York Rally 2011

[PH]

I enjoyed it, a chance to meet a few new people, catch up with others, buy some bargains and some rubbish.  I always enjoy the service and parade, just that number of cyclists together, it's the only time I see that and I find it special.  Marj's cake, of course another highlight as was the ride back today in the sunshine.  I thought the traders were an interesting mix, good to see Spa and Alpkit back.  Plenty of bike porn, the best in show for me the Woodrup Belt Rohloff, first class design and finish, the sort of thing more likely seen in American shows.
I went to a talk Saturday by Roger Geffen, CTC's Campaigns and Policy Manager, it wasn't in the programme and was very poorly attended, which is a shame as he seemed prepared to answer any question.  Hopefully it'll be better publisised next year.  I paid £16 for a weekends camping, seemed like good value to me, and the range on offer from the food stalls was OK at prices I'd expect to pay for outside catering.  Not sure when the challenge rides moved from being an Audax to a Sportive, overheard a couple of disgrunteled riders who though it was still more Audax except the price.
All in all a good weekend.

[Deano]

....the best in show for me the Woodrup Belt Rohloff, first class design and finish, the sort of thing more likely seen in American shows...

Did you buy it, then? 

[arabella]

Well, I rolled up slightly earlier than planned on my York Sparrow* and collapsed in a damp heap in Tony's tent.
Then stuffed my face with assorted choc. croissants and bacon sarnies, followed by an apple for healthy eating points.
I toodled off again by10:00am and thereby missed most day visitors, not to mention the show itself.
* for AUKs - Sort_of Pretend ARROW - only 300km to York but another 300km back again

[Kim]

Just got back.  Those who left on Sunday will be pleased to hear that I actually managed to get some sleep last night, and am no longer wandering about like a sunburnt aphasic zombie.   

I never realised the YACF mobile cake stop was radio-controlled!

[Tourist Tony]

Just back. Perfect train to KX--then all hell on a collapsed service through London Bridge. Took me longer London-Gatwick than York-London.

Saw Kim off, who was looking better, this morning, and Becky at the station, who has mastered the art of lowering herslef for the short.

Cake was eaten, mickey was taken, some beer was drunk (though not much) and Stuff was Ogled.

Quote of the weekend: Kim.

"I prefer rubber and adhesive to nakedness"

[Arellcat]

Just got back, too; well, four hours ago anyway.  Currently recharging myself with slabs of lasagne followed by cake and hot chocolate.  Tony will be relieved to know that my train did eventually arrive, albeit 50 minutes late.  Apparently somewhere around Tamworth the railway had stopped working.

Very nice to meet up with so many from here, faces familiar and new.  I pottered around the trade tent and stuff-for-sale tents and came away with one of the Smart Lunar front lights to keep my older one company.  I thought about buying another pair of SPDs, but decided to wait until I was home to see if I'd won a pair on eBay, which of course ... I hadn't.  I really wanted to like the Rotovelo at the Velovision stand, but while it feels unbreakable in that plastic school chair kind of way, it just looked a bit too Fisher Pricey, compared with the Quest.  I did have a long conversation with Nick Lobnitz, he of the Paper Bicycle.  I rather fancy one of them for next winter.

I left Yawk's glorious summer temperatures behind for a more usual 14C with drizzle.  My woefully unprepared arms and thighs were thoroughly sunburned and are now temporarily immune to Scottish temperatures. 

[Tourist Tony]

Rotovelo....

There was discussion at York of the practice of making giant replicas of well-known confectionary items, complete with imitation wrappers. I suggested the Rotovelo rotary device....and a cream egg.

Am I going to go to hell?

[interzen]

Rotovelo....

There was discussion at York of the practice of making giant replicas of well-known confectionary items, complete with imitation wrappers. I suggested the Rotovelo rotary device....and a cream egg.

Am I going to go to hell?

Oh I dunno.
When I visited Velo Vision Towers a few weeks ago to show His Royal Editorness Mr. Eland the VV iPhone app, the Rotovelo was still in the office and reminded me of a giant liquorice torpedo. Also, if you tapped on the fairing it made a very interesting 'thunk' noise.

[Canardly]

Really glad I made the effort and a huge pleasure to meet up with fellow yacfers. Not a lot else to say other than taking huge amounts of pleasure watching peeps help each other which was fantastic.

[Arch]

Not very impressed with being charged a fiver to get into the ground, especially given that pretty much everything in there (food and rides etc) was really expensive too.  And it's only valid for today too, so if I want to go back and say hello to jogler and marj at the van I'm supposed to pay again!

I had a trade badge, but MFWHTBAB had to pay of course. He kept the band on, and asked the next day in a casual "Is this valid again?" way, and they let him in for nothing - and gave him a Sunday band so that he didn't get challenged at the trade area. That was at about 11am, so I dunno if they'd had complaints. i think the person said something about "We've changed the system..."

(And as far as I can tell, there was no way the person at the gate could tell he was with me, so it wasn't trade favouritism...)

