The Retirement Thread

[ColinJ]

Blimey, that's got to be a first!

That was my reaction too - it is rare for Classic to miss details like that!

Now memory is a funny thing. 6-7 years ago I rode the Tour de Yorkshire sportive - great route but the most appallingly organised sportive I have experienced. I had forgotten we rode through Haworth.

I did that one, and had forgotten it too! My poor cousin never even made it that far. He had come down from Scotland to ride the event and I passed him on the road to Haworth, looking at his bike at the roadside. I assumed that he'd got a puncture and would catch me up later because he is way fitter than me, but in fact his ride was over. His rear mech had gone into his wheel and caused catastrophic damage. To add insult to injury, it took several hours for him to get a lift back to Leeds with his bike.

On a stroll in Haworth last evening we came to the bottom of the cobbled main street. As we walked up I began to remember I'd cycled up this street, in the rain, on 25mm tyres and soon I could visualize every metre. Agony! It must average 10% and is about 500 metres long. I remember a guy at the top shouting "Come on Chorley!"

Haworth was the first place in Yorkshire that I visited. My pal was living above a shop at the top of Main Street and I had gone up to visit her. I had caught the (diesel) train from Leeds to Keighley, then the steam train from Keighley to Haworth.

Coming from Coventry, I wasn't used to the hills. The steepness of road from the station up the side of the park was a shock...

Main St made my jaw drop, and my lungs nearly burst (I was still a smoker at that time!)

I can tell you exactly when my visit took place... I was there on 5th May, 1980, at shortly after 7pm. I have a really bad memory, but I know it was then because we turned the TV on that evening and saw the SAS going in through the windows of the Iranian embassy to end the siege... One of those sights never to be forgotten!

On the same ride about 30-50 metres from the Cow 'n' Calf summit I started to topple over when this chap comes out of the crowd, pushes me upright and then pushed me over the summit! That's 1.2 miles, 8% and 17% at the top!

Yes, that was quite a tough climb. I started to overheat at the foot of the climb so I had to stop to take off my rain jacket, and after that I just grovelled my way up.

I cycled over to the summit again in 2018 to see the TdY women's race finish up there. Many of the pros looked pretty knackered at the finish. I stood nearby as one team reassembled beyond the finish line. Most of the team members were chattering away cheerfully. One's sign language was very obvious - she drew an imaginary steep upward slope with her hand and laughed. A team-mate stood next to her, mute, and with a classic 'thousand yard stare'!

Here are a couple of tired riders at the summit...

Remember those distant pre-Covid days - no masks, and no social distancing?

 

[ColinJ]

This evening I did the tough climb of Cross Stone Road/Hey Head Lane up from the A646 on the Hebden Bridge side of Todmorden. It should have been used on the Tour de Yorkshire last year, but Covid put a stop to that.

I was on the steepest part of the climb when I met a dog walker coming the other way. She laughed and said "Rather you than me!" Don't people actually enjoy giving themselves a hard time...?

I had got right up to the last steep bit when I heard two women's voices coming up rapidly behind me. I thought to myself that I must be really unfit (or they must be extremely fit) for them to be closing on me that quickly. As they went by though, one of them cheerfully called out "You are doing it the hard way - we have help!") Then I noticed that both were on ebikes. Fair enough. They were still doing some of the work themselves. Much better that they ride ebikes up there than force their way past me in a car!

I'd love to be able to climb at that speed unassisted, but I reckon that will not be possible for me now. Even if I get my weight way down and do a lot of riding, my damaged lungs would probably limit what I could do. Still, no harm in trying...

 

[classic33]

While scouting out possible camping sites for my Vardo with my neighbor I jokingly referred to some nearby cattle as "black elk" but he told me the correct term is "slow elk". I mused that we could score one with my bow and arrow and there would be no noise to alert a nearby rancher.
He said that might be unwise because cattle rustling is still a capital offense in Wyoming, but the Legislature had just passed a law making bestiality a crime.
It is a gorgeous day here in Wyoming, where the men are men, the women are women, and the sheep may be a little less nervous .
Be safe and well.

