Virgin 'Cyclone' - June 2014

A good sportive through the wilds of Northumberland, with a record club turnout of nine riders. We enjoyed the company of some new faces, our guest riders all putting in a creditable performance on the day. Good work Pedro Davegado, Jaques Andrewquetil and Tejan Van Glenderen! 

Looking keen as we set off from Woolsington to the start

Some would say this was our better side...

This was the largest sportive ride we've participated in thus far, with over 2,000 riders starting off from the Newcastle Falcons' stadium, of which 1,300 were doing our 100km circuit.

The route took us north towards Rothbury, before turning south west to Cambo and then Colwell adjacent to the Halington Reservoirs, before returning on an easterly track through Stamfordham. Pleasant countryside yielded to moorland at the northernmost extent, with a few pretty villages to admire en route. 

Feed station at Cambo

There was plenty of ascent and descent, although rough road surfaces on many stretches and some horrible speed bumps at the end of one very quick descent made it a hard day for backsides! We also had some amusing technical issues on one of the bikes, but no names shall be mentioned in the blog ;-)
Stats for the day: distance 101km, average speed 25.2kph, in 4 hours and three minutes. Fastest speed in the peloton on a downhill 48.1mph, 77kph! Take a bow Carlos (although Jan believes he clocked 78kph...). The author's maximum? A mere 62.6kph, quite fast enough...

Our total ascent was 1327m, so a good day out for all in fine weather.
The day concluded in the pub, naturally, before a fine BBQ courtesy of our weekend hosts, Carlos and Vicky Sastrae. Our grateful thanks to them for a tasty end to the day.

GRAC men, doing what they do best!