Club Runs 2007

Well it was nice to be back the helm after 5 weeks away through injury and foul weather I must thank Andrew for deputising in my absence, I arrived at just about 9.00 am to be greeted by a large group of riders all waiting for an excursion into the Easterly wind Trevarno Gardens was my suggestion the thought of the log fire really seemed to appeal on such a cold day and little protest from the 7 other riders Dave, Steve ,Jim , Steve , Terry , Andrew & Jayne it was the usual route via Marazion to St Erth , Hayle Lidls roundabout Connor Downs with no problems at all past Trevaskis and through to Praze as usual Andrew was keen to punish us all with the climb up to Blackrock well with the strong Easterly wind and 5 weeks without any proper riding it felt like I was riding it on the big ring being dropped by everyone as i was for most of the ride ( thanks Jim & Andrew in future ride slower or go with Phils group ) hot breathless and cursing the hill we continued to Travarno we were greeted by the usual friendly reception and the roaring log fire with cake and drinks onboard we left the gardens and headed back not totally sure or this route all I can tell you is that we crossed Godolphin and headed west to Millpool after that Jim & Andrew took us through the lanes with the intention of riding back to Hayle with Dave ( should of checked boys as Dave was riding back to Penzance ) oh well a few extra miles through Plain An Gwarry and back to Marazion dropping Jayne and Steve off at Longrock we rode back to Penzance about 38 miles by my speedo windswept and very tired legs but satisfying

I must point out that this group will be ridden at the pace of the slowest rider and nobody gets dropped we ride in a group not strung out over several hundred yards I understand that some riders have not ridden over the last couple of weeks because of this very thing happening it must not and will not happen or it will destroy all the principals of this ride if riders feel they cannot ride to this simple request then talk to me this group is for everyones pleasure not there own personal fitness regime. [Neil Hollow 16/12/07]

I do find Neil's report rather worrying. The whole idea of starting the second group was that their ride would be slower and shorter, with the group riding at the pace of the slowest. Even in the other group, where the emphasis is more on training for races, the basic rule is that nobody is left behind - if the group becomes dispersed at the top of a climb or at a crucial turning point, then the leaders wait or backtrack until the rest catch up. In particular, we should not have riders dropping down from the longer ride and then proceeding to blow the short ride apart. So if you ride with the second group you are expected to ride at the pace of the slowest, otherwise join the other group on the longer ride. Incidentally, it was mentioned at the AGM that there might be a need for a third group to cater for complete beginners, and various members intimated that they would be willing to act as leader. So if you are a beginner and you want to come out cycling on a very short very slow ride on Sunday mornings, then turn up at Institute Hut, Long Rock at 9.00am prompt. Don't forget to bring a pump, spare inner tube and warm clothing. [Tony Farnell 17/12/07]

And then there was one! Some wind some rain but us intrepid Pz wheelers don’t get put off by that, or so I thought. Wrong! At 9 am I was the only one there apart from John who’d come to see us off, so I set off on the ride on my own who says women are the weaker sex?

The route took me through Goldsithney, Millpool, Godolphin Cross to Leedstown. I had planned to go on to Splattenridden, Nancledra and Gulval, but the rain and wind were getting fiercer and less predictable, so I came back via the back road through St Erth. On the way I rode for about a couple of miles with two men doing the Audax they told me that 50+ had signed up to do it, but only 14 had turned up, one from our club. Shortly after we parted company it started hailing which made it difficult to pick my way through the streams of brown water coming off the fields, and then back to Long Rock.

It was one of those rides that when you get home you don’t really care what your mileage or speed were, just doing it is enough. [Jane Thurnell-Read 10/12/07]

As I was being lashed by a following wind and following rain this morning on my way past the heliport to Longrock I questioned my sanity and wondered how many would turn out for the "not as fast group ride" after our 16 strong outing last week. At 08:50, sheltering in the lee of the Longrock Memorial Hall I was having serious doubts that anyone else would arrive, but thankfully Nick arrived and then shortly after him a new face appeared out of the gloom. Katie, who having been encouraged by Jane, had decided to come along and give "the slower group" a go. Jane appeared a few minutes later and the four of us agreed that we'd do two loops, one of around 12 -15 miles which Katie said would suit her as she is a relative newcomer to cycling and still building her mileage up and then a second loop for anyone who wanted to do some more. Waved off by John we headed through the relatively sheltered, but pretty filthy lanes to St Erth and Hayle and then returned a similar to Longrock at which point Katie decided to call it a day whilst the remaining three of us did a loop up the Bone Valley, through Bodrifty and back to Longrock via Gulval and Crowlas. Despite the weather it was a pleasant ride - highlights - a keen new member who may encourage others to come and form a "beginners", "relaxed", "sociable" group and a nasty gusty headwind as we climbed up the hill from Bodrifty and just after Jane said she hates hills and headwinds at the same time (sorry!).

