Did A ride to Newtondale Forest Drive. 13 riders altogether. First time I've been up there for a few years so route recollection sl hazy but we found it eventually!
The usual couple of p*****s apart we had a straightforward ride round although nagging backache precluded my participation in the Sprints competition - not that I would have been able to make much headway against a flying stu.
Excellent day out - my last A ride for a few weeks now that the rugby season has started - will be mainly on a diet of 8:45 rides with occ training ride thrown in until after Xmas.
31st/1st Weekend round-up
Moderator: Moderators
"The Fleak" for me and 15 others.
Planned this as a September 2 pointer - nothing too hard. My worry was that it felt like a lot of Vale of York riding for quite a small loop in the Dales. Tried to compensate for this by wiggling about a bit in the lanes on the way out and back to find some new tarmac. The climb of the Fleak was pretty stunning (if a bit drafty) and the ride back down Wensleydale rapid.
All stayed together pretty well. Some tired legs towards the end. I think all enjoyed it. Real end of season feel to the ride - lots of talk about what everyone had been up to over the summer - The Clifton have certainly clocked up some miles this year!
Already thinking ahead to next year: maybe bring this ride forward into June and extend it to be Grinton Moor, The Fleak, Kidstones and Park Rash....? For 3 points. That'd be one to tell the grandkids about
.
Not out for the next couple of Sunday's, but then plan to get back to the regular routine of 80 mile rides with a cafe, back mid afternoon. We can talk about next year's challenge rides - all requests considered!
R
Planned this as a September 2 pointer - nothing too hard. My worry was that it felt like a lot of Vale of York riding for quite a small loop in the Dales. Tried to compensate for this by wiggling about a bit in the lanes on the way out and back to find some new tarmac. The climb of the Fleak was pretty stunning (if a bit drafty) and the ride back down Wensleydale rapid.
All stayed together pretty well. Some tired legs towards the end. I think all enjoyed it. Real end of season feel to the ride - lots of talk about what everyone had been up to over the summer - The Clifton have certainly clocked up some miles this year!
Already thinking ahead to next year: maybe bring this ride forward into June and extend it to be Grinton Moor, The Fleak, Kidstones and Park Rash....? For 3 points. That'd be one to tell the grandkids about
. Not out for the next couple of Sunday's, but then plan to get back to the regular routine of 80 mile rides with a cafe, back mid afternoon. We can talk about next year's challenge rides - all requests considered!
R
Discovered a new multi-purpose word for my vocab on Sunday – Fleak! – and believe me, I was well and truly fleaked by the time I got home.
As Rob said, a nice crowd of 16 turned up to the Square, including Rob’s mate Graeme who was up from Essex for some real cycling entertainment. It was a bit cool tbh, some turned up with the convertible top down, heater on and leg warmers activated.
The trip out to Leyburn went by in a flash. A westerly breeze was freshening but not enough to bite. The fun started in the climb over Grinton Moor when a huge westerly really kicked in. It’s not often I find myself riding along at 45 degrees to the perpendicular, leaning heavily on the wind. It was a bit unnerving on the descent trying to avoid being blown into a ditch. Anyway, we all made it safely into Reeth for the one café stop.
After lunch, it was straight up The Fleak. A couple of months ago, I’d ridden an MTB orienteering event up a nasty track on the eastern face of The Fleak and knew what was coming. A combination of the steep ramps, big westerly breeze and magnificent vistas made this a ride to remember. I found myself one of the backmarkers on the ascent and looked up to the great sight of seeing a string of multi-coloured, slow-moving cycling dots literally spread out over a mile all the way up to the high summit, a vertical ascent of 1,324 feet. I obviously wasn’t there to judge the finish of the KOM but heard a rumour that Pete P and Andy M fought out the honour of being the inaugural Grand Fleakmeister for 2013. (I’ll await official verification of this.)
