Short Ride

It was a reasonable turn out on a cold but sunny morning at the showground.

We had 8 regulars choose the short gentle ride out to Boroughbridge. After requests for not going out through Starbeck on the main road, we changed the route twice and set off in two groups of 4 with Paul kindly back marking. 

We went past Fodder and through Stonefall park to Low Bridge, out along Abbey Road and settled into a steady pace towards Farnham whilst still being able to chat and catch up. 

At the pull in after the Farnham hill, Jill had us doing the EG’s freewheel challenge to see if we could make it over the small hump in the descent (which none of us could), then swiftly through Staveley and Minskip and into a warm Hideaway where we were joined by Kevin, so the 9 of us just fit around the upper boardroom table. 

Thankfully other cyclists were already inside and we decided that we didn’t really need to lock our bikes as we put them against a very expensive unlocked bike with £2000 Hunt wheels that would definitely get stolen before any of ours! (But we did lock our bikes)!

I was tempted to ask the seated cyclists if any of them owned the white £12,000 bike with no wheels? (But thought better of it).

The staff we very attentive and we were all served swiftly, and covered various topics over our coffee stop.

Todays group consisted of Joe, Geraldine, Peter, Barbara, Paul, Jill, David, Kevin and myself.

We exited refreshed and headed right on the quite roads towards Marton cum Grafton, with Barbara setting the pace as she had to back for wine tasting, then Peter left us to extend his mileage, our pace was probably more medium steady pace, we had a good balance of 4 elect assist and 4 leg power bikes and we didn’t have too much waiting or stopping, (apart from on the bridge over the A1, where Paul and Joe needed to watch the final moments of an eBay sale).

Given the cold weather we passed Knarsborough and up the side of the golf club in good spirits, David left us here as we turned down Boggs lane to explore the new bike path through the Kingsley estate, Jill left us here, then we went as far as the great big green wooden wall that stops you getting through and just went onto Clara road, we all separated as we crossed the stray, then 7 mins later after going different ways Paul and I were back together briefly!

It was a very pleasant ride with an enjoyable group of riders on a cold but dry early winters day.

I clocked up 35.9miles 2037ft, so for most of the group with our modified route it was probably about 26/27miles. Mike W 

Medium Steady

It was an “Alpine” morning, dry and crisp, blue sky, sunshine and freezing cold. We divided into two groups and six of us followed Tim on a convoluted route out of Harrogate – don’t ask me to describe it. The Six were Monica W, Sally C, Liz P, Mike W, John C and Me and we were on Route 226, (The Tim Rhodes Variant).

We didn’t really warm up until Birstwith by which time we were all peckish and wondering about a snack so Tim took the unopposed decision to make a 100 yard detour to Mackenzie’s Farm Shop and Cafe on Hardisty Hill and hope they could accommodate us. They could! In fact they were more than welcoming and efficient, instantly moving tables together and cheerfully producing everything we could possibly want pretty speedily.

The temperature had noticeably dropped as we ventured out again, along with the sun and there was a bit of that drizzle substance in the air that was promising to turn into sleet and snow later in the day. However, we had the highlight of the day to look forward to, namely The Fairy Bridge, which, according to Tim, is a rare example of its type in the country. We didn’t encounter a single fairly but managed to do a passable imitation thereof (see picture).

We kept going, to keep warm and returned via Thornthwaite, Dacre and Darley before the last familiar lap via Clint, Ripley and the Greenway. Only two mentions in dispatches today (1) John C for quietly and diligently back marking, all day long, without losing anybody and (2) our Great Leader, Tim for considerate and professional leadership, start to finish. Nobody ended up in tears and we only annoyed one horse. Actually, the horse was quite reasonable and just said “after you, I don’t like flashing lights”.

A great winter ride in the usual cheerful, encouraging company. Helen T

Medium Steady Group Two

Six of us set off on Tim R’s route, found our own way out of Harrogate to Pennypot where Victoria feeling the effects of yesterday’s Park Run called it a day. Come back next week!
We then made our way through the lanes to Moorcock Lane where we met a faster group and Tim’s group and a horse.
After the photo as the temperature dropped we decided to head to Sophie’s for a warm stop.
Home after about 28 miles, good ride along the quiet lanes of Hampsthwaite, Birstwith and Darley.
Gia

Medium Plus Brisk

2 groups set off for Ilkley via a Norwood Edge cautious descent and converged at Out of the Box for lovely scones, toasted teacakes and posh bacon sandwich without the bacon. After the café the Cow and Calf climb was rather wet, and the prescribed route was abandoned due to a road closure. We all descended into Burley and followed the A65 into Otley, then back to Pool and returned via Castley, Dunkeswick and Kirkby Overblow. 46 Miles, 3400 ft ascent. Julie E