Archive for August 2010
Rivelin Valley 29-08-10
31/08/2010 by Alf Wheeler.
Sorry about slow delay in the Sunday run report but for some reason I can’t log on at home.
Well I awoke on Sunday to the kind of weather that makes cycling in this country such a pleasure, slinging it down and blowing a gale. Unusually for me I wasn’t late to the meet point and was greeted by John, A few mins later Doug and Alex tipped up. After a couple of mins more waiting we soon realised that we were the only ones daft enough to brave conditions that reminded me of October 87. We chuntered for a bit about how everyone else was a poof for not turning up. Before rolling out of Mirfield, where we met a hung over Brad by John Cottons, Whom had it in his head that because he was only out for a few hours that it was his duty to soften our legs up by setting a punishing pace through Huddersfield, which had me slipping to the back to find some shelter and pleading for lights to turn to red to get a breather. Upon reaching Honley the heavens really opened, prompting us to stop to put our capes on, as per usual once we stopped to put them on the rain abated. Once over the climb up to the Sovereign pub (which I don’t remember been that hard), Brad turned off and left us to enjoy an incredible tailwind whilst heading towards Sheffield, with speeds of 40mph seen on the flat, but we knew we would pay for this assistance. On the way to
Sheffield we picked up another rider, whom is a blog reader and had seen where we were heading and decided to go in that direction, sorry I didn’t catch your name!
After reaping the benefits of the tailwind into
Sheffield, we headed west at Hillsborough. After pulling up at some traffic lights for a tram, Al had a grumble about the pro and cons of trams, once the lights turned to green we set off. After clipping in and pedalling a few revs, I heard a bang. I quickly glanced back to see what happed, not seeing anything I turned back round just in time to see my front wheel drop down into a tramline. A perfect save was executed by a quick unclip and a dab on with the foot on the floor to lift the front wheel out. After this heart stopping moment everyone was cautious of the deadly wet tramlines and me with a brown line somewhere else!
As we had predicted it was a very strong headwind up the valley to Ladybower, We all sat on Dougs wheel while he kindly took the wind. Our new friend turned off at the Strines to make his way back home, Which considering how hard it would get later on would have been an easier option!! We stopped off for lunch at the sarnie wagon in a lay by opposite the reservoir. It was like an Oasis sat there, not a breath of wind and the sun came out. After refuelling on bacon sarnies and tea we set off again, Once round the corner and back out in to the headwind normal service was resumed with Doug pulling like a tractor into the wind and everyone else trying to hang on to his coat tails for some shelter. Approaching the top of Snake pass was terrible with the head wind. I was in next to bottom gear on a (cough) compact, out of the saddle churning the gear round and wondering why I came back to this sport. I’m sure I didn’t have had to knock that many watts out to get up Wrynose pass! Doug took the king of the mountains points, followed shortly by Al, then myself and John collecting the last points on offer, Upon summiting John eloquently commented that his legs were f#*ked! The descent into Glossop wasn’t much fun ether, the wind was blowing us all over and I don’t think I got much above 30mph.
Coming out of Glossop we passed a tourist with full front and rear panniers, some solace could be taken from the fact that no matter how bad my legs felt, at least I wasn’t carting that lot about. We hoped that having fought the wind all the way towards Glossop that the wind would be funnelled up Woodhead valley, Our prayers were answered and we had a decent tailwind up Woodhead pass although it didn’t feel have as strong as the one that had been doing is best to blow us back to Sheffield as we climbed up snake.
After the reaching the top of Woodhead, we met a group of mountain bikes, exchanging pleasantries with them we then set off in chase off them down towards Dunford bridge, Just as we were about to cut up one of the mountain bikers as we turned left to go over the dam wall, John shouted out “where do we turn off?” To which Al shouted back “here!”, the 3 of us pulled off half expecting a mountain biker to plough in to our chuffs. This left John flying past, brake blocks on fire and the foot on the bike tire in an attempt to go from 40mph down to 10mph in the space of 3 yards. Having waited for John to turn round and regroup, we rode down into to Honley, had a moments rest bite at the local co-op. Once we were fuelled we set off back through
Huddersfield, again sat behind the ever considerate club member Doug. Riding on
Leeds road we seemed to be facing another headwind where I’m sure 6hrs earlier we’d also been facing a headwind going in the opposite direction. Going through
Copper
Bridge we all turned off to grovel (well for me and John anyhow) our separate ways home
Ride stats (in proper money!)
80ish miles
15mph guestimated average speed
Ft Climbed: Not half as many as it felt like
% of ride where we felt to be riding in to a headwind 90%
Cups of tea supped: 8
Total calories burnt: About the same as I put back in with a good skin full and a spread at a do I went to that eve.
Normalised Average Wattage: effing lots in to that headwind!
Tints ride tomorrow?
31/08/2010 by Geoff55.
Where are the Tints group starting from on Wednesday? And what is the destination?
Club AGM
30/08/2010 by Martyn.
El Pres has drafted the agenda’s for this annual ‘occasion’ which this year is on Thursday 14th October at the club rooms.
kick off is at 7.30 (pm) and as the notice says there are plenty of jobs on offer.
I know I haven’t had much correspondence as sec this year, thankfully no one wanting us to invest in Iceland etc, and Phil will produce the annual accounts for circulation on the night
As a reminder other reports are racing snakes, Runs cap’n and words of wisdom from the pres.
You may want to consider the Oscars for member of the year, most improved rider or rider of the year,
It is also THE chance to have your say about future initiatives for the club and i am sure in keeping with every AGM minutes I have the speed on runs will be mentioned…
Subs will also be collected
See you there
martyn
Sunday Sportive
27/08/2010 by Martyn.
