Event Reports

Forgive me Father for I have sinned, it has been more than a year since my last donner kebab

Normally I'd hold out for the chicken seek or shish, but I had to go with the instant satisfaction of the donner today, despite the maccy D's I ate on the way back from the event I'm ravenous. I'm not proud of it but it had to be done.

Yorkshire means an early start, I was picked up shortly before half 6 by Andy Cooke and Geraint, Mike VT would meet us up there, Craig Reynolds was also racing, but had made the wise decision to stay over the night before. When we met craig he had some info, Clubmen would be doing 4 laps instead of the usual 3, and just for fun the first check (of 2 on the lap) would be really tight. Woop de doo. The Yorkshire isn't an easy event at the best of times (Geraint says it's a good ride round), adding a lap and tightening up the times would be sure to make it a tough day.

I was a bit thrown by the early start, also by Andy Cookes Michael Buble CD's on the drive up, and the breakfast roll from the butty van that had a square egg in it. I never really settled down on the going, but made decent progress for the first couple of laps, the first check was tight as promised and I lost 1 min on the 1st lap, another 4 on the 2nd as the times tightened up, 5 more on the 3rd, and then falling to pieces on the 4th to come home 20mins late :-( bit of a shame because my bike was working really well and it was only my fitness that let me down, I had a major case of noodle arms by the end and starting to cramp up in my legs because of the footwork. Oh yeah, the rain on the final lap didn't help either. Neither did me falling off all over the shop. I only swore once but it was very, very loud. I blame that square egg, I just couldn't figure it out, it was playing on my mind all day.

Geraint put in a good performance only losing 3 mins on the day, the tight checks putting paid to his clean sheet, but a good ride anyway. I'm sure some smart arse cleaned it but I guess I'll have to wait for the results to see who.

Team Buble called it a day after the first lap, still having some trouble with his manky knee and not wanting to wreck it with the frequent dabs required by the course

Actually the majority of the course was perfectly rideable, but there were some sections (especially towards the end of the day) that were chewing up into some good ruts, an there were a few other places on the course that required a bit of determination to get through. All balanced out by good rideable breaks in the trees, some mega climbs and descents, and some balls out fire road.

Well done to YEC for putting the event on. Well organised and well marshalled, There has to be a huge amount of work going into this event and I'll show my thanks by turning up again next year, I just hope they don't make it 5 laps.