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Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 09:40
by WorcsPhil
Dry January means no rain to me, so we obviously all love to celebrate this dry January by riding out on club runs. This meant another good week of 33 riders on the 3 club runs, even though the early frost on Saturday saw a cancellation of the women's ride this week. :( . Philip Whiteman's B-run to Wyre Forest was hugely popular, perhaps the offer of intelligent discourse and brioche won out over the bacon-loving oiks on the A-run :D

This week sees perhaps the widest choice of riding ever offered, so let's hope that the snow and ice stay away. Not only there might be a women's ride on Saturday, and the usual A, B and C rides are primed to offer untold joy, but there is also an inaugural gravel club run :shock: , with a focus on off-road riding to a café somewhere...Stuart White will hopefully post more details below.

Surely, we're not too far away from offering an electric-bike club run, or even a re-run of a vintage bike club run...don't forget, YOU CAN SUGGEST ANYTHING - even a 10kms ride to your own kitchen if you want.

...but you know that already. This week's rides SUBJECT TO ICE are:

A: Shifnal - Nick Shenton
B: Destination and leader required
C: Destination TBC - Carolyn Clegg
G: Gravel run - Destination TBC - Stuart White (08:15 meet, 08:30 depart)
Women's ride: Earlswood Loop - Saturday at 08:30 - Carolyn Clegg

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 10:33
by George
WorcsPhil wrote:
21 Jan 2019 09:40
Surely, we're not too far away from offering an electric-bike club run, or even a re-run of a vintage bike club run...
Phil, I definitely plan to do another vintage run, but I regard it as a fair weather activity, so it won't be until the summer. It didn't happen last summer because I planned one for August, then had to cancel at the last minute in order to attend a funeral, and I had no more free weekends before autumn. If everyone could try to stay alive this year, that would help.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 11:02
by AlanW
I'll lead a club run/meet up on Zwift if its icy

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 13:27
by ballintrane
AlanW wrote:
21 Jan 2019 11:02
I'll lead a club run/meet up on Zwift if its icy
Image

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 21 Jan 2019 13:52
by AlanW
ballintrane wrote:
21 Jan 2019 13:27
AlanW wrote:
21 Jan 2019 11:02
I'll lead a club run/meet up on Zwift if its icy
Image
I'll put you down as a maybe then.... ;;-)

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 10:54
by carolyn
The weather looks positively toasty this weekend and I am feeling much better so I will once again I will aim for the 6 club run points this weekend!

Saturday C ride 8:15 start 22 mile Earlswood loop

Sunday C ride 9:15 start destination TBC

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 23 Jan 2019 15:04
by Nicks_77
This weeks A Run is to Shifnal

The current weather reports show temps dipping from Saturday's balmy 9oC to -1 at it's lowest point & to a high of around 5oC on Sunday.

The ride is therefore subject to change or cancellation depending on the conditions. If it's icy then I won't be leading or riding.

Keep and eye out on the message board for updates as the weekend comes nearer.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 24 Jan 2019 10:40
by StuartWhite
G-Run.

Destination options are a 40+ or 50+ miler with a cafe stop.
I have created routes for both.
We can select distance based on how our pace is going as this can often be dictated by conditions when off roading.
As mentioned, we're aiming for an 8:15 meet, 8:30 departure.

Has anybody got any experience with the shop cafe in Feckenham?

Cheers

Stu

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 24 Jan 2019 11:17
by Philip Whiteman
StuartWhite wrote:
24 Jan 2019 10:40
G-Run.


Has anybody got any experience with the shop cafe in Feckenham?

Cheers

Stu
It seats about 9 people around three tables, so quite small. They serve coffee, cakes and items off the deli but not cooked items such as bacon sandwiches. The nearest alternative is located at Broad Acres Fisheries on Ditchford Lane, Hanbury. http://www.fisheries.co.uk/broadacres/

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 24 Jan 2019 16:46
by WorcsPhil
Hi Stu,

thanks for organising this...could you offer any guide on what bikes may be suitable for this G-ride? Mountain bikes only? Cross-bikes as well? ... or would sturdy road bikes be good enough in your opinion?

