 16th December

Robin Hood at Cragg Vale has been booked again for this years Wednesday Vets Christmas Dinner. Meal booked for 1 o'clock. I'm taking bookings now (£5 deposit).  I can be contacted on 07549 821349 or petehorne@yahoo.co.uk.

CTC Club Membership

Our club membership has once again been renewed and members of Condor Road Club can obtain CTC 3rd party insurance without paying for full membership of the CTC. Our club membership number is 8017806.  Go to http://www.ctc.org.uk/membership/affiliate-membership-for-cycling-clubs-and-groups-of-all-types-and-sizes for details.

Sunday 1st November. Airton.

Denholme 09.00, Keighley 09.30 (GMT) this Sunday for a spin up to Airton. One club member has expressed a desire to get there via Arncliffe but if we don't feel up to it I'm sure we can talk Melv into another route!

Monday, October 26, 2015

Hill Climb Champs - Chris' Report


Tuesday, October 20, 2015

Last Weekend - Next Weekend


In his final preparation for next Sunday's National Hill Climb Championship Chris was thwarted by the cancellation of the Nelson Wheelers Hill Climb on Saturday, Chris was restricted to only one race at the weekend, the Nick o' Pendle Climb on Sunday. With a head wind up the Nick he recorded a time several seconds slower than last year but achieved 10th place overall behind comeback man, former multi national champion, Jim Henderson.

 

Whilst Chris was sprinting up the Nick, Simon and I were enjoying cycling at a more leisurely pace with a circuit around the Vale of York. After the superb Autumn weather we have been experiencing for several weeks the conditions were a little disappointing, with damp roads and drizzle I chose the mud-guarded Audax bike. Unfortunately several weeks of riding the best bike had softened me up and the bike felt to be sticking to the roads, a problem not shared by Simon who was getting stronger as the day progressed, as illustrated by the fact that when we split after 130 miles he rode to a Strava PR on almost every segment for the remaining miles.

Sunday 25th October
Its the National Hill Climb Champs this coming Sunday, on the Jackson Bridge climb, near Holmfirth. Amazingly 240 entries have been accepted with the 1st rider off at 10.30am, with the riders starting at 1 minute intervals that's 4 hours. I was pleased to see that Condor's only representative, Chris has been seeded to start with the fast men near the end of the field, number 225, with a start time of 2.15pm.
This gives us the opportunity to have a good ride before getting to Jackson Bridge to give Chris vocal encouragement so I'm suggesting we meet at Elland Bridge at 8.30am (that's a good sleep in as we turn the clocks back Sat night).

Friday, October 16, 2015

Falling Leaves 200

For those who haven't been seduced by Ian's promise of an ultra hard and gruelling MTB ride (with a brief mid-way cafĂ© stop), here's the route for the Falling Leaves 200 - an idyllic potter in the Vale of York with a relaxed, laid back luncheon in one of Pocklington's greasy spoon bistro's and a (almost) guaranteed tail wind return, here's the route in .GPX format for you to upload to your Garmin (other GPS devices also available) 
https://www.strava.com/routes/3471211
https://www.strava.com/routes/3471465

Some muddy options - 18 Oct

Thanks Peter for the 'Season of Mists' write-up - it was a good ride on a fine day and could have been bettered only by a brief mid-way cafe stop. Yep, Shibden Park hosts two days of cyclocross racing this weekend. Robin has entered on Saturday and Grimpy on Sunday so feel free to support your club-mates and take advantage too of the Belgian beer, frites & mayonnaise on offer. See britishcycling or rapha for details.

A mountain bike ride has been proposed for Sunday starting 9am in the Co-Op car park in Hebden Bridge. Ominously, Steve Barker said 'I know a route' so it will probably involve several miles of bog with a raging headwind ... apparently 200k with Mr Horne is now looking a more attractive option, if only I knew how to get to Brighouse.

