Archive for June 2011
carbon wheels for sale
29/06/2011 by JD.
grammo rt8 hi tech 50mm deep section rims very little use very good condition £600.00 bargain
Anyone at Hartshead tomorrow evening
28/06/2011 by jack the flying dutchman.
Anyone riding at Hartshead tomorrow evening - or doing Clarion TT?
velodrome confirmation.
27/06/2011 by les.
I have just received confirmation of track availability for the 28th of July 8-10pm and will be sending the deposit and forms in tomorrow.
Price is £320 for two hours exclusive track hire. This includes bikes, helmets and instructor. Shoes are available for hire at £4.50 as Look Delta cleats are required. (not Keo.)
Maximum 16 riders on the track, so if we can get 16 then £20 each + £4.50 shoes if required. Bargain!
We can have more riders, but that will require an extra instructor which will only add a couple of quid to the price.
The only condition on the booking form is that all participants “must be able to ride a bike.” (let the debate begin!)
I will pay the deposit and sort out the booking, but obviously as it’s only a few weeks away, require riders to confirm asap, so if not enough Thorpers are interested i can fill the places from elsewhere. Could you also confirm bike size required and relay the message to any club members that don’t use the blog.
Thanks, Les.
The further adventures of Captain Al and his merry men
26/06/2011 by Sir Q Ittus-Root.
Okay chaps, here’s the data from the on-board data collection device: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/94982370
With the promise of beautiful weather eleven Thorpers showed up at the start. Well twelve actually because Les turned up at 9am and set off in the opposite direction for a reason I’m not quite sure. Anyway, nice to see you Les. On today’s little Thorper escapade were Mad John, Johnny, Sky John, John ‘No nickname’ Spindler, Phil & Ben (The Flower Pot Men), Alex, Doug, Mick the Ref, Geoff and me (Craig J). Hills seemed to be the agenda of the day, so we set off in our usual disorganised manner to complete the Etape du Elsecar: http://www.elsecar-heritage-centre.co.uk/
Taking the back route to the windmills I expected to see an angry Minotaur at every corner. Only Captain Al knows his way through this Labyrinth of hilly back lanes, miraculously popping out near the windmills (only to disappear again down some other obscure road). Mick had a mechanical, which means three of our number had the distinction of being beaten up a hill by a jogger. The absence of aggressive drivers was notable (in fact motorists in general) as we made our way, crisscrossing roads we don’t know with roads we do. Well done on the navigation front for that, Captain Al.
In the points section for the Red Jersey Sky John scored first, second and third. He scored points for the ’sore thumb’ award of sticking out like the proverbial (usually three abreast with a car behind). He also scored points for the most ineffective piece of group communication. Relaying the term ‘Car up’ he stayed exactly where he had been, in the middle of the road (much to the amusement of everyone behind). However, his outstanding achievement was for playing ‘chicken’ with an oncoming Volvo (hidden in a dip) on the hill coming down towards Wigfield Farm. We had a quick committee meeting and conferred the award. An outstanding performance, Mr. Gledhill!
Arriving at Elsecar cafe pandemonium erupted throughout the ranks of the Thorpers as it was discovered they didn’t do beans on toast. Outrageous! After a short while the Thorpers recovered from this shocking news and consulted the menu. In his usual custom FEB announced what he was going to have to the world, and how much it was going to cost him, and how he had arrived at this decision. Turns out he missed breakfast by about five minutes. Mick the Ref, meanwhile, had a slight sense of humour failure waiting for his baked potato.
Bellies full the Thorpers set off back. Captain Al decided discretion was the better part of valour and opted for the direct route. After a curious display of undressing by John ‘No nickname’ Spindler we continued on that A road back from Barnsley more or less in a bunch. Passing a Ice Cream Parlour Ben had a tantrum by the side of the road and demanded we stop for a beetroot sundae. The other Flower Pot man, Phil readily agreed, though he had mistaken the sign to read ‘massage parlour’. Reluctantly the rest of us acquiesced to his insolent demands, fearing yet another display of public embarrassment.
With the residue of ice cream on everyone’s lips we returned over Emley Moor. We actually managed to stay more or less in a group (miraculous!) with each going their separate ways from Grange Moor onwards.