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 24 Jan 2019 16:49
by NeilL
Hi Nic, you got an approximate route/distance for Sunday?

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 12:05
by StuartWhite
WorcsPhil wrote:
24 Jan 2019 16:46
Hi Stu,

thanks for organising this...could you offer any guide on what bikes may be suitable for this G-ride? Mountain bikes only? Cross-bikes as well? ... or would sturdy road bikes be good enough in your opinion?
Hi Phil,

This route mixes between quiet lanes, tow paths and tracks so it'll be fairly varied, I would advise choosing a bike that best matches the worst conditions, so probably not road bikes on this occasion, mostly because we've had a bit of wet weather and some of the tracks might be a bit claggy. We're not going into the wilderness or owt, but to be safe I'd think MTB/gravel/Cyclo-x bikes would be best.

Thanks,

Stuart

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 12:13
by StuartWhite
Philip Whiteman wrote:
24 Jan 2019 11:17
StuartWhite wrote:
24 Jan 2019 10:40
G-Run.


Has anybody got any experience with the shop cafe in Feckenham?

Cheers

Stu
It seats about 9 people around three tables, so quite small. They serve coffee, cakes and items off the deli but not cooked items such as bacon sandwiches. The nearest alternative is located at Broad Acres Fisheries on Ditchford Lane, Hanbury. http://www.fisheries.co.uk/broadacres/
Thanks Phil,

I think we'll look there instead.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 12:31
by StuartWhite
G-Run proposed route:

Set out at 50+ with the option of reducing to 40+ if time is getting away from us.
Routes below:

40+ Route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29223097
50+ Route https://ridewithgps.com/routes/29218800

Stu

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 25 Jan 2019 21:08
by Nicks_77
Sunday’s weather is forecast as cold and blustery so a good opportunity to try a new destination and bacon sandwich establishment.

The route will be approx 73 miles BH to BH.

Slightly longer on the outward journey to the cafe at around 40 miles, 33 on the return leg.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 26 Jan 2019 11:49
by carolyn
Saturday Womens C ride:

Positively tropical weather this morning!

22 mile Earlswood adventure: in attendance-

Carolyn Clegg (leading)
Gemma Johnson
Sandy Henshaw
Katie Chesworth
Cat Newman
Georgina Fisher

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 26 Jan 2019 19:52
by AlanW
Looking at the forecast, 9:00 on Zwift it is then ;;-)

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 13:12
by AlanW
Beacon Z ride - Watophia

Alan Weaver (L)

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 13:48
by Philip Whiteman
AlanW wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:12
Beacon Z ride - Watophia

Alan Weaver (L)
To be eligible for club run points, you have to arrive at the cafe. Which virtual cafe stop did you use? If it was Croome Park, they do a line in virtual Bacon rolls.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 14:23
by Si_Walker
The B ride went Warwick, on a very blustery day. No incidents other than one **flat**. An average speed of about 14 mph was on the account of a strong headwind making it somewhat slower than usual (that's my excuse anyhow!)
Today's Windy Millers were:

Claire Fudge
Brett Henshaw
Richard Leaper
David Phelp
Jon Sadler
Spencer Tapia
Si Walker - Leading
Simon Woodward

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 14:33
by ballintrane
AlanW wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:12
Beacon Z ride - Watophia

Alan Weaver (L)

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 14:39
by ballintrane
Philip Whiteman wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:48
AlanW wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:12
Beacon Z ride - Watophia

Alan Weaver (L)
To be eligible for club run points, you have to arrive at the cafe. Which virtual cafe stop did you use? If it was Croome Park, they do a line in virtual Bacon rolls.
Croome park and bacon rolls IMPOSSIBLE never happen more chance of seeing one of these!!