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Updates & this weekend

Thanks once again to Chris Crossland and CTC Calderdale for promoting the Season of Mists Audax last Sunday. To add to the organisation which gave us a great route and rider care beyond comparison we were blessed with an ideal autumn day (which hopefully has banished the nightmare memories for some of the weather on Spring into the Dales).
The Condor were once again there in force, I won't try to mention everyone because I would no doubt miss out some names but a few names must be recorded on this blog. Firstly Paul Gower, who only days before his 78th birthday attacked what must be the hardest 100k events in the country and completed it with a smile on his face. He was kept company be Peeps, who although 4 or 5 years younger than PG was only days away from having a new knee fitted (hope its all gone okay Paul and its not too long before we're having to reprimand you again for winding it up on the Wednesday ride).
Another ride of note came from Steve Thewlis who I believe is the only person to have completed every edition of the event (please correct me if I'm wrong Chris). Steve was looking strong but disappeared after the last check at Colden Tea Rooms having problems with the drive chain and broken rear changer hanger. After spending some time converting the bike to single speed he finished the event with a broken chain stay on his carbon Trek.
At the sharp end Graeme Brown blew the field apart on the first climb up to Heptonstall but was soon joined by Mel together with our old mate Mark Sadler, now in the colours on HD Revolutions. I understand that Mel was the driving force and was there at the end to perform the traditional breaking of the skin on the rice pudding.
Personally, after a struggle up through Heptonstall I settled down with clubmates including Ian, Garry Traviss, Phil Haigh and Steve T plus Simon and Chris S who both had to short circuit due to other commitments, Simon at the BMX track at Manchester Velodrome and Chris had an appointment with The Rake at Ramsbottom. We had frequent meetings with Potholer Bob of CTC Calderdale who pulled no punches when expressing his opinion of cyclists who ride in groups and insisted on riding behind us up-hill and in front down-hill. We also had the pleasure of riding with the 3RT boys who we found loitering on a street corner in Chatburn looking lost. They were good company until half way up Widdop when upon realising they were no longer lost the speed went up and I was left floundering.
I could ramble on for a long time about an action packed 4¾ hours but its my bedtime so I won't.

Whilst one event per weekend is plenty for me Chris managed to fit in three; Jackson Bridge and Holme Moss hill climbs on Saturday and The Rake on Sunday. After his victory on Blackstone Edge the previous week he was up against the top climbers in the country in these events and although he didn't get any brown envelopes filled with cash this week he proved his progress by beating last years times. Keep it up Chris, you're doing a great job flying the flag for your club.
 

Falling Leaves 200 - Sunday 18th

Its a descent weather forecast for this coming Sunday so to make the most of the fag-end of the cycling year I've planned and exciting 200k circuit starting in Brighouse and travelling through the lanes to the south of York for a café stop at Pocklington and the returning through the lanes to the north of York, over Aldwark Bridge and through Wetherby on the way home. Only myself and Simon have shown the necessary enthusiasm so far but if you fancy joining us be at Sainsbury's Roundabout in Brighouse at 8am.

I understand that Ian is planning a MTB ride on Sunday meeting in Hebden Bridge, possibly calling in at Shibden Park on the circuit to spectate at the Rapha Cross (where Grimpy's racing, plus possibly Robin - I'd better let Ian update the blog on that one).  I'm going to bed.

Tuesday, October 06, 2015

Chris - flies up Blackstone Edge for 1st place


Just logged on myself to remind everyone about Season of Mists this coming Sunday but I see I've been beaten to it - expecting a good turn out from the Condor who should be well represented throughout the field. Its a shame it clashes with quite a few other local events this weekend (Mills & Hills Sportive, Calderdale MTB Marathon, Spagers Ride) but the Mist's will, as always, be Condor's main event.

Now for the serious stuff, a big congratulations to Padiham Chris. He had a comparatively quiet weekend with only 2 races. On Saturday he rode the Rossendale RC climb up Woodplumpton Road to Crown Point taking 8th place.

He was obviously saving himself for the West Pennine climb up Blackstone Edge on Sunday where he was fastest, his first win in open competition, well done Chris.

Yes, I know its not Blackstone Edge but its the best I can do.


Season of Mists - 11 Oct 2015

With no club ride being posted up last weekend, I'd better get in early with a reminder that this Sunday it is the Season of Mists ride from Mytholmroyd Community Centre - meet 8:45 for 9am start.

http://www.westyorkshiresr.org.uk/event/season-of-mists-2/?instance_id=398

A hilly 100 kilometre ride from Hebden Bridge, into the Ribble Valley, with a  generous time limit based on a minimum speed of 12 kph and a maximum of 24 kph. So that's at most 14.9 mph. Suits me.