Classic edition of the Tan Hill run today. The "Famous Five" from last week took up the challenge. We all struggled to get to the Square on time simply because it took so long to get all the winter gear on - think I'll employ a squire to help me in future. Richard was so late that we'd given up and left - but he chased us down on Helperby Lane.
Fabulous conditions. Blue skies, cold (but not ridiculously so), windy (but tail wind home). No trouble with ice. Snow from the lower slopes of Buttertubs upwards, but the road had been ploughed to form a black ribbon across the snowscape. Memorable stuff. As last year, the Tan Hill road was impossible just beyond the farm in Silverdale, so we diverted back to Reeth. So we basically did the mileage, just missing out on the top bit of TH and got the added bonus of a glorious ride down Swaledale.
After the cafe came the night-ride back to York. Humming along in our little cocoon of light. Perfectly clear sky and I watched Venus set about an hour after the sun and got a great view of the milky way.
What a ride! Thanks for the company chaps.
Weekend Round Up, 17/18th
Moderator: Moderators
Excellent day out, with the snowy views over Buttertubs, and the low sun over the Grinton climb the highlights for me. Rob, thanks for finding us an ice free route.
I promised to post a link to Jackie Spinning, a crazy Korean cycling 'activity', and possibly a way to make those turbo sessions a little more interesting. Unfortunately, I do not have the ceiling clearance in my garden shed (or a sequin jump suit).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyTTu4Hm ... re=related
I promised to post a link to Jackie Spinning, a crazy Korean cycling 'activity', and possibly a way to make those turbo sessions a little more interesting. Unfortunately, I do not have the ceiling clearance in my garden shed (or a sequin jump suit).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyTTu4Hm ... re=related
Thanks guys for a memorable ride. It truly was a grand day out punctuated by a couple of warming cafe stops. It was other worldly climbing above the snow line over Buttertubs in brilliant sunshine. I don't think we could have ordered better weather; today is a different story altogether. I did a very good impression of Torvill and Dean this morning as I pirouetted down the footpath with our dog on our morning run!
Aha……..the Famous Five may think they have the monopoly on Antarctic Expeditions 
, but Special Agent Scully took his Party East, in search of gritted roads on the Club Sat am ride.
We may not have ridden 147miles (or have gotten up at 0630), but we were out and enjoying ourselves and pushing our pedals during those daylight hours!
Our route took us knowledgeably from Stockton Lane to Holtby and the A166 as far as the LH turn to Buttercrambe and the Gally Gap road to Malton (only the extremes of Yorkshire weather leaves you without Midday route choices from here).
Scully’s comrades did not complain of starvation (Pattacakes café in Welburn provided 5 portions of Leek & Potato soup and hot tea for the intrepid Explorers).
Our return route via Barton le Willows, Howsham & Bossall saw, maybe not icebergs to contend with, but a few stream overflows to negotiate around and the safe return of a lesser famous 5: Scully; Captain Turgoose, Comrades Stein, l’Anson & ClaireG.
Thanks to all for an enjoyable Saturday ride and most of all to our Clifton iconic hero, Commander Scully
Oh, go on then, emphatically Bravo! to the ‘Tan Hill 5’ – I’ll bet you’re feeling like an eminent Polar Expedition Team today. You deserved the blue sky day and glorious snowy landscape for your hardy & adventurous exploits.
Looking forward to the piccies, (when he works out how to post them!)
, but Special Agent Scully took his Party East, in search of gritted roads on the Club Sat am ride. We may not have ridden 147miles (or have gotten up at 0630), but we were out and enjoying ourselves and pushing our pedals during those daylight hours!
Our route took us knowledgeably from Stockton Lane to Holtby and the A166 as far as the LH turn to Buttercrambe and the Gally Gap road to Malton (only the extremes of Yorkshire weather leaves you without Midday route choices from here).
Scully’s comrades did not complain of starvation (Pattacakes café in Welburn provided 5 portions of Leek & Potato soup and hot tea for the intrepid Explorers).
