Chat & Social > The Bar - General Chat
fancy a new (push) bike
Bush Tucker Man:
And I thought last weeks Round 6 at Brighouse was a 'war of attrition'.
This race was grim, with a capital 'G'!
It was a 'massed start'; Wonen, Seniors, Juniors & Veterans all went together
The conditions were dire. It was mainly grass, but boggy grass-land, with a covering of fallen leaves in places that clogged almost everybodys bikes up
I ended up stopping perhaps 3 times per lap (after the first 2) to unclog the fork-crown,seat-stays & chain-stays
I'd pass riders, then stop to 'clear out', then pass them again when they were 'clearing out'
The top 3 riders (or 4?) were lucky, they had spare-bikes & were handed a de-clagged bike on each lap.
Me?, I ended up carrying, and running for about a 1/3rd of each lap
You know the conditions are bad when you have to stand up on the pedals, going downhill, to try to keep rolling :doh:
Stop pedalling & you stopped. Simple as that :evil:
My final placing was 33rd/48 overall & 16th/24 Vet40, which was atrocious
Chain Bar results
There's a few images from the race here, plus the state of the bike afterwards...
(click on pic to open)
Edit @ 21:26
Here's a 'just found' 'Flickr' link for the event at Brighouse on Sunday 9th.
Enjoy..........
Bush Tucker Man:
I rode the 'Cyclists verses Harriers' (who were mainly fell-runners, otherwise known as lunatics for the way they run downhill - truely scary to watch!!) at Bingley earlier this afternoon, there wasn't any of the white-stuff , but it was bl**dy cold!
I'm not sure of a placing yet, but Joanne reckons she counted 100+ runners at the start (plus all the cyclists), there were 97 finishers last year, so numbers are well up!
It was as hard as I remembered; cow-trodden fields, boulder strewn climbs, ice-cold winds on the back of Baildon Moor
I was happy to finish.. and I think (roughly) that I knocked about 6 minutes off last years time, if Joannes time-keeping is correct.
Results will be posted when known
Next year I might run it :-k (might be easier!!)
However..................... using the Trek was a better idea in some senses it wasn't in others :-k
Pro's;
1. Bigger clearances, as the frame/forks are meant to be able to clear a 2.2" tyre (I use 1.8" front & 1.5" rear)
2. The front suspension was used on the long rough descent from the top of Baildon Moor, then through the boulder strewn trail on Shipley Glen, & the concrete (railway) sleeper track back towards the start
3. The disc-brakes actually offered retardation in the most horrible mixtures of cow-[PooPoo] and mud, without chewing the pads to pieces
4. The low gearing made some parts rideable, that I know I'd have to run(!?!) with the Cross bike
Con's;
1. The smaller frame in comparison to the Cyclo-Cross bike made the sections that required it to be carried very awkward
2. The weight was a large factor over the Cross bike (roughly 7 - 8Ib heavier?)
3. Gearing was too widely spread on the faster, rideable, sections
I did manage a 'no brake' descent to the finish line, as I'd ridden the last mile swapping places with 2 other riders & was keen to keep my (albeit low) position. it was a bit scary though [-o< :shock:
This year, I choose not to have a wash in the Leeds & Liverpool Canal :D
As it was, once I'd unlaced my shoes & peeled my socks off, Joanne had to put my clean ones on for me (& tie my running shoes) as my hands were too cold and numb to do so myself :roll:
Once we were home & unpacked, the bike received a quick 'once-over' with the hose-pipe, after I'd showered and warmed up, but it was a bit grotty beforehand
Click on pics to enlarge/open
Although, some future archeologist might have had trouble identifying these 'blobs' as a pair of Diadora shoes :lol:
I must say though, the added f**tball studs (on the toes) helped immensely
*****'C v H' details
Plus... it's back to Bingley tomorrow morning for a (proper) Cyclo-Cross in Myrtle Park in the town centre
12:45 start
Bush Tucker Man:
--- Quote from: Bush Tucker Man on November 22, 2008, 21:36:45 ---Plus... it's back to Bingley tomorrow morning for a (proper) Cyclo-Cross in Myrtle Park in the town centre
12:45 start
--- End quote ---
Nothing stayed spotless for long :evil:
It was another mucky race, with a section on what appears to be a 'flood-plain' for the River Aire, & lots of leaves to clog everything up :doh: :doh:
I think I was in 23rd after the first lap, but lost a few places, gained a few places (not sure how many were on the start-line though, it looked a reasonable turnout)
Fell off twice, the front wheel just washed out on the corner; same one both times :oops:
Results for 'C v H', & this one, to follow when known.
Bush Tucker Man:
I've got the results for both todays Cyclo-Cross & the 'Cyclists verses Harriers'.
Sadly the 'C v H' doesn't make good reading :doh:
134th/166 finishers
38th/47 riders
Although 'we' were convincingly outnumbered, as there were 121 runners on the start-line (2 runners DNF'd)
The really weird thing is my finishing time is marked down as 54:16................................. which is exactly the same as last year!!
I think they might have made the results up for us slow-coaches :D
http://www.bingleyharriers.co.uk/html/h_v_cyclists/hvc_08.htm
But still, I finished it, and bet the 2 Calder Clarion* riders who also took part, who were;
Paul Milsom @ 54:55 (136th overall)
Richard Fenn @ 1.08:30 (163rd overall)
For todays event, Click on 'me' below, & go to '2008 -2009 Winter Events (23rd @ Myrtle Park)
I placed at 22nd/47 overall & 19th/35 in my age-group
I guess I can be happy with that, despite my double fall :)
*Calder Clarion is one of the local clubs, that we (Featherstone Road Club) have a 'friendly rivalry with ;)
Bush Tucker Man:
--- Quote from: Bush Tucker Man on November 23, 2008, 21:28:28 ---
For todays event, Click on 'me' below, & go to '2008 -2009 Winter Events (23rd @ Myrtle Park)
I placed at 22nd/47 overall & 19th/35 in my age-group
I guess I can be happy with that, despite my double fall :)
--- End quote ---
The Official report
Those steps were steeper than they look!
Edit @ 20:31
Picture 1 shows the very (& extremely muddy) adverse camber on the approach to the steps
Picture 4 shows the hairpin at the base of the steps
Picture 13 shows the 'one rider at a time' clamber up through the trees in order to descend back down
Now it's nothing until Sunday 14th, when there's a race at Greetland (Halifax), if I go to it.
Failing that, I'll be in Thornes Park (Wakefield) on Sunday 21st
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