Next Year's Challenge Series - early thoughts

[Rob]

Would appreciate some feedback. These long hard rides are always very popular...

Early ideas:

The long flat one - have alternated between Spurn Head and something else for the last few years. Back to Spurn Head for 2015.
The big moors adventure - thinking of doing last years Circuit of The Moors the other way around.
Gratuitous climbing - Heather keeps saying we should do a Pateley Spirograph, but I think we'll end up back at Thixendale.
The long mountain roads - A big ride in The Dales getting as far as Dent and Barbon Dale.
Thought might run a YH weekend instead of a through the night epic. Two days of 100+ miles - "The High Road" - climb Great Dunn Fell on the Saturday, St John's Chapel on the Sunday - Englands highest road and highest through road respectively.
Illegitimate Banks
Park Rash
The Fleak
Something to link with The Tour of Yorkshire
Tan Hill Back Entry

Plus assorted Audax/sportif
Hopefully the Saturday gang will run one or two....

Any suggestions? I always think this needs the combined creativity of a few....

[Broom Wagon]

Scotton 100, Pocklington Pedal, Moors to Sea ride and Movember keep it growing ride? There are not many rides at that time of year and it's not too hard, do you really want hard rides at that time of year anyway.

[bernard turgoose]

Thanks for the ideas guys, keep them coming everyone else, then we can take all the thoughts on board and then come up with a list for the year - just one comment on having something in November - we need to get have the reports back in time for administration for the medals etc. But this sounds like a good idea anyway
In the meantime lets have the forms back for this year - whether you think that you have got some points or not - it is a good indication to us as to whether the series is worth continuing or as based on the returns todate - it appears that there isn't a lot of interest!!
Bernard

[Dr Dave]

Like the thrust if Rob's posting.
What about a 'highest mileage' award for the year (although would require Strava/Garmin Connect verification)?

[Rob]

Two more ideas from todays discussions -

Grinton Moor (going north) - The Fleak (going south) - Kidstones - Park Rash
Also have been talking to Steen for a while about riding to Angel of the North and back. You've got to admit it'd be an inspiring destination (and great Clifton photo op), but the navigation is horrendous.

[Steen Berg]

Not all these rides have to be Higher Harder and Further - they could also be Pasta

A ride to Stokesley and back is about 105 miles where they have a great Italian cafe restaurant called
'Uno Momento' You will get a pasta dish pudding and a coffee for a tad over a tenner.
A destination in May perhaps during the Giro d' Italia. Would also give some an excuse to put on that pink number at the back of the wardrobe. Many interesting routes to and from Stokesley. The Higher and Harder types might like to try Carlton Bank others might not.
About the same distance as a sportif but with better food.
Sometimes you have to ask yourself is it about the bike or is it about the cafe ?

Steen

[Dr Dave]

Sounds like fun Steen, put me down for that one!

[G.]

I'm currently in Newcastle so drop me a line if you do the Angel trip, I'll come down and say hi.

What about a 'highest mileage' award for the year (although would require Strava/Garmin Connect verification)?

You could try to beat this guy? He's trying to break the world year mileage record of 75,065 miles.

(Steen, you may have seen Steve on LEL, he was riding an orange Moulton with a bottle of JD in his saddlebag.)