Ride Reports

Sunday 14 April

Dave Siswick
Long Ride

There were simply tons of people up for this ride today. The fast boys had themselves organised in pretty quick time and they went off err… fast.

There were still too many left for one group and thanks to a very kind offer from PCJ, two groups formed and I led off what we tried to make the slower of the two.

This did not work out too well and some of my team were champing at the bit to get on with job, and so we managed the overtaking manoeuvre at the level crossing in Starbeck (which was closed to us), and so utilising the underpass we found ourselves released and to the fore.

Good progress was made into a bitingly cold Easterly, with only comfort breaks as punctuation.  Ampleforth was gained in just over two hours and the ascent of Yearsley Bank commenced, whereupon without getting to the nitty gritty of the climb, my chain snapped.

It flew through the air and landed forlornly in the road; one of our group said they thought it was someone’s bootlace which had flown out!

Luckily, sufficient equipment and expertise was discovered within the group, and the chain was duly shortened by a couple of links, allowing us on our way after a stop of ony about fifteen minutes.

Easingwold was gained after the hairraising descent, only for us to discover that some kind of Vespa Scooter Rally was in progress. The place was packed with people and the prospect of a seat in a cafe looked grim. However, a bit of gentle persuasion at the Curious Table found room for us and lunch was procured.

The fast boys were just leaving and pleasantries were exchanged, and before long we too were on the road again, hoping to enjoy the promised tail wind.

It never works like that though, does it?

Good time was made on the return, nonetheless, and were were back in Harrogate for around 3-30.

Thanks to Janet, Julie, Helen, Denis, Dave W, Pete, Mike, Marvin and Geoff for your great company and for a most enjoyable ride.     DaveS.

 

Long Ride – The Other Group

Having left Hornbeam en masse it was not until Starbeck that the Long Ride split into two groups with PCJ leading The Other Group. With a coterie of five riders we headed for Ampleforth. We cycled into a steady but nagging easterly wind practically all the way to Ampleforth. After an uneventful ride we arrived at Ampleforth Abbey tearooms for some well-deserved refreshments. It was then back to Harrogate via Yearsley and Easingwold, but this time with the wind at our backs it made for a speedy return. PCJ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short Ride

Seven today for the short ride from Hornbeam to Ripley, Scarah Bank, Markington, Bishop Monkton, Burton Leonard, Mountgarret Estate, Nidd, back to Ripley for a cafe stop. Dennis and Sue Threadgold left us here. David Stross stayed with us till the end despite his attempt at escaping in the direction of South Stainley at one point. Good old Dave. Thanks to Sue for backmarking and everyone for making the ride a joy to lead. 26 mile’s covered.  Jean

Medium Plus Ride Gia’s Group

Eleven of us set off on the medium plus route flagged as the Solar Ride. Well there was very little sun and whichever planet was in charge today was rubbish because it was freezing cold! Dave, Brian and Charlie left us at Tadcaster for an earlier coffee stop. The rest of us battled with an annoyingly persistent wind all the way to Bolton Percy. There our mood changed considerably with a wonderfully warm welcome at the newly renovated cafe. A standalone building with a mezzanine floor, lots of space and for the warmer days a spacious courtyard.
So Doyly’s Cafe is a must for any cyclists out in that direction, great service, warm welcome and good food. They are open Wednesday to Sunday.
We all agreed that there was no need to head any further in to the wind just to “do the Solar path” so we took the route over the railway line at Colton Bridge and directly to Bilbrough and Askham Richard. Having the wind behind us was a blessing and for a while we had some sunshine. We stopped to look at the site of the old oak tree in Cowthorpe before our final route home via Little Ribston.
Thanks to the wind protectors and to Justin who back marked for us on his second to last ride before he moves south! 49 miles. Gia

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Medium Plus Fast

The medium plus fast group decided to do the long ride route as there was only a short difference in length on paper, a lumpy route profile and an energy sapping chilly headwind spiced things up however. A high-ish pace was set in the opening hour on the flat by a group of seven and we reached Ampleforth in good time, the relentless grind up Yearsley Bank and the long stretch between Crayke and the café at Easingwold thought the writer to eat more on rides of 4 plus hours in duration. The pace was more sedate on the stretch home and we still managed to get those interested in watching the last hour of Paris Roubaix in front of the TV in time. Darcy.

Medium Ride
9 of us elected to do the hilly ride to Blubberhouses and back by Darley and Hampsthwaite, including Barbara returning after a break. It was a grey morning, but didn’t seem as windy as forecast. We split into groups of 3 and were soon at Little Almscliffe. Then it was a pleasant ride to Timble, with a couple of hills to challenge us. We carefully negotiated the slope to the A59 at Blubberhouses and set off for the main challenge of Hardisty hill. At the top the verdict was very much, ‘Not as bad as I’d thought’. We discussed café stops, but at this point the easterly wind felt stronger and cold. So, I suggested we go to Sophie’s rather than Darley so that we could be inside out of the chill. That turned out to be wishful thinking!  We enjoyed the ride through Thornthwaite and Darley to Hampsthwaite, despite it being just as blowy lower down. So ready for the warmth, we got to Sophie’s [where Peter and Charlie departed]. Oh no, it was busy! However, it was suggested we sit outside in the gazebo where there was a fire. We concurred with this suggestion and huddled outside. The fire ‘toasted’ Al while the rest of us gradually got colder. All the same, we enjoyed the wide-ranging chat. Once refuelled we split up – Tim and Vince to extend their ride to Bishop Thornton, Liz to return via the Greenway and the remaining 4 of us to come back via Knox. All in all, a good ride for a chilly day. Alison N