As planned, the Sunday Gang had an early departure for the best bits of the Stage 1 route. Good-to-be alive morning with blue skies and clear air. The group purred along, somewhat more quickly than I had planned, everyone feeling invincible on summer bikes.
Early cafe in Rodedale then the big climb out the back of the dale where am sure many spectators will head on Friday. Bunting and yellow and blue bikes everywhere. Super descent of Blakey ridge, rattled through Castleton then followed the Esk through Danby, Glaisdale then onto Egton. Andy commented that this is the sort of "valley road" that repeatedly visits the top and bottom of each valley side.
Left the route at Egton, for the climb up to the Roman Road - this was unsurfaced when I first rode it in the late 80s. We'd been flying along and some legs were starting to complain - even Eric looked human. Ice cream and coffee in Pickering, then a standard route home. Ed wanted to do the Dalby/Langdale loop, but everyone else thought that you can have too much of a good thing.
The route turned out to be shorter than advertised, but I still reckon 175km, with 2000m of climb at 27kph and 6000+ Garmin Calories(*) we deserve the points.
Well done Steen, Eric, Pete, AndyG, AndyNG, Ed and Ed's mate
Some talk on the ride of heading for the cyclist's cafe in Beverley in the hope of catching some of the Stage 3 on any screen in there.... I'm not planning on being out, but one of the irregulars will look after you. See you all the week after at the Wiggy 300.
(*) Garmin Calories are American ones, you get more per km than our Euro version....
Weekend Roundup 25th/26th
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Re: Weekend Roundup 25th/26th
I did the Wiggy 200 on Saturday to complete a full house of Wiggies – I’d previously notched a 100 and a 300 a couple of times, and now with a 200, I reckon it could be worth an induction into the Wiggy Hall of Fame! It was great to see Ian H and Dawn at the start.
A huge group that was too big trundled out of Wiggy and stayed in sloppy (sometimes rude) formation across Flaxton Common. Thankfully the hills around Castle Howard brought the selection and Ian and I found ourselves in a reduced group of 10 on the way from Amotherby across to the first control point at Helmsley. Things were going a bit quick to that point so Ian and I decided to head up the hill out of Helmsley by ourselves. A couple of guys from Middlesbrough then caught us near Ampleforth and proceeded to go crazy through Husthwaite to Boroughbridge where we caught the first group who were up the road. The ridiculous pace continued to the 65 mile half way control point at Knaresborough where, over a toastie & coffee, Ian and I discussed the perennial dilemma of whether to hang on to a group for the benefits of the tow or admit that it’s going too fast and drop off. We could see that the majority weren’t going to last very long and we kept thinking that common sense would prevail, but it didn’t. It was the constant surging that was doing our head in, maybe we’ve been spoilt by Clifton group rides.
We’d had enough of the others so we headed out of Knaresborough by ourselves again into the prevailing North Westerly wind to tackle the hills through Ripley, Kirkby Malzeard, Grewellthorpe, Masham and finally to Bedale. The Boro Boys must have sprinted past us half a dozen times on this hilly stretch, only to stop for various reasons – this became a running joke. We decided we would stick to the steadier Tortoise plan and see what happened.
The heavens finally opened at Bedale and we stamped our cards in the pouring rain before heading back on the final leg towards the A1 and home. It pretty much rained all the way back, the temperature halved and the rain killed the wind slightly so that the tail wind benefit wasn’t as great as the hindrance it had proven to be earlier. My lack of rides over 100 miles in recent times and the frantic pace of the first half of the day meant my batteries were pretty low by this point. I had a turn on the front to the A1 but Ian wanted to be home before Christmas. In keeping with the legend that he is, Ian magnificently towed me down the road from Topcliffe to Shipton, a road which always seems like 100 miles long at the end of a tough ride – massive thanks Ian!! We got back to Wigginton about 4:30, pretty spent and cold but were revived by a welcome cup of tea. I think we were the 3rd pair back - beaten in the end by the Boro Boys who must have dumped their Hare strategy for a more sensible Tortoise plan. It was a tough day with the early pace, the headwind on the outward leg and the rain on the way back. I hope you got round OK Dawn?
When comparing the stats with Rob’s ride, I reckon we were a bit stiff with the points – we did almost 30km more in distance (204km), 500 metres less climbing (1507 mtrs) at 26.1kph but burnt 1600 more calories (7,609), - and received 1 less point? I then realised they must have received the extra point for putting up with Steen’s jokes all day (…only joking Steen!
)
The Wiggy 200 is actually a nice route and worth doing if any of you get the chance in the future.
Darren
A huge group that was too big trundled out of Wiggy and stayed in sloppy (sometimes rude) formation across Flaxton Common. Thankfully the hills around Castle Howard brought the selection and Ian and I found ourselves in a reduced group of 10 on the way from Amotherby across to the first control point at Helmsley. Things were going a bit quick to that point so Ian and I decided to head up the hill out of Helmsley by ourselves. A couple of guys from Middlesbrough then caught us near Ampleforth and proceeded to go crazy through Husthwaite to Boroughbridge where we caught the first group who were up the road. The ridiculous pace continued to the 65 mile half way control point at Knaresborough where, over a toastie & coffee, Ian and I discussed the perennial dilemma of whether to hang on to a group for the benefits of the tow or admit that it’s going too fast and drop off. We could see that the majority weren’t going to last very long and we kept thinking that common sense would prevail, but it didn’t. It was the constant surging that was doing our head in, maybe we’ve been spoilt by Clifton group rides.
