01/05/2011 by johnthewliss.

Today was a nice flat run to boroughbridge and at the library this morning was Gentleman Geoff,Fry up Phil, New shoes Doug, Old man Captain Al, Young JC,Rich Creaser,Sky John,Paul B,Mick half a ride Kamis,Damien I think and Myself Mad John,

As we all gathered we thought it would be a head come side wind all the way and a side wind come tail pushing us all the way home and we were nearly right ,We set off in the direction of dewsbury and up the back roads of hanging heaton up to shaw cross and on to east ardsley ,

with a nice head wind a certain someone was complaining already especially with the brisk pace that was been set by Mr Creaser ,Onwards we went in the direction of swillington ,Garforth,and lotherton hall then it was on to Tadcaster were we all stopped for a quick brew at Tykes always nice and welcoming at tykes.

After a quick tea it was back on the bikes and then the group split,Yes Mick half a club run Kamis Sky John and Paul B set off back to mirfield(You all missed an awesome ride) and the rest of us carried on to (YORK)? whoops and a 10 mile detour to borough bridge with an awesome tail wind reaching speeds of 37 MPH on the flat ,

After 56 miles we finally reached our destination and a lovely cafe were we all sat out in the sun , All of us having combinations of eggs beans toast and tea, The banter was as good as ever and i think it will be used on other club runs.

After much discussion it was the quickest way back as possible as some were struggling with fitness this time at a steady pace as we already had an average of 17.5 mph on the clock hopfully with a tail wind but you guessed it no such luck , head wind all the way back until we got to Garforth were a welcome Tail wind helped for the next 10 miles and then home with a total ofon my comp 101.8 miles with an ave speed of 16.7 MPH ,

I have to say well done to Gentleman Geoff you were strong all day your doing really well buddy the same goes to you too New shoes Doug for pushing a certain someone all the way home  but what made me laugh was when he said push me harder Doug i dont want Mad beating me up this hill

I believe next week is yet another flat route to hope in preperation of the club 120 which isn’t far off so come on everyone we need to get the miles built up .

So until next week,

Have fun

Mad John (time for a PERONI now) cheers

Posted in Twitter, Facebook, Club Run, Blogroll | Print | 22 Comments »

17/04/2011 by johnthewliss.

What a day , Plenty of Thorpers at the start and what a beautiful day ,Rode for a bit with Geoff and Dave then we lost Geoff at the lights somewhere , so me and Dave joined a group including the star wheelers and stayed with them until about the bottom of the moss this is were i lost Dave ,Sorry mate .

Over and down the Moss and what a beautiful tail wind all the way up woodhead ,after this i joined a small group until i got to the feed station were a couple of old mates caught up and i stayed with the to the finish more or less .

My time was just outside Gold and no book of excuses with a 4hrs and 40mins ,

I only saw jack and marc near the finish on there way home ,Dont know your times fellas just know you got gold well done,

oops i did see another thorper on my way home so i shouted some encouragment out of the car “COME ON GEOFF”

WELL DONE to all Thorpers who took part .

I hope those taking part in the pocklington ride had just as good a day .

Until the 1st of may have fun and pedal hard

MAD JOHN

Posted in Twitter, Facebook, Sportive, Blogroll | Print | 15 Comments »

20/03/2011 by johnthewliss.

At the library this morning were 13 thorpers John Spinner,Sky John,Geoff,Phil J,Paul B,Mick K,Steve M,Rich C,”sky” Chris,Martyn B,Ben B,Alex M and myself Mad John.

The idea was Ladybower the hilly back road way and hills there were ,through  mirfield to huddersfield the back way and then up the back roads (dont ask me what there called ) towards the victoria pub and on up again towards the windmills left at the windmills then some more climbing towards the strines “STRINES must be some kind of no go area to some cyclists because this is were the group split (seven including John Spinner who by the way had a full day pass )went on to langsett cafe for an early break and back home .

The rest of us continued to the strines this is were another left us Mr McCall but we can excuse him hes only used to doing 25 mile TT’s at the most sorry steve.

just after this it was the strines an awesome descent and an even better climb if we’d have done it in reverse but it was onwards and upwards and on to (i hope this is right) Bradfield were we stopped for something to eat ,A nice little cafe in the post office that not only does’nt serve hot food we had to eat outside oh and no bikes after a visit to the loo which was a ride up the road it was homeward bound .

According to Captain Al it was the flat way (with some long drags of hills) on to sheffield we went with roads that don’t seem to have been repaired ever ,good job my bikes a belguim bike and tested on pave

Past hillsborough and up the A629? back towards langsett  after towing “Sky Chris ” all this way he shot off from the back never to be seen again “sky” what else can we call him although he did really well because the last time we saw him he was about 2 stone heavier and he did’nt have any hill legs what so ever (well done chris )next time take your bloody turn on the front

after langsett at the junction to the star pub i left the group to do a bit more climbing ,while the rest took the easy route into huddersfield ,

i went back home the usual saturday cafe run way and then down past the mining museum and up the back road to thornhill

I hope every one else made it back safe .

My stats

67.8 miles @ 14.9mph not too bad considering there were some very severe climbs .

