Author Archive
New rider for Autumn Tints rides
21/10/2011 by Steve McCall.
Hey fellas,
I was talking to a friend today and he fancies joining a mid-week tints ride, can you post details (meeting point, time, destination etc) of your next few weeks rides as he is going to to be looking on here so he can join you.
Thanks in advance.
Club 15 Champs
11/09/2011 by Steve McCall.
Even a hurricane could not deter three hardy Thorpers in the chase for more silverware for the club 15 mile championships up on the 15 miles course from Grafton along the Red Wall & Walshford course.
A head wind out, that threatened to rip our helmets, off was a baptism of fire and was compounded by the niggly little rises and terrible road surface (especially from the Walshford RB to the turn!).
Jack and I passed and when I got to the passing point coming back I was 20 seconds down and thought this was acheivable on the fast wind assisted return leg. Although the wind was on our backs we all mentioned how there were horrible rises that took the edge off coming back. It was extremely hard to maintain 30 and at times on the rises, we were down to low 20s!
When I saw Rob going into the headwind up the steepest section I had to laugh, as the look on his face was one of pure torture, that was just as I felt a few minutes earlier like cycling was the last activity we ever wanted to be doing!!! It’s supposed to be fun FFS 
Times were
Jack -38.11
Steve-38.31
Rob-40.21
Well done to Jack, he thorughly deserved his win as I totally emptied myself today. A classy win on a horrible day, chapeau my man! (And thanks for the lift too buddy).
I thoroughly enjoyed the race and is good to be back racing again, bring on the 2-up next week for more pain, fun and laughter.
My garmin data here. (Avg cadence 100RPM!!!!) http://connect.garmin.com/activity/113467672
Favour anyone?
05/09/2011 by Steve McCall.
I’ve been asked by Carlsberg to take part in a charity bike ride in a few weeks doing a MASSIVE 65 miles!!!!!!! But, the ride is on a cycleway and I’ve been told that is too rough for a road bike.
I was wondering if anyone could be so kind as to lend me their MTB if possible?
Another accident
05/09/2011 by Steve McCall.
Bad news from France, Andy was descending the Tourmalet and lost control in the wet and foggy conditions which took him into a ditch at the side of the road. He slammed into a banking and was taken to hospital by a passing car.
After X-rays it was discovered that there was no breaks but his tendon had been severed in his shoulder. The camping has been put on hold and they are staying in Lourdes for the remainder of the week prior to their bus back.
He is in a lot of pain and his shoulder is obviously strapped up, the docs say that he will be out for a while and will have to build it back up. so it looks like a long and painful recovery.
All the best Andy, hope you recover well to continue our fearsome rivalry next spring!
Testing results from over on the 718.
13/08/2011 by Steve McCall.
Another great day for some testers on the Brid organised time trial over on the 718 in what was not the fastest of conditions. 7 Thorpers entered but John Cal couldn’t ride due to work commitments, so a very promising turn out from us.
The temperatures were high and the rain held off but there was a niggling head wind for the longer return leg but this did not hinder many riders.
Andy 21.10 (2nd fastest time ever!)
Steve 21.48
Jack 21.58 (his 2nd fastest ever!)
Les 22.20, he really gave it his all and emptied himself at the finish, a very good ride that would have produced his 1st 21 in better conditions. Still a PB though!
Rob 22.23, a STUNNING ride that promises so much for the future! Rob was after a 23 and lead frogged the 23s to post a truly wonderful time, well done that man!
John L 22.35, a good return to form for John who is having a great season and has rewarded some hard training.
All in all a great day for all and promises a battle royale for the club 15 in September and also for next season where we will have an even bigger contingency of testers and some very equally matched riders contesting for the trophies and existing club records could easily fall!
We are in truely fine fettle at the moment, Vive la Thorpers et pour toujours plus vite!
BAR Testing update
27/07/2011 by Steve McCall.
All is delicately poised for a fine run in to the season finale. Below are the qualifying times for the club BAR . I only have Andy’s and my times.
