Hartlepool Cycling Club

HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride

HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride

The days are getting slowly longer, and the first spring flowers are starting to push their buds up through the mud. But the weather on today’s ride served as a stark reminder that it is still just the beginning of February and winter is still alive and kicking.

Strong winds were forecast along with showers but there was still a good turn out despite this. Phil, Matt, Sean, Peter and Steve met at the Golden Lion and planned a bit of a route, although with no definite destination. The idea was to ride out into the wind so the ride back would be a bit easier.

It was dry as we set off, but half way up the hill to Dalton riding into a hooley of a head wind, the rain started. It was Lashing down and by the time we had reached Elwick crossroads everyone was suffering with cold and wet. Peter was thinking of turning back but Sean assured him that it would blow over soon, which proved to be true as it was dry again going through Dalton.

From there we took the Greatham track and then went through Billingham heading for Norton. The original plan was to go to Yarm but as we passed Blackstone lane Sean suggested we go that way instead. So we took the lane along to Thorpe Thewells and decided to have a coffee stop at Wynyard station. Just a quickee as Peter had to be home early for family duties (and to ensure he got some dinner which would otherwise be donated to the neighbours dog).

So coffee and cake consumed and the wind behind us on the way back it would be plain sailing. Then the sky got dark and darker still and the A689 was the route back to town. Unfortunately just as we turned off the the Wolviston roundabout the sleet and hailstone started. Driven at us full pelt by the gale force wind. It was like being sandblasted in the face with shards of ice. Defoliation I think it’s called and some people pay good money for it. Fortunately it stopped just as abruptly as it started but left us cold and wet again just like when we started.

So a good turn out on a rough day and nothing more than a potter round Stockton to show for it. But everyone agreed it was just good to get out.

Other HCC News

Phil Wright topped this weeks HCC Strava Leaderboard with 139.4 miles.  The Thirlwind was 2nd with 123.8 miles and Bryan Blakelock in 3rd place with 110.2 miles.  This week there were 17 riders with miles on the board.  Well done to you all!

Don’t forget the new season has begun and Club Membership fees are now due.  Please submit your forms/fee by Jan 31st, so we can update our members lists and ensure that your are eligible for club events.

HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride

The kernel for this Sunday’s ride was formed by Sean’s militaristic fetish. He was keen to go to Seaham to see the sea, no not the sea, the statue of Tommy, a piece of sculpture that serves as a reminder of the hardships endured by the ordinary people when the power brokers go to war. I wondered if there was a term to describe this type of military art but when I researched it for this write up, (I am thorough) all that came up as a description of all things military was the word martial. So could it be martial art? I always thought that was people kicking each other, or big blokes in nappies pushing each other about. Anyway turns out it’s not martial art, it is simply military art. A term first used by a bloke called John Smythe in the late 1500s, so that must have been around quarter to four.

But it was half past nine when Peter made his way to the Golden Lion and he knew that he had to be safely back home by quarter to four because storm Corrie was on its way. But the day had certainly started well, bright and cold with little wind. This had certainly brought the crowds out as there was a proper gaggle waiting for the off. Today there was Sean, Steve, Matt, Peter, Phil and Tony.

Not only was Sean keen to see Tommy, he was also keen to go via Easington and up the hill there. So that’s the way we went. Up and down the various deans on the way to Seaham. Phil turned off at Hawthorn never to be seen again while the rest plowed on to the cafe stop.

Peter and Sean arrived in Seaham first a long way ahead of the others and after some debate, (mainly Sean telling Peter which cafe we would stop at) decided to go down to the harbour. Still no sign of the rest. So back up onto the front to see them coming along. It wasn’t until we got to the cafe that the reason for their delay became apparent.

Steve had lost half of his front wheel in a bizarre twig incident. Matt seemed to be blaming himself for this misfortune but sometimes accidents will just happen. Most people would be in a bit of a flap about this,but Steve is a cool customer and it didn’t put him off his bacon sarnie.  Peter suggested that Steve should get the train home as it looked like the wheel could buckle beyond its elastic limit and collapse at any moment. But Steve would have non of it.  So we set off on the shortest route home and stuck together. Mainly so we could witness Steve’s accident as his wheel failed in front of him.

Fortunately however we all made it back without further incident, and no doubt we will have a good laugh about this in years to come. Well not much else happens on these rides.
So all in all a good turn out, good company, and proof if its where needed that nobody gets left behind, not even Steve.

