Rides

The Saturday Teacake Run – Saturday
The Sunday Club Run
The Tuesday Night Chain Gang
The Friday Cafe Cruise

The Saturday Tea Cake run

This ride takes place all year round whatever the weather.

The ‘Tea-cake’ run is usually between 40 and 50 miles leaving Sheffield at around 9:15 and arrives at The Hathersage Baths Cafe in Hathersage at about 11:00 then returns straight back to Sheffield for between 12 and 1pm.

The Tea Cake starts at:-
Time: 9.00 – 9:15 am
Meet: junction of Ecclesall Road South / Bents Road (near Parkhead)
click here to view map of meeting place: streetmap website
click here to view map of the route: www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Teacake-Run

The route is generally up to Fox House, down Froggatt, Baslow, Pilsley, Ashford, Monsal Head, down Monsal, up Cressbrook, Litton, Tideswell, Bradwell and then Hope but this can vary a little depending on the weather and time of year.

Anyone wishing to ride straight out to the cafe click on this link
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What is the teacake?
Well I think this article by ‘Tug’ (a teacake regular) just about sums it up…
The Teacake – Stay on or die trying – 22nd January 2007.
Hello everybody,El-Capitain here, just thought I would write a few words about the world famous Teacake run to let newcomers know what it’s all about and remind the regulars what it should be about. I’d like to start out by saying that despite a reputation of our attitude to new riders who dare to venture out with us how impressive the turn out has been this year with plenty of new and old riders putting in appearances. Previously a male dominated event these last few months have seen women venturing out with us, yes that’s right, thus proving the teacake run is indiscriminate, as no matter what sex, age, or race we will try equally hard to drop you, but we will wait, well sometimes! Thanks to the persistence of Dave Baillie and co we are also beginning to form a youth squad to hopefully take over the mantle in future years. The problem with kids though is that they grow up and drop you, so be warned what goes around comes around.

Having survived over 10 years of Tea Cake runs, I would like to say how re-assuring it is that not much has changed, ok the bikes have got lighter, the cost of a cup of tea has rocketed. Apart from that though the Teacake is a well-rehearsed routine, like a religion, except its real. I know that no matter how drunk I get on a Friday night if I can get out of bed and up to the meet on time Ill get battered around the peaks get to Castleton Café drink a gallon of tea, eat a butter soaked teacake whilst discussing all the relevant topics and sharing a few jokes. Then hangover’s gone, sins forgiven, re-grouped and rested we re-commence the race home and still get back for lunch.

In fact I would say that the best part of the ride is the social aspect as when we have done the wacky races bit on the way to the café, everyone can re-group and get there breath back (in most cases). However for the first time I can remember more people are riding straight home instead of going to church, sorry the café which is worrying really as the social side to a ride will suffer. I would like to think that over the years we have managed to keep a balancing act between an all out race and a social ride, often due to small sacrifices made on all sides.

A word to all the people who do not stop at the café however, just because your not there doesn’t mean that we won’t be slagging you off!

All The best,
Tug

The Sunday Run 2012-13.

At the September 2012 meeting the Club decided to re-instate the traditional Sunday Club Run. It’s been a while since we did one so during October to December we are going to do one a month, see what the response is and possibly do them more regularly into 2013.

We have a lot of members who can’t do or won’t do the Saturday teacake or the Tuesday chain gang, and I don’t blame them. The Sunday ride is going to be a club run. It will take a different route every week and stop at a different cafe every week. I expect the pace will be somewhere between the sedate speed of the CTC and the crazy speed of the teacake but it will be dictated by who turns up. No-one will be dropped and all Rutland members are welcome, in fact anyone is welcome but I hope to see a fair posse of Rutland members.

We are aiming to do about 60 miles with slightly less after the cafe stop than before. Get back to Sheffield between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. So still time for you to cook the Sunday dinner, go down the allotment, sleep or whatever it is you do on a Sunday afternoon.

I’ve been given the job of organising the routes for October, November, and December so I’ll give a start point and a cafe stop. We might pick up en-route and can organise that through facebook or by phone.

So, all you members that want to ride and don’t feel there is a Rutland ride that suits you, well now there is. You will experience different cafes and possibly some roads you’ve never rolled a tyre down.

Cheers,
Andy

Andy will continue his monthly Sunday runs into 2013 meeting on the first Sunday of the Month at different places. For the rest of the Month the Sunday Run will meet at the Tea-Cake meet, 9 for 9:15 depart.

Destination,route and distance are usually decided on the day and is governed by the weather and however many people turn up.

For more info on the Sunday ride contact simon@rutland.cc

Tuesday Night Chain Gang 2013

This training ride generally takes place from April to September.

The meeting place is up at the Norfolk Arms pub at Ringinglow at six o’clock, leaving about 6:15.

The route is up over Stanage, down Burbage, right onto Surprise and down into Hathersage. The through and off starts just out of Hathersage then it’s on to Castleton before a turn at the bottom of Winatts and then back along the valley.

Depending on the light and the weather we then take a right in Hathersage along to Grindleford and Calver before coming home via Froggatt. (This may be extended as the days get longer).

The pace is fairly brisk and it is a training ride so there’s not normally any waiting.

If anyone wants more details email Danny Lowthorpe at info@rutland.cc.

Chain gang ground rules:

Due to the popularity of this ride and to preserve the training effect and safety of the ride, there are times when we will have to split into smaller groups.

If we get many more than about six in a group the training effect is lost due to the amount of rest time you get between turns. If we split down effectively this also means that you should be in group with people of about the same ability as yourself, again increasing the training effect for everyone. It is for your and the other riders safety as we thread our way through villages on the way to Castleton it can get a bit hairy in a big group.

We will stop just through Hathersage and split into smaller groups. Please all have a chat at the meet and on the way over to Hathersage with this in mind and organise yourself into these smaller groups.

When we start riding through and off, remember smoothness is key. The speed of the group should stay the same. Ride through to the front and when you have done your turn move slowly over to the left and gently ease off the pedals slightly enabling the rider behind you to continue at a constant speed and overtake you.

Communication is key. Please all point out the usual potholes, bumps and traffic lights and other hazzards.

When you come to the back of the left hand line and move over onto the right hand “pace” line, let the rider who is on the left hand side of you know that they are now the last man by simply saying, “last man”. This just lets them know to prepare to increase their pace a touch in preparation for moving back into the pace line.

As you get tired (everyone does that is the point of the ride , you may find that you can’t go through and need to skip a turn. Again just let the rider in front of you know that they are now the “last man” so that they know to move into the pace line in front of you. Missing a turn is better than getting to the front of the line only to find that you don’t have the legs to do your turn, this causes the speed of the group to fluctuate and tends to have knock on consequences further down the line.

MOST IMPORTANTLY…Enjoy It !!! The chain gang is a great ride and an excellent work out! Last year many wins came from riders out on the chain gang so it must be effective. See you at the Norfolk… Danny

Friday Run/Cafe Cruise

This ride generally takes place from April to September.

This is a steady Friday afternoon run out to the Hathersage Baths Cafe and back.
The meet is at the old Rivelin Valley post office (see pic and map) at 1:30pm every Friday.
It’s an open invite so if you fancy it get yourself along!
For or more info email any questions to info@rutland.cc.

The Old Post Office is now a privately owned property so please be mindful of the fact when meeting up here.

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