Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Road race results - Condors take 1st & 2nd
Despite mistakenly starting with a younger age group Brian managed to take 1st place overall in the LVRC Barton-on-Humber Road Race last Saturday. To add to the Condors successful day Grimpy not only took 2nd place overall but also won the primes points category.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Seacroft Wheelers RR - 29th March
After the blustery (and snowy!) start to the weekend it was a relief to wake up early on sunday morning to see blue skys and not a breath of wind! After a quick scout of the course I was a bit alarmed to see big patches of ice scattered around some of the corners, but they'd quickly melted as soon as the sun hit them.
So, to the race. After the 5 minutes of neutralised riding to the start line we were off on a rolling start and the attacks came quick and fast. The field wasn't letting anything go today and every break away on the first 3 laps of the circuit was reeled in by the bunch. One group of about 7 got away for a good half a lap but then were chased down by the pack after a quick injection of pace by Team Chevin Cycles. At the start of the 7th lap it was clear it was going down to a bunch sprint and the pace quickly wound up. I finished comfortably in the top half of the bunch, but out of the points. A definate success for an early season race, just need to work on my sprints and picking out the right wheels to follow!
So, to the race. After the 5 minutes of neutralised riding to the start line we were off on a rolling start and the attacks came quick and fast. The field wasn't letting anything go today and every break away on the first 3 laps of the circuit was reeled in by the bunch. One group of about 7 got away for a good half a lap but then were chased down by the pack after a quick injection of pace by Team Chevin Cycles. At the start of the 7th lap it was clear it was going down to a bunch sprint and the pace quickly wound up. I finished comfortably in the top half of the bunch, but out of the points. A definate success for an early season race, just need to work on my sprints and picking out the right wheels to follow!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
"Summer Time and the weather is freezing"
Hi Richard. Thanks for the post. Yes we are out and it looks like tomorrow will be cold but clear. Still, it'd be just as well to wrap up warm and maybe give that winter bike one last outing.
The plan is to meet at Whittakers in Denholme Gate at 09:00 (new summer time - equivalent to 8am GMT), or 09:30 at Keighley roundabout. Get your thinking caps on for a good route to a nice cafe, maybe one that we haven't been to in a while. My apologies to Janis Joplin for the title of this message!
Ian
The plan is to meet at Whittakers in Denholme Gate at 09:00 (new summer time - equivalent to 8am GMT), or 09:30 at Keighley roundabout. Get your thinking caps on for a good route to a nice cafe, maybe one that we haven't been to in a while. My apologies to Janis Joplin for the title of this message!
Ian
Tomorrow 29th March
Unlike the rest of you I did the right thing on Mothers' Day last week and am now looking forward to my reward. Anyone out tomorrow?
Text or post (new mobile 07810830752)
Text or post (new mobile 07810830752)
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Something aFoot
The last of the CCA rides is listed as Luddenden Foot this Sunday at 08:30. We may as well take that as a start and work on from there. Robin and Neil both seemed keen when we spoke on Wednesday. Anyone else fancy joining us? The route is open to offers. How about up Cragg, then see how we feel. The forecast is for cold & cloudy with a westerly breeze so maybe the regular summer route is an option or Isle of Skye with a tailwind? The chances are it will stay dry so I think that the best bikes might be in order, Ian
Monday, March 16, 2009
Spring in Slaidburn
The blog has been surprisingly quiet for the past couple of weeks. I think the training runs proposed by Sean worked well earlier in the year but have probably now finished as the faster riders peel off to race and the potterers carry on pottering.
Two weeks ago a couple of us westerners made the effort to get to the start in Brighouse for 8.30 but found just ourselves there. We then battled round with a windy ride over Isle of Skye.
Last week I went to the start at Denholme and agin the only other person there was Vicar. Still, we had a pleasant run to Cracoe & back. We spotted Grimpy out by himself - does anyone have any news or results of John's trip to the World Champs on 31 Jan?
This Sunday the forcast was for bright sunshine and a stiff north-westerly breeze and I'm happy to report that we got both. Robin had gone out on his own but was diverted by The Condor coming over Cock Hill and came with us instead from Hebden Bridge out through Burnley. From my viewpoint riding behind them, it seemed like The Condor was no less than a half-wheel in front at any point. Still, I was grateful for the shelter and it got me through Whalley feeling fine. Robin then announced a pressing lunchtime appointment back home and turned early while the twins & I followed gorgeous empty roads (including one big dipper that really should be on Blackpool seafront) out to Slaidburn. The road back through Tosside is 8 miles all downhill and, with a strong tailwind, is what best bikes were made for.
After I'd been pleading for mercy on Ingrow, Nige told me off for climbing too fast up the old road from Oxenhope over to the windmills. Still, I was chuffed to do 85 miles and have enough energy left to walk down the pub afterwards. Mind you, I was alseep on the sofa by half way through the film that evening ...
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Robin - a new poster
I found this comment hidden away on the blog - see the 18th of Jan. i'll do Robin a favour - since he has written so much - and put it here for all to see. Mind you, I've just now read it all the way through and he's not being very complimentary you know. Ian/Kris.
robin said...
