28/05/2009 by Steve McCall.

Results from 2nd event of the Team Swift series.

1st-Alastair-21.56

2nd Andy-22.10

3rd-Steve-22.58

A truely wonderful performance from Al that is showing tremendous performance for the next few months/years. Al beat his PB when EVERYBODY went back by 30-seconds to a minute on their times 2 weeks ago. The investment in the gorgeous beast of a bike is looking to have paid off very well.

Andy also rode well by beating last Tuesday’s time in worse conditions, well done Andy, three 10s in 3 weeks within 20 seconds of each is consistant riding at a top level, chapeau indeed.

I suffered like a dog on the way home and mentally argued with myself all the way back into a gusting headwind, I was truly LMF (Lacking Moral Fibre as well as the other LMF). Strange how some days you just nail it and others your head is like porridge

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26/05/2009 by Martyn.

Bank Holiday monday, a fine day sandcastles or slog? 

No option really is there?

I drove over to warrington to meet a guy doing end 2 end for charity on his own with no support cars  etc, we were delayed by the mascot for the local rugby club, “wolfy” having enjoyed the amber nectar too much and having to be driven to the start

The route was fairly direct through warrington, Preston etc then onto the A6 and north, north , and north

We stopped off for lunch at a cyclists cafe at Scorton which  i have used on Audax before but that was our only meal stop, the rest was pocket snacks and a quick stoke up from a filling station ( get it) in Penrith 

The route was flatish until you get towards kendal then the blessed romans didn’t have the sense to use flat roads but went over the top

Shap fell wasn’t that bad really, although there is now no summitt marker so a bit of a let down, the road rolls all the way into carlisle where I left peter at his hotel and shot to the rail stations where a comfy ride on one of mr branson’s finest took me straight into warrington and back to the car. 

A long day in total about 16 hours, but well worth it and he now has to slog up to JoG while I am back home.  200kms at 25 kph average was a good riding

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25/05/2009 by Al and Sarah.

Club Run Report 24/05/09 - present were Alex Millman, Phil Rounding, Phil Johnson, Craig Johnson, Richard Creaser, Paul Brierley and Jack De Boxk.  Set off on a beautiful morning after much discussion of the route. It was decided to go on a Phil Johnson special - which took us in all directions but I’m not quite sure if any of them were towards Knaresborough! I was on a half day so I headed to Otley cafe with Paul and I believe the rest did eventually reach Knaresborough! Thanks go to Paul for dragging my weary legs home. Ride statistics for me were 53 miles, average 15.5 mph.

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25/05/2009 by Doug.

This was a a really good bike ride. The scenery was second to none, and the hills were a real challenge - Tan Hill, Fleet Moss (from Hawes) and Park Rash were the three “biggies”, but there were many more in between. One hundred miles through five dales, which I accomplished in 7 hours, 26 minutes and fifty two seconds; not bad considering I did most of the ride without the assistance of a bunch - only in the last five miles did I work with two others and put the hammer down - 25 to 30 mph.

I kept encountering one other rider all day who was intent on racing me round. He was ginger, and rode a “Lemond”. (I can’t stand Lemond - wasn’t he Hinault’s bottle carrier?). Anyway, I got him at the end, dropping him on the last climb.

I also managed to wind everybody up by wearing a “Discovery Channel” jersey. I just couldn’t resist it.

I cannot recommend this ride enough - superb route and organisation, and all for £15. Next year, let’s have a few more from the club take part.

Doug

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20/05/2009 by Steve McCall.

Just had 20 minutes tonight, what do you lot reckon, any suggestions let me know.

Club poster

I can print it off in A3 on a family members printer and laminate it.

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19/05/2009 by Al and Sarah.