Good run again Al ,good company ,always laughs (i’ll let someone else reveal the biggest one:))

Yes at the top it does say Ladybower but we never made it that far (tired legs)

Just a word about next week “DON’T FORGET THE CLOCKS GO FORWARD”

untill the have fun

MAD JOHN

Posted in Twitter, Facebook, Club Run, Blogroll | Print | 16 Comments »

06/03/2011 by johnthewliss.

At the library was Geoff, Doug,Alex,Jack,Phil J,Mick C,Rich C,Young John,Rich’s mate Paul,Dave H, Paul B,Myself Mad,and yes for the first time since last october SKY JOHN must have been the promise of sunshine, Sorry if i’ve forgot anyone if i have Just remind me .

So because Alex and Doug have both missed a few sunday runs, It was a short run to Rossi’s at keithley just to get them back into the swing .Off we set and from the start Sky was upto his usual tricks of yoyoing off the front then he had a race with the sowerby boys which lasted all of two minutes:) and back into the bunch he came.

Through brighouse and on to hebden bridge via a nice little climb of which the name alludes me some one will put me right, Then on to the long climb of peckett well ,Brilliant climb i must say .Rich C and Jack were off leaving Doug and Myself Towing Young John and Paul B up the first Half with Doug pacing us Paul went first but we held the temptation to attack with him, Two thirds of the way up and young John put in an attack but we still held back , Dougs wise words proved right Because 500 yards from the top we attacked and left them both in our dust over the top together it was like Hinault and Lamond, We did wait a short while for the rest of the pack but the wind was bitter so it was through Oxenhope and on to Rossi’s at breakneck speed were we met dereck andMartin who told us all about his accident and court case which Doug could have had wrapped up in an hour.

After a short while the rest of the clan rolled into the cafe in dribs and drabs after some good banter and some well earned grub we all set back off ,Rich C and Jack one way Phil J another dereck and Martin in another the rest of the rabble went back over the tops to Queensbury were we lost Sky John (sorry) i didnt Realise or we would have waited ,As we hit the little sprint hill just before Scholes i thought i would take advantage of Alex’s poor form (not his fault may i add) and Doug’s rustyness i pounced and for the first time i got to the top first probably the last time as well ,

Young John and Myself left Alex and Doug at whitleys and decided to do a bit more climbing ,we went on to bradley traffic lights and turned Left to accend the climb to the blacksmiths arms then a bit further on a left turn and a little leg burner of a climb just before Charlottes iceream then home .

I’d just like to say Well done to young John he’s coming on a treat just dont attack too early lol

stats are

58.5 miles at 15.4 mph

Awesome ride Brilliant company and always fun even when the hammer goes down .

Big thanks to Doug for the wise words ,

see you all THURSDAY for the CLUB MEETING 8PM i believe

untill then have fun

MAD JOHN

Posted in Twitter, Facebook, Club Run, Blogroll | Print | 12 Comments »

06/02/2011 by johnthewliss.

RESISTANCE TRAINING

At the library today where Alex,Phil J,Jack,Geoff,Young John,John(Spinner),Alastair,Mike the Ref,Andy Cal and myself Mad john,

So off we set in the direction of Dewsbury then on bradford road there we met a lot of runners so it was dodge the rear gunners some very strange styles of running ;/ so onwards we went with the police at the lights letting us through as though we were professionals out on a training ride ,after batley it was on to bradford then the long stretch of dual carriage way were we attempted are awesome bit and bit for about all of 5 minutes as we were all hanging on for dear life head wind is a bit understated it was like riding through putty and this set the tempo for most of the day hard slog so on we went to skipton and then colne and finally reaching our destination the lovely welcoming Rock Cafe and a couple of large bakewell tarts all round lol

So all fed and watered off we set again well most of us Alex and Jack disapeared back into the cafe Maybe just one last look

this is were i get lost if i get it wrong please correct me ,

We turned left out of the cafe in the direction of hebden bridge as soon as we were on the road the climbing started some really tough  4% inclines with 50 mph winds in our faces one by one we dropped off and it was everyone for themselves Alastair and Jack powered off the front and it was the last we saw of them hope you got back safely and Alastair was directing because Jack gets lost in his back yard .

So with 5 of us left Geoff,Alex,Andy,Young John and Myself it was a steady ride back to hebden bridge ,After the turn down to sowerby bridge the wind was now behind us so the the pace picked up only just as some were suffering so on to elland and brighouse were geoff left us and down to 4 nice steady pace onto the three nuns goodbye Alex and the rest of us set a nice pace for home .

A very wet windy ride Block head wind for about80% side wind for 10% and the rest was a tail wind so that was the resistance training done for 2011

All in all a good run one for the summer months

very good company as always

and bloody good food including the bakewell tarts

My stats

78.2 miles

ave 14.6 mph

3866 cals

ave cad 78

knackered metre in the red

I think Alex will let us know about next week but i think were setting off from library at 7.45 so be there or be square unless you’ve got a pregnant wife and shes in labour

untill next week

HAVE FUN

MAD JOHN

PS Phil im sorry we sort of lost you we waited a bit further on the road and alex went back for a look but you were nowhere to be seen.

Mike hope your calf was ok buddy and you got back ok

Posted in Twitter, Facebook, Club Run, Blogroll | Print | 8 Comments »