It seems a way back, but as it is the last time I rode a bike I can remember just, and I ought leave some comment as it will make a change from Ian always doing it. So Steve and I meet at Peckett Well as usual, so as to get extra hillage in before meeting up with 'the bunch that never waits' on its way through from somewhere that goes by the way of Denholme, a place that is really only ever 'by the way', somewhere to go through without really noticing. The bunch comes through and without stopping Steve, myself, The Condor and someone resembling Kris Kristofferson in his post- Barbara Streisand bust-up days, but who turns out to be Ian, jump on the back. We all get sleeted on. Neil has a rubbish rear mudguard. I complain. Someone complains I have a rubbish rear mudguard. Meantime the rear of Damien's jersey has been visited by a slug falling with the sleet .. one of those minor natural anomalies the religious-minded like to call 'signs' miracles, or someone has ejaculated on his back. Either way his jersey looking a mess from behind. We hit the main road to Skipton. No slowing. No going the back way. Bray on. The Condor is enjoying it. On front is Irish John (as he seems to be known on this blog) and his mate, whose name I cannot remember, so I am going to call him Johnsmate (that's how names started back in the day anyway, so it might catch on). They seem to be going too well for what is early season. John explains a little later he is thinking of entering the Lincoln GP later in the year. The speed begins to make more sense. Through Skipton, then bump along the tardy road to Grassington. Car sounds horn, cyclists raise fingers; cause and effect still in place, the universe is still ticking over despite the credit crisis. We near Grassington and we are faced with a well planned mutiny as a group of three break free from the authority of Captain Speed. Neil, Kriss and Damien flat line their own way to Malham would you know, leaving the Sean, Niall, The Condor, John, Johnsmate, Steve and me to maintain some kind of order. Speed begins to pick up as a kind of gesture to this self willed jettisoning of 'load' from the group hold. Then Johnsmate snaps his HG70. You could say bad riding, but not so. Just rubbish chains. The sleet comes back in time to whiten the dirty puddle in which Johnsmate tries to wash his oily hands. To restore cosmic balance the rest of us take a piss. And so past Kilnsey, then west up to Arncliffe and thence into the chastening embrace of a snow shower as we climb up and over. The Condor and Steve make some kind of pact about defending club honour and send me up the road to try and keep with John and Johnsmate. I am the one with appropriate gear ratios for coping, evidently. Women's gears Damien calls them - he wouldn't be seen dead with anything like these plate-sized cogs on his bike. I hit maximum spin and stay there. No deviation. Johnsmate has not been to this hill before and thinks he spies the top. It looks like the top, but is one of those all too familiar tease-tops that we all experience but never learn from. He sits back down. The snow is rather thick now. The road is white, we are white. Can't see much. We go up by not really looking, until we feel the third cattle grid. Then we wait for a strung out group, terminating in Niall, who appears chipper enough, though also appears without a coat. He must be hard or something. Sean lifts the mood by telling us all it is downhill to Malham now; we have all ridden this route countless times before (apart from Johnsmate)and know this to be crap. The snow has cleared of course. It was waiting for the climb and has spent itself. We tease our way through the limestone, until we hit the cafe. I decide to go on, not wanting to lessen my status as the one who is always wanting to get home. This of course is a mistake because I pop half way up Ingrow, and unable to cope psychologically with losing height down to Oxenhope and then having to re-climb it up Cock Hill, I opt to go back through Denholme, which this time round remains by my way for much longer than usual. My mistake was not, however, as big as Steve's, who stopped at the cafe. Niall had done the sensible thing and phoned mum for a lift home, The Condor had taken himself off onto the lonely heights of some lesser visited dale, leaving Steve to try and fend with the wake of fast disappearing first cats. Hee hee. He eventually did the sensible thing too, and phoned for a lift home. Evidently the mutineers were supposed to have been waiting at the cafe to act as a kind of return home go slow insulation, but for some reason they weren't there. Too dissolute to be let in probably, what with the stains and red neck beards and crap bikes and all.
4:34 PM
robin said...
It seems a way back, but as it is the last time I rode a bike I can remember just, and I ought leave some comment as it will make a change from Ian always doing it. So Steve and I meet at Peckett Well as usual, so as to get extra hillage in before meeting up with 'the bunch that never waits' on its way through from somewhere that goes by the way of Denholme, a place that is really only ever 'by the way', somewhere to go through without really noticing. The bunch comes through and without stopping Steve, myself, The Condor and someone resembling Kris Kristofferson in his post- Barbara Streisand bust-up days, but who turns out to be Ian, jump on the back. We all get sleeted on. Neil has a rubbish rear mudguard. I complain. Someone complains I have a rubbish rear mudguard. Meantime the rear of Damien's jersey has been visited by a slug falling with the sleet .. one of those minor natural anomalies the religious-minded like to call 'signs' miracles, or someone has ejaculated on his back. Either way his jersey looking a mess from behind. We hit the main road to Skipton. No slowing. No going the back way. Bray on. The Condor is enjoying it. On front is Irish John (as he seems to be known on this blog) and his mate, whose name I cannot remember, so I am going to call him Johnsmate (that's how names started back in the day anyway, so it might catch on). They seem to be going too well for what is early season. John explains a little later he is thinking of entering the Lincoln GP later in the year. The speed begins to make more sense. Through Skipton, then bump along the tardy road to Grassington. Car sounds horn, cyclists raise fingers; cause and effect still in place, the universe is still ticking over despite the credit crisis. We near Grassington and we are faced with a well planned mutiny as a group of three break free from the authority of Captain Speed. Neil, Kriss and Damien flat line their own way to Malham would you know, leaving the Sean, Niall, The Condor, John, Johnsmate, Steve and me to maintain some kind of order. Speed begins to pick up as a kind of gesture to this self willed jettisoning of 'load' from the group hold. Then Johnsmate snaps his HG70. You could say bad riding, but not so. Just rubbish chains. The sleet comes back in time to whiten the dirty puddle in which Johnsmate tries to wash his oily hands. To restore cosmic balance the rest of us take a piss. And so past Kilnsey, then west up to Arncliffe and thence into the chastening embrace of a snow shower as we climb up and over. The Condor and Steve make some kind of pact about defending club honour and send me up the road to try and keep with John and Johnsmate. I am the one with appropriate gear ratios for coping, evidently. Women's gears Damien calls them - he wouldn't be seen dead with anything like these plate-sized cogs on his bike. I hit maximum spin and stay there. No deviation. Johnsmate has not been to this hill before and thinks he spies the top. It looks like the top, but is one of those all too familiar tease-tops that we all experience but never learn from. He sits back down. The snow is rather thick now. The road is white, we are white. Can't see much. We go up by not really looking, until we feel the third cattle grid. Then we wait for a strung out group, terminating in Niall, who appears chipper enough, though also appears without a coat. He must be hard or something. Sean lifts the mood by telling us all it is downhill to Malham now; we have all ridden this route countless times before (apart from Johnsmate)and know this to be crap. The snow has cleared of course. It was waiting for the climb and has spent itself. We tease our way through the limestone, until we hit the cafe. I decide to go on, not wanting to lessen my status as the one who is always wanting to get home. This of course is a mistake because I pop half way up Ingrow, and unable to cope psychologically with losing height down to Oxenhope and then having to re-climb it up Cock Hill, I opt to go back through Denholme, which this time round remains by my way for much longer than usual. My mistake was not, however, as big as Steve's, who stopped at the cafe. Niall had done the sensible thing and phoned mum for a lift home, The Condor had taken himself off onto the lonely heights of some lesser visited dale, leaving Steve to try and fend with the wake of fast disappearing first cats. Hee hee. He eventually did the sensible thing too, and phoned for a lift home. Evidently the mutineers were supposed to have been waiting at the cafe to act as a kind of return home go slow insulation, but for some reason they weren't there. Too dissolute to be let in probably, what with the stains and red neck beards and crap bikes and all.