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 15:04
by AlanW
Philip Whiteman wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:48
AlanW wrote:
27 Jan 2019 13:12
Beacon Z ride - Watophia

Alan Weaver (L)
To be eligible for club run points, you have to arrive at the cafe. Which virtual cafe stop did you use? If it was Croome Park, they do a line in virtual Bacon rolls.
The one on the sea front in Watophia, on the right hand side, can I have my points now?

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 15:06
by AlanW
And I quote...
WorcsPhil wrote:
21 Jan 2019 09:40
....don't forget, YOU CAN SUGGEST ANYTHING - even a 10kms ride to your own kitchen if you want.

...but you know that already.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 15:15
by Nicks_77
A challenging A Run this morning which resulted in the shortening of the route to the South Staffs Railway cafe in Wombourne. No incidents to speak of other than riders trying to remain upright in storm force conditions.

On today’s gale force A Run were:

Nick Shenton (Leading)
Neil Lynch
Phil Richards
Andy Wrightson
Lee Spiers
Michael Fish
Rob Wade
Jon Williams
Paul Johnson

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 17:35
by carolyn
Today's C ride adventure took us too Kenilworth. We made it to Kenilworth in good time but couldn't quite locate the cafe. After a Tour de Clegg we managed to find it and enjoyed a yummy stop and well recommend Ardens Cafe. After warming our tummies we made attempt to set off, poor Margaret had a flat so set to changing her tyre with the help of Dave Little. Cedric had locked our bikes together and 'forgotten' the code to unleash our beasts. Dave Cox stepped in to show us his skills as a bike theif! He tried to dumb down how easily he could break through steal. We were suspicious ;) my technology was frustrating so once again in steps the legend known as Dave Cox to lead us out of Kenilworth and on our way back home. The wind was heavy and made the last 20 miles home feel like a 1000 miles made only worse by my derailer taking my chain hostage, enter Dave Little our maintenance man to save my life but leaving me in the small ring (thank God it wasn't the big ring or I may have cried loudly and uncontrollably). I'm happy to be home now drinking wine reminiscing of the fun we had behind the pain.

Thank you for a wonderful day!

Carolyn Clegg (leading)
Dave Cox (bike theif extraordinaire)
Dave Little (maintenance man)
Margaret Ehrenberg
Cedric Giogn
Anne Hughs

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 27 Jan 2019 21:52
by Dave Cox
Just in case people get the wrong idea, I don't usually have a pocket angle grinder on club runs. So if you've got a D lock please don't lose the key in the cafe! What a club run, looking forward to the cross-toasting at the Dinner in December.

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 28 Jan 2019 10:56
by StuartWhite
G-Run - The Beginning

We departed from the Black Horse at 8.30am and enjoyed, light showers, hail n gales throughout.
As there were only 3 of us, we agreed on the longer run covering about 60 miles including the ride to the meeting point.
I think it's fair to say my 2 fellow club runners were better prepared than I with full Cyclo-X setups, I had gone for more of a gravelly feel which ended up being my Achilles heel on the wet, muddy tow paths, as my back end fish-tailed around in the sludge. I even had to push up a slippy hill :shock:

The route consisted of tracks, towpaths, roads, gravel, cobbles and plenty of mud, all of which were enjoyable.
We opted to ride on through and bypass the cafe, partly because we all had enough food on us to get by and partly because the best part of 60 miles was a fair amount of off-roading to try and cover in a morning. Overall I'd say this blustery Belgian edition of the the G-Run was successful and feedback from the two attending test riders was positive, the main thing we all agreed on though is that it could do with be being a touch shorter to retain an interest for folks, with that in mind, the next edition in Feb will be between 30 and 40 miles, likely with a stop.

G-unit

Stuart White
Nic Vipond
Alistair Hey

Re: Club Runs - 27th January

Posted: 31 Jan 2019 13:51
by RoadBadger
Thanks for leading!
Spence
Si_Walker wrote:
27 Jan 2019 14:23
The B ride went Warwick, on a very blustery day. No incidents other than one **flat**. An average speed of about 14 mph was on the account of a strong headwind making it somewhat slower than usual (that's my excuse anyhow!)
Today's Windy Millers were: