Club Run 25th July - The Wall
26/07/2010 by BenBlyth.
Cyclists have some strange habits in general. Leg shaving is normal, hours spent trawling shops or websites for the latest bit of ‘kit’ because it is a few grams lighter is encouraged, even time trialling is accepted, well, all most. The strangest fascination though, is the desire to flog yourself (keep reading Doug, the sentence doesn’t stop there) over any hill that can be found. The harder the better.
Fortunately for the Thorpers, we are blessed with suitable terrain and a club captain that can sniff a climb out quicker than a fat man can respond “yes please” when asked if they want to “go large” in McDonalds.
A motley crew, displaying all the above habits grouped up at Mirfield Library for 9am prompt on a slightly muggy Sunday Morning. The Johnson brothers (although pleasingly we saw a little less of Phil than last week), John (Bradley Wiggins), John (Mad John), the star crossed lovers (Doug and Alex), Jack, Counsellor Bolt, the dashing, muscular, outrageously good looking Ben and finally back for a welcome return for the Sunday run’s, Mick (the ref) who had brought his latest bit of bike bling down with him. Unfortunately, it was screwed to his leg!
The route took us out South, through Huddersfield, and towards Langsett. The first casualties of the day were Craig and Mick the Ref, who pulled off after 20 miles (stop sniggering at the back) and headed home via the windmills.
The first major hurdle we were faced with, if I remember rightly, were the Strines. Jack, who was still with us amazingly, took the lead and was closely followed by Doug and Martin. The rest of us brought up the rear.
The Strines are a personal favourite of mine and again posed a challenge that saw the energy sapped from our legs ready for the climbs that were to follow.
Again for a supposed summers day in July, the weather wasn’t helping us. A strong cross headwind was making sure that even the descents required a bit of effort to get up to speed. Some reasonable speeds were reached on the descent to Shatton at the bottom of hope valley before a turn west took us through to Hope and the first cafe stop of the day.
On the approach to the Cafe a mini chain gang was formed at the front of the group with Alex, Doug and Martin using a little experience and quite comfortably dropping the rest of us with some strong turns on the front leaving us to limp in a minute or two later.
The cafe, whilst nice and with excellent scenery… wasn’t the cheapest and the two resident tight wads, Fry up and myself, ordered our food and popped next door to stock up with liquid for the rest of the trip. Upon arrival back at the cafe we arrived back in to the middle of some highly sophisticated conversation. I presume Alex was referring to the E.M. Forster novel when he mentioned ‘Howards End’ anyway. Once we had dissected Chaucer’s greatest works and mused over which Horn you would blow in the woodwind section of a orchestra we made the move towards the next climb of the day.
I forget who picked the sailors hornpipe…
Winnats Pass was a climb that only half the group had done before. Starting off steeply it then proceeds to get worse the further you climb. Jack reached the 2nd cattle grid first and was then joined by me to crest the top of the climb. The rest came up in dribs and drabs and everyone did the hard work on the climb but a certain few members decided, after doing the hard work, to then walk a small portion. Next time gents, next time.
More climbs followed, cheers Alex, and then we descended down to Hayfield where, in a desperate attempt to have a rest, Mad John punctured his rear tyre (the second of the day following one early on for Jack) on the descent to Hayfield. After eventually getting his tyre off his particularly tight rim (oh come on) I proceeded to rip his second tube (right that’s it, get out…) trying to get the tyre back on. Fortunately, we eventually managed to get fixed and in a position to head off, mainly due to Alex’s skillful ‘observation’ of the change.
Tired we arrived in Glossop, which apparently isn’t in South Yorkshire, much to my surprise, and the second stop of the day. This was too much for Jack who descided to head off with a final.. “No schtopping, I must presh on” (I’m not sure at which point he turned in to Sean Connery).. hanging in the air.
The second cafe was more of a caf, but very welcome as it was a break and cave us chance to recuperate before the challenge of holme moss. After enjoying the ‘warm front’, we made our way off and towards the bottom of the moss.
Doug and Martin were the first to the top after a good move that caught me unaware (I know it doesn’t take much), Mad John and Alex quickly followed before Fry up and Bradley Wiggins made a complete set. After a long day it was a very good effort by all concerned. Sky John, notably developing his stamina from last week and was finishing strongly.
The wicked descent brought us back eventually down to huddersfield and then on home.
My stats for the day:
85 miles;
15 mph;
5,560 ft ascent.
Great run Gents. More of the same soon.