4:34 PM
Sunday, February 01, 2009
2 Feb 09 - Splitting in Settle
The boys in red - Melv, Sean, Niall & Vicar - pressed on ahead while Damien & I mounted a rear-guard action up the climb to Settle from Airton by Scalebar Falls. The front group had already ordered by the time we reached the Naked Man. Still, the snow was holding off and we'd had a relatively easy time in the cold easterly wind so far.
Vicar then took a chance and asked us to hang on for "5 minutes" while he ran a quick errand in Settle. However, it was a tad cold standing outside the cafe and we couldn't hang about for long. As soon as one wheel "pottered on" up the road the rest had to follow, trying desperately to warm up. Even stopping to put a jacket on didn't allow Vicar to catch up, and sadly we then split up and, I suspect, each took of us different routes. Sean had stayed with me but I had to let him go up the road and hopefully meet with his lad in Gargrave. I had a slow & steady ride back alone - and I've rarely been so glad to see Keighley!
Comment from Vicar:
Ian, I was back in less than five minutes but you were gone. I did chase but can only assume I followed a different route because I didn't see any of you guys for the rest of the day. I took the direct route down the A65 then right at Broughton to Gargrave then through Carleton and Cross Hills.
I was surprised to see your car at Keighley but even more surprised, as I was loading my bike in to my car, to see Sean (without his lad) come past me heading towards Halifax. Sean was a good 2mph faster than me out of Airton to Settle so he should have arrived at Denholme, I would guess, 20 mins to half an hour before me- there must be a story there.
I seemed to come back pretty fresh all things considered but that may be more perception rather than reality (nobody half wheeling me, able to go at my own pace etc etc). It may also have something to do with my eating strategy; lots of energy bars, gels, a bacon sandwich and cake. Hope to see you next SundayRichard
2:12 PM
Johnny Perry said...
Sounds good, I see Vicar's been up to his dissapearing tricks again! My bike's now been rebuilt with shiny shim sham parts (thanks Ian!) so i should be out riding again as soon as this snow stops!
5:23 PM
Vicar then took a chance and asked us to hang on for "5 minutes" while he ran a quick errand in Settle. However, it was a tad cold standing outside the cafe and we couldn't hang about for long. As soon as one wheel "pottered on" up the road the rest had to follow, trying desperately to warm up. Even stopping to put a jacket on didn't allow Vicar to catch up, and sadly we then split up and, I suspect, each took of us different routes. Sean had stayed with me but I had to let him go up the road and hopefully meet with his lad in Gargrave. I had a slow & steady ride back alone - and I've rarely been so glad to see Keighley!
Comment from Vicar:
Ian, I was back in less than five minutes but you were gone. I did chase but can only assume I followed a different route because I didn't see any of you guys for the rest of the day. I took the direct route down the A65 then right at Broughton to Gargrave then through Carleton and Cross Hills.
I was surprised to see your car at Keighley but even more surprised, as I was loading my bike in to my car, to see Sean (without his lad) come past me heading towards Halifax. Sean was a good 2mph faster than me out of Airton to Settle so he should have arrived at Denholme, I would guess, 20 mins to half an hour before me- there must be a story there.
I seemed to come back pretty fresh all things considered but that may be more perception rather than reality (nobody half wheeling me, able to go at my own pace etc etc). It may also have something to do with my eating strategy; lots of energy bars, gels, a bacon sandwich and cake. Hope to see you next SundayRichard
2:12 PM
Johnny Perry said...
Sounds good, I see Vicar's been up to his dissapearing tricks again! My bike's now been rebuilt with shiny shim sham parts (thanks Ian!) so i should be out riding again as soon as this snow stops!
5:23 PM
Club Dinner 31 Jan 09
The Condors were a bit thin on the ground at the club dinner but many visiting friends from the Imps, West Pennine, VS cycles and the CTC ensured we had a good do. Thanks again to Paul Gower for organising and he deservedly took home "Club Person of the Year" trophy. I'll do a full report and maybe even some minutes of the AGM soon.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Silverdale this Sunday?
We're meeting at Denholme again this Sunday (1 Feb). I don't know if it's too early in the year for Silverdale but as we're meeting a little earlier this week (9am) I guess it would be feasible. Any opinions?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Route for Sunday 18th
We're setting off from Denholme Gate this week. Could I suggest Arncliffe via Kilnsey, return via Malham Cafe then home? Any other suggestions or variations?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Grimpy does it again (and again)!
First off we have a report of John's success winning his age in the North of England Championships held at Hetton Lyons Country Park on 3 January 2009.