You feel that one arrow would bring the beast down. If not, can you run faster than your neighbour?

 

[12boy]

C33, I am sure a razor broadhead would kill one if it hit the right spot. It would be best at 10 yards. Of course, when the rancher treated me to a long drop with a short rope that would be fatal, too.

 

[Drago]

I have risen!

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Good morning folks

 

[Paulus]

Good morning everyone.
It's a warm start to the day here, if a bit cloudy.

 

[Dirk]

Morning all

Weather's picking up again today.
Off for a stroll down to the village this morning to pick up a bit of shopping.

 

[Lee_M]

Morning all. Not sure what's happening with the weather, supposed to be sunny but the sky looks thundery.

Not sure if I should go on a ride or not. I hate getting wet

 

[welsh dragon]

Cooeee. Dull and overcast again here. Rain forecast for later I think.

Stay safe folks

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

Good morning all, 13° and light cloud today.

 

[oldwheels]

Been a bit damp overnight. Cloudy just now. Shopping day today as heading home early tomorrow and as I have to get an early boat no time for shopping. All the later ones are filled with touroid.
Aldi tea biscuits are 29p, over £1 cheaper than our coop. Overall I save the cost of the ferry. No not all on tea biscuits.

 

[Dave7]

Sod off.
We're back to decent weather tomorrow.
You can have the rain at the weekend.

WELL !!!
I thought......I am not putting up with such abuse.
So.....I sought the help of MrsD and...
she laughed .
Life just ain't fair

 

[Dave7]

Bit late checking in today .
Very overcast but warm.
Not much planned.... maybe a short walk if my legs decide to do what my brain tells them.
Yesterday I steam cooked a load of Jersey potatoes. We had some with a veggie lattice thingy which was nice. Today I will fry (or maybe roast) some and chuck fried eggs and peas on.....meal fit for a king

 

[Tenkaykev]

That was my reaction too - it is rare for Classic to miss details like that!


I did that one, and had forgotten it too! My poor cousin never even made it that far. He had come down from Scotland to ride the event and I passed him on the road to Haworth, looking at his bike at the roadside. I assumed that he'd got a puncture and would catch me up later because he is way fitter than me, but in fact his ride was over. His rear mech had gone into his wheel and caused catastrophic damage. To add insult to injury, it took several hours for him to get a lift back to Leeds with his bike.


Haworth was the first place in Yorkshire that I visited. My pal was living above a shop at the top of Main Street and I had gone up to visit her. I had caught the (diesel) train from Leeds to Keighley, then the steam train from Keighley to Haworth.

Coming from Coventry, I wasn't used to the hills. The steepness of road from the station up the side of the park was a shock...
View attachment 591925

Main St made my jaw drop, and my lungs nearly burst (I was still a smoker at that time!)
View attachment 591924

I can tell you exactly when my visit took place... I was there on 5th May, 1980, at shortly after 7pm. I have a really bad memory, but I know it was then because we turned the TV on that evening and saw the SAS going in through the windows of the Iranian embassy to end the siege... One of those sights never to be forgotten!


Yes, that was quite a tough climb. I started to overheat at the foot of the climb so I had to stop to take off my rain jacket, and after that I just grovelled my way up.

I cycled over to the summit again in 2018 to see the TdY women's race finish up there. Many of the pros looked pretty knackered at the finish. I stood nearby as one team reassembled beyond the finish line. Most of the team members were chattering away cheerfully. One's sign language was very obvious - she drew an imaginary steep upward slope with her hand and laughed. A team-mate stood next to her, mute, and with a classic 'thousand yard stare'!

Here are a couple of tired riders at the summit...

View attachment 591926

Remember those distant pre-Covid days - no masks, and no social distancing?

I hadn't realised that Eric Cantona was a fan of Cycling...