Short Ride
Seven takers today to follow me on a hilly outbound journey to Brimham Rocks … over an hour from Ripley to get there, yet the return to Ripley was less than 20 minutes!! It was either the wonderful downhills, the lure of the bacon sandwich or the threat of rain at 1pm that made us return in record time. Thankfully only two out of three materialised and it was a lovely ride in dappled sunshine. Thanks again to Gordon for back marking and for Barbara, Karen, John, Nicola, Charlie & Russell for your company. JJ
Medium Steady
On a warm dry day there was 8 riders for the medium steady ride. A regular group consisting of Gia, James, Paul, Tony, Steve, Paul, Richard and myself. We quickly made our way out along Leadhall past the newly carved giant Owl and out through Burn Bridge towards Walton Head Lane and up to Kirkby Overblow where 5 of us left Gia, Paul & James who were shortly turning right towards Otley.
We negotiated the main roads safely and headed up the Weardly climbs. Quite roads to Eccup reservoir for a photo and watching my tyre ouse out white rubber liquid but luckily seal! Then persuading Richard to go up the narrow trail up the back of GSAL and avoiding golf balls onto Slaid hill, turning for Scarcroft and up along quite country lanes past festival traffic towards Bramham, then taking a very different route to Clifford before stopping for our coffee outside at the wise Owl.
Steve had to leave us to pick up his wife’s new bike, which a telephone call had informed him had just arrived. Lots of the usual banter over a laid back stop and we got back on the road towards Thorpe Arch and the cycleway back to Wetherby where Tony departed home, the remaining three headed up through Kirk Deighton and left at North Deighton to Spofforth where I left Paul and Richard to head back through Follifoot to the showground.
A very enjoyable ride on many different roads to normal with great company on a perfect cycling weather day! Thanks to Steve for back marking! As I cycled in, I had probably the same as others at 39.7 miles 2339ft
Mike W/H
Wednesday Wanderers
The Route was 102 – 44 miles with over 3,000ft of climb.
Nine wanderers set off from the showground on this ride, Tim and myself riding the old analogue system bicycles with the rest of the group on digital electric. We made our way along the Greenway to Ripley where we were joined by Rob on his manual powered bicycle. Our friends from the short and gentle team were just ahead of us as we left Ripley. We passed the short and gentle lads and lasses at the top of Clint bank but had to stop at the junction that takes you to the Burnt Yates road as I had noticed Bridget had a very slack chain. This allowed the short and gentle group to retake the lead. Mike always very keen to help jumped from his bike and announced that Bridget had a screw loose. I think (and hope he was commenting on Bridget’s Bike) he meant a nut on the rear wheel needed to be tightened. Fortunately, Bridget had a spanner that fitted the nut and a quick repair was made. So off we went again up towards Brimham Rocks. We had a stop at the top of a hill on the way to let everyone regather and Mike the Vet took the short stay opportunity to eat as may black berries as he could before the group caught up. We still had not caught the short and gentle group I can say that their ride may have been short but it was not gentle. We were well past Brimham Rocks before we saw the short and gentle group turn off for their homeward leg, we still had a lot of miles to do and some hills to climb. It was onward and upward to Dallowgill moor. The view up on Dallowgill Moor was Beautifull, the heather was out and the ride up was worth the view. On to Tates via Studley deer park for a well-earned butty and a cuppa. We lost Alison and Margeret as they decided to cut it a little bit shorter and get home. Bridget once again had an issue with her bike as she got a rear wheel puncture just as she was riding into Tates. Rob, Mike and myself managed to get the inner tube out and find the offending thorn. Rob had a self-seal patch that did a good repair and very little time was lost. A comment was made as we worked away that to many cooks spoil the broth but I would say that many hands made light work of the issue. A gentle ride from Ripon through Littlethorpe saw us safely home. The weather was kind not to hot and no rain.
A great ride made all the better by the people that participated on the ride. The Wanderers are a great bunch to ride with and I enjoyed every minute of it.
Derek