Then it was another victory last Saturday 10 Jan 09 at Peel Park in Bradford taking first 65+ in the National Championships. Brilliant! Gower and Brian were there for support and to cheer him on.
I wonder if we can get the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2009 live on BBC Grandstand? It is the same day as the club dinner - 31 Jan - so John may have make a difficult choice which to attend.
Then it was another victory last Saturday 10 Jan 09 at Peel Park in Bradford taking first 65+ in the National Championships. Brilliant! Gower and Brian were there for support and to cheer him on.
I wonder if we can get the UCI Cyclo-Cross World Championships 2009 live on BBC Grandstand? It is the same day as the club dinner - 31 Jan - so John may have make a difficult choice which to attend.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Tour of Otley Report
Slightly reduced numbers for the training ride this Sunday,with just 7 turning up in Shelf. We decided to stay to the east of the Pennines to avoid the reports of rain on the wrong side. This in the full knowledge that we'd be heading directly into the South Westerly wind on our way back, ce'st la vie! With just one representative Condor (Damian) we did wonder where the Condors were - but didn't dwell on it too long before setting out for the wastes of Bradford.
We were doing Melvin's ride of last year, through Otley over Leathley, Beckwithshaw, Bland Hill, Swanby Reservoirs and back to Otley. Damian and Neil's legs decided they were having none of the pace set by John Dohety and Chris Thompson as soon as the gradient went upwards after Leathley and took the short cut back to the cafe in Otley. Soon after the reservoirs the distance was getting to Niall, so Sean gamely stayed back with him while Martin Gargett, John and Chris pushed on into the gale force headwind.
A quick regrouping in Otley and we were all together for the push home. Inevitably, tired legs kicked in again on the grind out of Bradford and the group split, much as it had before. The rain held off long enough for us to get home dry - another good hard ride under the belt.
We were doing Melvin's ride of last year, through Otley over Leathley, Beckwithshaw, Bland Hill, Swanby Reservoirs and back to Otley. Damian and Neil's legs decided they were having none of the pace set by John Dohety and Chris Thompson as soon as the gradient went upwards after Leathley and took the short cut back to the cafe in Otley. Soon after the reservoirs the distance was getting to Niall, so Sean gamely stayed back with him while Martin Gargett, John and Chris pushed on into the gale force headwind.
A quick regrouping in Otley and we were all together for the push home. Inevitably, tired legs kicked in again on the grind out of Bradford and the group split, much as it had before. The rain held off long enough for us to get home dry - another good hard ride under the belt.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Kettlewell Report - 4 Jan 09
The first run of the year seemed to go OK and people joined in or dropped out as they wanted. It was good to see so many out. Sean & Niall, Grimpy, Damien, Irish John, Young Johnny, Melv, Vicar, myself, and Andy (eventually, after he'd chased on all the way from Denholme to nearly Skipton - it was good extra training and I'm sure he's benefitted from the workout).
There were still five of us to enjoy the good butties at Madame Zarina's cafe and watch the 2CVs go past. On the way back we met up with Janice & Paul Hicky who were coming home from Cracoe. I think they were the last remnants of the joint club run but I was happy for a few miles at that pace.
Not wanting to overburden the roads with too many riders in one big group we then managed to split four ways. I'm not sure how, but Vicar managed to become separated from us while ingesting his Black Cherry Yoghurt Flavoured Energy Gel just before Cononley and he decided to go the "other" way through the village. So, Vicar turned left toward the main road. The rest made their way over the small climb to Crosshills and I found my car with Young Jonny pleading tiredness and taking a lift while John made his own way on through Keighley.
It was good to be sitting down all the way up Ingrow (with just my right ankle doing any work - on the accelerator). We eventually overtook Vicar and then, later, Paul Gower who declared himself "buggered" after apparently having riden by himself all day, but he was close enough now to Queensbury to refuse any offer of help.
Next week - Sun 13 Jan 09 - meet 09:30 at Shelf Roundabout (next to VW garage). Any suggestions for a good route?
There were still five of us to enjoy the good butties at Madame Zarina's cafe and watch the 2CVs go past. On the way back we met up with Janice & Paul Hicky who were coming home from Cracoe. I think they were the last remnants of the joint club run but I was happy for a few miles at that pace.
Not wanting to overburden the roads with too many riders in one big group we then managed to split four ways. I'm not sure how, but Vicar managed to become separated from us while ingesting his Black Cherry Yoghurt Flavoured Energy Gel just before Cononley and he decided to go the "other" way through the village. So, Vicar turned left toward the main road. The rest made their way over the small climb to Crosshills and I found my car with Young Jonny pleading tiredness and taking a lift while John made his own way on through Keighley.
It was good to be sitting down all the way up Ingrow (with just my right ankle doing any work - on the accelerator). We eventually overtook Vicar and then, later, Paul Gower who declared himself "buggered" after apparently having riden by himself all day, but he was close enough now to Queensbury to refuse any offer of help.
Next week - Sun 13 Jan 09 - meet 09:30 at Shelf Roundabout (next to VW garage). Any suggestions for a good route?
Saturday, January 03, 2009
LAKELAND WINTER BREAK
A big thank you to the lads who rallied round and got me and my bike back to civilisation on Friday after a dumb choice of route resulted in me stacking on an ice shelf in Grizedale. I sit typing with one hand after an x-ray on saturday morning confirmed a fractured shouder.Dont think I'll make the Kettlewell run on Sunday!
Nige.
Nige.
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Training rides.
It's that time of year again guys!
We've put together a list of meeting times and places for the upcoming training season, it's on the CCA website (Ian's also published the list in the Condor Beak). The hope is that a set list will ensure that even if no-one takes the initiative before the Sunday we can all be assured of a few friendly faces (and one or two wheels to sit behind) on the morning. Perhaps we could use the blog to discuss the route/destination beforehand, failing that we could decide on the day.