SPRINT BAR
Andy
10 miles -
- 21:05 PB
- 21:11 beat last years PB
25 miles
- 55:20 PB
Average = 27.664 MPH
Steve
10 miles
- 21.04 PB
- 21.20 beat previous PB
25 Miles
- 54.43 PB
Average = 27.802 MPH
Only 29s seperates us over 45 miles!!!
LONG BAR
Andy
25 miles
- 55:20 PB
- 57:41
50 miles
-
- 1:58:45 PB
Average = 25.888 MPH
Steve
25 miles
- 54.43 PB
- 54.55
50 miles
- 1:57:49
Average = 26.379
It just goes to show what a sucessful (and blinking hard) season it has been so far with PBs all across the BAR table, but it is all still to play for.
There are also future favourites emerging (e.g. Jack, Rob, Les) and loads of new testers too many to mention (plus I would probably forget Gentlemany Geoff again!)
It all lines up for a great end to the season plus a challenging 2012!
Allez.
Team Swift evening series final event
21/07/2011 by Steve McCall.
Andy and myself rode the final event of the Team Swift eveing league over at the 718 and recorded some of our fastest rides ever.
The conditions were pretty good with low winds and the rain drying up an hour prior to the first rider off. The only downside was that at 20 past 8, it was blinking freezing!!
I set off from the start and immediately hammered myslef to the max into the quite low head wind to the turn in anticipation of the assistance of a tail wind back.
Just after the turn I caught my minute and three minute man at the same time and to prevent myself going onto the outside lane I had to hold back. In anger though I flew past them with all cyclinders blazing and blew a little on the drag after that.
The finish was storming and I tried with all my body to get a 20 but just missed it 
I ended with a 21.04 and Andy posted a 21.11. That’s the fastest I’ve ever riden at 28.5 MPH and Andy’s ride was his 2nd fastest ever, so a good night all around.
Garmin data. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/100593414
I also came 2nd in the league so will pick up a nice £80 for my efforts, ding dong!
Happy but very tired tester
12/07/2011 by Steve McCall.
Went to Etwall tonight and in a stiff NW wind I posted a new PB of 54.43. Extremly hard night with cross head wind on the return leg but fast going out (did 1st 10 miles in 21.27, seven secs off my 10 PB! ALTHOUGH the second 10 was in 21.52 which included two straight through RBs and the turn RB, this was not too shabby either ).
I was well pleased with the pacing and this paid off on the drags later on and boy, was it a drag on the last 3/4 mile where they had just laid tar and grit just last week, it was like blinking treacle!
Garmin profile here, http://connect.garmin.com/activity/98753767 ,only thing it does not show you is me heaving up into a bush 1/4 mile after the finish!
Allez les verts!
Team time trial
10/07/2011 by Steve McCall.
Anyone fancy getting a few teams together to ride the 10 mile team time trial on 18th September on the quiet rural rolling course?
All you need is an old git (over 40) and someonbe who can actually ride fast Rob H and myslef are riding and want some competition. It would be a good laugh and give a bit of needle to the event.
Anyone else up for it?
Team Swift 4th event
07/07/2011 by Steve McCall.
Andy and myself were again riding the Team Swift event over in East Yorkshire on a very changeable sort of night, the wind gradually stiffened all night and temperatures were cool, so not a night for the PBs we were hoping for. It was all still to play for in my camp though due to the overal 3rd position in the points scoring I held coming into the race. With £100 up for grabs by the winner, it was an extra incentive
Times to the turn were a full minute down due to the savage cross head wind and going up the 7% ramp into a block head wind at the turn was definately what we didn’t want!!!!
Coming back up Welton Drag (a mile long 2% drag) were fast though with the assisting cross tail.
Times were;
Andy 21:50
Steve 21:34
This further strengthend my position in the competition and may push me up into 2nd place (may have to let the tax man know
Garmin doo-da thingy here http://connect.garmin.com/activity/97328618 (You would never guess I’ve just got one would you 
