Bolsover & District Cycling Club

As this ride is so close to my house I decided to ride up to the pub, good job I did coz my chain snapped after a couple of turns of the cranks. Not far from my tools so when I had finished swearing it was a quick fix. I did however miss the start and the nice downhill to the rear of Bolsover Castle. Nevermind, there were 7 other riders that had turned out and I met them at the bottom of the first desent. I tagged along sure that rest of the ride was going to be uphill as it was one devised b...

It was the day after St Davids day, leeks were still coursing through our veins. Andy had cried off because he had man flu and I was recovering from a severe winter cold. Not looking forward riding in the freezing temeratures at all. As I arrived in the car park I was pleasantly surprised to see 4 other riders waiting for the off. We hung around a bit for Vern to arrive then set off a little after 6.30. Six hardy soles ready to face all that Scarcliffe and its surrounding trails could throw a...

It dawned on me today that yesterday was the last race in the NDCXL; I had completed my first ever season of racing. I use the term loosely - sweating, struggling, hurting, grinding, trailing are probably more appropriate. However, you know what, I looked at my cycling widow - all praise to her for taking it in her stride xx - and smiled; "I've done it and not only that it looks like I've got the kind of result I was hoping for . I really feel I've achieved something." Now...

Having been woken up at stupid o'clock by hungry baby, laddo then decided he wanted some breakfast just as I was stepping out the door; so, lack of sleep but up and ready in good tme for the ride became late yet again. Never mind, arrived in time to be first there. Must have been tired because in spite of the luminescent yellow top that was blinding himself and the neighbourhood, John managed to sneak up and put my heart rate into the red zone with a simple " mornin' ". Well, it's one way ...

What a ride, Andy and I couldn't decide if we were going to go to South Forest Leisure Centre, it had been raining all day so we knew it was going to be muddy in the Pines. It then started snowing half an hour before we needed to set off. I know everyone is aware of how I feel about rain, it is fair to say I am not a fan of riding on the snow either. After much sole searching we decided we had better go just in case someone else turned up.

Unfortunatley for me Howard had ma...

Imagine my surprise on a cold January evening as Andy and I pulled into the Groom car park to find 3 keen lads already with their bikes out of the car and semi kitted up. Howard had made the journey from Lincoln, then there were 2 new faces, John from Pleasley and Matt from Barlbrough. Everyone had better bikes than me and looked quite fit. I had already been to the gym in the morning assuming there would not be ayone daft enough to turn up and that we would just do a quick blast before retur...

After wildly exaggerated reports at a recent club meeting that numerous member's were wanting to get back out into our countryside after the "BIG FREEZE" (as reported in the news on a daily basis over the past 2 weeks), me and the father in law, Andy turned up at the Horse and Groom, chucked on an extra layer of very warm clothing, skull caps thermal gloves etc jumped on our bikes and circled the car park in the ritual pre ride faff about while waiting for someone else to turn up.

 ...

I see that people are starting to sign up for sportives:

Martyn Allan - The Dragon Ride,

Marty Darby - The Cheshire Cat

Kay Adkins - Looking at Manchester to Blackpool

Dave Ford - looking at doing the Norwich 100

Big V - Midland Monster, Cheshire Cat and will be signing up for The Whitehorse Challenge, thinkng about Norwich 100

Maybe we can use this blog as the place where everyone can say what they are doing; it will also...

the wide sorry eyed little one that was screaming at me at 3 this morning didn't bode well for the mornings ride, so i thought at the time(i need my sleep...)

6.30 in the kitchen, not light yet, feeling sick (tired) motivation was still in bed having lie in,

text from the big fella, family life doing what it does, so got to go can't leave possible new members unsheperded!! looks a bit dull 1 degree, perfect! too late to ride up (thank god for the 9am star...

It's a theory that still holds, orange wednesdays and no rain thursdays.....

A night of firsts.....

New member Dave's first thursday ride (in club colours!!); welcome,

The first "flat"; Dave again, and and an impressively swift change (conti' folders, the biz!)

first attak by rabid terriers...

and dare i say it...... the lap record, mmm, for now.