I have mapped the ride out on the Internet. Have a look at http://www.mapmyrun.com/run/united-kingdom/longrock/30934466. You can turn on the terrain profile and view the ride using aerial imagery if you want to too. [Andrew 3/12/07]

My thanks again to Neil for allowing me to write up this week’s B team, Sportif, Slow, B sample, touring group ride report! Still suffering from injuries Neil waved a tearful farewell as Dave Henderson lead the 16 of us (Jane, Dave, Andrew, Steve, Jason, Jim, Terry, John, Mark, Stuart, Mike, Chris, Jerry, ????, ????, ????) in the group out via St Erth, Hayle and Gwithian to the hill climb on the north coast road to Portreath. Most of us were pleased to see Dave do the hill twice, whilst the slower members just ground our way up at a more measured pace! Regrouping at the top we had a pleasant ride to Portreath, just after which ???? succumbed to a puncture, this unscheduled stop at least had the benefit of bringing the group, which had strung out a bit, back together. Taking in the sights of Treleigh (where ???? left us) and Scorrier we pushed on to the café at Chacewater Garden Centre, where Dave had arranged for us to be able to secure our bikes inside a fenced compound. On a cool morning the warm café was very welcome and we had a quick refuel before Dave lead us back across country to Blackwater and Scorrier. With the route on the return being only as as specific as through the lanes I managed to divert us through Redruth and down the pavé that is Redruth’s main street (sorry!). After which we passed through Barncoose then through the tunnel to Brea Churchtown and along the cyclepath that runs along the north side of Carn Brea to Brea Tunnel, Dolcoath and on into Camborne. Our route back via Baripper and Carnhell Green saw the group stringing out and after regrouping at Carnhell Green where we waved goodbye to Dave, John and ???? the remaining 6 (some of the others must have left us earlier, but I can't remember seeing them go) of us headed on to Fraddon and back to Marazion, some via Relubbus (Chris, Jerry and Mark?) and the remainder of us through St Erth Praze and Green Lane. I reckon we’d covered around 48 miles at around 13.8mph, so a harder ride than normal for the..we’ll have to pick a name...not as fast group. A great turnout and a good ride thanks all. [Andrew 26/11/07]

Once again more than 20 riders met up at Long Rock, together with a couple of spectators to wave us off. Won't be long before it becomes a reality TV show. For the first time, the Armstrong group outnumbered the Merckx group, which was a depleted 7 riders as several regulars defected and others did not show. So we headed west along the promenade to Newlyn, up the Bone Valley and over to Zennor. Ed and Jeff looked frisky up to Eagle's Nest, but young Jonathan was having a bad morning, and went home as we neared St Ives. Then Rich succumbed to Dehli belly and left us too.

After hanging on to Jeff's back wheel on the long descent to Lelant, we wished he'd gone to do the running race like he should have done. Fortunately, he too dived off for home as we swept through Hayle. The 4 survivors were much heartened when Phil received a call From Mark - hitherto conspicuous only by his absence - confirming what we already suspected, that he was just getting up after spending the previous evening training for the coming curry evening rather than next season's races. Realising the error of his ways, he rode over and met up with us at the Godrevy café, but as a penance refused coffee and cakes. Judging by the size of his bacon and sausage sandwich, Ed's training for the Christmas Eve breakfast run is going well, while Ian gave us an interesting insight into what GPs get up to on Sunday afternoons. Finally, we trundled up to Carnhell Green and dispersed from there. DON'T FORGET MERCKX GROUP THE RIDE STARTS AT 9.00AM FROM CAMBORNE POLICE STATION NEXT WEEK. [Tony Farnell 26/11/07]

My thanks to Neil for his compliment regarding careful planning of last week’s slow, touring, Merckx, Sportif, Latte group ride - what he didn’t mention was a wrong turning that added an extra couple of miles and more abuse before we got to Trevarno. This week, due to the weather and Neil’s enforced, electrical appliance-related layoff I suggested a similar route, but without a café stop due to the wet and cold conditions, missing out Trevarno and returning from Praze via Leedstown.

So 7 off us set off as the other group, including some refugees from the race group. All went to plan along pretty wet and dirty roads as far as Carnhell Green , but during a brief comfort break between Carnhell Green and Praze Dave Henderson suggested we visit Trevarno. This seemed to get the nod so whilst Mike and I stopped the others headed for Praze. Our essential stop over, Mike and I chased after the others who were found loitering in Praze at the crossroads, with indecision in the ranks I suggested we do the climb to Black Rock again, which everyone leapt at! Ok, one member started swearing loudly at my choice of route, but I won’t give her name away! Undaunted by the climb, we ploughed on for Trevarno and this time Dave made sure I went the right way and we descended a very debris-strewn Prospidnick Hill to our café stop, where we enjoyed a warm welcome, the cakes, hot chocolate and a good fire. Our return route took us back through Carleen, Godolphin and over the hill to Millpool, Goldsithney and then back to Marazion. My speedo showed an average speed of 14mph and we must have done around 33 miles. We all stuck together and nobody really got tailed off at all, so a good ride in not very nice conditions, but very enjoyable. Those present Jan, Charlie, Steve, Andrew, Mike, John, Dave. My vote for the group names would be Race and Sportif. [Andrew 19/11/07]