I agree it's a bit of a cheek to ask folk to pay to look at stuff to buy, but I don't know how else they make money, without charging the exhibitors loads more - and then you start to lose exhibitors.  It's still way cheaper than a big show at the NEC, or similar.

Oh, and Derek (the clown) is a nice guy, but clowns are an odd thing. I've seen him develop brillant rapours with kids - some love clowns, some don't.  I tend towards not, generally.  His wife is genuinely scary though . (and hopefully not a member here...)

[clarion]

There are a lot of people who really do not like clowns.  Autistic kids are often very alarmed by people with heavy make up on.

In fact, I am not sure I know anyone who thinks that the clown at York is anything other than an annoying waste of money, and an embarrassment.

[Kim]

Not very impressed with being charged a fiver to get into the ground, especially given that pretty much everything in there (food and rides etc) was really expensive too.  And it's only valid for today too, so if I want to go back and say hello to jogler and marj at the van I'm supposed to pay again!

I had a trade badge, but MFWHTBAB had to pay of course. He kept the band on, and asked the next day in a casual "Is this valid again?" way, and they let him in for nothing - and gave him a Sunday band so that he didn't get challenged at the trade area. That was at about 11am, so I dunno if they'd had complaints. i think the person said something about "We've changed the system..."

I nonchalantly walked through the entrance to the trade area - and rode indeed on and off the site several times - without a band.  I rolled up on Friday, and after cycling around following the complete absence of signs for a bit and failing to spot anywhere obvious to register, proceeded to my designated pitch and continued to not bother for the entire weekend...

[LittleWheelsandBig]

In fact, I am not sure I know anyone who thinks that the clown at York is anything other than an annoying waste of money, and an embarrassment.

You now know at least one who quite likes the clown at the York rally.

[clarion]

OK.

*counts*

One.

Any more?

[LittleWheelsandBig]

I don't think that everybody who went to the rally is on this forum.

[Kim]

Well, it seems like a reasonably safe environment for a clown.  Better than letting them run amok on the street, terrorise small children or become a cabinet minister.

[Arch]

I'm not a clown fan generally, but the couple of years he teamed up with Jon 'Inner Tuba' were good shows - they sparked off each other very well. I'm not so keen on the random walking around on stilts stuff.

But there's no doubt many kids do like him. Can't please everyone all the time.

I watched him give a talk once at Cyclefest, and that was interesting. As he talked, about cycling, and his career, he first applied and then took off again, his make up. Watching his character change with it was intriguing.

[clarion]

Well, it seems like a reasonably safe environment for a clown.  Better than letting them run amok on the street, terrorise small children or become a cabinet minister.

That's the bit I object to.

[Tourist Tony]

Some pics

[SlowCoach]

A few more pics



Grr - well there would be if I could get the hang of posting images and had more time to fiddle. In the mean time the link to the album is

https://picasaweb.google.com/adam.bent/YorkRally2011?feat=directlink

[Charlotte]

There are a lot of people who really do not like clowns.  Autistic kids are often very alarmed by people with heavy make up on.

In fact, I am not sure I know anyone who thinks that the clown at York is anything other than an annoying waste of money, and an embarrassment.

Derek the clown may well be a nice guy, but from what I saw, he sure as hell bothered / embarrassed / scared (delete as applicable for age and coulrophobia) more kids than he entertained.  In fact, I don't think I saw a single kid who was pleased to see him - and there were lots of kids there.

Besides, as others have already observed; clowns are EVIL.

[tiermat]

OMFG, what am I doing there?

[Tourist Tony]

One point...

Butterfly, Slowcoach and myself rode out to the Minster for the 'Procession'. Off we went, no police escort, breaking into small groups at each set of traffic lights. We soon found ourselves directed off the main roads and onto a network of suburban streets and cycle farcilities, until spat out just by the racecourse entrance. No grand procession, no progress through the city centre, just pushed quietly into a corner so we could avoid upsetting the Real People and Road Tax Payers.

Not impressed.

[mrcharly-YHT]

One point...

Butterfly, Slowcoach and myself rode out to the Minster for the 'Procession'. Off we went, no police escort, breaking into small groups at each set of traffic lights. We soon found ourselves directed off the main roads and onto a network of suburban streets and cycle farcilities, until spat out just by the racecourse entrance. No grand procession, no progress through the city centre, just pushed quietly into a corner so we could avoid upsetting the tourists Real People and Road Tax Payers.

Not impressed.

FTFY

York council never allow anything to happen that could possibly inconvenience the shoppers (unless it is the military parade).

[jogler]

One point...

Butterfly, Slowcoach and myself rode out to the Minster for the 'Procession'. Off we went, no police escort, breaking into small groups at each set of traffic lights. We soon found ourselves directed off the main roads and onto a network of suburban streets and cycle farcilities, until spat out just by the racecourse entrance. No grand procession, no progress through the city centre, just pushed quietly into a corner so we could avoid upsetting the Real People and Road Tax Payers.

Not impressed.

'twas like that last year