'The End Of CycleChat As We Know It' forum ride (Hebden Bridge, 20th Nov)

[ColinJ]

Yikes! I never realised you Yorkshire blokes were so sensitive. Are you sure you aren't closet southerners?

What do ya mean 'closet' - I am a Southerner! (By English standards I am a Midlander, but my mum was Scottish and by entire UK standards, Coventry is 'Southern'!) <- (Southern shandy drinkers!)

 

[potsy]

Skol looked me up and down and suddenly announced in a party-hushing voice "Blimey, you don't look fat in your forum photograph!"

I quite liked that orange top, actually! There was one photo that did look a bit unflattering, but (unlike potsy ) I am a gentleman and would never go public with such incriminating evidence ...

I liked ILS when I met him a few weeks ago, I like him even more now
Funnily enough I'm sure he said how slim I looked compared to his mental picture of me he had from reading the forum (though I could be making this up)

That photo has only been seen by a minority of the members yet CJ, it could always make a guest appearance on a thread soon

 

[Littgull]

A fantastic ride on Sunday and great photos too. Many thanks to Colin for organising and leading it – your in depth local knowledge along the way on points of interest was fascinating. Your photos and write up really capture the spirit of camaraderie amongst us all.

It was great to meet you all and I really enjoyed the chat and banter along the route and at the café stop with everyone. I chuckle when I think of the stunned look on ‘I like Skol’s’ face when he saw me resorting to a knife and fork on my egg and sausage barm after my first bite resulted in the yolk oozing out all over my hand. ‘I can tell you’re not a northerner by that act alone without the giveaway of your accent’ said Skol – brilliant stuff!

It would have been a lonely and tiring 10 miles back to Littleborough but it went like a flash as the banter resumed and I was ‘escorted’ to my doorstep by Skol and Yahuda before they both continued valiantly up my road and on towards Manchester. The enticing aromas from the snack van outside Gordon Riggs Garden Centre were almost too much for us to resist but it was dark by then so we gave it a miss.

While I remember , Yahuda, – you asked me about the rack compatible rear light on my bike. I’ve had it for some time now but I believe I bought it from Leisure Lakes Cycle Store in Bury about 2 years ago. But in any event I think you will get it cheaper via the web. See the following link:
http://www.ribblecycles.co.uk/sp/ro...ear-Light-with-reflector/CATELIGH748000000000.

Already looking forward to the next Forum ride in 2012 and teaming up with you all again.

 

[Smurfy]

YELLOW TIM !

I missed him posting he might be along.

TIM................if you want a lift be at Oakwood Clock at 8.30 in the morning. I'll be setting off with plenty of time to spare (can't abide rushing)

Oh dear, apologies Colly! Despite the fact that the ride was centred around a Cyclechat upgrade, I still managed to forget that the website would be down. I tried to look on Saturday about 22:20, but Cyclechat was already offline for the upgrade by then.

Ha - I've just spotted mention of Tim riding over Fleet Moss on SS or fixed. If he can manage that, then nothing on tomorrow's ride should trouble him too much!

That ride was the most difficult I've ever done on Single-Speed, if anyone fancies a go then it's here:

http://ridewithgps.com/trips/383919

Looking on the bright side, missing this Cyclechat ride has given me the kick up the backside I needed to get my multi-geared bike restored (get a few broken/bent bosses re-brazed and a nice new coat of paint). Next year I should be on a triple with 18 gears for very hilly rides, but still on SS or fixed for moderately hilly rides.

 

[YahudaMoon]

Fantastic. Im glad I pushed myself out for the day as Ive been a little lazy as late and not done much in 8 weeks and I m going backwards with the cycling. I think I just got bored after a hard year of audaxing and the end of the cycling season I decided to take a back seat'

Sorry for the grammar I ve never been any good at this kind of thing. Anyway thanks to 'I like Skol' for the Breakfast, & dinner, also for joining me for the trip to Hebden and back. It's always a drag on your own.

Thanks Colin for the run in comentry on the history of bthe surrounding areas. Was fun ! and made a great change being able to have a social ride for a change instead of racing off all the time. Was Steve H really going to drive off with his bike not secured to the car or was Steve just tuning his radio in ?

I must say Im not as fit as I was , just goes to show what a few month off the bike can do, I need a commute back in my life or just get audaxing again asap

As it is I have a few brevet cards for a couple of 200km

Both climb Fleet Moss I think ?. I hoping to do one this weekend so if anyone is interested then PM me.
One starts and finishes in Todmorden and one starts and finishes in Halifax. Doubt I'll be cycling to the start though.

It was so nice to meet everyone and if I have some time I'll be at the Velodrome for pics Colly on the 4th Dec

 

[ColinJ]

As it is I have a few brevet cards for a couple of 200km

Both climb Fleet Moss I think ?. I hoping to do one this weekend so if anyone is interested then PM me.

One starts and finishes in Todmorden and one starts and finishes in Halifax. Doubt I'll be cycling to the start though.

I've done 200s over Fleet Moss in both directions when I actually looked like my avatar and had the fitness to go with the slimness, taking about 10 hours each time.

The last time I attempted Fleet Moss was on my Dales forum ride in the summer and I had to walk the steep bit at the top. I won't be going up there again until I'm fit enough to ride the entire climb and enjoy it ... and for that reason - I'm out!

Even if you are pretty quick, you'll be doing a fair amount of riding in the dark, surely? (Yeah, I know - Don't call me Shirley!)

Have fun though!

 

[I like Skol]

I liked ILS when I met him a few weeks ago, I like him even more now
Funnily enough I'm sure he said how slim I looked compared to his mental picture of me he had from reading the forum (though I could be making this up)

If I remember right I am sure I said something more like "You don't look at all how I imagined you would!" You can make of that what you will.

As for those photos you could have p-shopped out my spare tire and man boobs, orange is deffintitely not my best colour

We all have a bad colour. My wife won't let me wear red as she says it makes me look like a red faced drunk (perhaps there is a reason for that?)

Yahuda, If you fancy it I am wondering about trying to sneak in a mid-week run over the Snake to The Woodbine at Hope and back via Chapel and Hayfield. This would be before Christmas and there will be a snack at the cafe to keep us going!!!!

 

[Garz]

I never believed that it would turn out so well! Hebden Bridge was immersed in a chilly mist when I got up and the forecast was for conditions to remain like that all day. The one thing I'd noticed on the forecast charts though was that we were close to the edge of the fog banks. There was a chance that we might manage to ride out of it ...

The lads were gathered at the car park when I got there so I introduced myself to the new faces - Littgull, Yahuda Moon and I like Skol.

Skol looked me up and down and suddenly announced in a party-hushing voice "Blimey, you don't look fat in your forum photograph!"

Brave, brave man.

We headed up the Keighley Road and gradually emerged from the mist. The sky was blue and I was pleased that my decision not to wear my heavy-duty rain jacket had been vindicated. Steve H was wearing his though, and I could tell that he was cooking on the climbs.

Been there and absolutely hate that!

As usual a mug of tea and feet up to enjoy Colin's write-up. Note to self: must join you guys for another ride sooner rather than later, the Blackpool one seems aeon's ago now and not met the new bunch of folk.