Closing date for entries TUESDAY 22nd MAY.

Have a nice day.

From the top of Norwood Edge we soon took a right turn on a road across the top of the moors towards Harrogate with a wonderful tail wind the pace was fast and easy and we soon dispatched Harrogate and reached our dinner stop at the river side cafe in Knaresborough with about 40 miles up. The usual fair but slow service and expensive.

Homeward bound now so across to Wetherby and heading south now the lovely tail wind became a awful side/head wind all the way down to Cass where we now turn west in to a full head wind which nearly killed me. The last 15 miles I just hung over the bars wishing I was home and it felt like ever to get there, character building I think they call it.

Now a day later I loved every bit of it and as always great company and lots of fun.

Next week we are heading north for a trip to the dales hope you all have a good week and see you Sunday Alex..

So to business!

The product line will be smaller than Impsport, but they have agreed to provide all of the popular and required Thorper kit

We all know the  quality of the product via the 120 shirts. Excellent! The materials used will be the same as Impsport, just maybe have a different label. The seat pad for the shorts is the same, only black instead of red. They are willing to produce one off items for the same price as bulk items and we potentially have two kits. The 120 design and the official Thorper kit. The main problem (which they said would be no problem) being the setting up of the kit design printing.

One thing to add regarding the kit design. They are prepared to design a new kit if required and i personally think that the 120 design is nice and retro, but many club members have spent a lot of money on the agreed RCC design (over £1500 on the last order) and i think (myself included) would rightly feel well annoyed with any changes. Any kit design changes needs to be agreed at the AGM in (October?)

Moving forward.

I have left a copy of the Impsport price list with popular items highlighted and they have agreed to work out prices and email me with their price-list. I propose holding off of the summer clothing order until this arrives and trying the new supplier for the summer order. Any objections? And do we need to call a meeting to ratify this?

Regarding the skinsuits. The only example i had available was mine, which after working nights had festered in the back of the van since the club 10 on Sunday afternoon. After much coaxing, threatening with a large stick and promises of a jaffa cake, it made a short  appearance  before retreating back into the shadows making a worrying growling noise.

After confirming i need a new skinsuit as mine had turned feral, i was promised that the Lycra will be of a better quality, the pad will be the same as the new shorts and i also broached the idea of changing the present green to a hi viz lime type colour in response to the comments regarding visibility whilst racing, which didn’t seem to be a problem. Testers, let me know what you think.

Any comments regarding club kit, requirements, improvements etc need to be aired asap. as the price list will be confirmed in the next 2 weeks.

Cheers, Les.

Congratulations go to the new 10 mile Champion and Handicap winner Les Dawson in a cracking time 24.39.

Les Dawson          24.39

John Callaghan    25.46  (bronze medal in espoirs)

Howard Newton  28.19  (5th in V65+)

Jack Debokx   DNS (punctured)

Andy Callaghan DNS (man flu)

Handicap result:

Les Dawson      22.44

Howard Newton   23.19

John Callaghan   24.16

The overall race was won by reigning Yorkshire Champion Phil Graves in 20.54, Mark Thaxter 2nd 21.13, Al Wareham 3rd, 21.31.

Well done guys don’t forget the club 25 on 2nd June. Get your entries in now, closing date soon.

Andy         Scr

Jack         1.05

John C     1.30

Les            1.55

Howard  5.00

Best of luck everyone, have a fast and safe ride.

Before we do would anyone like to highlight any  problems encountered with the present kit, such as seat pads or fitment and make any suggestions as to any improvements that could be made or kit that you would like to see available such as track mits etc.        Sensible suggestions please!

Alex

After a protracted hair and mascara check we set off via the beautiful scenery of Bradley, the chemical works, Waterloo and then to Farnley Tyas. Yep, up that long drag to the Golden Cock (stop smirking).

It was by this point that Geoff and I recounted a tale of navigational woe trying to find our way to Elsecar without Captain Al at the helm. Within three turns we were going down a country lane we’d never seen before and had to rely on dead reckoning, a Garmin and ultimately a bloke in Race Scene. Yes, horror of male horrors we had stooped so low as toask for directions.

Memories refreshed our ‘Tour des Parcs du Dogging’ sent us down some very pleasant country lanes that add a few miles on to the usual Windmill route.By the time we’d arrived at Snow Drop hill (or whatever they call it) Mad John and I declared an early retirement and headed off for the windmills. The Thorper peleton, meanwhile continued relentlessly on with the usual mix of banter, sarcastic remarks and moaning.At the Windmills cafe Mad John treated himself to an FEB (never seen Mad go for the full fry-up). I had little time to be envious as it disappeared so quickly.

Replenished and replete we set off back over Emley at a more gentlemanly pace as Mad regaled me with an anecdote that involved personal hygiene, vast Guiness consumption and an inability to use either hands owing to a double carpal tunnel operation. You charmer, you, John!

After Mad John and I parted at the Black Bull at Grange Moor I saw an occasion I have been looking forward to for ten months. In the opposite direction with Lewis at the front was Dave Hirst on some straight handled bar looking affair. Great to see you out again Dave, glad the collar bone thing has finally sorted itself out.See you next week, all being well. Hope the tests go well for Mad on Friday. Over to Captain Al for the last 75% of the ride.

I had forgot that the cafe at Elsecar was banned last time because it didnt do beans on toast!! how hard is that to do?? and make a good mug of coffee but we made the best of a bad job and it was nice to sit out in the sunshine for once.

It was the quickest way home after dinner as most of us were now a bit knackered even thou the ride was only 65 miles most of it was up hills!!

Next week Knaresborough the long way has we need to get the miles up, its only a month to the 120!!!

See you all next week cheers Alex