Our return route via Barton le Willows, Howsham & Bossall saw, maybe not icebergs to contend with, but a few stream overflows to negotiate around and the safe return of a lesser famous 5: Scully; Captain Turgoose, Comrades Stein, l’Anson & ClaireG.
Thanks to all for an enjoyable Saturday ride and most of all to our Clifton iconic hero, Commander Scully
Oh, go on then, emphatically Bravo! to the ‘Tan Hill 5’ – I’ll bet you’re feeling like an eminent Polar Expedition Team today. You deserved the blue sky day and glorious snowy landscape for your hardy & adventurous exploits.
Looking forward to the piccies, (when he works out how to post them!)
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Flying Finn
- Posts: 33
- Joined: Tue Sep 13, 2011 4:03 pm
- Location: Finnland (Luftwaffe actually ;-) )
Hi guys, I am happy to hear that you had such nice weather on your Tan Hill Tour! I am imagining how it was, with the snow covered dales, wow.
We have arrived at our home in Finland safely and I am allready missing York and Yorkshire!
Riding here is almost impossible, there has been snow but it melted and they had put gravel on the road, so it is not nice... It is very dark from 10-2:30p.m. and about 0´C, so I have to do my next ride indoor, maybe with some x-tra figures like on the video;)
Congratulation to the 5 arctic riders!
Cheers, Pavle the flying Finn
We have arrived at our home in Finland safely and I am allready missing York and Yorkshire!
Riding here is almost impossible, there has been snow but it melted and they had put gravel on the road, so it is not nice... It is very dark from 10-2:30p.m. and about 0´C, so I have to do my next ride indoor, maybe with some x-tra figures like on the video;)
Congratulation to the 5 arctic riders!
Cheers, Pavle the flying Finn
Imagine no more Pavle - I've posted a few snaps on the previous post just to prove we didnt just go Christmas shopping. They are in no particular order. The 1st is looking North at Stonedale and that was as far as we got for the 2nd successive year. The 6th is the same place(Stonedale not Silverdale?) looking South back down Swaledale. The shots in between are all looking North towards Thwaites at the summit of Buttertubs and the last is the cafe in the morning planning our assault!
What can I say - another superb days adventure and an almost routine run with no dramas which just meant we could enjoy the day. Again everyone was on good form doing some good turns and the miles just ticked by. The fact that we never got to Tan Hill was a trivial issue. I mean if we'd had the conditions we had yesterday we'd never have got out of York - we were blessed with the best of days. As mentioned it was bloody cold but nothing like last year. I was a bit overdressed on a couple of climbs (5 tops!). Thanks for the company guys.
What can I say - another superb days adventure and an almost routine run with no dramas which just meant we could enjoy the day. Again everyone was on good form doing some good turns and the miles just ticked by. The fact that we never got to Tan Hill was a trivial issue. I mean if we'd had the conditions we had yesterday we'd never have got out of York - we were blessed with the best of days. As mentioned it was bloody cold but nothing like last year. I was a bit overdressed on a couple of climbs (5 tops!). Thanks for the company guys.
Bravo the Tan Hill Quintet. Such was the clarity of the day I was watching over you from afar as I toured round Crayke, Coxwold, Carlton Hustwaite - hills to the far north west were clearly visible and I could well imagine you up there.
And as for Team Scully: (butter)crambe/tubs - what's in a name; at this time of year it's a pleasure to be able to get out and about.
Greetings to all - looking forward to being able to get out on a few more club runs with you next year.
Mal
And as for Team Scully: (butter)crambe/tubs - what's in a name; at this time of year it's a pleasure to be able to get out and about.
Greetings to all - looking forward to being able to get out on a few more club runs with you next year.
Mal
Those tan hill pics look great - another impressive solstice ride! I stuck to the nursery slopes on Sunday, meeting up with the family at Stockeld Park (Wetherby "Christmas experience" - fun but overpriced) and trundling back using the 'chain gang' A1 crossing then down to Tadcaster, Ryther, Cawood and home. A day when the ice on the verges never melted despite the sunshine, but the roads seemed ok.
Since then I've been out twice in 3/4 shorts. Funny December.
tom
Since then I've been out twice in 3/4 shorts. Funny December.
tom