Sunday 27th August
Short Ride
Lovely company…Sue, Sarah, Monica, Dennis, Paul, me and Jean..who kindly let herself be persuaded to lead a ride to the Greenway at Killinghall bridge via Knaresbro’, Farnham, Occany, Bishop Monkton, Markington, Ripley. Well… a lovely day for bike ride…perfect in fact not too warm, not snowing or foggy, not windy…UNTIL it rained, then poured then bucketted then bouncedvstair rodded all over us at Occany,then at Markington and somewhere between the two, then at Ripley then along the Greenway.
At Ripley Jean brilliantly found seats in the other cafe, whilst weedy Monica and pathetic I, had already stripped off in the old cafe…(obviously to everyone’s horror) and were hugging a jug of hot milk and a large pot of water which made excellent hot water bottles. Anyway after another rain soaked dash down the green way I for one felt back to normal with a smug smirky smile of self satisfaction on my face, after a hot bath and a gallon glassful of Bailey. THANK YOU ALL INVOLVED.C.G .
Medium Ride
We didn’t have a ride leader so we all mucked in and got around somehow. Like James’s group we swapped around a bit so we numbered about seven.
Route 256 took us past Brimham to Dallowgill Moor and to G&T’s with fabulous views and big skies. I started early and finished early so managed to stay dry. From James report it looks as though everyone else got a soaking. I told you it would rain!
I can’t help thinking how lucky we are to live near to such fabulous scenery and how lucky we are to be in Wheel Easy so we can enjoy it with a great group of people.
37.2 miles with 887 metres of ascent. Steve W
Having split the Medium Self Led Ride into two groups I set off with nine and ended with just three, with some returning early at various points and others defecting to the other group. We got slightly damp over the moor but enjoyed coffee and eats outside at G & T’s which was the nearest we got to a photo of both groups, but then opted to a slightly more direct return through Sawley and got a through and prolonged soaking all the way home from the Drovers.None the less we had a good day out in good company with some lovely views when the sun came out. James G
Medium-plus Ride
A nice even number of six opted for a jaunt round the Langbar Loop today, namely, Peter B, Andy (who was the youngest by a considerable margin), Steve B, John C, Monica and Me. We did have some bale out options in case the forecast rain and thunderstorms put in an appearance but set off in an optimistic frame of mind.
There was a hint of chilly drizzle on the way out to Fewston, interspersed with warm dazzling sunshine and all that dampened our spirits was the fact that the toilets at the car park were shut. Still, nobody minds springing over a fence now and again and getting their bottom nettled! Continuing towards Otley the weather simply improved and all we could see were emerald fields and purple heather moors so we had run out of excuses to avoid the Langbar Loop and, anyway, who wants to head straight to the café in Ilkley when you can spend 40 minutes of your life cycling continuously uphill? There is of course, eventually, a very pleasant descent into Ilkley and the Station Café. The service was, as usual, super efficient and friendly with excellent food.
The return route to Harrogate is just about the hilliest on the menu but also the most attractive and all the chatter and laughter takes your mind off some of the pain. I must mention Andy (the young person) in despatches for his patience and good humour in putting up with all us old people. We were having a right good rant about, well, pretty well everything – and really enjoying it!
The day did have the slight feel of being the last ride of summer but as I am heading up to the Scottish Borders next week, I am rather hoping for an Indian Summer. See you all in September. Helen
Long Ride
I don’t THINK Richard Leake regretted agreeing to join me on the Long Ride this week, but I’ll have to check. The two of us had a lovely sunny quiet 40 mile ride out to Osmotherley with a coffee stop in Thirsk. Apart from a two mile stretch north of Thirsk, the roads were all through quiet traffic free roads and villages enjoying Bank Holiday weekend sunshine. The climb up to the Chequers onto the North York Moors didn’t seem as steep as it does sometimes the garden wall on the left half way up has STILL not been completed – it has been in progress for years. The smell from the Heather moors was simply heavenly and the dark, bright purple stretched for miles and miles. The rolling road to Hawnby was so quiet – fewer than ten cars passed us in the ten or so miles.
We stopped at the ‘unique’ Hawnby cafe – such a lovely place. First in hot sunshine in the garden then inside sheltering from a brief shower. the climb of Marton Bank was testing as usual , although Richard assured me it hardly reached 20% let alone the 25% shown on the sign ! At the top of Boltby Bank we donned rain jackets as there was clearly a shower or two in prospect . WELL !!!!! it absolutely poured down for the next 20 miles. The roads all the way to Boroughbridge via Felixkirk, Sowerby, Dalton, Topcliffe, Asenby, Cundall and Norton Le Clay were literally a ribbon of lakes. Many times we and motorists had to join the other carriageway or just ford through the side to side ponds. Despite registering 10 degree temperatures we kept up a warming pace. Richard had arranged a pick up at Boroughbridge. I carried on and by Staveley the roads were dry and an evening sun came out all the way home. Unbelievably different from a mere 5 miles east.
Route 242 did not disappoint . It is a long one, but over less travelled roads it makes an excellent day out. With a few shortcuts it could be under 80 miles without losing interest. I did 85 of the 88 advertised and enjoyed every minute. PS I think Richard did too. Peter L
