Short Ride
Unfortunately Sarah was poorly and unable to lead the ride, hope you are well now Sarah. Tony, Paul, Layton, Linda, Jackie? Gilly? and myself had a super ride round Burn Bridge / Kirkby Overblow / Sicklinghall – through Stockeld park / Spofforth, Little Ribston and Knarsborough to the cafe near the river and campsite. Diane Scott-Dickinson
Medium Steady
Weather was doubtful this morning and the forecast not very promising. Despite that eight members were up for a ride to Pateley via Brimham. Martin, James, Monica, Alison, Sally, Margaret and Nicci joined me on what turned out to be perfect cycling weather. Once past a fairly busy Greenway and into Ripley then Scarah Bank beckoned for the first climb of the day. Once that was behind us, we made good progress to Brimham. Martin left us here as Nicci discovered a soft rear tyre. We took a chance and inflated the tyre as it didn’t seem to be losing air once pumped up. The swoop down to Smelthouses and Glasshouses was fab. Sun was out and coffee was calling us. Down to Wildings which wasn’t particularly busy whereas Pateley was.. James checked out Nicci’s tyre. All seemed good. Bit more air just to be on the safe side. Refreshed we returned via Glasshouse and on to Summerbridge. Climb up Dacre Banks before Birstwith, Clint Bank and Ripley and home. Great ride. Weather was spot on and the company great as ever. Thank you. 42 miles home to home. Around 2500ft of climbing. Colin B
Medium Plus Brisk
There were 8 riders for the Coxwold ride today. In true ‘Brisk group’ fashion we did nothing like the published route! Out via Knaresborough / Ferrensby, taking the quickest way to Aldwark bridge, Alne and Easingwold. Here we took the Husthwaite road to Coxwold. The view of the White Horse was more like the Grey horse but it’s a lovely route into Coxwold. Orange and Cranberry scones and date slices were delicious plus the sun was shining! Return route was via Thornton Bridge, Boroughbridge and Knaresborough hill, where we said our goodbyes. Fabulous ride, good pace, good company- super day out. 51 miles Janet G
Long Ride
An unpromising weather forecast put off all but two riders for the long ride to Richmond, but Peter Lawley and I set off undeterred but with fingers firmly crossed.
A light southerly breeze helped on the way to Bedale, where we had a brief pit stop before carrying on through Catterick Garrison to Richmond. For a while, going east, it was plain sailing, but turning south at Scorton the reality of fifty miles into the freshening wind hit home, so we put off the inevitable by stopping for lunch at Lakeside at Ellerton.
At Great Langton we turned onto a new road for both of us, which we followed for three miles or so to Ainderby Steeple, while only seeing one solitary car. Then onwards via Warlaby, Newby Wiske, Kirby Wiske, Thirsk, Dalton, Sessay and Thornton Bridge, before our luck finally ran out on the way to Milby when we ran into a heavy shower. Thankfully, that was the last of it.
We parted ways in Knaresborough, each aiming to add on enough to round out to 100 miles, and just about made it home before the thunderstorm.
The last long ride this year will be on 27 September to Pocklington, about as flat a ride as it is possible to do in Yorkshire. RL
