E.G.s (Elderly Gentlemen)
Low Bridge Knaresborough was again very busy just before 10am this morning. As well as 7 EGs assembling for the start of our ride there many more Wheel Easy members with both the Medium Steady (Wanderers) and the Short Ride regrouping after their ride from the Squash Club. Good to have some very brief chats with them. Apologies to any motorists trying to get along Abbey Road!
Lotherton Hall was our destination today, and our only refreshment stop (mindful of the ever diminishing daylight hours) . Our outward route was via Little Ribston, Cowthorpe, Tadcaster, and past the site of the Battle of Towton, where Dave S reminded us that this was the largest and bloodiest battle fought on British soil. In 1461 in the Wars of the Roses, an estimated 50,000 soldiers fought, with the victorious Yorkists losing 3,000 to 4,500 dead, and the House of Lancaster suffering between 6,000 and 8,500 losses. Dave didn’t provide all the details – some came from Mr Google!
Lotherton Hall cafe provided us with good cycling fare, and then we were on our way home via Aberford, Bramham, Clifford, Boston Spa, Wetherby. I left the group at Little Ribston to return to Harrogate via Spofforth, whilst the others continued to Knaresborough. I completed 53 miles (@ 12mph with 2,500′ climbing) arriving home by 3.15pm comfortably before lighting-up time. About 45 miles for those starting and finishing in Knaresborough. Eric
Wanderers
It was a bit grey this morning but the sun was giving it a good shot to break through as seventeen Wanderers spit into three groups for a trip east. It was a familiar route for most. After a quick regroup at Low Bridge the quicker riders weren’t seen again until cafe stop. Groups two and three more or less kept each other in site until Great Ouseburn where group three somehow got in front and beat my group to The Hideway cafe stop in Boroughbridge. Mmmm? By now the sun had successfully shown itself so some ate inside and others out. Limited food today which we were made aware of but everyone seemed more than happy with what was on offer. Refreshed the groups departed with again two and three insight of each other. Roecliffe, Bishop Monkton, Farnham, Bishop Monkton, Lingerfield and Knaresborough. Riders started to make their own way home and number dwindled after the Golf Club. Great ride. Great conditions. Thank you to the group leaders. Thanks all for your company. 38 miles for me. Colin B
Short Ride
There was no designated short ride today but Paul came to the rescue so Dennis, Paul and myself headed out for a very enjoyable ride that started out with mist and cloud but later developed into warm sunshine just after the coffee stop. We headed out to Arkendale via Knaresborough, Farnham and Ferensby and stopped for a short break at Arkendale where Dennis turned for home after telling us that he had become a great grandfather to Marly ……. for the 10th time! Paul and I carried on to the Courtyard cafe where Paul gave into temptation after seeing three customers eating bacon rolls and had one himself. After this we headed back via Arkendale, Goldsborough, Knaresborough and Starbeck (thank you for the push Paul, I got stuck on an uphill junction in the wrong gear). All in all it was an enjoyable ride in sunny warm conditions which made all the better. Gordon Haynes
Wednesday Ride
The weather forecast for the day at 8am was not just mist but fog and likely to persist all day, not a good omen for our scheduled ride of 43 miles to the hills above Pateley Bridge But it was wrong as we assembled at the Show ground the mist cleared and we couldn’t wait to get going on our 3000 ft ascent
10 of us ( Tim, Gia, Collette, John, Alan, Drew, Mike, Paul and myself) lead by Yvonne arrived at Ripley by which time blue skies were even more evident and onwards through Birstwith and onto Dacre passing through a magnificent display of autumn colours. Then it was a question of heads down to tackle the challenge of this particular ride as one of us said up up and forever up to Duck Lane stopping for a breather and the mandatory photo shoot. At this point Gia and Collette returned to base. After Duck Lane there was still a long steady climb to Greenhow and the opportunity to enjoy the great views over Nidderdale and finally the welcome sight of Tofts Gate Farm café. We all sat round a table to enjoy a log fire and a wide variety of welcome refreshments.
A few of us had not experienced the decent into the Nidd valley by way of Peat Lane a test for the brakes safely negotiated. Then a very fast run through Summerbridge, across the private road over the Nidd to Birstwith, Ripley and Greenway
To sum up I can confidently say that we were Happy to meet, Happy had we been, Happy to part and Happy to meet again soon. Tony
Medium Plus Brisk
Route 61 had managed to make it’s way onto the Ride Calendar and with a Gaelic shrug of the shoulders we toddled off up the newly resurfaced Green Lane, along Norwood Lane and onto Jack Hill Lane (with the compulsory photo shot) ………… and then down to Dobb Park Packhorse Bridge – yes, the one that means you have to walk down to it, across it & then hobble back up the other side for a couple of hundred yards or so on large stones & gravel. The one where walking boots would be useful rather than 25mm tyres and slippery cycling shoes & cleats. Never mind – it’s all an adventure and no time to grumble – as once back onto tarmac there is a steep longish section to test the legs.
Round to Ilkley & then up to Bolton Abbey & The Old Forge café where about 90% of the customers were cyclists. Some of the group then went down to Cavendish Pavilions & back round to Storiths before climbing the A59 & turning off at the top (an old Roman Road). Two cyclists just went straight up the A59 & assembled at the top for the ride down to Thuscross & home via Duck Street Lane & Penny Pot. 50 miles & plenty of smiles (plus some swearing & moaning for good measure).
