Last Sunday on the road

The delights of MTB'ing extolled by that well known proselyte (????) Robin are undeniable but the virtues of road cycling should not be overlooked. Above is the view as I freewheeled down past the Ram Inn towards Denshaw last Sunday, what a beautiful day to be pottering round the local lanes; that was until I had to start pressing on the pedals harder as I was caught by Irish John, Dougie and Martin going up the Gully towards Buckstones. They had been on a warm up ride in preparation for the Imps freewheeling race. If preparation counts John should have been up with a chance of victory - in bed by 3am after a boozy do at the Imps Dinner followed by a breakfast at Hollingworth Lake cafe - oh what dedication in the pursuit of glory.

The off road club continues apace. We had no fear of reprisals this weekend from our skinny tyred brethren, distracted as they were by the heavy physical demands of coasting along some dual carriageway. Call me a bit of a stickler for tradition, a dyed-in-the-wool adherent of orthodoxy, a proselyte for the old ways, but doesn't cycling involve turning the pedals at some point? Descending from Ainley Top in the company of your own weight and the odd pull from the back end of a receding lorry until you simply stop, cease to move, grind to a halt, unwilling to work, might be a good metaphor for the Daily Mail wanting yet another florid way of explaining to its credulous 'readers' how our country is becoming bedeviled by a me too, hand-out culture where everyone wants to get everywhere without expending any effort, but is it a way to treat a bicycle? No. So we sticklers for real cycling went off road, that way avoiding any guilt by association. We pedaled UP and over old road, ALONG the water course, UP and over the top o'stairs and ALONG and OVER to Gorple, ACROSS to Heptonstall, down and UP from the Blue Pig, down and UP from Lumb Falls... oh you get the point by now. Snow, ice, sunlight and moor made a heady and occasionally upsetting mix (viz, Nigel's new hobby of 'static stacking', there are many different ways, evidently, of falling off your bike whilst simply standing astride it, or against it, he is beginning to go through them with a classificatory zeal). The food in Heptonstall cafe was as welcome and uplifting as it always is; sticking to long established ways serves as well for catering as it does for cycling.

Condor Dinner - 5 Feb 2011 - Works, Sowerby Bridge

61st ANNUAL DINNER & PRIZE PRESENTATION

TO BE HELD AT – THE WORKS- SOWERBY BRIDGE

SATURDAY 5th FEBRUARY 2011

Meet at 6.30 for 7.00pm

MENU

STARTERS

Roasted pepper & tomato soup

Prawn & crayfish tail cocktail with a chilli & mayo dressing

Herby stuffed mushrooms

Farmhouse pate & toast

MAINS

Roasted duck breast with a cherry sauce

Loin of lamb with a minted gravy

Roasted loin of pork with a rich mustard gravy

Poached salmon with a creamy dill sauce

PUDDINGS

Fresh fruit salad and cream

Tiramisu

Lemon cheesecake with a raspberry coulis

Cheese & biscuits

COST : £ 22.00 per person

(complimentary wine included)

Please contact either Paul or Trevor with numbers and choices by 25th January 2011 Thank you

Paul Gower : 01422 201533

Trevor Lever : 01274 874789

Dates for next year:

Comment from Pete Horne

Early dates I know about for next year are -
Sat 19th Feb NW Passage
Sun 11th Mch Todmorden Loops (promoted by Danial Webb on behalf of CRC)
Sun 20th Mch Red Rose 200
Sun 17th April Spring into Dales

An Autumn Tour

Every year I go on a cycling tour with other patent/legal types. This year we met in Wetherby and rode to Ravenscar on the coast, stayed over in a pleasant old hotel on the cliffs and then rode back the next day. It was roughly 80 miles there (including three cafe stops - we know how to live the good life) and 70 miles back or thereabouts.

We started in our first cafe and then took in some very pleasant flat miles through Ouseburns Little and Greater, over Aldwark Toll Bridge (free for cyclists), and on to Easingwold (excellent coffe and buns). Then continued through the fog in the Vale of York to the Howardian hills, via Brandsby and Hovingham, for stop #3 at Thornton Le Dale (late lunch, in what turned out to be a bit of a transport cafe really).