Other HCC News

The Thirlwind topped this weeks HCC Strava Leaderboard with 139.6 miles.  Phil Wright was 2nd with 125.4 miles and Vanessa Cox in 3rd place with 115.2 miles.  This week there were 20 riders put miles on the board.  Well done to you all!

Don’t forget the new season has begun and Club Membership fees are now due.  Please submit your forms/fee by Jan 31st, so we can update our members lists and ensure that your are eligible for club events.

HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride

I don’t know what the collective noun is for a group of cyclists. Peleton perhaps, but that doesn’t count really because it’s French and is best used to describe a large group. Does five people count as a large group? Not in terms of Gov.uk guidance on avoiding spread of the lurgy it doesn’t. But for a HCC Sunday ride it is quite big. Everything is relative I suppose. Anyway it’s not a peleton because that’s French so what would best describe a small group of cyclists. Without swearing that is. Well I thought Gaggle would do it. I’m sure there will be some species that has already claimed gaggle, hens perhaps or stoats ? Well tough, cos from now on it is also being used to describe not very large groups of cyclists.

Today’s ride as usual set off from the Golden Lion and as Peter rode along Dunstan Road for the meet up, he noticed quite a gaggle of cyclists waiting for the 9:30 start. Out today we’re Sean, Peter, Steve and two new lads that turned the small group into a proper gaggle, Matt and another Steve. (Two Steve’s, this could get confusing).

It had been decided to head for the Aviator but instead of going through County Durham (the hilliest county in the country) we had decided to take the low road and keep it flat. So we headed for Wolviston along the A689 and then through Wynyard, rejoining the A689 for a short while with Matt now pushing the pace at the front. We turned off at Butterwick and then into Fishburn. Then it all went wrong. No one had approached the Aviator from this angle before and we had to rely on a passing jogger to help us out with directions. Well, thanks mate is all I would say, cos obviously he sent us the wrong way. But we did get a tour of the NetPark industrial estate, which made up for missing out on the Aviator.

Having visited No 4 in Sedgefield last week, this week we headed for Hardwick Park cafe. Coffee and cakes were consumed along with bacon sandwiches and the seat inside was much appreciated.

The return ride was back past the racetrack and along familiar lanes to Wolviston. Sean then diverted us towards the Tees Road and by now fortunately the wind was on our backs and it was an easy roll back through Seaton.  A great ride by all!

Other HCC News

Alan Lang topped this weeks HCC Strava Leaderboard with 126.6 miles.  The Thirlwind was 2nd with 117.3 miles and Bryan Blakelock in 3rd place with 110.7 miles.  Another wet, cold week which seen 18 riders put miles on the board.  Well done to all!

Don’t forget the new season has begun and Club Membership fees are now due.  Please submit your forms/fee by Jan 31st, so we can update our members lists and ensure that your are eligible for club events.

HCC Sunday Social Cafe Ride

Outdoor clothing retailers have a slogan that they use as a marketing device. ” There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes”. So it was this slogan that had Peter thinking as he looked out at the grey murk of a January morning. It looks a bit damp he thought, can I bothered, he thought. Then he remembered the advertising and thought” what’s the point of buying wet proof cycling kit if you’re never  going to wear it”. And with that thought he decided to give it a go and set off in the drizzle to meet up at the Golden Lion.

Sean was the only other cyclist to turn up (also suitably attired for wet and murk). While stood at the GL in the drizzle, a short ride seemed like what was needed so Elwick cafe was the destination of choice after a little loop round the lanes.
The route was out towards Blackhall then up through Hesleden and Wingate. By now it was drying up so Sedgefield became the destination with No 4 as the designated cafe.

A seat outside was do able despite it being a bit murky, and Sean was dispatched inside to return with coffee and cake. There were another couple of cyclists also braving the elements outside the cafe and it turned out that they were also from Hartlepool so we had a bit of cycling chat.

After the cafe the route was back via the racecourse and Bishopton then down to the coast road from Wolviston and back into a strongish head wind through Seaton Carew.

A longer ride than anticipated, about 45 miles and the legs felt it on the drag back along Seaton front but both Peter and Sean agreed that it was well worth the effort.

Other HCC Rides/News

Many other HCC members were out over the week on Solo rides.  Well done to all for getting out over a wet, cold week.

Phil Wright topped this weeks HCC Strava Leaderboard with 133 miles for the week.  Bryan Blakelock was 2nd with 114 miles and Vanessa Cox was 3rd with 110 miles.