Short Gentle
A group of five opted to join me for the short ride to Leathley and Almscliffe Crag this morning – Kevin D, Jackie, Aneta, Russell and Leighton. It was an atmospheric, autumnal morning and was very pleasant to cycle the peaceful lanes beyond Burn Bridge. As it was coming up to 11am we approached the Parish church at Leathley and we felt this was a very appropriate place to park our bikes and observe the two minutes silence for Remembrance Sunday.
Aneta was very keen to get to the cafe after that – we rode quickly onto Leathley Farm shop which was very busy. Luckily we were a small group and the service is efficient there. We found more peaceful lanes around Castley and then crossed over the road and followed the road up to Almscliffe Crag. By that time some sunshine was appearing and so our ride ended with a beautiful afternoon. Monica W.
Medium Steady
Today’s medium steady ride had 11 turn up for it, I took a group of 5 consisting of James, Gordon, Mike W, Andy and myself and Steve kindly led a group of 6 just behind us.
I was carefully trying to get us to the Upper Dunsford war memorial for 11am, as I had thought Boroughbridge Cenotaph was probably just out of reach at a steady pace as the villages quickly went past and we arrived at 10.47am, and didn’t want to get cold standing for 15 mins, so as we moved onward, I carefully realised that if we increased our pace we could just cover the 4.1 miles in time for 11am and as I increased the pace the group also seemed to sense what was occurring, as we pulled up behind the large crowd around the Cenotaph just as the bugle started and so we got to pay our respects properly, as opposed to stopping at the side of the road.
James had gone in and got us the board room table up the stairs at hideaway, as it quickly filled up with the crowds from the cenotaph, our other group just managed to get tables also before the place was heaving and people standing in the passages.
Refreshed and fed, we left prematurely as Easingwold cycling club asked if they could have our table, as they had an even bigger group than both ours and no seats.
Quickly out through Roecliffe and through the road works in Bishop Monkton, with both Andy and Gordon keeping our already good pace high, left at Farnham crossroads and home through Scriven before we said goodbye to James and then at the golf club Gordon and Andy left us, leaving two Mike W’s to head for their homes.
I very swift group today with the usual good banter, and a very enjoyable ride. I had 42.1miles. Mike W/H
Plus Steady
Misty morning at the Showground found three cyclists happy to go the distance today and climb every hill before them. So it was that Peter L, John C & I headed off towards Ilkley but having reached Bland Hill we did not turn to Timble but instead headed south up Lower Norwood Road. I stopped for the first time on the bridge at Lindley Reservoir to watch the River Washburn flowing in and the Canada geese on a flight stopover; we’d earlier seen fields full of Greylag geese on Broad Dubb Road. We fairly flew down to Farnley, through Otley up towards Askwith but as we couldn’t stop on a hill, we held a respectful Remembrance Sunday silence at Weston. Onward to Ilkley, dismayed to see flytipping along Low Park & Denton Rd. Pause-café was at the warm Out of the Box with good choice and nice staff. Fueled up, we climbed steadily up to the Cow and Calf, but the views over the Wharfe Valley were still shrouded in mist, though we agreed there is indeed a fine beauty in bleakness to appreciate. Helter skelter through Burley Woodhead and Menston and the slog up to Chevin Ridge before the glorious descent into Bramhope. Peter left us after Pool Bridge to head back up to Norwood in the hope of finding the handkerchief dropped on the way down… did he retrieve it? John & I continued through Castley up Wescoe Hill then over to Kirkby Overcome after admiring the Highland cattle. We eschewed the route to the Showground in favour of Drury Lane and Pannal to climb back into Harrogate. Terrific calm ride through an autumnal palette in lovely company. 48 miles and 4,100 ft. Yvonne
Plus Brisk
Not the official route – having visited Ilkley last week there was a general view to go in another direction – and with the knowledge that it was likely to be a Jojo day (Jackets on jackets off) we set off for Pateley via Hampsthwaite & Brimham Rocks Road. Arriving at the back road between Glasshouses & Bewerley we undertook our own minute of remembrance. And then for reasons that remain unknown we all turned up Peat Lane – the S bend was as bad as last time (perhaps worse) but then a hard slog up to Toft Gate Farm Barn café. Down into Pateley, up Blazefield, with the sun coming out to play as Sam, Ian, Andy, Rachel, Vince, Tim R. & Tim L. crossed Dallow Moor and onto Grantley, Sawley & finally crawling up Hebden Bank. 3,950 feet of climb & 43 miles travelled. Tim L