We were all quite amazed by the climbing stats today. Mrs Garmin says 5,528ft of climbing in 65m (with an average moving speed of 15mph). Because it was ‘lumpy’ rather than lots of hills it didn’t seem as much. At one point it was 100ft of climbing per mile which pro rata is the same as the Etape du Dales. I reckon this is just about as hilly as you can get (though no doubt you cycling nerds are going to tell me something different, or I got my calculations wrong). My legs, however, are telling me it was a hilly route. Okay, so here’s a Garmin challenge. Find the hilliest route from your stats and see who can find the most amount of climbing per mile over ‘reasonable’ distances, i.e. more than a 20 miles.
Next week’s thrilling episode of Captain Al on the Thorper Channel our annual outing to the National Road Race Cycling Championship at Barley. YES! It’s the Barley Whine Festival “How many miles”, “Are we there yet”, “I don’t remember this hill”, “We should have set off earlier”, “I can’t keep up”, “You lads go on and leave me, I’ll be all right on my own”, “Is this a club run or a race”, “I’m not as fit as I used to be”. Points deducted for cliches, points added for unusual, original or witty comments.
Look forward to seeing everybody next week.
Thorpers in the Otley 50
26/06/2011 by AndyCal.
Oh me oh my, what seemed like a nice day was yet again a tough test against the wind. 3 Thorpers and 2 Thorper friends took part in the 50 mile Time Trial from Kirby Hill to Knayton and back, and back!
Despite the not so fast conditions Al Wareham smashed his PB to record 1.52.13…..simply awesome, well done Al you monster.
Next in order;
Andy Cal 2.01.15. A pb by 9 seconds and very close to a Harley Davidson moment.
Paul Brierley 2.04.46
Jack DeBokx 2.05.24 Not the ideal race prep the day before.
John Lancaster 2.07.19
The club 50 championship next Saturday will be contested by :
Andy Cal
John Cal
John Hatfield
John Lancaster
Steve mcCall
And also taking part friend Paul Brierley.
On a personal note, today i vowed that i would never do a fifty ever, ever, ever again. i would sell all my TT gear and buy a Harley. But as it’s the club 50 next week, then why not give it one more go. You see that’s what it’s all about this TT lark, it’s a massive mental battle between you and yourself. That’s why, next week,I will be there pushing myself to the very edge of sanity just like all the other people who have sold their soul to Time Trialling.
Bring it on! Allez les Verts.
Club Run 26/06/11 Brambles Cafe
23/06/2011 by Al and Sarah.
There seems to be a thirst for hills in the club at the moment ( well Doug says there is) so for this Sundays club run the plan is to head south covering every back road and hill in the process with a dinner stop at Brambles Cafe at Elsecar Heritage Centre.. The mileage is small but the hills will make up for it.. Hope to see you all Sunday… Alex..
Manchester Veledrome
23/06/2011 by les.
A couple of weeks ago, i had the pleasure of a 2 hour taster session on the track, thanks to Paul B.
Simply put, awesome! Anyone who hasn’t tried it, you’ve got to have a go!
I know Al tried to put something together earlier on in the year, but struggled with dates and is now busy with trying to break the land speed record on a bike, so i emailed the booking office and have just got the latest availability. Im’e trying for the 28th of July 8pm til 10pm, but have let them know that any Thursday at this time would be ok. That should fit in nicely with weekend racing and club runs.
I will confirm the booking and pay the deposit as soon as they confirm the date, I can get enough to make it viable but obviously Thorpers get first dibs.
So the question is, who’s up for it?
Also need to know if you have been on the track before, so i can let the booking office know about instructors.
Club Clothing collection and payment.
22/06/2011 by AndyCal.
I will be at the club rooms this Thursday night for members to collect and pay for outstanding clothing orders. I may not be able to make it again for a couple of months.
If anyone is in regular contact with members who dont read the blog can you inform the following please:
Rob, Ben, Derrick , John Collinson, Rich, and John T
Hartshead Circuit - Wednesday @ 7:30pm
21/06/2011 by BenBlyth.
Ladies and…. well, Ladies,
I am flogging my self round Hartshead circuit tomorrow from around 7:30pm if anyone fancies joining me. It looks a cracking day weather wise so thought I would make the most of it.
Love and kisses (especially for Bolty, maybe even a cuddle)
Ben
P.S - I have invited Cheryl Cole but she hasn’t got back to me yet.
York Rally
21/06/2011 by Martyn.
This weekend is the annual York Cycle Show on the Knavesmire. In addition to the trade shows, demonstrations and stuff there is a new sportive on the Saturday . The Ron Kitching challenge now has timing chips etc
In the past Thorpers have ridden out to York on the Sunday for browse round the show?
