31/07/2011 by Geoff55.

A magnificent seven gathered at Mirfield Library.  Leader for the day Mickthe Ref, with Dave Hirst, John Spindler, Craig Johnson, John Thewlis, Martin Lucas, John Dyson, Sky John and me.  We were soon joined by three francophiles in search of “le bibliotheque”.  Yes, Jack, Doug  and Ben are back from le tour.  So we were twelve.

The dirty dozen set off at a more than brisk pace, I thought, and were led up to Hartshead, where Ben’s 20 gears quickly became one, then none, then a different one and another, none, fixed, fxxxed.  A recently fettled cassette and freewheel decided not to be so free, and Ben was off for an early bath.  Tough luck Ben …which shop did the deed?

Down into Brighouse and up the valley over Elland Bridge and left at West Vale for a stinging climb through Holywell Green.  John T got some practice in on the freewheel comp course, and many of us were shouted at ..for pedalling ffs.

Then we climbed again.  Next was a lovely route into the valley which holds Scammonden Reservoir..a close encounter with a yacht, and an informal road block by two idiots burning the clutch out of a Vauxhall Corsa, (I guess here, cos it usually is) squeezing past the car on 18″ of broken tarmac on a 1in 4? climb was not accompished by all, but he failed to persuade us to return to the bottom and do it again. 

Long flat: headwind, long descent, fabulous : thanks Mad John, we were nearly on them by the castleshaw res?

Somewhere here, Craig turned for home, having completed 200+ miles for the week.

Then we were ten.  Recovering somewhat on the flat run across to Uppermill, it was pleasing to see a Pennine town celebrating rush- bearing? or clog dancing, and they even had a band out in our honour, or en fete, for Doug and Jack.

Service and food jolly good, and soon we were off again: Stalybridge, Mosleden Heights, (yes, more climbing) and finally, Glossop.  Well,  not finally, but farewell to Martin who fancied a crack at the Strines.  Good luck Martin, hope you monstered that climb.  The remaining 9 turned left to climb over the shoulder and into Longdendale, where Doug and Jack sped off, and when Dave stopped for more water (very warm day), Spinner spun off in front, never to be seen again.  Home safe, John? 

From Woodhead road, Left turn ooooooh ooh that is rather testing, Holme Moss from the south.  Regroup at the top and wahey, 50.1 mph down into Holmebridge and Holmfirth for yet more water to fuel a fast and flat ride through the Holme valley and into Huddersfield, and so to Home.

 75 miles 5hrs 12 mins 5600 ft climbing.  Garmin anyone?

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18/07/2011 by Geoff55.

Firstly the fashion points:

Fry-up was sporting regulation black shorts, and clearly bruised by comments from the fashion police, wished it to be noted in our august chronicle.

Not to be outdone, RobH minced around gently rustling his black bin liner rain gear. 

Cat walk presentation over, and as it was raining  and blustery, John T, Jonny D, Mick K, myself and our two models decided to head out to Holmfirth via Linthwaite and Meltham. 

Corner Cafe fed us, and we gratefully dripped all over the floor.  Still wet and a cold wind blowing when we set off again, we bottled it….well I did, I was frozen … all seemed happy enough to climb quickly over to New Mill and fly down through Brockholes and back to home and a hot bath.  The promise of hot baths for all led to high speeds down the valley,  or was it the promise of the Open Golf final day on TV? or Cav in le tour?

Someone had a puncture before Lockwood, put in an US tube, begged another off Fry- up and that was punctured by Hartshead Moor.

Rumour has it that RobH has cornered the market in cycling cut bin - bags, and has sufficient to equip the entire club all for future bad weather forays.

Yay!

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04/07/2011 by Geoff55.

It was getting warm already, when a big group of Thorpers and I think, five additional riders crested the ludicrously named Ludenscheid link in Brighouse.  I set off towards Elland along with todays leader, Fry-up, followed by Doug, Alex, Mick the ref, sky John, John Thewlis,John Dyson , Paul Brearly and Martyn Bolt….plus 5 whose names I hope will appear later, provided by someone who actually went to the official depart.  We took Phils’ now familiar cut across S.W. Halifax, and what traffic there was, (not much) stopped in the main roads as we crossed, flashing (car headlights, Ben) and offering us nothing but goodwill and safe passage.  After the roller coaster ride to Pecket Well, one of the new guys lost his breakfast, and a second turned for home via Hebden Bridge. 

We were down on schedule, but some had time to enjoy refreshments and entertainment at the Oxenhope straw race.  Three more riders went back at this point, to help their mates home and PB dropped into Keighley and Rossis.   Sorry I didn’t catch your names, hope you’ll be out again soon.

 The best part now opens up as we dropped from near Cross Roads sown to cross the river Worth near some old mills, climbed up to Oakworth and then followed undulating moorland lanes past Newsholme, Near and Far Slippery Fords, before dropping off Earl Crag to cross the 6068 E of Colne.  Then what, we climbed up the next hill to find  the Black Lane Ends road out of Skipton, wnd this took us over some more hills before we emerged at Blacko Bank (a hill) and Barley our destination for lunch.

Sounds a bit like a list of places does’nt it, well here’s another list:

John Dyson: Feeling dizzy and a bit sick.

John Thewlis: Hay Fever and no anti-histamine

Sky John: Fear of sunstroke so wearing a daft hat

Mike Kamis: ditto

Phil Johnson: Wasp sting

Alex: Chronic wind (sadly, not trapped)

So, feeling refreshed and eager, we started the next climb to a chorus of groans and moans, but at least we could look forward to and easy return, deciding on Burnley and the Calder Valley road via Tod and Hebden Bridge .

Just before Holmes Chapel, Phil suggested avoiding the admittedly lacklustre valley road for a more scenic alternative…an altogether better road.  You don’t mean long causeway do you, past the wind farm?  Half way up the two mile climb, phil confessed he’d forgotten that bit, and, feeling he’d left his mates struggling, came over all sensitive, and sped of at a rate of knotts with a second bee of the day in his bonnet.  Bloody hell, he’s fast when he sulks. 

All in all a great day out….boiling all day long……and

yes, phil and I did kiss and make up …night night all

Geoff

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03/04/2011 by Geoff55.

Mothers Day, so just 5 thorpers, Mick the ref, Mad John, Sky John, John Collinson (shall we use JC…I know the initials have been used, but not in this club?), and me.

Mad said he was not fully recovered, so how about a half day over to Rossis, and we all agreed, so into Brighouse and up to Wyke, before cutting back on the Halifax road to Shelf for a drop into the upper Shibden Valley, then taking Roper lane where Mad and Sky raced? to the Raggalds.  Sky continued on his own for a while…no news there, but we picked him up, then lost him again, then gave up looking as we had a great ride down the hill to Rossis…mick drafting behind a little green car all the way.

In Rossis, they were expecting participants in an audax…probably Spring into the Aire? from Hebden Bridge.  She said you’re early, do you want stamping……I said we were very fast, but I don’t think she believed me.  Mad got stamped anyhow.

Tested Navigation by returning Bingley ,Harden, Egypt and Moscow

Great day 50+ and home for an early bath 12.30 

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31/08/2010 by Geoff55.

Where are the Tints group starting from on Wednesday?  And what is the destination? 

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