Then came a real treat. Which, at least for now, is listed in my book as the best road in England. Just imagine. Freshly-laid smooth tarmac for miles. Easy gradients. Great scenery. Cars are actually charged money for using this road, which meant that we saw about three in two hours or so. A bit of north shore to play on every now and then (but I was on a loaded touring bike so only risked a quick go) . There was even a stall outside a farm near the end in Staindale selling jam and scones. So where is this nirvana? It is the Dalby Forest Drive. From Thornton Dale to Hackness and beyond. And I'll be going back there. Soon.

View Larger Map

I don't have any pictures of our luxurious accomodation. But let me just say that it would have been better if there had been hot water for a decent shower. Still, a cold rinse was enough for decency, and sitting with a pint by the open fire chatting was a reward in itself.

Next day we took in the scene from the Panorama Restaurant at breakfast. We could very nearly make out the waves below through the thick mist, so it's just as well that we didn't pay extra for sea-view rooms. Fueled up we were soon out there enjoying the soft morning air and gentle rain showers. A well-signposted bike path soon lead to a farm field. It would have been better in high summer. Maybe.

Looking for variation on our return route we headed north and inland to find some frighteningly steep 1:4 descents on wet leaves and poor surfaces. Only to find positively terrifying 1:3 assents on the other side. The sadistic road makers here even managed to take the road half way up the hillside before dropping, sickeningly, back to the valley floor to start the climb again. This is, at least for now, in my book as the worst road in England. Aftertwo hours we'd managed to struggle through Littlebeck and Sleights to reach Egton, where we could plunge down again to Egton Bridge and begin our final struggle up and over the moor to Rosedale. A fine cafe revived our spirits, and we were now within reach of easy flat roads again.

But, of course, we weren't. After hearing representations from both sides, m'learned friends decided that Rosedale Chimney Bank would be a fine pudding. Well, nearly. But the 40mph descent did take us to Hutton le Hole pretty quickly. And Patrick gets to tick another entry in his "100 Best Climbs".

Now the group had to separate and all that remained was to retrace our steps, by and large, back to our respective starting points. And to look forward to another trip next year.

Sorry Robin I was trying to add this Fay Godwin photo to the end of your report but it refuses to go anywhere but here - I prefer your photo anyway.

Thrown underneath a hastening notation of staved clouds being pushed along by of the brisk pace of an east wind, we - that is condor off road club - took ourselves off over to Ogden - the never ending wall (for the waller) had had a little more completed, and as if in a kind of comical echo of this effort, the decaying farmstead just beyond had also born witness to some building work, though here the job - paving - might well have scored a little lower were some aspirant Saturday night tv gameshow judges to come passing by with their numerical paddles and acid hyperbole: 9 for the wall, 0 for the paving me thinks. Ogden cobbles were very wet, but not as wet as the rest of the ride, during which we spent much time talking about warm socks, overshoes, plastic bags, dry shoes, hooves, anything in fact that we could use in the stead of what we actually had. Our feet excepting, the ensuing ride was exacting in the best possible sense, one of wheel sucking technicality that had us on always on the edge, or in my case over the edge and onto my head-arse (not sure which hit first), twice. Obviously I was inhabiting the limits of possibility, warning others of the risks through a staged occupation of the possible hazards en route, thereby preventing greater harm to my companion. Others may have misread this noble act as bad riding, but such is the life of the unsung and noble. My reward is my constancy.

The last shot looking toward Heptonstall is from way above The Stairs, a bad camera phone homage to Ms Godwin, whose 'Land' series is showing currently at the National Photography and Media Museum down Bradford way.

Just checking in...

Mens Kilo at the BUCS national track champs. Did 1:20, hardly competitive but considering I'm not a sprinter I was fairly pleased!

Hope everyone's well over t'other side of the pennines! Just a quick post to let you know I'm still riding!

The University club here is going pretty well this year, over a hundred riders now! Keeping busy with two club runs a week as well as lots of socials. Just settling into some long steady rides on the winter bikes now, the hardest part is convincing first years that full mudguards and a flap are essential!

Still racing every monday night at the track in the ACT league, though not many points coming my way recently. Just moved house to south Manchester so not had much time for interval training!

Hope to get out on a couple of Wednesday night outings followed by some beers in the Catty at christmas. See you soon!

