by craigdabrown
Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:09 pm
7 of us (ClaireG, DaveI, PeteS, JohnC, Kev & Jackie M and myself) for the K-Ride on Saturday. Advertised route was Easingwold but the weather looked fantastic, despite the cold wind from the southeast, and so we decided the group was strong enough to handle an extra 10 miles and head to Sledmere instead.
Road conditions were dry and we made good progress out via Stockton Lane, Sand Hutton and Leavening, with the stronger riders taking turns on the front and JohnC doing a grand job of keeping us in check if the pace got too much into the headwind.
At North Grimston we gave proper roads a miss for a time and chose to climb up the Luddith Road track. The condition of this stretch has worsened a bit over the last year and the gradient, mud and pothole combo on Saturday made it a testing off-road section for road bikes and tyres. Wasn’t quite tough enough for Pete though as he missed a subtle left-turn halfway up the climb and literally ploughed straight ahead along an extremely muddy farm track, almost reaching the farm house before realising his error and having to retrace his tracks. He wasn’t best pleased at the state of his bike but took the gentle ribbing in good spirit.
A few more lumpy bits and we were glad to reach the cafe stop and fortunate to find a table inside we could just about all fit around.
Wetwang meant the end of our stint into the wind and it was pretty much plan-sailing all the way home, although Millington Pastures seemed overly busy with cars for some reason. The group went their separate ways before Stockton Lane and Dave and I stuck to the cycle paths back across York.
Another excellent 70 mile winter ride in superb conditions. Great to see Claire regaining her fitness, Jackie handling the extra miles of the route change with ease, KevM riding as strongly as ever, Pete and Dave continuing to put us all to shame and JohnC for simply being JohnC and keeping us right all day.
Road conditions were dry and we made good progress out via Stockton Lane, Sand Hutton and Leavening, with the stronger riders taking turns on the front and JohnC doing a grand job of keeping us in check if the pace got too much into the headwind.
At North Grimston we gave proper roads a miss for a time and chose to climb up the Luddith Road track. The condition of this stretch has worsened a bit over the last year and the gradient, mud and pothole combo on Saturday made it a testing off-road section for road bikes and tyres. Wasn’t quite tough enough for Pete though as he missed a subtle left-turn halfway up the climb and literally ploughed straight ahead along an extremely muddy farm track, almost reaching the farm house before realising his error and having to retrace his tracks. He wasn’t best pleased at the state of his bike but took the gentle ribbing in good spirit.
A few more lumpy bits and we were glad to reach the cafe stop and fortunate to find a table inside we could just about all fit around.
Wetwang meant the end of our stint into the wind and it was pretty much plan-sailing all the way home, although Millington Pastures seemed overly busy with cars for some reason. The group went their separate ways before Stockton Lane and Dave and I stuck to the cycle paths back across York.
Another excellent 70 mile winter ride in superb conditions. Great to see Claire regaining her fitness, Jackie handling the extra miles of the route change with ease, KevM riding as strongly as ever, Pete and Dave continuing to put us all to shame and JohnC for simply being JohnC and keeping us right all day.