Medium Steady Ride
I turned up at the Showground with the intention of returning home, given the persist drizzle. At the appointed hour the clouds parted and a small patch of blue sky appeared. So, six of us set off on the Medium Steady Ride. I took the alternative route to Beckwithshaw avoiding The Squinting Cat, bit two rebels decided to opt for the Squinting Cat route. Subsequently we all met up again, and can report that Lady Lane is open. The ride continued to Askwith where 2 riders left us to go home. After negotiating the roadworks at Askwith we arrived at Ilkley. After the morning break at Outside The Box cafe we headed back to Harrogate via North Rigton and Burn Bridge. PCJ
Medium Plus Steady Ride
A slightly misty damp start untli we reached Boroughbridge where from then on the roads were dry , the sun gradually crept out from behind clouds and from lunchtime onwards was quite hot. A starting group of seven (Yvonne, Zilpha, Rachel, Steve, John C, Richard and me) were joined by Jim waiting for us at Boroughbridge. There may have been a slight tailwind as we made rapid progress through Sessay. Carlton Husthwaite and Coxwold. Apparently Sutton Bank was closed for annual inspection with traffic rerouted along the caravan route through Coxwold, Byland and Ampleforth – i.e. on OUR route. Not sure who was slowing whom down but the sheep transport edging though Ampleforth village caused everyone chaos.
Lunch at Ampleforth Abbey in the sunshine was excellent – with many delicious chips. Bob Johnson joined our ride home while Jim departed home the way we had come. This ride has a great downhill though the Abbey Sports fields to Gilling Village where the amateur train enthusiastes were just raising steam in their locos. Of course you pay for the downhill with a long haul up to Yearsley and then a lovely downhill again towards Easingwold. We kept up a good pace home through Alne, across Aldwark Bridge ( not ferry !!!!) , Great Ouseburn, Marton Cum Grafton , Arkendale and Knaresborough Hill.
Apart from a couple of minor chain issues and a fashion failure from my bike bag this ride was event-free and a lovely ride Peter L
Route 216 – 63 miles, just under 3,000 ft ascent.
Short Ride
With so many takers for the short ride at the moment I’d offered last week to form a second group if needed. I therefore made sure I knew the route and had committed it to memory!
Monica took me up on the offer so 6 followed me out of the showground. Along Brackenthwaite Lane we picked up Paul making us a group of 8. It was a bit of a COCO ride (coats on, coats off) but we managed to sit outside at the Leathley Farm Shop.
The other group caught us up and we had a good chat between the groups. Saying our goodbyes and paying heed to the “no access not even for cyclists” sign we decided not to go back on ourselves and risk Castley Lane so diverted along the main road before commencing our ascent to Almscliffe Crag.
Riders started to peel off from Briscoe Ridge Lane and continued to take various turns off Otley Road all the way back into Harrogate.
Thank you Graham, Jenny, Geraldine, Kevin, Sarah, Russell and Paul for a fun ride. JJ
The short route to Leathley and Almscliffe Crag attracted quite a few riders this morning. Jill Jackson kindly offered to lead a group of seven, and I was left with another seven plus me – Steve B, Liz A, Sally C, Sue T, Linda, Gerianne and Leighton. There were a couple of mishaps at the beginning of the ride, but after Burn Bridge we were on peaceful lanes and the ride progressed smoothly. At the junction of the Harrogate/Pool Road there was a sign opposite saying the Castley road was closed with an addition for cyclists too. At our café stop at Leathley farm shop I had a discussion with Jill, and we all decided to keep on the main road for another mile and turn left up Gravelly Hill Lane toward Almscliffe Crag. It’s not very pleasant on the main road and quite a pull up from the left turn onwards, but everyone managed and there was some lovely sunshine at the Crag for a group photo.
Monica W