What the retired folk have to do to keep warm

The Wednesday runs from Shelf Roundabout seem to be gaining momentum, 14 old codgers turned up this week for an 80 mile dash round a circuitous route, ably guided by TomTom (Paul Hickey), for lunch at Thorpe Arch cafe. We were lucky with the weather and with the likes of Peeps and Grimpy setting the pace (not much shelter from those two) maintained a brisk pace averaging 15.5 mph for the full journey.

I'm in the process of putting a clothing order together so can you let me know what you want to order ( petehorne@yahoo.co.uk ). The design will be pretty much the same, I am intending ordering the shorts in either a more practical dark blue or black rather than the current lightish blue (retaining the white side panels) and perhaps altering the snowcapped Andes from the current blue to a medium grey so they may look more like mountains. I'm also intending to include some 3quarter biblongs in the order. Please let me know in the next week or so, e-mail me or ring me on 07549 821349 if you want to discuss what to get.

Whilst on the subject we do still have some clothing in stock at the old prices (the new prices will be £6 or £7 more), we have some med & lge short & long sleeved road jerseys at £30, sml & med Training tops £35, 1 pr med bibshorts £35, 1 lge Gilet £30, sml & med thermal biblongs £35.

More from 7 November - The Cracoe Cruisers

I'm grateful to Robin for the photo and post below, and look forward to the next one. Meanwhile, let me tell you about Sunday's ride. In words I can understand. A prosaic* version.

1. Having the style or diction of prose; lacking poetic beauty.

2. Commonplace; unromantic.

Seven blokes on bikes met outside a closed-down joinery shop and rode to the Dales and back.

There, what more could you want?

Keeping with the cultural theme, A Day Out was mentioned and compared with our jaunt. Alan Bennett wasn't there, but we did have the Hartley boys, Richard, Neil, Pete Smith, "the professor" and "the beard". Nigel had a plan that involved a steady potter on some quiet lanes. However, there were other plans which involved pressing on and taking in a few more hills. Despite some grumbling, these others grabbed the lead and we were off over Cringles to Draughton then took the scenic back road from Bolton Abbey to Burnsall. A couple of riders looked wistfully at the Wharfe View cafe but were dragged on through Thorpe over another steep hill to finally reach Cracoe.

While we were in the cafe Paul Gower called in for a cyclist's special - tea, eggs, beans, toast, of course - but he decided against joining the rest of the flock. Not wanting to be late home for lunch we took the direct train to Keighley, lined out behind Robin and Melv as they finally got to stretch their legs. However, reading the post below, it doesn't sound like Robin really had this in mind and would have preferred hammering a few more hills. It worked for me though, and there was even time to do some gardening after.

Its time to think about the Sunday rides in the new year. It works well if we pick a regular time and place (e.g. 09:00 at Denholme, 09:30 at Keighley) and stick to that through January and February, except for the known rides - NW Passage, Reliability ride, etc. Any comments on that idea?

Ian

once an empty byway running from the hidden dales village that shall not be named is suddenly found to be carrying hastening cyclists, dropped by the leading bunch, but still accompanied by the expectation of breakfast barms (or some such northern word) to be had in cracoe's second best sausage emporium ... on the front we have the sly bearded chap, then a clean clad neil for whom the expanding view of fells clad in low winter light is paling in comparison with a permanent close-up of his quill stem, followed by vicar, for whom the ride - that is the ride after his assault on the gathering of meat and egg that no mere barm, no matter how indigenously capacious, could ever contain - was to become a mere bagatelle, a whimsy, so easy was the post repast pace ... indeed there was no sport to be had for any of us, bedevilled as we all became with a deeply unspiritual group mentality in which the above was the only really break, a shining shaft of individual light breaking the weighty underbelly of a slow-moving cloud of common denominator togetherness and solidarity

SUNDAY NOV. 7th

In the absence of any other ideas from our cycling chums, Nigel & Melvin have arranged to repeat last week's meeting times, Denholme 09.00, Keighley 09.30.
Route is up for debate, but perhaps looping west in a Pendle (Waddington) direction. All are welcome on what should be a steady ride, it is meant to be the social season after all!

SUNDAY OCT 31st

Anybody playing out on sunday? How about a foray to say, Airton or Malham.
Denholme gate @ 09.00 to pick up the Condor at Keighley roundabout for 09.30

Dont forget to alter yer clocks unless you want to be an hour early!

