Well It was a totally epic day out on the bike, anyone who missed it really did miss out. Starting from the wicker Dan wasn’t the last one there this year, it was Nick Latemer due to his garmin giving him a load of wrong information. We still managed to set sail by half seven though and with no direction problems this year largely due to Danny being ON IT with his navigational skills, we we’re at out usual halfway cafe stop in no time.

An espresso or two later we’re on it into Cleethorpes Poppy field after poppy field in the bright morning sun  it was just road biking perfection but with me having jumped into the deepend a bit, training wise I was beginning to worry as it was miles faster than last year due to no slow un’s turning up (only me). We we’re averaging about 20mph so needless to say we improved quite a lot on last years strava stats not that anyone is arsed about that.

After navigating a busy Cleethorpes we found ourselves being photographed by a guy who claimed to be the  local Cleethorpes photographer, but it only took a few mins  to realize he was just probably a colossal pervert  ha haaaaa (he took the picture above).

After a great fish and chip lunch we headed to the beach for an ice cream and some rock buying rituals and spent half an hour listening to temperature updates from Dans garmin which we’re in the 40’s (degrees C)

Then we we’re back on the road to see a poor little Pheasant get hit by a car and had it’s wings broke. So after one of the lads flinging it it the hedge I took the decision to ring it’s neck and put it out of it’s misery. We found an amazingly quiet route back all in all although despite my efforts to slow it down it was fairly quick for a long ride. John Hadfield had a puncture and as soon as we stopped it felt about 300 degrees jesus…proper hot! Anyway yea all was great cruising along on the finest day on the year having a natter and a giggle. The third stop was like an emergency stop for me and is the first time in my life I’ve ever seen the rutland boys head over to  the shade to sit in.

After that is was B road city all the way back to the Sheffield Tap where we realized we had clocked up near on 160 miles (stocksbridge lot 180) and all got quite pissed especially one certain person ahhhhhhhh. All in all this was probably the best day out on the bike i’ve ever  had in england, we had a great group and it was just sweeeeeet!! Alain didn’t look one bit tired by the end as he popped off to cook supper for some friends he had coming over …. and it’s a good job too as he will soon be riding the same route as the tour de france in the same time, 3 weeks!!! I’m not sure if that is actually humanly possible but he’s going for it only supported by 1 camper van for transfers and sleep. will finish by saying thanks guys for the club run of all club runs, good luck Alain with the tour and his justgiving link will be up soon. Cheers Bren

Here’s a link to some phone photo’s  http://www.flickr.com/photos/98680433@N02/sets/72157634592821506/

Just a note to some of the Club members that have been around for several years that Derek Harrop has passed away this week at the age of 82.
Jim Hall let me know a few weeks ago that Derek had been taken into hospital with bowel cancer and things didn’t sound too good for him.
His sister has been taking care of things including his house and sadly there won’t be a funeral service in Sheffield as his body is to be buried in private grounds down south in the Ipswich/Norfolk area I think.

Well it turned out to be a corker of an evening and maybe the start of more summer evening cruises by the sounds of it.

Cheers for coming guys we had 21 in total so made it worth doing. sorry about the poor decision on the launch site for the chinese lantern though. here’s a collection of point and shoot / mobile photo’s

http://www.flickr.com/photos/98680433@N02/sets/72157634583231552/

Great bit of behind the scenes action from the Tour de Suisse courtesy of the Orica Greenedge team. Enjoy.

The hastily organisised June Sunday club run meandered through 4 counties again today. Dave Baillie, Simon, Justin and Kirsty on the tandem, Mick Glover, 2 Sedgewicks, 2 Sweeneys and me left Bents Green at 9:15. Justin and Kirsty peeled off at Fox House to find vertiginous tracks on the way to Longnor. The rest of us carried on up Abney.

Alan Dawson, in composite Wilsons/Rutland kit turned up late, chased and caught us by Fox House, meaning he ended up looking more dishevelled than usual.

First and only puncture just before Tideswell leading to 4 cats heading off up the road at a slower pace…..should have gone with them.

Simon peeled off just before Peak Forest after we were passed by 3 guys with race numbers on. I don’t think they were the leaders as no car with them. This means Simon must have caught them before they got to Peak Forest.

