HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride
The theme of this Sundays ride was ’50/34′, ‘pension age’ and ‘early cafe stops’ as only 2 hardy soles made it out to ride against the wind and intermittent sunshine & showers.
Sean and Steve agreed to meet at the Tall Ships at 9am for this week only, as the plan was to ride an easy short one since the weather forecast looked a bit bleak. From the moment they set off, the sunshine was out, but there was a cold chill in the air as they cycled up towards Trimdon with no definate cafe stop location decided as it was more of a, how far can we go before it rains. As they approached the left turn up towards Trimdon from Hart, the showers started, but soon stopped and there where periods where the sunshine managed to shine through the black clouds and dried the path and made it an enjoyable ride.
Anyway, the cafe of choice was decided, No.4 in Sedgefield. The memories of last years gorgeous Strawberry Tarts couldn’t be forgotten and as Sean and Steve looked through the glass cabinet, as if they were almost forbidden delicacies, the tarts again looked perfect. But, barely 12 miles into the ride and reaching the cafe just after 10am, Sean and Steve decided to go big time and have a coffee, a Bacon sarnie AND a slice of Orange cake (the waitress did say “you need all the energy you can get when cycling”), so they believed her and tucked into the grub on the table outside, just as it started to chuck it down.
Once inside the cafe they had a chat with 2 fellow cyclists, one from Billingham and another from Long Newton who impressed Sean with their knowledge on the Garmin Varia rear light tech and after a good feed, they where soon back out on the road and headed towards Bishopton. Sean still fresh with cycling tech on the brain, was finding his PlanetX bike gears a lot easier than his Giant and found out he was using a 50/34 and that’s why he was finding the gears easier than maybe his 53/39 on his Giant? Steve also learn’t that you don’t pay National Insurance in your wages once you reach pension age. So they both learn’t something today at least!
With the conversation flowing well, fuelled by plenty of calories, they were soon headed back through Wynyard with a slight detour round Billingham to the Greatham Track and then back home via Seaton. The rain was coming down a bit more now and they were facing a headwind, so they took it nice and easy and cycled up the promenade to home. In general, a nice easy enjoyable ride, just over 14mph avg and 35-40 miles covered.
Club/Racing News
On Wednesday night, it was Week 1 of 7 of the HCC T107 – 10 Mile TT League from Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park. This event is open to anyone, but club members are awarded points for Fastest and also VTTA Standard to win this years awards. An awkward headwind/sidewind covered the main course and only the start to the first roundabout allowed some good speed. 8 riders took part, with 4 of the riders from HCC. Lee Morley was first home for the club in 24:40, 2nd was Steve Scanlon in 28:11, 3rd was Phil Wright in 29:11 and 4th Tony Cheshire in 32:48. Full results can be seen below:-
On Sunday, two Hartlepool CC riders took part in the East Bradford CC 15 Mile Spoco TT on the V221. 38 riders started and Paul Thirling had a great ride for 9th place in 35:25 and Phil Wright 33rd in 44:03. Great ride from both on another testing SPOCO course. For those that don’t know, there is a series of SPOCO races and each rider is awarded points. So good luck to Paul and Phil in the overall competition. This event was won by Joe Wilson in 31:26 with a 28.632 mph avg!
Strava Club Leaderboard
This week The Thirlwind took the top spot for the 2nd week in a row with 201.0 miles, Stephen G Rhodes was 2nd with 186.3 miles and also the most elevation with 9,366 ft of climbing and Lee Morley in 3rd with 132.0 miles. Superb guys, a great week of cycling in a tough wind! We would also like to say a big well done to Paul Sefton for a noticeable increase in weekly mileage, keep up the good work and also to say a big well done to 7 riders this week all going over the 100 mile mark for the week – The Thirlwind, Stephen G Rhodes, Lee Morley, Vince Duffy, Tim Summerton, Phil Wright and Steve Scanlon. 22 riders put miles on the board this week, well done to everyone!