Yet even more Pave pics

For some reason these did'nt upload yesterday - perhaps I was trying to put too many photos on the blog

Ritz Rebels

Here is a link to the comments on this ride by our friends at the Ritz Rebels:

http://www.ritzrebels.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=262&start=10

And there is a picture. You can see that I'm having fun here on Trooper Lane.

They even have a map of the route in case anyone is daft enough to ever want to do it again.

Thanks again Pete for organizing.

Ian

yet more pave photos

A few more Pave pics.

Pave' ride cont.

I'm having loads of problems trying to upload a report - looks like all the narrative from my previous attempt has disappeared leaving just the photos - so here goes I'll try again -

Although reservations had been expressed about the severity of the route over 20 souls turned up outside the Rooster at mid-day last Saturday to take part in the Etape' du 'Alifax Pave' . Mounts ranged from MTB's ridden by Andy Brown and Fabian Purdy to the lightest carbon road bikes shod with the latest trick wheels.

After a photo call at the bottom of Brighouse Wood Lane the flag went down and it was every man for himself (which was'nt really the intention). The peloton split after about 50 yards with the usual suspects, Dom, Mel, Mick etc plus a new face to me , Andy (who having heard that the ride was about 35 miles had said he would be home for 3pm).

We regrouped at Hipperholme before making our way to Stump Cross and up The Hough to Northowram, then down past the Shibden Mill Inn and up Shibden Wall. As we rode up I suggested to the current British Veterans 100 mile champion and record holder that we should take it easy saving something for the later climbs. "I don't need to," replied Brian, "I won't be there."

Showers of rain in the morning had worried me, more for the cobbled descents than the climbs, but the sun was now shining and the pave was dry(ish). Down Churn Milk Lane, through Ovenden and over to Long Can where we met Ian and Nigel. Gibb Lane up to Mount Tabot was the next major climb - it does'nt get any easier but the fat tyres on my Croix de Fer rode the gaps between the cobbles well. Unfortunately I can't report on activity at the front up these climbs - I was'nt there. Down Halifax Lane to Luddenden village and up the 'Hors Categorie' Old Lane towards Midgley. I stopped at the bottom to count riders through. Two were missing, the Lion of Flanders and Andy Brown, I retraced through the village to no avail so I attacked the climb and was pleased to make it to the top, last week whilst on a recce' I had been unable to keep traction on the mossy cobbles and ended up walking. Steve arrived from a different direction a short time later but uncharacteristically Andy had given up and gone home.

Through Midgley and along Heights Road in the sunshine as far as the Hare & Hounds then down for a cafe stop at Hebden Bridge. The 'Ladies that Lunch' section (Ian, Mel, Dom & Fabian) went into town searching for skinny latties and paninni's whilst us normal folk went to Books Brews and Biscuits next to the cycle re-cycle workshop on the canal bank.

After an hour or so we went on the main road to Luddenden Foot at about 40mph turning right and slowing down a bit for Blackwood Hall Road (another cobbled climb I was unable to ride up last week but sailed up today - last week I had to pull myself up using the hand rail).
Sadly, after re-grouping at the top of this climb our raison d'etre for the ride, Team sw2f, quietly retired, I hope this was not due to the eagerness to make progress being shown by the front riders but fear that may have been the cause. If so I apologise on their behalf and if you ever wish to make another attempt I will be happy to ride round with you.

However there was a route to be completed so it was on through Hubberton, past the Alma at Cottonstones and turn left at the Beehive down to Ripponden. Over the cobbled bridge and up Old Ripponden Bank, up Gallows Pole Hill and left at the Moorcock. Brian and Lumby retired here the nearby pull of home being too great.
Round Sowerby Bridge and towards Copley where left up Birdcage (Dom had had enough by this time and headed back to the Rooster taking with him Dan the Italian Stallion who was worried that perspiration may drip on to his immaculate outfit should he attempt
Trooper Lane). Over Manor Heath and down Shaw Lane and the Hebble Trail to Salterhebble. Up Exley Bank then, just for fun, up Pheobe Lane and down Whitegate before the coup de grace, Trooper Lane.
This is what the big guns had been waiting for. The first attack went as early as Swan Bank where 'The Angel of Birstall', this week riding for La Vie Claire, on a stripped down titanium speed machine was first to attack but was matched by 'Already over an hour late home' Andy, and 'The Condor' himself, Mel. From what I was able to see from a rapidly increasing distance Mel had eventually to give way to younger legs. Whilst 'The Angel' made it to the summit first, sadly, he had been disqualified for persistent pavement cycling up earlier climbs (yes we know thats what they do in Belgium in the Spring Classics, they also put mayonnaise on their chips in Belgium but we dont do either in Halifax).
So, subject to the results of a dope test, Late Home Andy is the 2010 'King of the 'Alifax Pave'.


