charityadventure

tell us how you thought the ride went - tell us good, so we can feel happy - tell us the bad so we can learn for the next ride!

Post links to photo's, videos and wot not

I'm falling asleep at my desk.
Ace ride, great people, really enjoyed it.
Will update with pictures, gps details etc in due course.
looking forward to the next ride.

Alan

I particularly enjoyed the part where I was floating on my roll up mat for 6 hours....

Thank you to everyone that came on the trip - I had a fabulous weekend getting to know new people, spending time with friends from previous rides.

A massive thank you to Joe M and Mark E for providing and driving the support camper van - it was an absolute godsend - making real use of the support van isn't something we want to have to resort to - but it saved our skins when we needed it.

Big thank you to ride guide Matt for giving us the chance to split the group so people could ride at the pace they wanted.

Highs and lows from the trip...

I hated saying goodbye to craz when he had to leave the ride and head home - but Andy Wills made a cracking job of rear ride guide - we had a tough sunday covering (we reckon) 65 miles.

I loved whizzing up and down those hills in the North Yorkshire Moors on saturday afternoon with a wind behind us, and a torrent of water falling from the clouds - thank god for overshoes and ninja masks!!!!

Meeting up with all the riders in the pub at Osmotherly after the relentless hills was awesome - the spirit, energy and camaraderie is why I like these rides.

ROLL ON AMSTERDAME - won't be the same without severe weather tho!

Oh, and spending Sunday tracking you all on my phone wishing that I was with you guys was pretty tough going The hardest part was struggling to do a gps location update with wet bath fingers at about 4pm. Damn Radox... Oh how I longed for my bike, rain and bitterly cold winds beating at my Milk Tray Man-like outfit...

Just wanted to say a couple of things, firstly thank you to all for your company and friendship, but particularly Gaz, Craz & Matt (sorry just can't bring myself to type Maz!) so, SO, SOOOO much for all the hard work on the ride, not just the companionship and patience during the ride, but all the things that I know go on in the background that must take forever to organise to make it go as smoothly as it did, just wanted you to know how much it is appreciated.

Lows - making the mistake of psyching myself up for another C2C style ride then wondering how was it over so quickly, where was day three, hills & hugs?!?! Getting up for a run at 5 in the morning on Saturday so I didn't freeze to death! Breaking my phone, not sure if it was through cold / wet and hence loosing all my numbers and txts *cries*. Puncture number 3 within 30mins, argh!! Feeling sick after stuffing myself with too much pizza on sunday, lunch / dinner! Sunburn?!?!! - 'nough said! Loosing Craz on the last day, wasn't the same without you, I hope your lady is okay, we were thinking of you.

Highs - the people, you're all ace! Relief getting to top of Sutton Bank, and sense of pride for not getting off my bike, though I did stop for a rest every 20 seconds and a chocolate break with Angela, you're a life saver! Zooming down the hills in the wind and rain after my puncture (sorry Craz, Alan and Mark, I love you all!) trying to catch the rest of you up, awesome. Then meeting up with everyone in the pub, with that fire, hmm, good times. The Browns for their company, letting me share their tent & body warmth, thank you sooo much! Andy for your stories and flashing lights, they were wicked, I want some! Mark for picking me up and for persuading me to buy overshoes, you're a total star. Matt for dropping me, Dan & Alan off at home, you are just the best, so much appreciated.

But mostly, meeting up with old friends, who I feel like I've known for ever, and meeting some lovely new people, who I shall look forward to seeing again. I'm on facebook, Alice Osborne, (no U in Osborne!) do add me. Anyone in Leeds, Mark & I are going to organise some mini wkend rides, I'll keep you posted via email, would be lovely to see you if you want to join. Really and truely can't wait to see you all on the next one, Slam and C2C anyone?!?

With much love to all,
Alice -x-

All I can say for now is that this coming weekend is going to be soooo boring!

so we lived the face book dream and did live poking, well now you can add pics, chat and catch up on facebook

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10613766849

you can also add me on facebook

Rachel Bedford

After riding in torrential rain on Friday and then Saturdays down pour I'm sure my feet are becoming webbed.

Another seriously good weekend. Thanks to every one for making it special (again)

I was so knackered that I fell asleep eating my Chinese take away at 11.30pm Sunday.

Big thanks to Joe and Mark for the lift down the A1. Couldn't face riding home from Durham.

Bring on Amsterslam.

