Cropton Forest Comments
Thanks to Dave Lloyd for planning another excellent course despite not being able to cycle in the forest due to the snow until 4 weeks ago, Jens for another excellent map and the helpers as ever for making the event run smoothly (especially my family – Amy, Jo and Chris). FC asked us to move 4 controls at very short notice so I was very relieved that Dave and Jens were able to amend the course. The staff at Spiers House were very welcoming and it made a change from Keldy and Stape – although most riders probably visited them both. After cancelling the first event and battling against wind and snow drifts last week it was brilliant to ride in spring sunshine on dry tracks and pleasing to see 120 riders on the day. There was plenty of route choice and, I thought, plenty of riding but Andrew W and Andy C still managed to clear all of the controls with 18 and 12 minutes to spare respectively. Congratulations to all of the category winners – Graham Fielding (M50) who also cleared up in just over 3 hours, Max & Martin Vesty (Gen) who finished 8th overall, Rik Thompson (M21), Ray Morriss (M60), Teresa Billington (W40) and Steve & Andrea Foster (X50).
I enjoyed my ride but was disappointed to only have 90 minutes between uploading the start block and being ready to download. Unfortunately I wasn’t back before the first finishers so thanks to Dave Relton for sorting it out when it stopped working. Please can you check your dibber numbers at registration as having a different one is the main reason for problems at download.
Full results have already been posted along with the competition map if you couldn’t make it to the event and want to follow anyone’s route. This will be a feature on the web page for all events from now on to go with the blank map being posted on the Tuesday before each event.
The next events in both leagues are on moors with a 4 hour NEMBOS event in Swaledale (North) on Sunday 12th May and then a 5 hour NYMBO event at Ingleton on Saturday 25th May.
I am planning the Swaledale event – the tracks are drying out nicely and the gamekeepers are happy for us to use the bridleways and some private tracks despite this being the main part of the nesting season so please keep to the tracks. We are using the Dales Bike Centre at Grinton with a shop, café, accommodation and bike wash available so check out their web page at http://www.dalesbikecentre.co.uk/
Graham Fielding is planning the Ingleton event which is again part of the Overground Underground festival of events so check out their web page at http://www.ogug.co.uk/
Hope to see you at one of these events
Steve
PS We won’t be using numbers this year as we can check the splits for any problems
PPS There will be a series of monthly evening social rides announced soon instead of the 2 hour treasure hunt type MBO events.