Will look forward to these Criag 😛 which day is the flat ride? 😎

That would be Eccleshall, not totally flat, but no 1000ft climbs either 😉

That's the day I do the tour of the Roaches 😮 looks like 4 weeks of hills for me!! 😀

You love the hills, might be worth keeping a record of the height ascended seeing if you can break 20,000 ft in a month. Just typing that has given me an idea, a cruel idea, but an idea nonetheless. Mt Everest is 29,035ft, we could see if one month the club runs could climb the equivalent of the largest mountain in the world 😈 . I knew there was a reason I bought the lower gears for the bike :ugeek:

Not all of us love hills 😮

For those that really, really like hills and want to exceed the Everest challenge Craig mentioned then here's an idea:

Audax run a series of 5 Marple events in August on Wednesdays that go into various parts of the Peak District.

Here's the challenge - ride all 5 and total climb just exceeds 40,000 ft !!

I am doing 14,000 ft of climbing in two weeks but I guess it will not count 😥 could take my bike with me 😆 and its all for charity 😀

Hills are like a fine wine, it's an acquired taste. If you are on the small side, like me, hills are your friend.

Would love to do the audax series, but work gets in the way. Will take the bike to Buxton in the summer so I can spend the whole day in the peaks.

Club rides for everyone. Think more of a mix is required. This may stop people making the step up from the shorter run.

I agree with Jules on this one (and i love climbing). The club runs shouldn't be all hard hills. Why not mix it up with long flat ones instead or something that's mostly flat with a 'destination' hill in it? That would be more attractive. Otherwise each club run just becomes a slog for lots of people and it will become discouraging for some.

Kev and I agree with John and Jules. Kev loves hills, I don't (but try to!) but I know that the idea of hills can put people off coming, and we want to encourage more people to step up from the shorter run (to keep me company at the back!) so let's try and offer some variety...
(Having said all that, the hilly rides this year have been great fun; and Craig, you've done a really good job of looking after everyone and keeping us together).

Would love to ride with you Eleanor but I am a bit scared of the long runs. Might try one out soon. I am out with Craig on Sunday let's hope I can keep up 🙂

you'll have no problem holding my wheel Les, I am no speed freak. As for hills putting people off, I have never met a cyclist who can't climb hills, its the pace that is expected that puts people off. Most long runs are beyond my comfortable pace and I hang in. The flatter a route is the faster the ride will be and the more I will struggle. It's the speed more than the terrain that puts people off, the thought of hanging on all day is not a good one. The answer is to keep the pace about the same as the short run, but just up the miles. This has been discussed at length, but nothing changes. I suggested a solution to this, which would satisfy all rider abilities, but support was poor. I know the way so if I find myself off the back its not an issue, but a club run which is a social event not a training event should not come to this. Had my rant, I know I am not alone in this view.