Gary it appears turns up for ...

Thursday; the most gifted night of the week during these current wet months,

because at about 6 o’clock for the past 3 weeks even if the weather was very poor during the day it broke in time for Cycling!.....

The turn out has been improving exponentially as the weeks go on, commencing with me billy no mates! (good job really as I got lost and had to phone my dad!!), a swift two laps 2up week 2 stopped only by flat batteries and 5 last week, (good to meet Gary and Rich)

Ok all , so its not strictly a ride blog , but in my incapacitated state , its the closest i can get to real cycling...

The clubs social meeting (as opposed to the more formal comittee meeting ) was held at Bolsovers Blue Bell pub last night

In an unprecedented effort by the clubs members we had a significant turnout for what was essentially a beer and a chat , with 14 individuals turning up to meet theiir fellow club members,  a number that had never been seen b...

The Dark and White people are the same lot that organise Trail quest MTB orienteering events monthly through the winter. However, navigation was not needed at this event, thankfully for me!

Simple format; 17km route, as many laps as possible, as long as you commence your last lap and pass through the start / finish line before 4 hours were up!

There were some racing snakes in evidence 6 of them lapped me (all hard tails!) while i managed (just) to maintain a 50 minute avg lap tim...

It was a mad rush to get the kids fed and settled. Throwing the bike on the roof of the car, kit in the back. Collect the Father in Law then the half hour drive to Sherwood Pines.

On our arrival we found a new face smiling at us from behind his waterproof gear, Howard. Keith was also there. 4 brave souls ready to face the wind and rain. Unfortunately one of us had lost the nut off his front wheel’s quick release so could not ride.

The ride fo...

This Winters Revolution (25) started at the Manchester Velodrome Saturday the 14th of November. This Coincided with me finally giving in to Mrs T's requests for us to go over to Manchester to spend the weekend with her sister - what a coincidence !!

Having convinced Mrs T that she might actually enjoy the evening we got there early and grabbed decent seats on the start / finish line. Looking at the programme and the riders already warming up on the track i...

Rain, Rain and more Rain - with a few strong gusts of wind !! A 65 Mile long Lesson in at laws of Aqua Planing !!

After convincing my friend Wayne that Tonsilitus and a recovering bad back were not an excuse for him not to do the ride and promising him a steady one, we left Bolsover for Chapel-En-Le-Frith.

Registration complete we set off just after 9 am. The route headed down hill for a mile or so then began to climb. The roads were like r...

The Evening was crisp but bright, the air was full of positive thoughts and a strange smell, it was the 13th, was this an omen? Me and Andy got our bikes off the roof, pulled on our warm biking gear and began to circle the Hardwick Inn car park like 2 hells angels who have lost their licence, on the prowl for someone to join our gang.

Just as we had given up hope...

This weeks Go-Bike family ride was held in the most glorious unseasonal sunshine and set off from the Pleasley Vale Outdoor Centre.

Joining us this week were Peter & John from Tibshelf , riding a fantastic Dawes Galaxy Tandem , our first Tandem on a club ride to date . Neil & Dianne came from Bolsover, as did Steve , dragging his mountain bike out of the garage after 5 years of storage. A regular face on family rides , Kate , even came to along to say hello despite being unable ...

      I looked out of the window this afternoon and my heart dropped, I checked with the BBC Weather forecast and it confirmed my worst fears, a band of rain followed by some heavy rain with more rain behind that forecast for this evening. I'm sure there have been wetter day's; Noah could probably vouch for that, however much to my own disbelief and against my better judgement, even going against my own personal rule of "any rain n...

A Night Ride like no other

A disappointing turnout cast a starting shadow over this ride , but it soon turned into one of the best rides I’ve ever ridden

A cool dry night welcomed us to the outskirts of Sherwood pines. By the time the initial 2-3k of fire road was over , the pleasantries were dispensed with , and Mark , Andy and me were comparing lighting power.

My new Exposure Race Maxx (highly recommended), meant that I was to lead the ride , as the shadows it cast o...