Yep, I rode ‘The Hill’ yesterday…and what a glorious day it was! Sunshine, warm temps, epic route...and cakes at the finish! Official starter, Mark A, confirmed that 52 hopefuls had shot out of the barrier at Shipton at 8.00am. I was pretty keen to sit in the ‘comfy chairs’ behind the wall of 30 riders belting out towards Masham and slotted in next to Mark L. Mark soon realised his 2-week wine and fine food training strategy had not miraculously turned him into a TdF contender overnight and he was forced to push the ejector button to ensure survival. A natural order of things then descended on the peloton; the psycho’s at the front and intermediate hacks like me at the back. We seemed to hit Masham in no time at all! Four of us: Jon G, two Richards & myself decided to split out from the mayhem at Masham and ride together for the remainder.
On the next leg up Wensleydale, we traded headwind duties on the front. The headwind was stiff but there’s only one thing going on in the head of a cyclist battling into a headwind on the way out, and that’s the thought of a tailwind on the way home!
We also yo-yo’d past Mal on a couple of occasions, moving ahead, then seeing him again when our GPS took us up the wrong path, much to Mal’s amusement.
Then to Buttertubs. Recent experiences with steeper climbs had me comfortably coping with this one, albeit with the help of a great tailwind on our backs. Richard flew up Buttertubs like a rat up a drainpipe! As Rob O highlighted, the views at the top were sensational, something I missed altogether in the pouring rain of the PGM a month back. Before long, we were at the TH Pub, with the same sheep I saw a month ago passed out next to the wall, looking like it had enjoyed one guinness too many! I have the same sentiment as Mark L on the THP: get the stamp and move on. We left with John S and had a quick chat before he pressed his ‘warp speed’ button on the descent and disappeared. Mal then became a permanent fixture in our group as we stopped for natural breaks in Reeth, followed by the long haul up the hill to Leyburn.
When we arrived at the Posthorn in Leyburn, it was full to the rafters with Hill participants. The York Cycleworks crew were just rolling out, Heather was outside preparing for take off, Howard was inside demolishing a plate of something that looked very nice indeed, Will was creating a new sports gel experience with a marmalade bowl and Rob O’s group were looking as eager as cats on a hot tin roof to get off. It was great to see Kevin there as well. By the time we sat down, the place was deserted!
Mal cunningly threw us off the scent in the café by proposing moderate speeds home, before immediately throwing the plan out the door and belting us along at 26mph to Bedale!
Things were going nicely as Jon G powered us towards the A1 junction. Then, on the roundabout just before the underpass, Jon didn’t see the inch-high lip on the inside rim of the roundabout and hit the deck spectacularly, although skilfully and instinctively placing his body between tarmac and machine to protect his prized steed (hope you’re feeling ok today Jon). Jon’s a tough nut though and after I suggested he sit on the back for a while, in no time at all he was powering past me to the front again! We made it back to Shipton at around 5.25 for the cakefest, my only pain being a sore Salman! (ie. Salman Butt, current Pakistan test cricket captain
).
Big thanks to Mark A and family for organising another sensational event – including the sunshine! Thanks also to Jon G, the two Richards and of course Mal for providing great company throughout. This was the last Clifton ride for one of the Richards before he moves to Southampton this week, …and what a great ride to end on – we obviously wish him the best. Well done also to Mark L for taking on the challenge and getting round…Under the circumstances, ride of the day for me!
That’s it for the epic challenge rides for me this year, as there is only a tiddler or two remaining in the series. As Rob O says, the challenge rides really have been a succession of memorable experiences for me and I really would encourage all mere mortals similar to myself to have a go next year; the more the merrier!…not to mention the fact that in moments of adversity, you make some great new friends as well!
I progressed from enduring a pathetic struggle to get to Osmotherley and back on a club ride in May (some of you witnessed it!) to the point of feeling quite strong throughout The Hill on Sunday, simply by adopting a very basic fitness strategy: Just keep turnin’ up for the next one!
Can’t wait for next year!
D.
). The best the weather has been up Tan Hill for me after a handful of visits.