We've got 9.30 at Denholme Gate down for this Sunday's meet, traditionally we go up to Kettlewell on our first ride. Everyone up for that?
Unfortunately, I'll not be along myself this week as I have a cast on my left wrist. I'm hoping it'll be off by next week.
Happy new year to all.
We've put together a list of meeting times and places for the upcoming training season, it's on the CCA website (Ian's also published the list in the Condor Beak). The hope is that a set list will ensure that even if no-one takes the initiative before the Sunday we can all be assured of a few friendly faces (and one or two wheels to sit behind) on the morning. Perhaps we could use the blog to discuss the route/destination beforehand, failing that we could decide on the day.
We've got 9.30 at Denholme Gate down for this Sunday's meet, traditionally we go up to Kettlewell on our first ride. Everyone up for that?
Unfortunately, I'll not be along myself this week as I have a cast on my left wrist. I'm hoping it'll be off by next week.
Happy new year to all.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Elterwater 2nd January
Nige and any others out there
Might be interested in this run but I don't have any 'phone numbers and I don't want to make a trip up to the frozen north only to find you guys have hit the snooze button and are still in bed.
Could someone give me a call to confirm that the trip's still on.
Richard
01484 602288
07834656726
Might be interested in this run but I don't have any 'phone numbers and I don't want to make a trip up to the frozen north only to find you guys have hit the snooze button and are still in bed.
Could someone give me a call to confirm that the trip's still on.
Richard
01484 602288
07834656726
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
LAKES PARK & RIDE
Burn off some christmas calories with a lake district mountain bike ride on Friday 2nd Jan. Steve Barker has come up with a low level route,meeting in Elterwater at 09-30 and taking in the trails of Grizedale forest.Steve assures me it wont turn into an MTB marathon!
Happy New Year! Nigel.
Happy New Year! Nigel.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
long causeway - Tuesday 23 Dec 08
I'm reliably informed by Steve Barker that we are meeting on road bikes at 9:30 in Hebden Bridge on Tuesday 23 Dec 08 for a ride over log causeway to Whalley and that sort of place out west. I hope to see you there, Ian.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Vindication!
Interesting report from the Guardian that suggests, despite years of marginalisation, we were right all along!
Win gives cyclists momentum to move into the mainstream
The spotlight afforded cycling by the Sports Personality Of The Year could propel the sport firmly into the public consciousness
Members of the Great Britain Cycling Men's Pursuit Team train at Newport Velodrome. Sunday night was the first time this year Chris Hoy has not started a race as favourite, but it made no difference. Hoy thoroughly deserved his win in what he termed "the big one", for his attributes as an all-round human being as well as for being a great champion.
Watching Britain's Olympic track team at work day after day in the Beijing velodrome, it was obvious that he had assumed the role of moral leadership. Occupying the same seats at every session, he and Victoria Pendleton shared jokes and, when necessary, silences with the rest of their colleagues as they prepared to go out and conquer the world.
But Rebecca Romero would have deserved it too, for her astonishing and sometimes almost spine-chilling focus on the ambition of going one better than the silver she had earned as a rower in Athens. So would Nicole Cooke, whose Olympic gold was followed by victory in the world championship road race a few weeks later, a double that no cyclist, man or woman, had ever achieved. It was she, after all, who struck the first blow in a campaign that made this a year of unprecedented success for the sport in Britain.
When the entire squad won the team award, and their performance director, Dave Brailsford, was named coach of the year, no one could be left in any doubt of the scale of their achievement. But will cycling, which has always struggled for mass acceptance in Britain, reap the rewards of the publicity, or will it go the way of curling, which won the hearts of the nation for about five minutes when a quintet of Scotswomen performed amazing feats during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? Six years later, you don't see kids racing out of the house on a Saturday morning for training at the local rink.
For cycling, there ought to be some encouragement in the identity of the man who finished runner-up. Lewis Hamilton trailed Hoy by a sizeable margin - 283,630 votes for the cyclist against 163,864 for the new grand prix world champion - and even allowing for the fact that this was an Olympic year, that the Olympics are covered by the BBC, that the formula one season was broadcast by the rival terrestrial network, and that the audience perhaps acted on the understanding that Hamilton will have further chances, it was easy to conclude that a message was being sent.
At the end of last week British Cycling, the biggest of the sport's governing bodies in the UK, announced that its membership has reached 25,000 for the first time, and that 13,000 cyclists now possess racing licences - increases over the past five years from 15,000 and 8,500 respectively. All sorts of events now encourage people to take part, from races for folding bikes around the grounds of Beaulieu to the large British participation in the annual Etape du Tour, when amateurs take on a mountain stage of the Tour de France. On the roads of British cities, more and more cycling commuters are challenging the assumption that cars and lorries rule, with pathetically little support from central or local government.
And for the internal combustion engine, the current global financial crisis looks like a death sentence. A US government bailout for Detroit's big three automobile makers, the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote last week, is the equivalent of putting money into an improved typewriter on the eve of the invention of the personal computer, in CD manufacturing just as the iPod was being dreamed up, or in the mail-order catalogue business at the time of the birth of eBay. What they ought to be doing, he suggested, is investing in the inventor of a new electric car network, whose vision might just represent the future.
This doesn't devalue Hamilton's success in the slightest. In 10 years' time, he might be winning world titles at the wheel of an electric car. In the meantime, with luck, more and more people will be following the example of a group of self-propelled sportsmen and women who looked pretty good in Sunday's spotlight.
Richard
Win gives cyclists momentum to move into the mainstream
The spotlight afforded cycling by the Sports Personality Of The Year could propel the sport firmly into the public consciousness
Members of the Great Britain Cycling Men's Pursuit Team train at Newport Velodrome. Sunday night was the first time this year Chris Hoy has not started a race as favourite, but it made no difference. Hoy thoroughly deserved his win in what he termed "the big one", for his attributes as an all-round human being as well as for being a great champion.