Dave then took us on the wibbly, wobbly road round the back of Dove Holes to Whaley Bridge where we managed to herd up the 4 cats who had stopped to get food and water. We all headed up Long Hill then 2 more cats peeled off to take the unmetalled shortcut to Goyt valley while the rest of us toiled the long way up Long Hill.

By the time I got to the top of Goyt Valley I was off the back with dead legs and could do no herding. Two Sedgewicks and a Sweeney turned left to take the easy way while the rest kept going up to the top to put in an extra loop round Wildboarclough. Except Mick who turned back at the Cat and Fiddle and headed back to Buxton and home.

Lost sight of the Sedgewicks and the Sweeney but managed to get to the cafe before them. I was not going to take any route that involved Glutton Hill and that had clearly been their option.

Got to the Cafe to Find Justin and Kirsty drinking tea. Andy, Matt and Gabe went to the other cafe, Dave, Tony and Alan rolled up 45 minutes later and we all ended up in the same place at the same time.

Longstone Edge on the way back!! Then I peeled off at Foolow. The rest were going for another cafe stop in Hathersage. Totally ****ed so that means it was a great day out. Dave’s pathfinding meant quiet roads almost all day, the sun shone, but not enough to get Simon’s tights and Justin and Kirsty’s gloves and overshoes off and a first for Alan who I don’t think has ever cycled west of Buxton.  116 Kms and over 2,000 metres of climbing on the Garmin.  Y’all should have been there.

July club run is to Cleethorpes and back – get practising although should be easy as Alain is going to be on the front all day towing us along at 19 mph as he fine tunes his ‘Tour de Alain’ preparation.

A great article here in the Sheffield Star featuring our very own Alain Gordon-Seymour who is taking on the entire route of this years Tour de France:-
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/wheels-in-motion-to-take-on-tour-de-france-route-for-sheffield-man-1-5693206#.UZ4XdCMIDac.twitter

Photo and article by Polly Rippon polly.rippon@thestar.co.uk @starcourtrep

For those of you that are old enough to remember Dick Bartrop, the news is that he is here on a visit from Australia. Dick was a member of the Rutland during the 1950’s but emigrated to Australia.
To give you an idea of his class he broke the Club 25 record in 1954 with 58-43 at a time when the British Competition Record was only 56-29.
He went on to concentrate on road racing and in both 1955 and 1958 won the first stage of the Tour of Britain, 146 miles from London to Skegness as well as many other races. He rode as a professional for Viking and also represented England in the Tour of Poland.
http://www.cyclingarchives.com/coureurfiche.php?coureurid=15027
If you remember Dick and would like to meet up with him a few friends have arranged a gathering at the Gosforth Fields Sports Association, off Stubley Lane in Dronfield Woodhouse on Wednesday, 5th June at 7pm.
Dick is pictured below (third from right) at the Town Hall reception following the 1955 Tour of Britain success by a Sheffield amateur team where he finished 3rd overall.

Just a note for some of the older Club members to let you know that Mona Smith passed away last week at the age of 89.
Mona, also affectionately known as “The Soup Dragon” had spent the last few years in a home after her husband and Club coach Geoff passed away.
The funeral is at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Thursday 16 May at 1pm.

Saturday 04/05/13 I took part in the ‘Rat Race Road Trip’ an event covering the 440 miles from London Tower Bridge to Edinburgh Castle in either 4 days or 2. Being a Rutler and a Yorkshireman I obviously opted for the 2day event requiring me to cover 220miles per day over the weekend.

Due to set off between 05:00 and 07:00 on the Saturday I opted for getting to the start at 06:00, assuming that is when the majority would depart and not wanting to do the entire distance solo. On my arrival the park was empty, much to my dismay I was informed that everyone had hit the road at 05:00, Whoops! Luckily the sun was out and temperature way into double figures although there was a strong headwind (which persisted for 440miles).

I set off alone at Mach 15, determined to catch someone lest I get lost on my own. After about 30miles I caught a single rider from a welsh cycling club, riding sponsored by Skoda and I later found out a much stronger rider than me! Working together over the first day we slowly clawed our way back into the main field and eventually overtook towards the front, we later found out that for the first 130 miles we averaged 22mph!

Feed stops enroute provided flapjacks, cakes etc to fill our pockets and a larger midday stop due to provide sandwhiches. However much to our disapointment we found that the riders taking part over 4days had already been by and eaten the sandwhiches or anything substantial, therefore my lunch consisted of 2 slices of fudge cake, a flapjack and a hand full of crisps, great!