Once over the top, we re-grouped at the bottom and headed back to civilisation. Finally the wind was over our shoulder and although we had to keep a tight leash on Andy and Pete, it was still a very quick run home. The only incident we had was when Rob needed to pull over near the entrance of a farm drive above Thornton Watlass to check the map. An old lady stormed down the long driveway with a huge pair of hedge clippers in her hand and stood at the gate with a very cross look on her face – there was no doubt in my mind she intended to use those clippers on any appendages found dangling in the wind.
I made it home with 140 miles on the clock, legs completely fleaked. Tbh, I wasn’t very strong on the climbs, felt like Cadel Evans trying to back up in the TdF after a tough Giro – not literally of course! Only a couple more events this year will see me out to the paddock for the winter. It was an outstanding group to ride with and, of course, huge thanks go to Rob for organising and leading a fleakin’ grand day out! Next year – Park Rash as well??…now that would be a fleak out!!
D.
As Rob said, a nice crowd of 16 turned up to the Square, including Rob’s mate Graeme who was up from Essex for some real cycling entertainment. It was a bit cool tbh, some turned up with the convertible top down, heater on and leg warmers activated.
The trip out to Leyburn went by in a flash. A westerly breeze was freshening but not enough to bite. The fun started in the climb over Grinton Moor when a huge westerly really kicked in. It’s not often I find myself riding along at 45 degrees to the perpendicular, leaning heavily on the wind. It was a bit unnerving on the descent trying to avoid being blown into a ditch. Anyway, we all made it safely into Reeth for the one café stop.
After lunch, it was straight up The Fleak. A couple of months ago, I’d ridden an MTB orienteering event up a nasty track on the eastern face of The Fleak and knew what was coming. A combination of the steep ramps, big westerly breeze and magnificent vistas made this a ride to remember. I found myself one of the backmarkers on the ascent and looked up to the great sight of seeing a string of multi-coloured, slow-moving cycling dots literally spread out over a mile all the way up to the high summit, a vertical ascent of 1,324 feet. I obviously wasn’t there to judge the finish of the KOM but heard a rumour that Pete P and Andy M fought out the honour of being the inaugural Grand Fleakmeister for 2013. (I’ll await official verification of this.)
Once over the top, we re-grouped at the bottom and headed back to civilisation. Finally the wind was over our shoulder and although we had to keep a tight leash on Andy and Pete, it was still a very quick run home. The only incident we had was when Rob needed to pull over near the entrance of a farm drive above Thornton Watlass to check the map. An old lady stormed down the long driveway with a huge pair of hedge clippers in her hand and stood at the gate with a very cross look on her face – there was no doubt in my mind she intended to use those clippers on any appendages found dangling in the wind.
I made it home with 140 miles on the clock, legs completely fleaked. Tbh, I wasn’t very strong on the climbs, felt like Cadel Evans trying to back up in the TdF after a tough Giro – not literally of course! Only a couple more events this year will see me out to the paddock for the winter. It was an outstanding group to ride with and, of course, huge thanks go to Rob for organising and leading a fleakin’ grand day out! Next year – Park Rash as well??…now that would be a fleak out!!
D.
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Broom Wagon
- Posts: 435
- Joined: Fri Mar 24, 2006 9:15 pm
I can't help enjoying the difference in styles of those two back to back write ups of the fleak ride. Reading Rob's understated account you'd think it was an easy Sunday jaunt (tbh it probably was for Rob), but reading Darren's write up you get more of a hint of the challenge involved. Well done everyone who rode it.
Did the scarborough Paragon cc TT on Saturday. Big entry and a great event. Got a pb for this circuit, it was a good day but pretty windy although in the preferred direction.
Well done to Jess for being 1st lady.
Along with 15 others, did the Fleak on Sunday. Thanks Rob for a great route, never been over the Fleak before, awesome.
Will be back at Burton Fleming on Sunday for the LVRC rr.
Dave
Well done to Jess for being 1st lady.
Along with 15 others, did the Fleak on Sunday. Thanks Rob for a great route, never been over the Fleak before, awesome.
Will be back at Burton Fleming on Sunday for the LVRC rr.
Dave