Poor turn out of Thorpers on chilly but sunny morning. Alex Millman, Doug Tomlingson, Craig Newton, Danny Webb and Birdy from Dave Sowerby club ! Set off from Mirfield to Keighley via Brighouse, Bradford at a very fast pace (at least it was for me having not done enough training). Me and Doug stopped at Keighley for a brew where the rest turned back. Met Derrick at the cafe who was heading for Otley. Then headed up to Skipton, then Cracoe where shortly after Doug suffered a major blow out on his back tyre, which had severely damaged it and a make shift road side repair was done and it luckily survived the rest of the ride but will definately not ride again (the tyre that is not Doug !) We made the decision to lunch at Burnsall due to Grassington probably being busy due to the etape where we met up with Brian and friends on the Rayner ride and Sarah, little Al and mother in law ! Had lunch where I was already suffering and then headed back through Appletreewick and Bolton Abbey where Doug said it would be fun to ride through Storiths. Having never ridden it before I foolishly agreed. Already struggling through lack of training and sleep I believed Doug’s comment of “its just a little lumpy”  and had to drag my poor weary body up the BIG lump which was made worse by the fact that the heavens opened - cheers MATE. A very slow pace home through Burley in Wharfedale, Shipley and Bradford. Ride statistics were 75 miles, average speed 15.4 mph.

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18/05/2009 by jack the flying dutchman.

When we were doing the BR Challenge, we were wondering whether this was actually more difficult than the Etape Du Dales. I compared both - conclusion: the BR has on average more climbing but the climbs are less steep, more gradual climbing.

See attached file.

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17/05/2009 by jack the flying dutchman.

Just came back home - a bit tired but pleased with my time. The weather started of very well - a southern breeze blew in our backs and the sun showed up every now and then. So up to Langthwaite there were no real problem, the climbs were decent, but sometimes a bit steep (up to 22%), so I was riding on a 7hour scheme. But obviously that changed significantly when going back south, after the turn at Nateby, the wind blew right in our face, and that’s no fun! And to make it even more of a burden, the weather turned quite nasty as well - a drizzling rain became heavy rain (at least there was no risk of dehydration, just open your mouth - obviously not fun when there are a bunch of other riders in front of you). After the turn at Steinforth, the wind was a bit more in our favour again, but that didn’t help too much with the last horible climb of the day. I’ve started the day with the aim of getting a time around 7h30 and the last 10 miles were pretty flat, I got into a nice fast riding group and it did work - my final time was 7 hour 33 (and 8 seconds) - good for Silver.

My checkpoint times:

Hawes: 01:19:07

Tan Hill 03:02:44

Moorcock 04:28:23

Stainforth 06:05:09

Final: 07:33:08

The only other Thorper I’ve seen on the way was Craig J. - I passed him on one of the most steep climbs of the day (don’t exactly remember where this was) - I just had time to say hello, goodbye!

Anyway - it was a great event, I will certainly do it again next year.

Jack

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17/05/2009 by Steve McCall.

Just a very quick report today (not cos I wasn’t the 1st Thorper!) but I’m on family duties but a least we are going to buy Holly a new bike

Al 59.46- another storming 25 to go under in terrible conditions AND to beat Cammish by a second, CHAPEAU indeed.

John limbo’d under the hour with a 59.59!!! Excellent ride John.

Steve- 1:00:16- struggeled to get a rhythm all the way through, may have to look at the wisdom of 90mm front rim in >20MPH winds me thinks!!! I felt like I was traversing up the A168 at times, very uneasy as well but no excuses, I rode like a bag of spanners.

 Will get Jim’s time from the Hatfield Woodhouse 10 latter tonight.

For now, as the great Brucie would say, Keeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep testing!

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13/05/2009 by Steve McCall.

The 1st of the Team Swift series event on the V718 was held tonight and the results are;

McDougal 21.48 (That’s Steve McCall who don’t listen to Keith:-)

Al 21.57

Andy 21.58

I’m so proud that 3 of us got under 22 minutes in an easterly wind that measured 20 MPH, we were ecstactic in the HQ afterwards and we all feel we can shave a few more seconds off our all new PBs (Andy took 30 seconds of his old one, I took 53 and Al a massive1:16!!!)

All I can say is Allez les Verts and lets break the club record again and again!

Results are on this link.  http://www.arborwood.com/awforums/show-topic-1.php?start=1&fid=6272&taid=41&topid=22294&ut=1242273695

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