I understand that 10 finished the full 37 mile route and we averaged a speedy 10 and a half mph

Etape' du 'Alifax Pave report

Etape' du 'alifax Pave' 16th Oct

Why not join us this coming Saturday for a potter round some of the better (and lesser) known cobbled roads in around our wonderful town. The route has been devised at the request of a group of roadies from York who just dream about getting away from those boring flat fast smooth roads they are used to.
We are starting at 12 noon from the Red Rooster. The route is as follows - Brighouse Wood Lane, Hipperholme, Stump Cross, up The Hough to Northowram and down to The Shibden Mill Inn and up Lee Lane (Shibden Wall), down Ploughcroft Lane, right into Boothtown Road and left down Howcans Lane and Churn Milk Lane. Through Ovenden and Wheatley to Ovenden Wood Road and up Gibb Lane to Mount Tabor where down towards Warley turning right into Halifax Lane and down into Luddenden, round the back of the Lord Nelson and up Old Lane, through Midgley and on Heights Road from where we drop down to Mytholmroyd or Hebden Bridge for a cafe stop.
Back on the main road to Luddenden Foot where right and up Blackwood Hall Lane and over Hubberton and Cottonstones and down to Ripponden where over the cobbled humped back bridge and up Old Ripponden Bank. On to Norland where left down Doldrum Lane, skirt round Sowerby Bridge to Copley and up Woodhouse Lane and Birdcage Lane, over Manor Heath then down Shaw Lane and Hebble Way to the Punch Ball and up Exley Bank, up to the top od Siddal and down Whitegate, on to Swan Bank and then everyones favourite, Trooper Lane and a freewheel back to the Rooster.
That makes 14 cobbled sections (though not all are up hill) in about 35 miles or so. I realise that the route may be a bit hard for the Imps and the VS lads but I shall expect to see some more Condors on the start line for this SOCIAL ride.

Sunday 10 Oct 2010

A road ride to the Dales has been decreed for this Sunday. Meet 09:30 at Keighley roundabout.

Autumn Rains

Nothing for ages and then two at once. See the report below from Nigel too.

A handful of Condors made the start of the Autumn Mists among the 55 riders in total who set off in a light downpour from this side of the Pennines, and which just got heavier and wetter as we crossed the border.

Robin unscrewed his bottom bracket at the "wrong" end of Long Causeway and had an early waddle towards home. He was lucky. I fought to stay with the group but, after a hard climb to Heptonstall and getting back on twice with some daredevil descending by the New Delight and flat out time triallng through Kebs to the windmills, decided that the pace was just too high to bother any further. I turned for home from Burnley and went back over the Herders.

"The Condor" himself managed a fine ride and was first back from the longer version - our man is quoted as saying "Everyone seemed to be messing about and it was a day for getting on with it". Meanwhile, the 'other Hartley' had a gentle ride round the shorter route, but still managed to beat his brother to the fine tea laid out by Chris Crossland and his team.

As you know, Condors are built for soaring through the high mountains in bright sunshine. We're not some sort of water bird like a penguin, say, though the colours are similar. Still, it looks like this penguin can walk on water, which would have been useful given the puddles in some places.

New Look

Yes, you are in the right place. I've given the blog a quick makeover. Ian

SEASON OF RAIN

Only a few hardy Condors braved the deluge on Sunday for the CTC rides,I dont mind a bit of rain but when a mop & bucket are needed at the signing on desk it's more than drizzling.

I turned up for the 50k ride and discovered 55 stalwarts had set off on the long one including Robin, Ian, Melv and a VS contingent, perhaps not liking the look of the weather, other condors were "thinking of building an ark".

Apparently a "lets get this cracked off" pace was set by Melv up to Heptonstall which rent the group assunder. Robin, having a rare off day, had it even worse when his bottom bracket dismantled itself over the long causeway. He turned for home at this point, as did a cold and wet Ian, while Melv, oblivious to their plight pushed on with VS.

After a buttie stop at Slaidburn (taken inside the cafe, thats how bad the weather was!) the condor pressed on, leaving lesser mortals trailing in his wake and ploughing through deepening flood waters to finish at the front of the pie queue in Hebden.

The 50k route was a relatively easy carry on, only going as far as Worsthorne before looping back, the most taxing thing being locating house names and numbers for the information check points. Working on the theory that such a short ride doesn't warrant a cafe stop, I too was first back (in a massive field of 9 including hy-brids and a tandem!).

The heavy rain never gave up through the entire ride and some sections over widdop were almost impassable as water surged off the moors and across the road up to bottom bracket height. Brakes were pretty useless as they wouldn't dry out and I ended up walking down the steepest descent over widdop. I usually walk up the hills over there!

I'm afraid I didn't wait for the long ride to return to the finish, from the HQ we could see the Calder completely filling the bridge arch outside. Folks were even posing for pictures by the swollen torrent as the flood warning siren sounded! I heeded its warning and headed for higher ground, in bottom gear!

CONDOR CROSS SUNDAY 24th OCTOBER

Message from Grimpy to all you happy campers:

Yes it’s that time of year again and we need your kind help & assistance to ensure we have another successful event.

The handbook details are below, same venue ( Bradley Woods). All being well we will repeat last years shorter course, removing the bottom leg which seemed to be more favourable to competitors and less work for us.

I will be on site from 8.30 a.m. and as before we need 2 groups to mark out the course from 8.30 sharp to ensure we have it complete before the youths start at 11.00.

Group 1 marking out the top end starting at the finish, doing the top loop back to just beyond the steps,

Group 2 starts beyond the steps making its way around the camp road to go up to the highest point in the woods, decending down to a tight turn returning back along the camp road to eventually arrive at the finish.

If you arrive late the tape & sticks will be with either group.

Please bring along equipment to help. E.g. hammer, scissors, knife, gloves, biro etc.

Bear in mind the site only has a tuck shop and its best to bring sandwiches and a flask.

Look forward to seeing you

Cheers

John G

Bradley Woods Scout Camp, Brighouse, HD6 3TU.

Youth 11:00 £4.00 : U12 11:45 £1.00

V/W 12:45 £10.00 : S/J 13:45 £10.00

3 Oct - Season of Mists

I'm not much of a Keats fan. For all that romantic guff about "moss'd cottage-trees" it seems that he lived fast and died young - in Rome of TB aged just 25.

Still, it might put you in the mood for a ride this Sunday starting 9am prompt in Hebden Bridge. Follow the trail of middle-aged blokes in unsuitable shades of lycra to find the start on Salem Street and go to Chris Crossland's site for full details.

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness,

Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;

Conspiring with him how to load and bless

With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eves run;

To bend with apples the moss’d cottage-trees,

And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;

To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,

And still more, later flowers for the bees,

Until they think warm days will never cease,

For Summer has o’er-brimm’d their clammy cells.

Steve is 'Barker-ed'

Pete suggested a report on the recent mtb rides so here goes. Hopefully Melv will add a photo or two shortly.

A couple of Sundays back (5 Sept) we gathered as agreed at the lights in Hebden. Nigel & I were at the main lights in the centre of town. Steve was at the pedestrian lights near the Co-op. Never mind. Its not a big place. We met up eventually.

Steve's plan was a start up Ragley Woods. It was fairly quiet and we even saw a couple of deer. Soon after that Nige then ran into a pair of walkers. It wasn't intentional, honest. Front wheel slipped out at the worst moment and the walking chap ended up unexpectedly cuddling our biking friend. If anything Ragley seems easier than the road alternatives, e.g. Mytholm Steeps, so these old tracks are quite handy.

Eventually we hauled our way onto the tops - only to take a steep descent, at Steve's insistence. "I know a good route", he said. Nige & I exchanged worried glances as we dropped very fast, on road and then again on a narrow track, pretty much all the way back down to Burnley Road, knowing that the height had to be regained and the cafe was now at least a half-hour further away.

