Through and off …..the back and out of the race (again)

Road Racing exploits of the BC, TLI and LVRC riders (but no 1st cats yet)

February 2005. Reliability Rides and YCF luncheon 10…we’re pedalling again

We’re up and we’re pedalling again… the 2005 season is now in full flow and the Yorkies are already flying high and falling low….very low! While the time trial fraternity were training in the comfort of the living room (single riders) or garage (married riders), the road racing fraternity were out in all weathers battling with the elements. This year the north Leeds ‘Roadies’ decided to toughen themselves up with regular weekend rides at 6.30am – yes that’s 6.30 in the morning – under the tutorship of the Hippo. So every weekend The Hammer, Mr Courteous, The Balaclava and The Hippo put batteries into their lights and put the miles into their legs in rain, sleet, snow, ice and artic winds. By the time the Reliability Rides came around The Hammer held the record for hitting the tarmac the most .. 3 falls in total, twice in one ride. However, John ‘The Balaclava’ Coleman received the award for ‘causing the most spectacular crash on a team mate’ when he wiped out the Hippo at the Ilkley roundabout. Apparently, his balaclava slipped over his head so he couldn’t see where he was going. Oh how the Hippo laughed …not!

So by the time the reliability rides came around it was no surprise to The Hippo that he was able to ride ‘Is he still near-vet? Saint off his wheel in the Otley CC event. Just in case you didn’t quite digest that fact I will repeat it… The Hippo managed to ride Sluggish Saint off his wheel in the last 10 mile of the Otley CC reliability ride. The Hippo was rumoured to have considered retiring from the sport having achieved his lifetime ambition and only the thought of spending Sunday’s with his wife and kids persuaded him otherwise.

One week later ‘Sluggish’ Saint, spurred on by the thought of being beaten by The Hippo in a ‘proper event’, managed to clean up the trophies at the YCF 10 (27-03-05) romping home with a time of 00:21:45. In fact, ‘Sluggish’ had enough time to picnic at Walshford roundabout in the time it took the rest of the field to come home. The Yorkies swept up the prizes with Gordon ‘I prefer the endurance events’ Midgley stonking home in second place (00:23:24) with Dave ‘my bike costs more than yours‘ Meakin  bringing home the team prize with a very respectable 7th place (00:24:07). The event had a them and us feel about it with the Yorkies fielding 16 of the 71 entrants. Stirling performances were put in by new YRC competitors including Andrew ‘I’ve not raced since the ‘60’s’ Bairsto and Sorab ‘I need a club nickname’ Shavaksha. The experienced riders were present in numbers with Mike ’I gave it my best’ Youngson (15th ), Mark ‘The Hippo’ Johnson (18th) Stephen ‘is he going to crash while training this year?’ Woodrup (21st ) Stan ‘he’s too nice to have a nickname’ Mills (29th), Craig ‘Tri-man’ Maude (30th), John ‘do we turn at this roundabout?’ Colman (36th ) Martin ‘fell runner’ Overton (45th), Nigel ‘I don’t carry an inner tube during competition’ Baldwin (49th), John ‘he’s earned too much respect to have a nickname’ Baines (53rd ) Ron ‘my bike’s better than Meakon’s’ Marshall (60th), However, it was the performance of John ‘custom built aero hat’ Blomeley (16th) that caught the eye - check out The Hat at the next time trial – and before you balk ask John how much time it shaved off his PB. Duck Tape and Instructions are being sold at a reduced price of £5.00 - make cheques payable to Hippo’s Cycle Emporium.

But all this time trial stuff is just a Prologue to the main event …….. the Laurel and Hardy capers of the Yorkies Road Racing Team. And this year the YRC road racers hope to build on last years success of bringing bedlam to the local peloton. However, that will have to wait until next time. And by the way don’t complain about the nicknames. The Hippo does not take responsibility for the nicknames expressed in this column, but he would like to know if there is anyone he has missed out. Complaints should be forwarded to the ‘Sluggish’ webmaster.