We’d had enough of the others so we headed out of Knaresborough by ourselves again into the prevailing North Westerly wind to tackle the hills through Ripley, Kirkby Malzeard, Grewellthorpe, Masham and finally to Bedale. The Boro Boys must have sprinted past us half a dozen times on this hilly stretch, only to stop for various reasons – this became a running joke. We decided we would stick to the steadier Tortoise plan and see what happened.
The heavens finally opened at Bedale and we stamped our cards in the pouring rain before heading back on the final leg towards the A1 and home. It pretty much rained all the way back, the temperature halved and the rain killed the wind slightly so that the tail wind benefit wasn’t as great as the hindrance it had proven to be earlier. My lack of rides over 100 miles in recent times and the frantic pace of the first half of the day meant my batteries were pretty low by this point. I had a turn on the front to the A1 but Ian wanted to be home before Christmas. In keeping with the legend that he is, Ian magnificently towed me down the road from Topcliffe to Shipton, a road which always seems like 100 miles long at the end of a tough ride – massive thanks Ian!! We got back to Wigginton about 4:30, pretty spent and cold but were revived by a welcome cup of tea. I think we were the 3rd pair back - beaten in the end by the Boro Boys who must have dumped their Hare strategy for a more sensible Tortoise plan. It was a tough day with the early pace, the headwind on the outward leg and the rain on the way back. I hope you got round OK Dawn?
When comparing the stats with Rob’s ride, I reckon we were a bit stiff with the points – we did almost 30km more in distance (204km), 500 metres less climbing (1507 mtrs) at 26.1kph but burnt 1600 more calories (7,609), - and received 1 less point? I then realised they must have received the extra point for putting up with Steen’s jokes all day (…only joking Steen!
)The Wiggy 200 is actually a nice route and worth doing if any of you get the chance in the future.
Darren
Re: Weekend Roundup 25th/26th
I did get round OK, thanks Darren. I set off with the main group but my light fell off just before Flaxton and by the time I had stopped to pick it up the pack had gone, which was not a problem as I had not expected to be able to stick with everyone for long. Really enjoyed the ride to Helmsley and through Oswaldkirk and Ampleforth, found the headwind a bit tiring from Coxwold to Knaresborough where lunch was very welcome. The second half of the ride had a few cheeky hills, but the stretch from Ripley to Bedale was beautiful, even in the rain! You’re right about that road from Topcliffe to Shipton though, it seems to take forever after a long day! I really enjoyed it all, it was a lovely route, and at least I didn’t have to cycle back to Ripon afterwards like someone had to!
Thanks to Keith and Anne for a great day out, I would definitely do it again.
Special thanks to Steve, who put the whole route into the Garmin for me, and fed me fish and chips when I got home!
Thanks to Keith and Anne for a great day out, I would definitely do it again.
Special thanks to Steve, who put the whole route into the Garmin for me, and fed me fish and chips when I got home!
Re: Weekend Roundup 25th/26th
In preparation for a race which I found out later the same day I wasnt actually riding, I too sought out the best bits of stage 1. I didnt realise this at the time as I would have to admit I havent really given the Tour de Yorkshire the attention it probaly deserves. It was just that I was reminded of the fact when I got to Wrelton and picked up the race signs. As mentioned Sunday was a pretty good to be alive sort of day although I was having some wardrobe dillemas and as usual could've done to have dressed down a bit. So I followed a pretty direct route out of York - Castle Howard / Amotherby / Risborough and took a chance up the muddy little lane that brings you out at Wrelton. Up Rosedaledale to Rosedale. I was thinking of just cutting a corner off and going up Chimney bank but was worried about either melting or snapping myself in too so took the tour route out of the village. Although not that steep this is a climb that just messes with your head. When I go up a climb I like it to be followed immediately by a nice decent not 3 miles of false flat Having said that I've seen a Kelloggs Tour fly up this about 20 years ago without too much problem!
Pretty direct route back down Blakey Ridge with a slight tailwind into Hutton Le Hole. I love that decent! Took a right in Normanby through the twisty lanes of the Vale of Pickering emerging in Barton Le Street, Hovingham and straight back through Sheriff. Still over 80 miles non stop at just over 18mphfor the out of town bit which was all of it. A ride more about snot management than anything more scientific but an enjoyable mornings work and just starting to wobble a bit coming back up Haxby Rd. Two deer crossing the road on the decent into Amotherby was probably the highlight.
Pretty direct route back down Blakey Ridge with a slight tailwind into Hutton Le Hole. I love that decent! Took a right in Normanby through the twisty lanes of the Vale of Pickering emerging in Barton Le Street, Hovingham and straight back through Sheriff. Still over 80 miles non stop at just over 18mphfor the out of town bit which was all of it. A ride more about snot management than anything more scientific but an enjoyable mornings work and just starting to wobble a bit coming back up Haxby Rd. Two deer crossing the road on the decent into Amotherby was probably the highlight.