Weekend roundup 25th/26th Jan

[Jon G]

Saturday A ride for me. Good to get back and meet the regulars. These included Karl, Graham, Kevin, Matt, Stu, Dr Dave. Otley was the destination. Usual route out through Rufforth, tockwith, spofforth and pannal, however as the weather closed in we decided at beckwithshaw to reroute more directly to Otley . No sooner after this was decided the sun came out, typical. But none the less a nice route devised by Dave around Lindley wood reservoir and into Otley via Farnley park. Made it just in time to the cafe before the heavens opened. As the windows in the cafe steamed up while we ordered our food we put off Matt on the full English breakfast which he later regretted I think as sustenance to stay warm. It was still raining as we left but a mad dash down the road to pool and the rain stopped thankfully. Back via castley and Weeton. We bypassed Wetherby and took some minor roads through Linton and collingham and Bramham. On the road to tadcaster Dave suggested a couple of route options. As the rest of the group went back via tadcaster and Appleton Roebuck Dave suggested I go back via towton, ulleskelf and cawood to shorten the route home. Good call Dave and thanks, I new where iwas once I reached stutton. I had a tailwind as well

Good ride guys in some testing conditions at times. But didn't quite make the tonne for the ride thanks to my short cut Still a good ride for the time of year.

Jon

[Broom Wagon]

Certainly not up to dragging my fat belly and lack of fitness up to Rosedale with the Sunday riders but having not been able to touch the bike all week I was determined to get a few hours in.
Out to Castle Howard, Malton and back over Birdsall brow in anticipation of next week's reliability. I set off into heavy cold rain which didn't ease up for a moment. By Malton I was thoroughly wet, cold and miserable and had determined to sell everything and emigrate to Lanzarote as soon as I got home.

Curiously once the rain turned to snow on the high ground past Birdsall I seemed to warm up a bit, though my mood was not improved by the slush and strong winds trying to blow me off the road and sting my face with the snow.

Still, I got a few more miles in my legs and hats off to anyone that went to Rosedale in those conditions.

[Rob]

Sunday clubrun for me.
Just me, Steen and RichardD in the Square and Richard had to be back early.
Atrocious conditions and didn't fancy grinding back into the wind from Rosedale, so replanned for Otley instead. Left York to the sound of turbo trainers behind garage doors.

Roads very quiet. Richard turned back at Sicklinghall, which left Steen and I to plough our lonely bow wave to Otley. Was ready for the café - we left some very large puddles. Was good to take Steen back on some new lanes for him (to be honest it's a while since I've been up that gated road above Lindley.)

Back in York as the sun came out with 70 miles on the clock. We always say that these are miles in the bank, to be drawn in the summer - this weekend I'd like to think they've gone in special high interest accounts (tax free).

Am going to give the Reliability a miss next weekend - will be in The Square instead, as normal. Will aim for Rosedale again.

R

[RichardD]

Thought about the turbo but the weather looked ok at 8.30 so thought I would ignore the forecast and join Rob et al. Once up to temp the rain is ok but it was a tad cold on the exposed tops with the wind. After leaving Rob and Steen rounded Kirkby Overblow (great name!) and headed home via Spofforth and the chain gang route. Was completely drenched twice. Once inadvertently, when an articulated lorry passed on the opposite side of the road followed by a sheet of water being cleared from its wheels, and once on purpose, when I stopped for a call of nature and a Range Rover Sport purposely ran through a massive puddle. Fortunately I was zipped up by then. Enjoyable in a masochistic sort of way (the riding not the drenching), but I hope we have a good summer.

[Steen Berg]

You can keep your balaclava on Broomy. Were not nuts Rosedale would have been crazy yesterday. You should have joined us crap weather is nearly always better in company. Best thing about yesterday was the vegei breakfast for £4.10 and a very good coffee for £1.45. "Mrs Berg get your coat"

Shame more don't chance the Sunday ride. Now would be a very good time to give it a try with miles and speed modest. It should get cranked up a bit after February. Last two weeks we have done the same miles as the K and A Saturday riders with an average speed of bout 15.5 mph. I jumped over from the k ride about two years ago at this time as I have to work Saturday morning. Its a fantastic ride out your may get to try a few different routes and get a bit further as the weather improves.

Should be with you next week

Steen

[paulM]

I was too slow getting dressed to make the sunday ride - I had that many tops to put on! Thought I might have met them on the way out of York but Rob had obviously seen sense. Doubled back up through Huntington and straight out to Castle Howard. Had set off from home just as it started raining but it was lashing it down by the time I had crossed the ring road. I'd pretty much had enough by the time I got to Amotherby but carried on to do a lop round the Vale of Pickering via Butterwick. By then I was heading into the wind. Slingsby, Hovingham, Coulton and back via Snargate farm. Made a mistake of taking my gloves off in Farlington intending to put a pair of liners underneath but couldnt get them back on. Actually didnt make any difference. Only took me about 5 minutes to get the key in the lock when I got home!. Still over 3 hours riding and somehow managed to finish quite strongly but in hindsight not a day to be out alone.