Hill Climb & AGM

Warm & windy conditions greeted the bravest of the brave with Dave H electing to avoid the hill climb at all costs by leading the Sunday ride out past the event just to taunt the people who may be close to changing their minds about riding. Cookie was weak, instead favouring a vantage point high in the hills along the course to also cheer (taunt some!) the riders as they passed him. Siz Boy the Ross record holder for the last 40 years (at least) stood at the halfway point cheering everyone up.

Can’t believe Steve Millard didn’t ride instead choosing to time the finish, in the process stopping the watch, having to come back down to restart it to have to ride back up. This is the sort of stuff that gets put in the entertainment awards ceremony!

I hung the start out as long as I could for Jerry to show up to give Will a run for his money but a DNS was lodged by his name (Did Not Showup). In the end Will put in a Tour de force with one of the quickest times of all time, but only just ahead of the rest of us…

“The Destroyer” on his heavy weight winter hack turned up the gas to put in a very respectable time. Steve was obviously upset with having to ride the hill twice with me laughing at him on his second run; it caused a nervous twitch which stopped the clock early on “The Spinners” run which saw him beat me by 14 100^th. Very mean. Cookie did report his legs were going around so fast that every leg rev saw both wheels leaping off the ground in a tigger fashion all the way up to the finish.

Not 100% convinced Adam S had ever done a hill climb before as he looked very apprehensive before the start. I think it hurt! Transcending Tony said nothing before the start; he said nothing at the finish. He looked quite ill when I arrived at the finish. Young Jenifer on the other hand looked full of beans raring to go. You appeared happy when I saw you next so will assume you enjoyed it. Youngest rider was Tom. I think he may have had too many beers the night before as his time was a tad slower than last year, or was it dad trying to slow him down?

Thanks to Sammie and Steve Millard timing, with Steve diligently checking the course twice, and Julie at the bottom shoving everyone up the hill.

Rider of the day was Turbo Will. Still got a second to go to beat my best, there’s your challenge for next year!

17^th October is the AGM. Your presence is required.

Vintage Tankard 2011

What can I say about the weather? That was one very hot morning, which produced sweat (not the ladies, they merely perspired) by the bucket load.

Grumpy the landlord, grumped about the number of cars, so we put a plan (sort of plan) to disperse them around the village into action.

A little friendly banter ensued before the start which was very calm, before turning into a tough little breeze for the tail end riders. Well done all that rode, the circuit has a little something for everyone, so I hope you all enjoyed at least one part of it if not all of it!

Thanks to Wobbly Bob Hill on Junction 1, everyone said you were very enthusiastic and did a fab job. John & Audrey on the Roundabout, with probably the happiest face on the day Bill Reay directing everyone at the pub junction. Thanks to my timekeepers for their efforts, especially to Sammie for the hard sums (I only found 4 mistakes on the split times…)! Thank you All!

There has to be a winner and this year it was the Ross. I did say to the team stay motivated and fit, so they did please me by doing as I said for a change. I was quite surprised as I had pencilled in a few of their scalps.

Ross is in Orange, Forest in Green and Phoenix in Mauve. Fastest laps are in Red, slowest in Blue. Congrats to Will, your pacing looks spot on with only 5 seconds difference total for all your laps.

Ross time 04:53:33

Forest time 05:14:50

Newport 05:41:08

The Hill climb is Sunday. Everyone welcome if you fancy your chances at a 500 metre sprint. You could just do what I do and just pretend to look fast over the first half till out of sight then blow up at leisure, just to make the hill climbers have to give it all. I know who my money’s on, but it should be very close. Anyone got a spare oxygen bottle handy for the finish?

Ross AGM is the 17^th October, everyone should make the effort to be there, it’s your club, help shape it for the future. It’s also your chance to vote for The Riders Rider presented at the club prize giving on the 29^th January so put that in your diary as well.