Met up with this crew today. What a lovely bunch of chaps. Usual northern humour. I turned up at the meeting place and asked if I could join them. "No, bugger off" was the response from the rider I asked. Then he said "Are you any good?". No, I'm rubbish I said. Okay, then you can join us, he says. We headed out over some beautiful roads, up and down between limestone walls, cafe stop and some good chat. Managed to hold my own - the commute is paying off. It's a great club. They have a Saturday morning ride/race that is legendary for its toughness. They actually keep score of who wins the sprints - you can check the results on their website. Last month, Jeremy Hunt of Cervelo turned up on the ride. He was staying with Tom Barras, young pro and son of the legendary hardman Sid Barras, who also rides regularly. Can't wait to give it a go... I was chatting a lot with Lloyd, obviously a seriously good rider now in semi retirement but still climbs like a homesick angel. He's ridden the 3 Peaks once, just to say he's done it and has also run the running race over the same climbs. He doesn't plan to do it again. I know I keep going on about this race but, seriously, it is savage. Check out the link below to see a photo of Simon's Fell, up Ingleborough, the first climb. The race starts from Helwith Bridge and has a 3 mile 'neutralised' section. Except there is a Land Rover at the front of the race 'controlling' the pace, driving at 30mph with a crazy Yorkshireman shouting incomprehensible things over a loudspeaker at you as you fly along tiny roads and over narrow stone bridges. Then you turn left over a cattle grid, churn through a farmyard and then hit the lower slopes of the mountain, where the choice whether to ride or push your bike is immaterial - both are as horrible as the other. And so it continues for the next 4+ hours (sub 4 hours is the holy grail). It's terrible. You should do it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/eddieallenbc/3961514057/in/set-72157622346982373/
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