13 opted for the Inter’s ride, oddly the third week in a row we’d set off with that lucky number. This week’s Inters team included Steve A, Dr. Dave, Dr Joe, Karl, G, Dave C, Stuart (great to see the master sprinter back out!), Dave W, Dave B, Kevin II (or K2), Graeme, John and myself. Even better to see was the fact that 9 of the 13 riders were in Clifton kit, which looked very impressive indeed.
We opted for the Cockayne loop option because we didn’t want to get stuck up at Osmotherley in the rain. The urgency to get as far as we could before the wet stuff arrived made the pace a bit frantic, we seemed to be forever lined out and chasing hard. Every time I looked down at the Garmin it was showing between 24-28 mph, albeit with the tailwind. We went out through Stearsby, Gilling East, Nunnington, across the A170, over the ford and then up to Fadmoor to do the loop ACW. At this point, we decided to keep pressing on and regroup at the top of the valley at the first gate after Cockayne, so the group splintered into 2s & 3s on the way out. When we arrived at the top end, we decided to take some team photos given the numbers in team kit (- we’ll save those for the Club mag!)
It was at this point that the “Where’s Dr Joe?” questions started. We waited for about 15 minutes but with black clouds gathering overhead, we decided to send the majority of the group onto Helmsley while 3 of us waited longer. Another 10 minutes went by and still nothing. Karl, Steve A and I couldn’t help but think of Ian H’s accident a month earlier where he ended up in a ditch so we chose the unenviable task of heading back the way we came to try to find Dr Joe. He was wearing a white rain jacket with blue markings and it was amazing how many sheep with blue markings on their backs looked like Dr Joe from a distance!
Anyway, the long slog back to Fadmoor, Kirkbymoorside and then along the A170 to Helmsley unearthed nothing. The three of us fell into the ice cream parlour at Helmsley with no news of Dr Joe’s whereabouts and definitely needing an energy boost. The Inters and the K Ride were all in the café. I’d like to say a massive, massive thank you to Karl and Steve A for volunteering to accompany me on this search & rescue mission, even though we failed in our mission to find him. As the rain started, both K & A riders were keen to head back. Karl, Steve & I rammed down the carbs in the available 5 minutes and rushed out with the others to tack on. At this point, the groups mixed and splintered everywhere. Poor ol’ Karl, Steve and John were not quick enough out of the Helmsley junction to see us go straight ahead towards Harome rather than right and up the hill to Sproxton. K2 and I had also been caught at a road crossing but managed to chase back on. TBH, it would have been much better had the Inters done a roll call before bolting off. Karl, Steve and John apparently stayed together for the remainder once they realised the correct direction to take, but they had been isolated and were obviously feeling a bit rough by the time they’d laboured back to York, particularly given the extra miles that Karl and Steve had already done beforehand.
Before Harome, the rain really started to kick in and both groups stopped to cape up. This mixed everyone up and with the rain coming down, I found myself in a small group of ten to plough back into a wet headwind via Hovingham, Terrington Bank, Sheriff Hutton and Strensall. We managed to keep everyone together in bleak conditions, it was nice when the rain finally stopped near Strensall.
I don’t know what happened to Kevin and his group after the cape-up stop, they obviously took it steady on the return leg. Rumour also filtered through that Dr Dave had mechanical problems too. He’d told one of our backmarkers to keep going, he certainly wasn’t with us after Hovingham. It would be good to hear what happened there.
As for the “Where’s Dr Joe” question, word came through from Search & Rescue at first light this morning that he’d been found alive and well. Here’s his story told to the helicopter pilot before he was airlifted to safety:
“On the cattle grid that leads from Fadmoor onto the moors and the start of the loop, my free hub wheel's ratchet mechanism suddenly gave up, causing the pedals to spin without any forward motion! Unable to pedal and knowing Cockayne would just take me further away from assistance, I freewheeled and walked (hobbled) all the way to Dalby forest 13 miles away, where there's a bike shop. There I bought a new rear wheel, rode back to York and arrived at just before 7pm. I am obviously very sorry to cause everyone worry and would never willingly just abandon a ride, knowing the havoc such a move would cause. I was just powerless (literally!)”
So, it was great to hear Dr Joe was ok. I hope Dr Dave also made it back home and that everyone from both the K and A/Intermediate groups made it back safely in the rain and greasy conditions. I must admit to feeling like I’d ridden a very long way by the time I got home, loads of what I would call ‘dead miles’. Nevertheless it was great to make the most of the dry conditions in the morning session.
I have other events to do in the next few weeks so won’t be out with the Inters - hope everyone enjoys whatever they do.
D.
