Short Ride
Seventeen takers split into 2 groups. Short pep-talk about ride discipline, leaving a gap for cars to overtake, etc. Route discussed, but I didn’t make the coffee-stop clear. I took the first group with Sue Threadgold back-marking. Paul B took the second group and I can’t remember who kindly volunteered to back-mark. Knaresborough along Bilton Lane, and the Beryl Burton. Along the riverside and then to Farnham, Occaney and Copgrove and along the bridle path towards Roecliffe (some riders had not ridden this before). Paul B’s group reached the Hidden Corner before we did, as he did not go along the riverside in Knaresborough. Service slow. When leaving the Hidden Corner, Freddy’s tyres needed inflating, and his pump was ‘knackered’ (this led to a bit of English language education for Freddy…) Diane to the rescue with her clever small electric pump. Learning point: check you tyres before a Wheel Easy ride.
Back through Aldborough, Grafton and Marton (Sue Threadgold correctly commented on our riding, mentioning some areas for improvement.) Diane left us at the A168 and we turned right over the A1 to Arkendale and Ferrensby, where we came across Gordon and Alison (members from way-back-when). Sandy Bank and back up Knaresborough Hill, where people went their separate ways home.
About 29 miles. Joe
Red Kite in action
Medium Steady Ride
We had a perfect group size of eight for today’s Medium Steady Ride. Comprising of Dave,Rob,Rachel, Gordon, Sam, Peter, David & myself.
We headed out on Leadhall, through Burn/B and up Walton head into Kirby/O. The pace was more brisk than steady but as I looked in my mirror, everyone was right on my tail, all together, I slowed slightly as we crossed towards Wetherby but got overtaken and the pace went back to brisk, the group seemed determined to keep the pace above 15mph to stop me using any assist! Dave left us for home in Wetherby as he’d ridden in with Dianne, so earned his home made coffee stop. The group’s GPS machines were beeping like crazy as they had loaded the original route not the modified one to get us a coffee stop in the right location.
We stopped at the crossing near Cattal and saw two trains and a nice man in Orange for a chat, we got to our coffee stop in Kirk Hammerton and Michele had a table waiting for us right next to all the cakes and goodies! (I’d phoned her last night, Gia’s tip). Refreshed and rested after some great food we dragged our cafe legs back towards Whixley and downhill to another train crossing, but this time Peter only just made it across as the train driver sounded this horn! Walshford, then Little Ribston, where Peter peeled off for home, onto Spofforth and Follifoot and down to Crimple beck where Rob got a puncture but was turning off for home after he pumped it up, unfortunately I was too far in front to assist with my tiny electric pump, but seconds later I had a rear puncture, so got to use my pump anyway!
The remaining group said their goodbyes and we all headed for home.
It was a really good ride today, with more of a brisk pace feel to it but the group was so tight with us virtually never having to wait for people to catch up, so a big thank you for making my leading easier, great group to ride with, I had 37.7 miles 2009ft. Mike W/H
Extra Medium Ride
As Paul had just had a week off the bike on holiday and therefore wanted some hills, an extra medium ride was offered at the Showground today. Thruscross in Reverse (soon to be added to the WE route library).
There were six takers, Gia, James, Paul, Alison, Corinne and Debby. We set off up Pennypot, down to Hampsthwaite and into the Kettlesing lanes, past Menwith and after a short flapjack break we carried on down My Love Lane and along through Padside, up to Braithwaite Lane and down to West End. We crossed a very low Thruscross Reservoir and returned to Hampsthwaite via Thornthwaite and Clapham Green.
It was very cold, only 9 degrees with a strong head wind on the outward leg and then suddenly the weather changed at the Stone House Pub crossroads and warmed up considerably, my Garmin recorded a max of 19 degrees! We had a lovely and very helpful tailwind most of the way to Sophie’s. 36 miles and 3400 ft of ascent – worth it for the wonderful Yorkshire views. DH
Medium Plus – Steady
The steady group of 3 riders: Yvonne, Zilpha and I opted for a slower paced ride but did manage a decent pace throughout. Similarly to the ‘brisk group’ we also chose to take the 212 reverse route, as recommended, and tackle the hills before lunch. We took a direct route out to the Greenway, then Ripley and Scarah Bank, only to be passed at the top by the second of the brisk group (?). We continued the route, avoiding the Strava section Heil Hedgehog, passed Fountains Abbey – the Hall looking glorious in the sunshine, across the Ripon road and down Fountains Gate, through Winksley, Kirkby Malzeard and up the steep hill after the sharp right. We crossed the Ure at West Tanfield and on to the cafe stop at Thorp Perrow.
The brisker groups had already arrived at Thorp Perrow Arboretum, which meant a bit of a queue for lunch, but certainly aided ‘leaving a gap between groups’.
The return journey was through Snape and Catherine Parr’s house (she wasn’t in), Hutton Conyers, Ripon, Bishop Monkton. At this point Zilpha peeled off for Hampsthwaite, with Yvonne and I making our way back through Knaresborough and up the hill to Harrogate. Strava recorded around 54 miles and 2,900 ft of climbing. The weather was beautiful in the sunshine, but there was a chill in the air when cloudy. Richard
Medium Plus – Brisk
Twelve riders were tempted by route 212 which we ended up riding in reverse to get the hills out of the way. We split into two groups. So, Scarah Bank, Aldfield,Winksley, Kirby Malzeard then left towards West Tanfield on very pleasant lanes. There was some discussion about a change of coffee stop but we stuck with Thorp Perrow. We waited ages to be served but the coffee and home made cakes were good. Onward towards Snape and beyond where we practised group riding- chain gang style. The sun was shining and it was a great ride, although I did ‘chug’ a bit up Knaresborough Hill. 56 miles for me- Janet G
