Golden Rule Adventure Club

Sunday, 12 August 2018

The 'Ripon Rev' - August 2018

An excellent turnout for this summer GRAC adventure, setting off in sunny but breezy weather to accompany Marianna on her inaugural club ride.
We were also joined by guest rider Glen, who showed Heyddie how to ride a bike again.

Looking fresh at the start. That look didn't last for long...

Some good fun riding through-and-off from Lofthouse to Pateley Bridge, then fortified, as usual, by beef cobs in the village café, before tackling the onerous hills back to base.

Marianna on her GRAC debut...
...and pretending to enjoy it

Club Officials Stewie (Kittymeister) and Secretary Jan. They also act as a permanent broom wagon ;-)

Hmmm....Carlos being a smartarse, as usual ;-)

Joaquim, Tommy and Alanssandro

Niall, Jan and Marianna

Note that Heyddie thinks he's still in California...

GRAC boys pretending they're Pros....yeh, right!

A great day out for all, and much revelry back at the Sastrae Mansion, where we were joined by the WAGs. Chapeau all :-)
Regrettably, four clubmen missed the event, Mario, Miguel, Alberto and The Prez, although the latter did finally turn up to claim he still needed some rehydration.

Enjoying a few Timmies and some Saltaire at the Royal Oak, Ripon

Tuesday, 31 July 2018

Ride London - July 2018

Another epic result for Carlos, fresh from intensive pre-season training on a new turbo-trainer and modest 382km charity ride (!) earlier in the month.
This time the 'Ride London' closed road 100-mile sportive, ridden in wet and windy conditions.

Spot the time: 5h 23m for 161km (100 miles), an average speed of 29.7km/m (18.6 mph).

Look at the Strava Effort Rating: 472 = 'Historic.' And look at the finish on The Mall, pumping over 400W and reaching 49km/h on the flat. Carlos was the eighth fastest on the final 300m on the day (until the Pro race arrived).

Ah, the benefit of youth...

In an exclusive interview with our rising star, Carlos said 'the plan was always to go hard at the start, lead some massive trains early and pretend we were professional, then suffer on the hills and try to go harder at the end.' And, commenting on his performance on The Mall, 'the last 300m took me 24 seconds. Andre Greipl took 18 seconds, about 40 mph. So I've a long way to go before I turn Pro.'

But we think this lad is too good to be in normal employment. We've already sent an application into Team Sky for him ;-)

Chapeau Carlos, a July to remember.

Tempest Sportive, Warwickshire - July 2018

A low turnout for this one, just two of the Club old guard, The Prez and Jan, setting off in hazy sunshine from Warwick Racecourse to ride this Wiggle-organised sportive into rural Warwickshire.

A fine ride, taking beautiful winding lanes southwards to Shipston-on-Stour, passing through pretty villages of thatched and timber-beamed cottages, and noting many a fine country mansion too.

It was a 'lumpy' ride, one notable slope punishing us all with a short section of 22% incline, but a good workout nonetheless – 111km and 1182m of climbing.

A good day out, two grumpy old men smiling more than grumping ;-)

Now for a beer or two...

Miles for Smiles. A Big, no HUGE, Charity Ride for Carlos!

Leaving his office in Pinewood, Surrey at midnight, Carlos set off for Leeds, yes, Leeds, on one of the longest one day charity rides ever attempted.

With a total peloton of 58 colleagues, after four hours of intense concentration on dark roads out of the South-East, they welcomed the sunrise as they reached the Midlands. A much-needed breakfast stop south of Melton Mowbray, then onwards through rolling countryside in increasingly hot and sunny conditions.

Well disciplined riders split into six or seven groups, with periodic drink and snack stops from their support vehicle. The Prez was privileged to be able to ride with the group for a stage through Nottinghamshire.
The team finally arrived in Leeds early evening, a total of 382km and 3161m of ascent under their belt, aching from top to toe, but delighted in the knowledge that they'd raised funds for Operation Smile, a charity that funds operations to correct cleft lips/palates in children all over the world.

Grin or grimace?

And here are the stats to prove this awesome achievement...

Well done all!

Sunday, 6 May 2018

Tour de Yorkshire Sportive - May 2018

A challenging ride of 84km (the 'medium route') enjoyed by nine club members in hot sunshine, with over 1500m of climbing.

Carlos took the honours, with an early breakaway move, completing the course in 3h 14m, with the added excitement of leading out the Brownlee brothers for the final sprint to the finish. We've never seen such a big grin, even by Carlos' standards!

Mario narrowly beat The Prez and Alansanndro at the line, finishing in a respectable 4h, with Joaquin coming in shortly afterwards, his final 10km compromised by cramp.

And then came GRAC's very own broom team, Jan bringing home Stewie, Alberto and Miguel at a relaxed pace a little later. Well, a lot later ;-)

Fabulous riding, great crowds and some stiff challenges, particularly out of Otley and an absurd hill sprint with ramps up to 22% out of Pool. A memorable day for all, apart from those already suffering memory loss after another excessive rehydration session back in Knaresborough, our wonderful hosts Mr & Mrs Prattachi doing a fine job of looking after us all once again.

Chapeau!

The course profile...

...and this is what it felt like.

Pre-ride hydration session. Just a modest half gallon of fine Yorkshire ale at the Half Moon in Knaresborough.

And, in Ripon, Carlos drinking lager (fine to be levied) and Mario scoffing as usual.

Stewie's selfie en route to the start.

The team, resplendent in new kit colours.

Joaquin, Alanssandro, Alberto (with matching yellow shoes, darling) and Stewie looking confident at the start...

Stewie gets in the picture again, this time with Mario and a cool-looking Carlos

And, Miguel and Jan, soaking up the early sun.

5,000 riders ready to go...

Quick photo stop above Thruscross reservoir, north of Blubberhouses

Miguel crosses the KOM finish line on the Côte de Otley Chevin.
...he had mounted the bike a few metres earlier, after an enjoyable walk up the hill :-)