What can I say sitting here after a long day at work where I can safely say I wasn't at my best due to extreme tiredness of a 2am finish on Sunday/ Monday. My thought are of an excellent weekend spent with both old and new friends.
Best bits: most of it really but here goes:
Meeting at York Minster reaquainting ourselves from previous trips was a great start with pics in front of the Minster, to a pleasant evenings ride to the first camp site, pitching tents in the pitch black and then a walk to the pub for a good meal, chat and a late walk back.
Next mornings ride to the White Horse was great scenery with the warning in the distance of what was to come in the form of the Howardian Hills ahead. A short pit stop and then a difficult climb to the top by the white horse. Motivation was the key here and I got lots of that from Gaz, Craz and Mark. A great meal at the top of Sutton Bank, shame the chef did not want to share what was in that cottage pie. The afternoons ride through the hills in the driving rain with the wind largely behind us was a challenge but exihilarating, especially the downhill runs where you could hardly see where you were going! Perhaps pitching the tents in the rain wasn't quite so good but the shower afterwards was just what you needed (sorry Mark).
Next day waking to blue skies was great however not so marvellous was putting on those wet shoes etc. The ride to Middlesbrough was really pleasant with a quick stop for a cupper at the end. Hartlepool next, two more punctures on the way (Marks 6th by the last one) slowed progress, the route also must have been planned by someone who loves torturing cyclist by going the longest way round possible. Our meal at pizza hut was long awaited though maybe not what I had hoped for! but the company and banter was just what was needed to tackle the last 22 miles.
Starting after 6 from Hartlepool may have been late but the wind had dropped which made the long slow climb out of Hartlpool easier, and the ocasional helping hand was much appreciate. Riding in the dark towards the end was just another element and actually seeing both the castle and Cathedral lit up when entering Durham added a new dimension to the end of a ride.

The ride home in the supprt van was a great wind down though the ride back from the Minster to pick the car up was more unusual in the back of Gazs car with bikes and kit for company.

What can I say, thankyou everyone on the ride for the company, banter and support over the whole event. Special thanks to Gaz, Mark and Andy for that last stint and Craz and Mat for the tail end support when needed. The weekend reaffirmed my love of a challenge and I can't wait for the next one.

Thanks for a great weekend guys, the best bit was steaming up the bar is Osmotherly, the worst bit was trying to drag myself to work yesterday morning!

Matt, I have never seen a dog behave like that before, do you get that reaction very often??

The Post Ride Depression kicked in this morning having been at work for only 43 minutes.

Big thanks to Rachel for the loan of her wheel so that I could complete the course - I've been in a similar situation so I'm sure Joe was grateful for the company! Thanks to Dan for backing me on that last section and to everyone else in that group for trusting my 'funny feelings'. Apologies to the 'leisurely-paced group' for the slight detour - well we needed to give the other group a chance to catch up after all!

And no Dan, I don't - that dog was so funny though, especially when it ran into the field to avoid me! It's the beard, I tell you!

I can only echo Pam and Alice - it was great meeting old friends and welcoming new ones into the CHAD family. Liked the new ride suggestions as well - they have definite potential!

Couldn't help but think of a quote from Hitchhiker's Guide the the Galaxy when Ford and Arthur have just been rescued from certain death and are aboard the Heart of Gold:

"Probability factor of one to one...we have normality, I repeat we have normality. Anything you still can't cope with is therefore your own problem."

Roll on next ride! Someone remind me to take a spare wheel, hacksaw and lip salve on it though......

Really enjoyed the ride. As Alice mentioned (previously doing the C2C you mentally prepare yourself for something challenging). It was challenging - putting up that tent in the dark with nettles stinging my bum. Thanks to Leo, Alice and Mark for the help. There was some fantastic torch holding going on by myself and Alice whilst Mark and leo got too work.

Highs - Doing a Jill and standing up on the hills (could almost hear the pirate call from our scary bobby friend). really missed Jill and Shell!

Lows - That shark or whale that masqueraded as Cod and Chips almost finished me off. The other one that I daren't mention was the wind (what was all that about), horizontal hale and being freezing. Second night there was need for shared body warmth - tnx.

Oh More Highs are needed -
Loved the last day. the leisurely group overtook the puncture laden fast group. then Mark joined us and we became the puncture group. Mark looked ready to melt his bike down to a keyring. The views were great. Pizza Hut was luvley. Back on the support vehicle (thanks Joe / Mark) we really did chill down - thanks Pam, Leo, Rachel. Of course goes without saying the support guides where ace. Look forward to Alan's GPS. Chris / Angela nice meeting you. Gr8t seeing Dan again.

Luv u all and a great challenge / experience

See ya Soon

Russ x

Need to change that. From the Halcyon days of Amsterslam 07 - It was true. The speed over the dunes was phenomenal. However, having impersonated Thomas the Tank engine on the C2C hardly seems appropriate now (lets temporarily forget that one and I'll leave on my Dutch chant!)

It's boring.