Wednesday 16th August

Short Ride

Perfect cycling weather accompanied four cyclists (Paul, Chris, Chris & myself) on a pleasant ride out to Fewston via Little Almscliffe & back up Penny Pot Lane before turning to hit the top end of Hampsthwaite & back via Knox. The sun stayed out for us during a coffee stop at Fewston farm shop which offered enormous servings of cake, but we all resisted the temptation. A leisurely pace homewards in time for lunch for all & the football for Paul. Thank you all for your company. Diane W

Wanderers’ Group 1

No formal ride leader or route this morning but Tim and Mike got their heads together to come up with a great ride. Breaking into two groups Mike led the second team of which I formed apart. Seven of us departed for Low Bridge. Liz F had a  front deraillear jam at the end of Abbey Road with her chain stuck between chainwheels. The team of Karen Liz and myself threatened it with violence and it realized the error of its way and sorted itself out.

We then had to chase down the leading part of the team which we did by the Farnham turn. Into Staveley where Mike shot ahead to take group photo as we arrived. On to Minskip Boroughbridge and across to Skelton and Ripon. Tates for lunch where the quicker group had just ordered. Discussion with Tim and it was decided on Deer Park Markington and home. Lovely ride in pretty ideal conditions. Thanks to all. Just short of 35 miles home to home for me. Colin B

 

Wednesday Ride

The group split into two at the start of the morning, six non electric bikes leading out the group. Tim was group leader and was followed by Steve, Collette, Chris, Sarah and Richard.

The route took us out through Harrogate to Knaresborough, along Abbey Road and the river. Away toward Boroughbridge, through Farnham and on toward Staveley. At the first stop it was noted that Tim was leading at a constant 18mph. Collette joked that it was just a warm up and Tim took the bait, raising the next section’s speed to 20mph!

Through Boroughbridge and on toward Newby Hall. There were lots of groups of cyclist out today!

At Ripon we mixed it with the city traffic but it was an elderly lady, with shopping trolley that caused the first near miss. Everyone safe, we made it to a well earned sit down at Tate’s.

Refreshed, the group continued to Studley Deer Park, Fountains Abbey, Markington and the drovers.

Heading back now, top speed was achieved down Scarah Bank was 40.5mph but we were overtaken by a peloton of Nova riders!

Great ride, great weather and great company. 36 miles and plenty of chat! Richard A

 

Away Day

We had a slightly delayed start as Bianchi Bob had been caught in a vehicular kerfuffle on Sutton Bank so, when the dust had settled after the departure of groups 1 and 2, there remained Monica, Sally, Sarah R, Alison, Maris, Keith, me and, eventually B Bob.

The conditions we’re simply perfect and we paused early on, briefly, at the entrance to the Roman Training Encampment in Cawthorn.  If you happen to be passing in the future, it is best visited on foot and it was a large and significant operation, active in the first and second centuries AD.  Our other significant stop was on Beggar’s Bridge in Glaisdale, immortalised by the Whitby photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe who took the picture without the added interest of a group of Wheel Easy cyclists.

We moved swiftly on, looking forward to lunch at the Cycle Hub in the beautiful and remote Fryupdale.  We must at this point record our thanks to Richard Leake for his imaginative and challenging route design, although by the time we were going up that “last straw” hill into the Hub, some of us were beginning to harbour murderous thoughts!  These were quickly dispelled by the sight of a tempting menu, luscious cakes and caffeine, all consumed in an idyllic setting with fabulous views of the whole dale.

Keith kept telling us we had done the hardest half of the route and promised a paradise of lengthy descents to come – but not before the arduous climb out of Fryupdale! The descents did indeed, finally, appear, culminating in a seemingly endless, totally enervating, ridge run along Blakey Ridge and back into the car park at Hutton le Hole. We awarded B Bob the green jersey (a) because he got there first and (b) because he happened to be wearing a green jersey.  No other reason!

A perfectly splendid day, brilliantly well organised and enjoyed by everybody.  Keith & Helen T.

 

Despite a blocked road due to a jack-knifed lorry on Sutton Bank a season’s best of 22 folk assembled at Hutton-le-Hole for the latest Awayday outing. An excellent route put together by Richard L. (38 miles and over 4000ft climbing), the North York Moors with blooming heather and clear, sunny conditions all added up to great day out. Three groups were formed and with one of them delayed by the traffic issues the other two jockeyed for position through the course of the morning with E-bikes coming to the fore on the many short but steep climbs. Lunch was due at 25 miles but the last half mile or so of that seemed to take forever as we struggled (speaking for myself perhaps) up the final climb of the ‘morning’. It was worth the effort however as the Yorkshire Cycle Hub is set in the perfect location with great views and despite warnings of delays in the kitchen, coffee, cakes and sandwiches were served up in good time. The bit before lunch proved to be the start of the final and by far longest climb of the day which, after the break, continued for another three and a half miles up out of Great Fryup Dale. From there the last 10 miles or so was plain sailing with a wonderful tail-wild assisted traverse of Blakey Ridge followed by a long descent back to the car park at Hutton-le-Hole. Thanks to all for your company and I trust that the journey home was a bit easier. Doug H