Medium Brisk Ride
The early morning rain didn’t detour members turning up perhaps because it was forecast to become sunny at about 10 am and for the time of the year it was positively warm (10C).
Six of us set off in this Group and by the time we were going up Scarah Bank the rain had stopped.
We rode into Markington then up Westerns Lane towards Fountains and onto Sawley and Grantley,
The sun came out before we got to Dallowgill Moor which was an ideal photo opportunity.
At the bottom of Silver Hill Zoe and Rachel opted to go to The Pancake House in Pateley for refreshments and would meet up with us after we’d done another diversion devised by T4 which meant we had yet another hill to negotiate. This turned out to be quite delightful and was a first for Mark, Vince and myself. The route took us up the tarmacadamed section of The Nidderdale Way, turning off opposite Gouthwaite Reservoir and going up to Heathfield. Great views over the reservoir.
After large helpings at The Pancake House, it was time to return home. Zoe thought her maple syrup and bacon sandwich was the best she’d had and T4 enjoyed his apple pancake topped with cream and ice cream! The girls opted for the easier route back via Fellbeck or was it via Smelthouses, whilst the boys took on the challenge of 2 Stoops and then along the lanes around Thornthwaite and back via Hampsthwaite and Knox.
I thought it was a hard ride with lots of hills but with fantastic views once the rain had stopped. I made it nearly 48 miles with 4,150ft of climbing! Thanks everyone.
Tim R
Short Gentle Ride
On a rainy 1st of December with a hangover I put my bike into the boot to avoid being soaked before the start and drove to the show-ground.
I found, probably more people out than I expected as we sheltered from the rain under the trees and as 4 people had turned up for the short ride I was committed to lead.
We had Diane and Dave and a spare Dave in case I lost the first one with a new rider to the club, Vicky.
After a brief chat about the ride, we weaved our way up towards Ashville College on cycle paths and quiet roads before turning into the countryside towards Beckwithshaw. We re-grouped just before the roundabout and then made our way on what seemed like a longer than usual Pennypot Ln, before turning right towards the potentially hazardous crossing of the A59, where we then stopped in the glorious sunshine for a photo and brief chat, before enjoying the lovely downhill with undulating lovely quite country lanes through Kettlesing, Tang and onto Clapham green, before we sped downhill into Sophie’s at Hampthwaite, when we got the last table for the 5 of us.
Refreshed we climbed Clint bank and down Hollybank Lane into the woods climb, where my rear drive issue of Wednesday re-appeared and I lost all drive, with my pedals just spinning, I ran through the woods uphill bits and freewheeled the downhill bits to keep up with the group.
At Ripley I apologised to the group, as Dave 2 headed back to Jennyfields through Killinghall and Diane and Dave 1 kindly escorted Vicky back to the showground, as I sat down on Stuart Gray’s memorial bench outside the Ripley store to await Virgil to arrive in Thunderbird 2 to rescue me!
I waved at Alison’s group as they passed by on their way home.
What a strange day, at 9am, Rachel and I questioned going out into the driving rain as we loaded our bikes into our cars, and at the start it also looked and felt miserable, but as we crossed the moors near Kettlesing and enjoyed the quite country lanes in the sunshine, it made the effort all worthwhile.
It was a lovely group to cycle with and I hope Vicky hasn’t been put off, as she had thought a short ride would be 5-10 miles and surprised herself that she could do 22 miles, it was a very supportive and inclusive group and an enjoyable 22 miles with 1437ft assent.
Mike W
Medium Steady Ride
Despite heavy rain, 7 of us had faith in the Met’s forecast. Sure enough, just after 10.00am, we spotted a glimpse of blue sky! For the rest of the ride we enjoyed sunshine, blue sky, and a real variety of clouds. We ended up following an ad hoc route rather than the designated route with a view to calling to into Tates. We followed damp, muddy roads through Bishop Monkton, Littlethorpe and Ripon to arrive at a very busy Tates. Of course, it was December 1st and families were milling around hoping to select the perfect tree! Liz F., was delighted to see Santa and is no doubt pondering on her ‘Santa letter’. After our cafe break, 6 of us chose to make our way home via Studley Royal, Markington, Ripley and Harrogate. James retraced our route to Knaresborough .Thanks to Yvonne and Corinne for photos and to everyone for their company on our first ride of winter. 32 miles and 17,00 feet of climbing. Alison
