Sunday 4th June

Short Ride

Six for the short ride on a day when it did not warm up but a visit to the Great Wall of Clint, a good café stop at Sophie’s and good company made for a very good morning out on the bikes. Some decent climbs and just over 20 miles. Gia

Medium Steady Ride

Six of us headed off from the showground heading for Boston Spa just as some inter-galactic visitors were arriving (presumably for the Comic Con convention rather than the cycling). What promised to be a warm sunny day soon turned a bit overcast, but nonetheless proved to be an excellent day’s cycling. Quiet and relatively flat country roads soon took us to Wetherby where we picked up the cycle path to Thorp Arch estate, but we decided to push on to Boston Spa for coffee. Suitably refreshed David headed off homeward whilst Monica, Fiona, John, Andy and Doug headed for Bramham where the hills picked up a bit, but nothing overly strenuous. More quiet lanes through rolling hills took us eventually to a short stretch of the A61 and on to Burn Bridge where the remaining five split up leaving me to return to the showground. Thanks to all for an enjoyable day’s cycling. Doug H

Medium Plus Steady Ride

The promised warm sunny day started well as 11 of us left the Showground and collected Yvonne on Leadhall Lane to make 12. However the sun soon disappeared and it turned cooler, but it was dry and a good day to be out. Although we all managed to stay together until Wetherby the combination of a mechanical for Alison and the creation of a fast group caused a split and Yvonne took on the faster men at their own game, whilst the remaining five (Liz P, Alison, Margaret, John C and myself) who by coincidence, happened to be E-Assisted had a more leisurely tour and faired better at The Grange in Askham Richard. (See notes from Yvonne below). A short break for a snack and drink was taken at Acaster Malbis much to Margaret’s dismay as she had struggled in the previous few miles to extract and eat on the hoof (or the wheel) a bar from her back pocket. As we were a bit later than others at The Grange we seemed to do better and although there was a bit of a wait we did find a table and were served within a reasonable time and nobody was in a hurry anyway. Having said hello to Diane Scott-Dickenson who was there in a disguise of non-cycling clothes we headed for home, splitting again at Little Ribston to allow me to return direct to Knaresborough.

From Yvonne’s group:  At Askham Richard we met the brisk group going the opposite way who looked like they’d given up; when we arrived, the Otley CC group said they’d been waiting an hour and still had nothing, another couple said it took half an hour to order, so we had what we’d brought outside and cracked on !  We were lucky enough to see a beautiful barn owl in flight on the Airfield Road as we headed towards Acaster Malbis !  Tim & I hung back to try to photograph it when it landed and then it took off again, though the photos are a little blurred.  Glynn turned left by Long Marston, the lady with the seriously heavy electric bike left us at the Cattal crossroads, then the remaining 5 turned up a gear as it was getting chilly.  Peter & David W headed back via Knaresborough whilst Dave S, Tim 2 & I followed the route back to the Showground to mingle with the Comic Conference. 

A good day out in the usual great company and conversation and according to Yvonne’s clever little machine approx 55 miles and 1971 feet of ascent.  James G.

Medium Plus Brisk Splinter Faction

 A splinter group of Andy, T1, Vince & T3 chose to divert away from the calendar as (once again) the forecast promised a delightful day that would be ideal for going up a hill. Off to Clint, Burnt Yates & Brimham Rocks Road to take us to Willsill, Pateley & Lofthouse. It was sunny but chilly; nevertheless the forecast “promised” that it would warm up ……… but it didn’t. This was ideal for the climb up Trapping Hill under 100% cloud but gilets were donned at the top for the rather nippy downhill section to Masham. Against all the odds we immediately secured a table inside at Johnny Baghdad’s & consumed a fair amount of tea, coffee, sarnies & cake – but no ginger beer. Back via Grewelthorpe & Watergate Lane where some beauties came over to see us. 56 miles. Tall Tim.