Just had a chat with Craig Johnson, there is a sportive from Horsforth ,leeds this Sunday. Options of 100 km or 100 mile route.
We are aiming to leave at 0800 ride to Horsforth , do the ride then ride back which will be about 150 Kms
Route goes into Otley, Norwood, Ripon,Boroughbridge, Leathley,Pool Bank and finishes back at Horsforth Rugby Club ( hmm bar!!)
anyone want to make one in?
Cyclo-cross bike wanted
25/08/2010 by Dave H.
Anyone have a cyclocross bike suitable for my lad age 12yrs that they would be willing to sell? Please reply to this post and I will get back in touch. It will be his first season, so do not want to spend a fortune on the off chance, as he may not like it.
Club Run 29/08/10 Rivelin Valley
25/08/2010 by Al and Sarah.
This Sunday’s club run is to the Rivelin Valley. Leaving Mirfield at 9am heading for New Mills for the first climb of the day upto the Sovereign where we join the Sheffield road down to Wortley then down the old Woodhead road towards Sheffield, when we get to Hillsborough we turn right and head towards and up the Rivelin Valley and stop for dinner. Then on to the Snake Pass (from the other side for once) to Glossop, up Woodhead and then across the tops to Emley and home 80 miles approx. See you all Sunday Alex.
Glossop 22.08.10
23/08/2010 by Doug.
This was a ride of two halves. At the start were Captain Alex, Sky John, President Phil, Metal Mike, Martin Lucas, John, Geoff and me. The pace was steady as we went out to Glossop. This was a fine route – a long way round to Uppermill. It was lovely scenery almost all of the way. Well done to Mike – I am guessing that this was his longest ride yet on his road to recovery – but I, for one, was very impressed with his determination. To ride a bike with his “device” on his lower leg is some accomplishment. Roll on the day it comes off!
We stopped at the petrol station cafe and fed our faces. This was very nice scran indeed – beans on toast with an egg on top and a pot of tea.
From there we split up. Alex and I were determined to go over Snake
Pass and the Strines and invited anyone else who wanted to come along. Sky John didn’t know what to do – he had seen the Strines , but only from the “easy” side; and he had seen the profile of Snake on some You Tube thingy or other. He sat, frozen, on his bike outside Barclays Bank in Glossop whilst the others went out towards Woodhead and Alex and I headed up the road. I turned back and said to him “Don’t be a p**f, come with us”. And he did. It’s amazing what a few words of encouragement can do!The route over Snake and Strines was thoroughly enjoyable. I hammered it up Snake, followed by Alex, and John was left to pedal a couple of minutes back – but he did it with ease. We regrouped at the top and descended into the valley and up to Strines. John obviously had some mental block about Strines Moor, but when it came to the tough bit he did just fine. We rode up together, side by side, letting Alex off the leash (!) and all the trepidation was forgotten as he nailed that hill! To reflect on the day’s climbing we had a pint of coke, crisps and coffee in the pub beer garden in Langsett, overlooking the reservoir. The staff in the cafe had been obnoxious, once again, as we queued to get served, so we turned and left! It was a good decision.
From there we hammered it home. 85 miles, 15.3mph average speed. Well done to Mike and Sky John on this one – good ride from both lads.
Coast to coast ride
20/08/2010 by Martyn.
On Saturday 11th September Sustrans and local councils celebrate the opening of a new coast to coast route, 170 miles from Morecambe to Bridlington.
On the day local riders will be doing short sections of the route. I’ve volunteered to do the lot in one go!
As we have had a few long club runs lately and with the exception of the hills from Morecambe to Ripon and Pocklington to Brid it is a flat route!
My idea is go to Morecambe on friday get an early start and off we go. Sun times are 0630 to 1930 so with good weather and no wind it is just about a daylight ride.
anyone fancy it?
Velodrome Taster Session
20/08/2010 by Alastair.
Speaking with a few guys on the club run a few weeks ago, it was agreed that we should try a track session at the Velodrome. It’s good fun and a great way to get into track racing. I’ve never done it before but would love to give it a whirl.
I’ve spoken with Mancheter Velodrome and they are booked up for the next six weeks. The testing season does not finish until October anyway (for me at least) so I was looking at booking something in November. The maximum number of riders allowed on the track at one time is sixteen. If we could get 16 club members involved then it would be awesome. I propose to make the booking for the weekend of 13 November. If someone really wants to attend but cannot because of the date I have proposed then we can look at the other weekends available in November.
Saturday’s Taster Session runs every week at 18:00 for one hour. We can look at doing another session afterwards whereby we hire the track for a further one hour at a cost of £87.50 to be split evenly between those members who are attending. The taster session is £9.90 pp and bike hire for two hours is £15.00. If we get a lot of interest then we could just hire the track for two hours.
If you are genuinly interested, please let me know by either replying on here, or you can email me at ajmwareham@aim.com.
I will leave this open for three weeks to generate as much interest as possible. After the three weeks I will then make the booking (provided we have sufficient interest). I consider it would appropriate to hire a Mini-Bus to take us to the Velodrome which would be an additional cost and this would obviously be split evenly between those attending. If there are only a few people attending then we would either travel on the train or by car.
Hope to hear from you soon.
Al
Club Run 22/08/10 Glossop
18/08/2010 by Al and Sarah.
This weekends club run is to Glossop via Rippenden over the top to Denshaw, Delph, Uppermill, Stalybridge and then dinner at Glossop. Home via Snake pass and the Strines with a afternoon break at the windmill cafe. Those not looking for such a challenge can head home after dinner up Woodhead and do much less distance. A ride for everyone so I hope to see you all at the start on Sunday morning. Cheers Alex