Watching Britain's Olympic track team at work day after day in the Beijing velodrome, it was obvious that he had assumed the role of moral leadership. Occupying the same seats at every session, he and Victoria Pendleton shared jokes and, when necessary, silences with the rest of their colleagues as they prepared to go out and conquer the world.
But Rebecca Romero would have deserved it too, for her astonishing and sometimes almost spine-chilling focus on the ambition of going one better than the silver she had earned as a rower in Athens. So would Nicole Cooke, whose Olympic gold was followed by victory in the world championship road race a few weeks later, a double that no cyclist, man or woman, had ever achieved. It was she, after all, who struck the first blow in a campaign that made this a year of unprecedented success for the sport in Britain.
When the entire squad won the team award, and their performance director, Dave Brailsford, was named coach of the year, no one could be left in any doubt of the scale of their achievement. But will cycling, which has always struggled for mass acceptance in Britain, reap the rewards of the publicity, or will it go the way of curling, which won the hearts of the nation for about five minutes when a quintet of Scotswomen performed amazing feats during the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City? Six years later, you don't see kids racing out of the house on a Saturday morning for training at the local rink.
For cycling, there ought to be some encouragement in the identity of the man who finished runner-up. Lewis Hamilton trailed Hoy by a sizeable margin - 283,630 votes for the cyclist against 163,864 for the new grand prix world champion - and even allowing for the fact that this was an Olympic year, that the Olympics are covered by the BBC, that the formula one season was broadcast by the rival terrestrial network, and that the audience perhaps acted on the understanding that Hamilton will have further chances, it was easy to conclude that a message was being sent.
At the end of last week British Cycling, the biggest of the sport's governing bodies in the UK, announced that its membership has reached 25,000 for the first time, and that 13,000 cyclists now possess racing licences - increases over the past five years from 15,000 and 8,500 respectively. All sorts of events now encourage people to take part, from races for folding bikes around the grounds of Beaulieu to the large British participation in the annual Etape du Tour, when amateurs take on a mountain stage of the Tour de France. On the roads of British cities, more and more cycling commuters are challenging the assumption that cars and lorries rule, with pathetically little support from central or local government.
And for the internal combustion engine, the current global financial crisis looks like a death sentence. A US government bailout for Detroit's big three automobile makers, the New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman wrote last week, is the equivalent of putting money into an improved typewriter on the eve of the invention of the personal computer, in CD manufacturing just as the iPod was being dreamed up, or in the mail-order catalogue business at the time of the birth of eBay. What they ought to be doing, he suggested, is investing in the inventor of a new electric car network, whose vision might just represent the future.
This doesn't devalue Hamilton's success in the slightest. In 10 years' time, he might be winning world titles at the wheel of an electric car. In the meantime, with luck, more and more people will be following the example of a group of self-propelled sportsmen and women who looked pretty good in Sunday's spotlight.
Richard
Monday, December 08, 2008
7 Dec - The white stuff on Top Withens
After a cracking mtb ride last week it was back to the muddy bikes again this weekend with Robin & Steve. We met in Hebden and climbed through Hardcastle Craggs up to "poo farm". Lower down the surface was frosty but gave good grip. Higher up and we began to slip and slide a little on patches of compacted ice, higher still and we had to work hard through some deep snow. By the time we descended "the field" to walshaw it was more like cross-country skiing!
The tyres made a great buzzing noise crunching through the thick snow. There weren't any tracks to follow but our own - so it was a choice between forging a new route off-piste or trying to follow EXACTLY in wheel of the bike in front (and steering, leaning, turning at the same time they did). Synchronised bikeing didn't work and I quickly went for the off-piste option.
We then headed up over the hill to Top Withens ("Bleak House") for more great snow-fields of fun. Then it got deep. Really deep.
In some places the snow had a hard icy crust and was like riding on tarmac. Then about ten feet later there'd be a footprint or weak spot that wanted to swallow my front wheel. So a mixture of riding and falling off ...
Which brings us to the photo here of Robin standing on a drift. This bit was like the cresta run - hard crust over deep snow lining the sunken track. One of the best sections of the ride. I was (almost) dissapointed to get back to the black stuff.
Friday, November 21, 2008
16 Nov - Cracoe
This was a grand day to be out in the Dales. A rare day of brilliant sunshine and light winds. I made the most of riding alone to take in the pleasant sights all around on a trip from Keighley - Skipton - Eastby Brow (lovely climb, if taken slowly; great descent too, if taken quickly) - Barden Tower - Appletreewick - through Thorpe - back to Cracoe for a grand buttie - then finish through Gargrave & the back road home.
Every now and then I met up with some fellow Condors - Melv, Robin, Steve & Johnny. One of them would kindly drop back the 100 yards to wait for me so we could group up and then they could drop me again on the next rise. Still, I'm learning the quiet pleasures of the solitary cyclist and look forward to the next trip ...
Every now and then I met up with some fellow Condors - Melv, Robin, Steve & Johnny. One of them would kindly drop back the 100 yards to wait for me so we could group up and then they could drop me again on the next rise. Still, I'm learning the quiet pleasures of the solitary cyclist and look forward to the next trip ...
Monday, November 10, 2008
Condor Cross - thanks!
Comment: Pictures of all Condor riders on the British Cycling web site. I'm not sure if you can use them gratis or not. If you do post any of them please, pretty please, don't use the one where I look as if I've slipped through a space time continuum, to find myself confused, on foot, in lycra, on a muddy hill with a muddy bike.You may recall that Pete posted a variant of that one a few weeks ago following the Three Peaks!Vanity, I’m afraid, is a vice that doesn’t diminish with age! Richard (the Vicar) Burnham
The condor cross was this Sunday just gone. All the usual crew helped out, so a big thanks to all involved. Gordon's trailer for the finish-line and timekeeping station this time came complete with a great rain cover so we had somewhere to huddle out of the rain showers. It was much admired and then duly appreciated.