Most of Day 1 was flat but battling a strong headwind at a pace I was slightly uncomfortable with (trying to keep up with my adopted team mate) plus a lack of proper nutrition left me arriving in York at 19:30 a little worse for where. Luckily not untill the last 10miles but I had completely blown! Bonked, hit the wall, done! Delirious I inhaled the pocket full of jelly babies I had to try and help me focus untill I could find some real food and do my best to get at least a bit of sleep!

Day 2 was a difficult start, this time I WASN’T starting solo so I was ready to go at 04:30. I set off to searing pains in my left knee and across my shoulders, bad enough for me to consider turning round there and then. I was convinced that my knee wouldn’t hold out but told myself this is a one off event, so if I at least go untill my knee gives way, I know I’ve done my best. I spun steadily for the first 40miles until the sun came up and as the temperature raised my knee eased slightly, although the pain never ceased it fortunately eventually got me to Edinburgh.

The terrain in day 2 was much more challenging, after 100miles in a headwind some hefty climbing was thrown into the mix! As we neared Scotland some of the climbs were brutal, I hadn’t anticipated having to tackle this kind of thing given the distances involved! By this point my body and mind were done, I limped over the climbs and past the ‘welcome to Scotland’ sign, there was brief elation untill I realised that Edinburgh was 50miles from the border…..and the climbing became much more intense. I had now spent most of the day alone but tagged on with a group towards the final stages, as we were all demoralised and generally battered by that point we were taking turns battling the wind and helping each other out. About 30 miles out of Edinburgh, just before the 2 most testing climbs of the entire ride, the pain in my knee forced me to back off the group and tackle the remainder solo in a limp.

Descending towards Edinburgh was a massive relief (I thought). Although after every bend the city on the horizon appeared to be moving further away. I was now extremely tired and my entire body was in a lot of pain, sick of ‘chasing a rainbow’ I was getting frustrated. Having arrived at a point at which I thought was the edge of the city I passed a sign reading ‘Edinburgh 12miles’. This made me extremely angry! Again delirious from over exertion and on the edge of been blown once again I found myself shouting, not sure what at just simply yelling profanities at the world with displeasure of my discovery.

I did however limp across the finish line at around 20:15. A total of 30hrs 4minutes riding time, where I was greeted thankfully with water, cakes and a warm bowl of some kind of stew, the contents of which I couldn’t care less.

I knew 440 miles in 2 days would be tough, it sounds tough but in practice it was much more demanding, mentally and physically than I had imagined. Physically, it is now 3 days later and I am still in a fair amount of pain, still also nursing exhaustion and finding myself enjoying 2 or 3 cat naps per day, including the accidental couple of hours shuteye I had in Edinburgh town centre on the Monday.

Despite the ‘sandwhich incident’ Rat Race put on a great event! The feed stops, marshalling and organisation was fantastic, as was the route, avoiding any major roads and scenic from start to finish. The entire set up had a very professional feel. Can reccomend their events to anyone interested, will definitely be taking part again next year.

Minty’s Memorial RR – Sunday 5th May.
A big thanks to Andy Smith for organising the 4th edition of Minty’s Road Race, an event in memory of one the Clubs more colourful characters Ian ‘Minty’ Murray who’s life was tragically cut short in 2009. Thanks to Camilla for handing out the prize money, Jayne and the rest of Ian’s family Diane and Pauline, hope to see you all again next year.

The event all went well and we were blessed with blue skies and sunshine which made the job of marshaling much more pleasant, thanks to everyone that came out to help. As I was driving I didn’t get much of a view of how the events unfolded but here are the top three from each race:-

A / B – 49 miles
1st Chris Green (B)
2nd Giles Pidcock (B)
3rd Darren Otter (B)
First A cat was Richard Meakin in 7th place

C / D – 43.5 miles
1st Martin Reed (C)
2nd Steve Marrows (C)
3rd Rob Blackburn (C)
First D cat was Roger Harvey in 6th place

E / F / G / H – 38 miles
1st Mick Day (E)
2nd Ken Corbett (E)
3rd Dave Maughan (E)
First F cat was Dave Gretton in 4th place.
First G cat was Derek Woodings.
First H cat was John Dowell