With the weather taking a turn for the worse there was still plenty of activity out on the roads from Club members.
Paul “The Thirlwind” Thirling and Richie “Gripper” Grant were the only guys racing at the weekend at the:
Darlington CC (Incl Road Bike Category) (BBAR)
The Thirlwind put in a great ride on a testing course to finish 16th out of a field of 91 riders in a time of 00-:56:28 with an average speed of 26.56 mph.
Gripper Grant continues to make steady improvement to finish 47th in a time of 01:02:21 with an average speed of 24.10 mph. but still riding with a handicap of needing to lose 1/2 a stone!!
Well done gents.
Sunday Club Ride
We planned a flat ride for Sunday as hills get to be a bit tedious after a while. Was it this, or the bright Spring morning that brought the crowds out? Who knows, but a group of five met at the Golden Lion wondering where we could go without encountering many hills. We set off along Catcote Road. Steve, Sean, Peter, Paul S and Paul G. Then out along the 689 and round Stockton ring road. We aimed to do around 40 miles and take in the road that loops around the airport. The only problem with this plan was that having spent time on the internet, surfing, there was not much prospect of a suitably located cafe. We all like a good cafe stop but despite the area being a mecca for cyclists, according to the world wide web, it was a literal desert in terms of watering holes.
There is a lot of scenery in the form of fields with hedges and stuff but what we really wanted was a cafe to stop at. So it was great to see the Devonport hotel at Middleton one Row serving coffee (other drinks were available) but not sausage sarnies unfortunately. It was just as we were sitting down that Paul S told us that he had to get back home by one or his dinner would be fed to next doors dog.
Last week Jason paid for the cafe stop. This week Sean did the honours with proper money as well, so a big thanks to them two but the rest of us are steadily racking up debt now and coffee doesn’t come cheap.
Anyway we were there long enough to learn of another cafe in Middleton St George, so one minute there aren’t any and then two come along together. It was then that it started to rain, and as we were mindful of Paul S and his dinner dilemma it was a question of how quick can you neck a coffee. Well it was down in one and off we went in the rain with the aim of getting Paul S back in time for his dinner. We headed to Sadberge and from there to Norton trying to plot a route that avoided hills. We came back along the Greatham track and by then the roads were dry again, a massive relief for Steve as his bike is allergic to dampness . It was just turning 12:30 by the time we got back to town so it was looking good for Paul S’s dinner but not so good for his neighbours dog. So all in all it was a successful ride with good company and maybe we will try again next week
Photograph kindly supplied by Crimewatch
V-CC Ride
On Saturday V-CC members George Wilson and John Parsons took part in the River Tees ride. It is on a Saturday as the Transporter is closed Sunday. Since it is still closed, that part of the ride was missed. Starting at Cowpen Bewley Woodland Park, 8 riders, one who had come from Thirsk, went through Billingham on to cyclepaths along the North bank of the Tees over Victoria Bridge for lunch at The Dubliners pub. The return was along the winding route of cyclepaths around the Durham University Campus and back up the ramp at the Newport Bridge. Through Haverton Hill back to Cowpen Bewley. It was very cold all day but warm away from the wind and like being in a freezer in the shade of buildings and bridges. 18 miles at a very leisurely pace was enjoyed by all despite the cold.
Thanks to everyone for the content supplied.