In horse-racing terms the going was "soft" - tending to "quagmire" in places. Did anyone manage to get any pictures of our riders in action? Although I spent most of the day looking down at the lap-scoring sheets and just noting down a frantic stream of numbers I did glimpse at least Andy Marshall, Steve Cavell, Robin Holt, Johnny Perry, Richard Burnham and of course Grimpy all go past (at various speeds and in varying states of pain). The official results will be on the YorkshireCycloCross.org.uk website shortly here.
We had a massive turnout for the kids races thanks to Chris Young dragging them in from all the local schools. So many that we ran U8s, U10s and U12s in separate races. Fantastic news for the sport. I hope they all enjoyed the day.
And he must have promised free beer or something because there were 70 entries for the Vets race. Pete Horne and Trevor Lever had their hands full at the signing-on table.
What else have you missed? well a good mtb run from gargrave to malham and back last week. up past bell busk, otterburn, dacre lane, langber lane on a climb that went on forever eventually to the top of scalebar falls above settle - then turn right on stockdale lane to the top of malham cove and down to the boot cafe for bse (bacon sausage & egg) sandwiches. I was still full at 3pm - no need for lunch when I got home. anyone up for a muddy run this weekend (16th)?
The condor cross was this Sunday just gone. All the usual crew helped out, so a big thanks to all involved. Gordon's trailer for the finish-line and timekeeping station this time came complete with a great rain cover so we had somewhere to huddle out of the rain showers. It was much admired and then duly appreciated.
In horse-racing terms the going was "soft" - tending to "quagmire" in places. Did anyone manage to get any pictures of our riders in action? Although I spent most of the day looking down at the lap-scoring sheets and just noting down a frantic stream of numbers I did glimpse at least Andy Marshall, Steve Cavell, Robin Holt, Johnny Perry, Richard Burnham and of course Grimpy all go past (at various speeds and in varying states of pain). The official results will be on the YorkshireCycloCross.org.uk website shortly here.
We had a massive turnout for the kids races thanks to Chris Young dragging them in from all the local schools. So many that we ran U8s, U10s and U12s in separate races. Fantastic news for the sport. I hope they all enjoyed the day.
And he must have promised free beer or something because there were 70 entries for the Vets race. Pete Horne and Trevor Lever had their hands full at the signing-on table.
What else have you missed? well a good mtb run from gargrave to malham and back last week. up past bell busk, otterburn, dacre lane, langber lane on a climb that went on forever eventually to the top of scalebar falls above settle - then turn right on stockdale lane to the top of malham cove and down to the boot cafe for bse (bacon sausage & egg) sandwiches. I was still full at 3pm - no need for lunch when I got home. anyone up for a muddy run this weekend (16th)?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Condor Cross - Sun 9 Nov 08 - HELP NEEDED!!
The Condor cross will be held on November 9th.
I need as much support as possible to continue with its success.
On Saturday 8th I will be on site (Bradley Woods) from around 10.00 to see what circuit can be used and to mark out any new sections as we are always effected by what space/ tracks are available.
Main requirements on Sunday 9th are:
Marking out the course from 9.00 a.m.-- need hammer, scissors, gloves,. boots , wellingtons etc + food & flask ( to my knowledge there is only a small tuck shop on site)
Marshalling & Judging the events.
Someone else to help Trevor in the signing on area
On arrival certainly up to 9.30 I will be close to the start area with the gear being in my red Audi estate.
The events so far this season have been well attended particularily vets, youths & U12’s, with usually British Cycling people around (you can get a taste by looking at the British cycling web site) .
Vets have had 80+ in the last two events and U12’s around 50 (these had to be split into U12’s & U8’s).
We also need more Condor riders so anyone interested themselves or their children can enter on the line.(we have had Myself , Richard & Steve performing so far this season, come on Robin, Melvyn etc. – its great fun and fast only lasts 45 Mins.?)
Kindly confirm who can make it, you can Email me at work jginley@pennineuk.com or home johnginley@btinternet.com
Or telephone home 01274 601567 mobile 07973 328 995.
We have organized a new set of numbers and Gordon is getting some more tape this week, other things to sort include plastic stakes?
If anyone remembers any problems or concerns from last years event please contact me.
Many Thanks
John Ginley
Official details:
09 Nov 2008 Condor Cross (Yorkshire Points 6)
VENUE Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse, HD6 3TU
Start Times + entry fees for BC licence holders:
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 12:00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 14:00 £10.00
I need as much support as possible to continue with its success.
On Saturday 8th I will be on site (Bradley Woods) from around 10.00 to see what circuit can be used and to mark out any new sections as we are always effected by what space/ tracks are available.
Main requirements on Sunday 9th are:
Marking out the course from 9.00 a.m.-- need hammer, scissors, gloves,. boots , wellingtons etc + food & flask ( to my knowledge there is only a small tuck shop on site)
Marshalling & Judging the events.
Someone else to help Trevor in the signing on area
On arrival certainly up to 9.30 I will be close to the start area with the gear being in my red Audi estate.
The events so far this season have been well attended particularily vets, youths & U12’s, with usually British Cycling people around (you can get a taste by looking at the British cycling web site) .
Vets have had 80+ in the last two events and U12’s around 50 (these had to be split into U12’s & U8’s).
We also need more Condor riders so anyone interested themselves or their children can enter on the line.(we have had Myself , Richard & Steve performing so far this season, come on Robin, Melvyn etc. – its great fun and fast only lasts 45 Mins.?)
Kindly confirm who can make it, you can Email me at work jginley@pennineuk.com or home johnginley@btinternet.com
Or telephone home 01274 601567 mobile 07973 328 995.
We have organized a new set of numbers and Gordon is getting some more tape this week, other things to sort include plastic stakes?
