Clydesdale Colts Youth Cycling Club
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Strathpuffer 2017

25/1/2017

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Just over a year ago, Alan had a dream... that we a team from the Colts enter the Strathpuffer race in 2017. Not only enter, but come pretty high in the results table. Aye, that all sounds fine, until you realise what the Strathpuffer is. It is not an ordinary mountain bike race, it is a 24 hour endurance race, in the north of Scotland, in January. It has been listed in the ten toughest mountain bike races on the planet.

As always, the kids at the Colts were eager to step up to the challenge, and we got not one, but two teams willing to put in the training and enter the race. Our two teams were;

The Old Crew: Andy, Corey, Ewan and Lewis, with an average age of 16, apart from a very tough 12 year old.

The Young Crew: Blair, Callum, Ewan and Findlay, with an average age of just 14.

Under the guidance of Alan and Jack, these two teams started a year of training, including rollers sessions, track sessions, early morning rides, recce trips to the course, off bike training sessions and a 12 hour training session through the night on our local trails.

Around comes January 2017 and it is time to head to the hill.
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With huge support from sponsors and fundraising, we took the convey to the hill, set up our basecamp and prepared for the race.

The lads were off to a flying start, with our first two riders, Lewis and Blair being within the first dozen riders up the hill from the start line, this set a precedent for the race, with the rider consistently turning in 40 to 45 minute laps within the daylight section of the race.  Between laps, the Colts base camp was a fantastic place to be, roaring fire, music belting out and cheers of encouragement to and from passing riders, MON THE FATBIKE!! It must have been a difficult place to cycle past, halfway up that 3 mile climb, Luckily we had visits from plenty of Colts family to keep spirits up and the much required coffee flowing.

The sun started setting around 4pm, the lights came out, the night got a lot colder, bikes started to freeze. The PA at the bottom of the hill explaining to riders to expect their lap times to get longer by about 10 minutes. Our older team must have missed that announcement, as their times remained within the 40 to 45 minute range. By this point the coaches were gobsmacked at the strength and determination in the riders.

The night began to take its toll on the young team, with illness catching up with one hardy rider, who still put in a good few laps while feeling ill, even running a massive bit of the course after a mechanical. Falls took a two riders out of the running for a couple of laps, but the team spirit stepped in, with Blair stepping up to put in extra laps until his team mates were back on their feet. 

With the sun coming back up, the Colts found another burst of energy to get the last few laps in, with Lewis tearing off up the hill for the final lap.

Then comes the moment of truth, the results, The Colts Old Team came an incredible 12th out of 133 quad teams and the Colts Young Team, an very respectable 54th. This is a fantastic result for the Colts, and they already have plans for next years 'Puffer.

There has to be a special mention for our substitute rider, Cameron, who has been at all the training sessions, all the fundraising every step of the way. In the situation of someone being injured and unable to ride, Cameron was there to step in, he put in as much as the riders, come the next Puffer, he is going to rip it up.

Many Many Thanks

The Puffer is a big race which takes a lot of commitment from the riders, but also a LOT of support in finances, time and equipment.

Big thanks need to go to the Club for their support through the training, the families who have given so much in time and money to make this happen. More than this, we have had support from various sources and we give a massive thank you and high fives to all the people listed below, we could not have done this without your support:
  • Failte Foods
  • Wilson Developments
  • Pedal Power
  • Websters
  • ​John Bissett
  • South Lanarkshire Counci
  • Pro Am Cycles
  • Tesco Lesmahagow
  • Jo and Sara @ SWC



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Tyke Trials - Round 6 Burry Cliffe Quarry - 19/03/2016

23/3/2016

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Like Glasgow on Saturdy, Derbyshire was blessed with sunshine on Sunday, so that was a good start.

Finn had his best ride to date, dropping only 7 points across 15 sections. Narrowly missed out on a podium, finishing 4th but he really enjoyed the day and was on a high from getting so many "cleans". (He also did the Colts proud as one of only two kids that assisted unprompted clearing up all the sections at the end of day, funny the things that make you smile)

#monthecolts

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Johnstone Jets Bella Crit Round 1 - 19/03/16

19/3/2016

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Fantastic turnout for the Colts today.

9 Colts in the U8's race out of 21 starters! 
Harris, Cole, Becky, Sam, Kyle, Eilidh, Isla, Daisy, Sarah

2 in the U10's:
Neil, Lacey

2 in the U12's:
Jack, Corey

All the kids had a great time doing the club proud in the Glasgow sunshine! Well done Colts!

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Borders MTB Race Series – Round 1 Selkirk, Sunday 13/03/16

19/3/2016

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Roll Call

Colts : Adam A, Blair K, Joe C, Angus B, Ewan W, Callum McN and Hamish L

Support Team : David A, Wullie C, David McN, Graham W Jake B

A strong Colts turnout for the first race in the series – after signing on first order of the day was to walk the course which all the riders and support team did. Great wee course although very muddy in patches , bomb holes, drop offs, off camber roots and fairly steep in parts – walked the course up and then back down with the riders checking out the best racing lines. Practice was next and the riders were able to do at least three practice runs each riding/pushing up the long fireroad drag between each run before midday although Adam did manage to squeeze in a fourth run before the course was closed for lunch.

Timed Run 1 After lunch the sun came out and the first of the two timed runs started – by this time the course was actually in better condition as most of the mud seemed to be transferred onto the riders bikes from the practice runs and the track was bedded in – U10s, U12s first and then the Colts age Categories with all the Colts making it to the bottom with a few spills and tumbles but no injuries

Timed Run 2 - push / ride backup the fireroad to the start and the Colts compared Run 1 notes , once again all the Colts made it to the bottom of the hill each trying to improve on their times on the first run.
Well done to all the Colts competing and especially to the DH “first timers” , Ewan W, Angus B and Hamish L getting their first taste of DH Racing, hopefully not their last.

Special mention goes to Graham W who kindly let Ewan aka “Mr Bump”ride on his shiny new bike – a brave man !
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A well organised and run race on a challenging Downhill Track – looking forward to the next round at AE Forest in April.

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