Medium Plus Steady Ride

What a deluge !  Not the number of people clamouring for a Medium Plus ride but the downpour which we four riders endured while sheltering under an oak tree in Otley at 2.30 later that day.   Yvonne, Richard and I headed through Beckwithshaw to be  joined by Jan – a visitor to Harrogate, on her electric bike.  A seasoned rider, she wisely brought a spare battery and needed it !    

A warm and pleasant southerly breeze assisted us on the continuous climbs to Greenhow and then along the rolling ridgeway to Grassington, which was busy but without many children and families who may have been recovering from the return to school week.  Rain was forecast from 13.00 but held off for another hour while we used the quiet roads through Hebden, Hartington and Appletrewick before crossing the Wharfe at Cavendish Pavilion ( being good and walking across the bridge and recalling how it had been closed to cyclists specifically to prevent the spread of Covid – what a stupid idea !).

The rain finally began just before Denton when we donned waterproofs and sheltered for the first time.  As it eased we pressed on to Otley and just as we entered the ‘burbs the lightening and thunder were overhead and the rain was like a power shower, so we sheltered again.  Richard’s suggestion was to re-route to get home ASAP, so we abandoned the Leathley return and headed to Pool and Kirby Overblow.   Rather unnoticed the rain eased to nothing before Pool and little by little we dried out.  Yvonne departed at Drury Lane while we three headed to Rudding Park and split at Wetherby Road. 

62 miles and 4,500 feet.  A nicer ride without heavy rain, but it’s not often you have a helping wind up Duck Street so always look for the silver lining

Peter L

Short Ride

A dozen of us set off soon to be joined at Bilton Lane by new lad Frankie on a new bike.
Route 4R took us to Ripley via Lingerfield, Scotton and Nidd. At some point we were holding up a queue of traffic, unbeknownst to the leader, who only heard ‘car back’.  However, Kevin shouted that there were in fact several cars so we pulled in to let them past. Maybe in future similar circumstances we could adopt the shout ‘many cars back’?
Coffee in Ripley (after we’d recovered the lost Frankie) then back via our beloved Greenway.
Many thanks to Mrs G for excellent back marking as usual.
About 20 dry miles.
Paul B

Medium Steady Ride

Initially, six of us set of from the Show Ground heading for the Greenway.  At the Bilton Crossing we picked up two more riders. Also, there was a newbie cyclist waiting for the Short Ride.  This resulted in a discussion about the route of the Short Ride, but it was resolved when the Short Ride appeared.  There followed a fairly uneventful ride as per the published route (Route 255).  There was a small alteration to the route through Copt Hewick where we opted for Back Lane.  There was a small incident when a pair of riders overshot the turning to Kirkby Hill, easily rectified.  Refreshments were taken at Hideaway Kitchen in Boroughbridge, and we were able to eat outside.  Despite some dodgy overtaking by some drivers, a pleasant and rain free ride.    PCJ