Short Ride
Nobut a dozen or so turned up in the rain to hear a rudimentary and definitely non-waffling (qv G Margolis) Announcement from yours truly. Five chose the short ride with a sixth (the sensible one) opting to go straight back home. The rest went somewhere else led, I think, by Steve B.
Our plan was to head direct for sanctuary at a café in Knaresborough and await events. After half an hour of coffee and blether we stuck our heads back outside to find that things were much better. Notwithstanding, Joe and Geraldine decided to head for home, the latter in fear of detention lest she fail to complete her French homework.
So, Los Tres Pablos set off on the ordained route to Goldsborough, Arkendale and then on to Farnham where Paul T left to go home via Scotton, etc.
So that left the two of us, me and Postman Paul to finish this 22-miler.
Photo credit: Paul T Paul B
Medium Plus Ride
Not a massive turnout this morning strangely enough and those that did venture out were already a bit soggy by the time announcements were swiftly made under the partial shelter of the squash club balcony. Four of us decided against Dallowgill and opted for the medium ride with the hope that the forecasters were right that things could only get better ( and drier!). So, Yvonne, Tim, Roger and myself made swift progress to Knaresborough where we had an amusing interaction with a jogger who could not hear our bells or shouts and just kept repeating his mantra of ” you need to get a bell”. Despite his best efforts we all managed to avoid a collision! On to Arkendale and then Marton and a new lake to negotiate and then the pace increased as we made a dash for refreshments at the much expanded Tancred farm shop, by now the rain had ceased and the sun was visible now and again. Good service and the bonus of drying various bits of kit around the log burner. Off to Whixley and then the back lane to Walshford via the railway crossing, by now the wind was picking up and we had to work a little harder from time to time as we went through Spofforth and Follifoot and back to the showground where I turned right at Fodder to avoid the last hill up to the squash club. So as they say:- it turned out nice again! Thanks for the great company and thanks to Yvonne for the artwork, 34 miles for me but I think my Garmin was lying about the total ascent of 1200ft, who knows? Steve B.
Medium Plus Brisk
Not many at The Showground this morning. Just a stab in the dark but it might have been the rain. Paul’s announcing was a little eccentric but this was mainly due to the fact that his paper list of rides was wet & soggy. With news of localised flooding around Wetherby & the Deightons and the promise of better weather Tim Rhodes and Tall Tim set off up the Greenway. These two titans of the North Yorkshire cycling scene soon found evidence of yesterday’s heavy rain on the way from Ripley to Clint & kept a keen eye on the state of the roads thereafter. Up to Brimham Rocks & Fellbeck – little to no rain now but the north wind (9 m.p.h. – I don’t think so) was blowing & Dallowgill was not looking inviting. Instead we turned right and after a side battering we arrived at G&Ts. Tea & cake and from there it was a simple trip back via Aldfield, Fountains & Scarah Bank. Plenty of smiles as Tim Rhodes practiced his “feet up through water” cycling technique. 32 miles with drying roads on the way home. Tall Tim