This route of Steve's did involve some good riding though, so he was nearly forgiven - that is until Mr Hartley got himself in a jam. Dabbing a foot down Nige was surprised to find that he'd managed to step in a hole. A big hole. He toppled gracefully sideways into a hawthorn. While our chap was taking a sharp interest in this thorny problem, we of course clattered on in true Condor style. It was several minutes before he caught up, bloodied but unbowed.

Grinding back up to the windmills we crossed Long Causeway and headed out over 'Burnley Bumps' to Upper Gorple, then crossed Heptonstall Moor for some great singletrack.

Now, in recent years we've adopted a new verb, which had cause to be used again this day. To be 'Barkered' is to plan a ride where your ambition outdoes your ability, where you've spent the whole morning fighting a strong headwind and gone several miles further than is good for you, and then find the tank running a little empty while you are still a fair distance from home. Usually, this applies when Steve is feeling strong and has talked one or other of us into doing more than we really should have done. This time, however, Steve barkered himself. That extra loop must have overdone it, and the long climb up to Upper Gorple really took its toll. Climbing for ages on little more than willpower and wishful thinking, he was quite relieved to crest over the top and start crossing the moor, which is mostly downhill, and even more relived when we got to Towngate Tearooms for the obligatory butty (and a jam scone too I noted).

What was left? Well a rocket down Blue Pig, a toil up the toilet block to Pecket Well and home across Midgely Moor.

What's that? I missed a bit?

Well. I was waiting for Nige, who'd dropped back a bit on the uphill. Actually he'd been back on my wheel for some time without me noticing. Now that we'd regroup I declared "Right I'd better get on with it then", thinking I'd now fly down to Catherine House and make a decent job of the descent. Cue a trip over the bars two seconds later (onto soft heather). Oh well ...

Racelight for sale

Due to a medical condition (insanity?) my mate Phil Trudgill (Trudders) is selling his almost unused Racelight training bike. Its the superlight Tk2 model in 2010 colours and graphics (metallic steel grey/white), full 105 compact groupset, 54cm frame, Open Pro rims (Sunter built), 57mm brakes with full m/guards, Conti 4 season tyres, Cateye wireless computer etc etc.
This cost about £1400 less than 12 months ago and has been ridden less than 500miles, looks as good as new and is offered at a must not be missed price of £700.

I have pointed out to him the error of his ways but his mind will not be changed, indeed he says that if and when he is able to ride again he will gladly buy another. He did send me a photo to put on the blog but it will not copy so have a look on Kinesis website.
Trudders number is 07881 92011, or ring me on 07549 821349

Amendment Trudders tel no should read 07881 920111

Red lining at Oakworth

Hav'nt been getting in my usual long miles lately (see photo below for reason) so I thought I'd nip over to Keighley last Sunday and make my debut on a bike in the Vet 60 category. Expected to see a few more Condor's there but I was the only one (there were twice as many Condors taking part in the Blackshaw Head Gala Fell Race the previous day - Steve Cavell and me).
I was amazed to see that there were about 90 on the start line just for the Vets & Ladies race. After a frantic start with a lap around the football field I was relieved to find that there was a queue to get onto the single track through the woods and the chance for a bit of a rest. It was more a case of plugging away steadily than racing for me for the next 50 min or so although I was pleased to get past former Hebden Bridge-ite Mark Pimlott (known to quite a few Condor's) on the last lap. I won the V.60 category (but have to confess that I was in fact the only rider in that category).
So now that I've broken the ice I intend to ride some more of the Yorkshire Series X's as preparation for next January's club runs. Lets have a few more Condors at the next round which is Sunday the 12th in North Yorkshire, its enter on the line and you don't even need to be a BC member (just pay a £3 levy)

For you Mountain Bikers there's also the Mary Townley Loop Challenge next Sunday - whilst on the subject what about a report about last Sunday's Condor MTB ride.

Sunday 5 Sept - mtb

Mountain bikes this week (just for a change). 9am at the lights in Hebden Bridge is the plan so far.

I hear that the Dolan has a new home and may even be racing this Sunday at the start of the new cross season - good luck Vicar in your new pulpit.

Ian

For sale - Dolan crossbike, 56cm seat tube, alum frame/carbon forks full mudguard rack & bottle eyes, Fizik saddle, 8sp STI,
£200 ono. Contact Pete Horne 07549 821349 or petehorne@yahoo.co.uk