After careful planning thanks to Andrew we set off towards Hayle via the usual route Green Lane through St Erth St Georges walk Lidl,s roundabout past the campsite and up into Connor Downs right turn past Trevaskis and through to Praze things took a turn for the worse for me instead of right past Clowance the general opinion was to climb up to Black Rock not over the moon about this choice as i,m about as aero dynamic as a chest freezer and similar weight when full after great exertion i dragged my aching legs up through the climb only to see Dave Henderson free wheeling back down to climb the last bit again ( far too fit ) the route lost it,s way somewhat and we dropped Steve Cox off at Constantine Bridge then a few more miles before finally arriving at Trevarno Estate ( highly recommended ) a quick stop to re-fuel it was back towards Hill Top garage over the road and down to Porthleven up through the back of Rinsey to Ashton and back home about 40 miles or so those present Andrew,Jane,Jim,Jason,John,Terry,Steve,Dave, & Neil

It seems that the " slower group " is now riding every week. I will be there most weeks but in my absence there are still people who are prepared to ride and take the group for 30/40 miles. I would like to say that perhaps the slow group name is probably an inappropriate name for me to call the group. We're not as fast as the main peloton but we still average a reasonable speed but like I said before it is ridden at the pace of the slowest rider and we stay together if someone gets dropped on hills we regroup at the top nobody gets left behind. I'm open to suggestions on a name as slow group doesn't seem correct. [Neil Hollow 12/11/07]

As the riders gathered at Long Rock, I counted up to 25, but then got distracted by the chance of seeing John Payne's hernia operation scar. No such luck, but it was good to see him in fine spirits. Some more riders arrived and I couldn't face starting counting again. Anyway, the 'other' group set off first, and soon left us behind. After last week's marathon effort to distant Pendeen, the Camborne-Falmouth contingent were determined to have an easier ride and put the emphasis more on baked beans and coffee, rather than miles. Nobody dared to put up any resistance, so we had a nice tail wind as we wended our sunny way through Goldsithney, Godolphin, Nancegollan, Four Lanes, Caharrack and United Downs. After a very sociable refreshment stop at Ricci's bike café, we headed home via Chacewater, Scorrier, and Lanner Hill.

Now that the alternative club ride has established itself alongside the traditional club run, there seems to be a debate developing about how best to name the different groups, so that we can easily differentiate between them without offending anyone. It is true that to label them 'fast' and 'slow' might be interpreted as being derogatory to the latter. It has been suggested that the gentler ride might be called the 'social' ride, although perhaps this implies that the other ride is 'antisocial'. We could call one group 'Group 1' and the other 'Group 2', but which way around. Some might argue that 1 comes before 2 and therefore implies superiority, but others may counter by claiming that 2 is worth twice as much as 1. We might well have a similar argument about 'Group A' and 'Group B'. Obviously if we ventured down the path of 'Black' and 'White' groups we may find ourselves in breach of racial equality legislation. An alternative idea might be to name each group after a cycling legend - an 'Armstrong Group' and a 'Merckx Group', but any right-thinking aficionado knows that Merckx was far superior to Armstrong. What? You don't agree? We could get the club committee to look at it. They might discuss the matter and appoint a sub-committee to investigate further. The sub-committee might not be able to agree when they reported back to the committee. Not wishing to take sides the committee might have to call in an outside consultant at great expense. After extensive consultation the consultant might make a proposal with which nobody agrees. So to avoid this lengthy and circuitous process perhaps someone can come up with a sensible suggestion. How about 'long' and 'short'? [Tony Farnell 12/11/07]

May I suggest a name for the two groups; Race & Touring. I think it says it all! As I'm a participent in the Touring/slower/group 2/ etc, etc group. Regards. [Steve Hunt 14/11/07]

Regarding the group names debate:

I like Steve’s suggestion of Race & Touring. Having ‘enjoyed’ a year of yo-yoing off the back of the former on the hills, I decided to take it a bit easier and join the latter for a ride or two. I have to say I was just as knackered as usual after last Sunday. Slow group? I don’t think so.

I can see a trend beginning to emerge here; refugees from the race group get a chance to enjoy the unfamiliar feeling of ripping up the hills at the front, so more decide to transfer to see what it’s like. The touring group gradually goes further and faster as everyone gets fitter. After a while the tourists get so fit they start transferring back to the race group. In the end there is just one group again.

Until that happens Race & Touring works well, after all everyone knows that proper tourists are tougher than racers as I discovered many years ago when out with a race group in the Yorkshire dales. We were caught by a young bloke on a pannier-laden touring machine who was cycling from Doncaster to Carlisle in time for lunch. Thankfully he turned off before the sprint for the cafe. [John Garwell 15/11/07]

I made it last week..just.

I passed the ''touring group'' and saw Dave Henderson so quickly turned around and rode up to the group. Really enjoyed it, able to have a chat, eat a banana whilst riding, made a change from hanging on for dear life. The week before killed me!

So I'll see how I feel each week and the direction the groups go in before deciding which group to go with. See you Sunday. [Steve Cox 15/11/07]