If anyone remembers any problems or concerns from last years event please contact me.
Many Thanks
John Ginley
Official details:
09 Nov 2008 Condor Cross (Yorkshire Points 6)
VENUE Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse, HD6 3TU
Start Times + entry fees for BC licence holders:
Youth 11:00 £4.00
U12 12:00
V/W 12:45 £10.00
S/J 14:00 £10.00
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cyclocross Appeal
Although I survived the Three Peaks the other week it would seem that my cyclo cross frame didn't. I've just identified a crack on the down tube (the sort of damage you get when you run your Raleigh Chopper in to the back of a bus - only titanium, I now find, doesn't bend quite like steel).
This blows a bit of a hole in my cyclocross season, I'm looking at a few new frames at the moment but this is going to take some time and it crossed my mind that one of you guys might be looking to off load an unwanted frame or bike, (for an agreed number of beer tokens of course), and that this might be a quicker way of getting back in the saddle.
Most of you will be able to guess my approximate frame size (52 -54 cm). Let me know if you've got anything suitable gathering dust in the back of the shed.
01484 602288 (evening) 01937 547807 (day)
Richard (The Vicar)
This blows a bit of a hole in my cyclocross season, I'm looking at a few new frames at the moment but this is going to take some time and it crossed my mind that one of you guys might be looking to off load an unwanted frame or bike, (for an agreed number of beer tokens of course), and that this might be a quicker way of getting back in the saddle.
Most of you will be able to guess my approximate frame size (52 -54 cm). Let me know if you've got anything suitable gathering dust in the back of the shed.
01484 602288 (evening) 01937 547807 (day)
Richard (The Vicar)
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Monday, October 06, 2008
From Harrow to Helwith Bridge
When, on a whim, I bought my first road bike in order to commute from Harrow to Tottenham Court Road I never thought it would lead, 25 years later, to me gunning down Pen Y Ghent in hot pursuit of my long time nemesis and and long time team mate, Ian Wellock. That I caught him on the road to Helwith Bridge and that he then out sprinted me to the line ranks as a minor frustration when set against the exhilaration of a spill free, puncture free, fifth Three Peaks.
Whilst my time at 4 hours 46 mins was the slowest of the four Condors riding it was only two minutes slower than my fastest time set a decade earlier. That, this year, I had to queue for 12 minutes whilst the bulk of the field clambered, one by one, over a stile on Simon's Fell ranks as a rather more significant frustration, as a clear run might have put me close to my ambitious target of sub 4 hours 30 mins
Notwithstanding Grimpy's earlier post he seems to have had a pretty good ride although amazingly his time of 4 hours 23 mins was only good enough to win him third place in his age group. Was is beyond doubt, is that Robin's ride, finishing his first Peaks 43rd out of a field of 450 riders, was impressive and suggests that with a bit of cyclo cross specific training he could be pitching at a top twenty finish. We'll have to see if he's got the Three Peaks bug; if he has he'll know by now as already he'll be mulling over strategies for shaving seconds and minutes from his time. Revealingly, on last Wednesday's training run, he did offer up the view that he could "probably improve his time by 20 minutes with the correct training" - maybe we'll see him back next year!
The bug seems to have got me again. I've already carried out a forensic examination of the split times, (for the first time an electronic timing system was used) and this reveals that I improved my position by from the top of Whernside to the finish by 15 places. So, the stamina seems OK - all I need to do now is work on a quick start and getting to that bloody stile before the traffic jam.
Richard (The Vicar)
Whilst my time at 4 hours 46 mins was the slowest of the four Condors riding it was only two minutes slower than my fastest time set a decade earlier. That, this year, I had to queue for 12 minutes whilst the bulk of the field clambered, one by one, over a stile on Simon's Fell ranks as a rather more significant frustration, as a clear run might have put me close to my ambitious target of sub 4 hours 30 mins
Notwithstanding Grimpy's earlier post he seems to have had a pretty good ride although amazingly his time of 4 hours 23 mins was only good enough to win him third place in his age group. Was is beyond doubt, is that Robin's ride, finishing his first Peaks 43rd out of a field of 450 riders, was impressive and suggests that with a bit of cyclo cross specific training he could be pitching at a top twenty finish. We'll have to see if he's got the Three Peaks bug; if he has he'll know by now as already he'll be mulling over strategies for shaving seconds and minutes from his time. Revealingly, on last Wednesday's training run, he did offer up the view that he could "probably improve his time by 20 minutes with the correct training" - maybe we'll see him back next year!
The bug seems to have got me again. I've already carried out a forensic examination of the split times, (for the first time an electronic timing system was used) and this reveals that I improved my position by from the top of Whernside to the finish by 15 places. So, the stamina seems OK - all I need to do now is work on a quick start and getting to that bloody stile before the traffic jam.
Richard (The Vicar)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
3 Peaks results
News from Grimpy:
"I was 3rd in my age group 185th in the event, poor ride had a heavy cold ( still have) anyway that’s my excuse- you can see all the results on the 3 peaks website.
"Ian & Richard finished nearly together. Quite an experience with 500 starting together on the open road."
"Robin won a prize at the 3 peaks, he did a great ride I think he was 40th out of 400+ anyway he was 11th in the over 40’s "
"I was 3rd in my age group 185th in the event, poor ride had a heavy cold ( still have) anyway that’s my excuse- you can see all the results on the 3 peaks website.
"Ian & Richard finished nearly together. Quite an experience with 500 starting together on the open road."
"Robin won a prize at the 3 peaks, he did a great ride I think he was 40th out of 400+ anyway he was 11th in the over 40’s "
43rd Robin Holt MV40 - 3:40:46
185th John GinleyMV60 - 4:23:45
267th Ian Wellock MV40 - 4:46:24
269th Richard Burnham MV50 - 4:46:42
DNS - Peter Horne
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