Weekend Round-up 6th/7th June

[Dr Dave]

The Inters ride on Saturday went west this week - largely as a consequence of the wind with a strengthening westerly forecast. Coverdale seemed a mite over-optimistic (and wasn't universally embraced) so we undertook a curtailed westerly route via Wetherby, Otley, Bolton Abbey, then Appletreewick and Pateley, returning via Markington and Aldwark. 12 riders left the square with some of the regulars absent doing the Wetherby-Filey
It was reasonably tough into the wind on the way out but we made steady if unspectacular progress. Lunch was taken at the Cavendish Pavilion before we climbed up to Stump Cross Caverns and the tailwind which made for rapid progress back towards York.

SALUTORY LESSON: I don't know if anyone is familiar with latex tubes? I'd been hankering to try them for some time and fitted some - Michelin - a few weeks ago. I'd read of the pros and cons - particularly with respect to overheating with carbon clincher rims - but had taken this with a pinch of salt. Surely if they were frankly dangerous they wouldn't be made in these litigation-ridden times and anyway I have alloy rims on all my wheels and I'm not doing Alpine descents in 30 degree temperatures...... Descending Greenhow with a howling gale behind me there wasn't much air-braking to be had and I guess I was using the brakes a fair bit but I wasn't going crazy fast. Half-way down, with no warning, the rear tyre let out a substantial bang-psssssss and deflated pretty much instantaneously. I front braked to a halt - snaking only a little - and came to a halt right on the steep, narrow section half-way down the hill. At the time, given where I was, the gale, the traffic, and minimal verge, I briefly checked the tyre but could find no obvious hole/shard/thorn, however the rim was noticeably warm verging on hot. I fitted a fresh (butyl) tube and was able to carry on and rejoin the group waiting further on. When I got home I checked the tyre and tube carefully but could find no explanation for the blow-out. The hole in the tube was at the side - neither adjacent to the rim-tape, nor the 'free' part of the tyre but where the tyre is in contact the metal of the bead-hook - I can only conclude that it was heat build up that caused the puncture. Suffice to say I have removed the latex tube from the front wheel and would caution others against latex tubes. Granted the combination of a steep hill and a strong tailwind created an unusual combination that generated more heat than usual and did necessitate more 'brake-dragging' than I would routinely employ but the ambient temperature was only 16 degrees.....

Drama over we climbed past Brimham rocks and thereafter had an uneventful tailwind assisted ride back to town with just under the 100 miles covered.
Thinking of the NY moors next week, Osmotherley and back via Westerdale or perhaps Castleton and back via Fryup?

[Rob]

Just 3 of us on Sunday, but was one of the best rides of the year. Sunny, but cool and the wind had dropped somewhat from the previous day. The air was clear and tasted fantastic, the NY Moors looked like someone had breathed on them and buffed up the colours with their sleeve.

Rosedale, Fryup, Castleton, Westerdale, Surprise View and home. Dr D has been waxing lyrical about Glaisdale Rigg recently, but Fryup Dale must be its equal...

Thanks to the two Andys for the company. Spurn Head next week, details to follow.

[AndyT]

Good summary from Rob. We really are blessed in this part of the world.

The only lowlight of the day was climbing Westerdale with a belly full of Scampi and Treacle Tart, I really should know better by now....

Andy