Clifton CC

Radio silence from the Intermediates over the last couple of weeks, nothin’ but punctures, broken chains and grim weather on our jaunts above Thornton Le Dale and Brimham Rocks …these rides definitely won’t make our “2010 Best of” album.

Saturday though, a glorious day! A Stupendousness of 5 * rode out of the Square on the Inter ride in Milano weather – John C, Jon G, Chris, Tony and yours truly. We headed north on a gorgeous Autumn-laced route through Farlington and Stearsby, then on to Nunnington and Wombleton before a quick fly around the Cockayne loop (acw).

Last time I did the Cockayne loop was earlier this year on a hot Summer’s day. I saw Simon W leap from his bike to wrestle a deadly snake out of harms way with his bare hands! (…not that I would let the truth get in the way of a good story ). In fact we did see a snake, but it was the best kind…a dead one!

No snakes this time though. The now traditional pre-lunch 3-4 mile sprint lobbed us into Helmsley to re-fuel. Feeling good, we decided to climb back up the hill on the B1257 to the Rievaulx Abbey turn off before slogging up the long drag through Scawton to the top of Whitehorse Bank. The descent down the Bank was a hand-cramp affair under brakes to avoid the oncoming tourist traffic charging up the hairpins in the middle of the road.

Then on through Kilburn, ducked through the ‘hole in the wall’ opposite Newburgh Priory, across the farmyard, down to Easingwold, jumped over the A19 to Alne, then had a bit of fun on the new tarmac cycle route all the way back to York. A great day, chunky mileage and the usual barrage of laughs.

With clocks turning back, mileages will now be reduced…we’re scared of the dark. It’s a nice time for anyone else with a reasonable level of fitness to enjoy a great day out with the Inters. It comes with the promise of a great fun cycle blast, no mention of heart rates or training pyramids and a full serving of social banter. Those who fail to deliver the latter get pelted with scones in the café. 10.00am Sat; All welcome!

D.


* Special thanks to Howard for inspiring this description following his ‘Magnificence of 7’ label used to describe the Wednesday evening training group. A special prize will be considered for the best description of a club peloton in 2010 – there’s still time to enter!

Sorry Darren , our posts crossed.

Fantastic weather on Saturday so it would be remiss of me to not mention the H ride. Howard, Dave C, Andrew G, Shaun W, myself and a young lad from the University named Henry had a really enjoyable blast round the wolds.

Apart from a p****** for Dave C the ride was nigh on perfect - although my fitness still leaves a little to be desired

My first stop at Millington since the revamp. Nice enough but it has rather lost it's rural charm IMO. After lunch a blast down Garrowby to stiffen the sinews. No computer for me but Dave C (I think) recorded over 50mph so must have been thereabouts.

Thanks everyone!

K-Ride update.

A tactical change at the last moment took us on a different route to that originally advertised. Under the careful stewardship of Kevin we followed a new route (new to me at least) up to Beadlem near Hemsley.

I don't have any technology to record where we went exactly other than my failing memory and a post ride look at a map. So, I think this was it...

Haxby, Strensall, Farlington, Stearsby, Brandsby, Yearsley, Ampleforth, Oswaldkirk, Nunnington, Beadlam (cafe stop), Harome, West Ness, Slingsby, Coneysthorpe, Castle Howard Avenue, Foston, Flaxton, Strensall, Haxby, home. I live south west of York so I may have hit 75 miles by the time I crawled in.

In summary - great weather, stunning autumnal scenery, good company plus good food equals a fantastic day out on the bike. Thanks again Kevin!

2nd track league meeting of the winter season on Friday night - spent most of the day on Saturday recovering. These short intense sessions really take it out of you - but are great fun. Good start to the league - had two meetings and have been placed in 6 out of 10 rides with 3 wins which has put me in 6th place in the league points. Suspect it may get tougher towards Xmas as everyone sharpens up.

I rode up to Tan Hill (then back with the aid of a train from Northallerton.) I mention this solo effort not because it was any great endeavour (although it was my first 100 mile ride since April due to a knee injury) but because Swaledale and Arkengarthdale were absolutely stunning. If you want to see the trees in the full glory of their autumn colours, you need to go very soon, before the leaves cease to be a vibrant spectacle hanging from their branches, and become a soggy, greasy mess on the roads.

The Sunday ride proved a bit too much though. When I made my excuses at Easthorpe the remaining four were headed down into a very foggy Vale of Pickering, on their way to the Moors. Although I'd like to see what Tan Hill looks like in December, I'm not yet sure whether my knee, weight and overall fitness will be back to the level where I can keep up with the pace required to do 140+ miles on the shortest day of the year. If I do, I will not make the same mistake of leaving my water bottle on my bike outside the pub. Damn sheep were chewing on the nozzle when I came back out. That's one bidon I won't be using again.

As mentioned the Sunday ride comprised 5, and then 4 - Nigel, Heather, Howard & me being the other takers. No Rob so Heather was in charge and had planned a route so hard that apparently required race bikes although I wasn't pre warned.......
The climbing started at Castle Howard and we crossed the Vale of Pickering to Keldholme, Hutton Le Hole, and down Chimney Bank into Rosedale for a good cafe stop. I had a curd tart sitting a bit heavily on the climb out to the "top" at the Red Lion - well thats my excuse. Not one of my favourite climbs especially when we climbed into fog which reduced visibility to zero. Things improved decending Blakey Bank. I reckon thats the first time I've ridden in this direction through Farndale - the short climb out of Church Houses being the hardest of the day which wasn't helped by being overtaken on the 1 in 4 bit by some W****r in a jeep giving us no room for manoeuvre!
Surprise View, Welburn, Nunnington, Hovingham and home. 80 of the hilliest miles I've done for a while. I'll not mention the average speed. Probably the only harder 80 mile ride would be the same in the opposite direction! A great ride, dry and calm with great Autumn colours. Thanks for waiting for me guys.