Clifton CC

Proper winter clubrun today. Biting cold, blue skies, frost, snow, open fire in the cafe, clear air. Only missing factor was frozen biddons... maybe next week.

Five riders in the Square. Steen and Simon re-routed to Helmsley after surveying the frozen tundra north of H-le-H. This left self, Mussy and Andy to cross a fantastically clear Rosedale Moor. A couple of stretches of Chimney bank had to be negotiated on foot along the verge, but no melodrama. Running a bit late so sampled the cafe in Rosedale, before fabulous climb out of Rosedale Head into the snow-line. Fryup Dale was white-over and we pushed on to Blakey Ridge. Fantatsic descent to H-le-H then Surprise View and home through Nunnington etc.

Grand day out. 85miles door to door (and felt like a few more than that towards the end.) Back home in time to wash bikes in daylight.

Next week is the Xmas pudding run to Scarborough. No need to book - just turn up in the Square at 0900. I think it's the Saturday crew version the day before. "Ultimate All-Rounder" accolade to anyone who can manage two Xmas dinners in the w/e!

Tan Hill the week after.

Impromptu over Xmas, then back to some grass"routes" 70-80 mile clubruns through Jan/Feb.

Shortly after our first re-route out of Hutton le Hole due to the ice on the roads. Simon and I took a bit more comfort from the better conditions on the main drag though the Moors and a 15 miles to Castleton sign.
So we quickly abandoned Hemsley and it was onward and upward to Castleton to meet up with the three amigos in the cafe. We could not help a bit of a snigger when no bikes were propped up against the cafe wall.
We got quick service and by 1.30 we were feed and watered. Alas with no amigos we could only guess they has also turned back.
The Westerdale road was also covered in ice so we retraced our route back to the 170. As Rob said the views were stunning with little traffic on the roads a real pleasure to be on the moor. We hung a right past Kerbymoorside and left for Welborn, Hovingham you know the rest.
Back in the City for 4.10 88 miles pockets empty of food happy. Great day out looking forward to next Sunday.

Steen

Great ride on Sunday. A triumph of perseverance and "knowing the roads". We'd been winging it a bit trying to plot a route north which on the whole went to plan but even Flaxton common had to be treated with care. The descent to Amotherby was just about ok. Onto Great Barugh . We were going to try for Appleton Le Moors but opted for Hutton Le Hole with the intention of working our way round Lastingham and Cropton and upto Rosedale. But our luck ran out just after climbing out of H Le H. Steen and Simon opted for Helmsley whilst we decided to chance the Rosedale Chimney road which looked to be fine. A glorious climb up but as expected the descent had to be walked in part mostly on the grass bank not easy in road shoes! So as not to dig ourseves an even bigger hole we opted for a cafe in Rosedale which was marginally cooler inside than out although the all day breakfast was great. They had a fire going - not so much smokeless as heatless!
So as to demonstrate some level of ambition and to recirculate the blood we headed out North to join the Castleton road near the Lion Inn. A covering of snow up there which would have ruled out going either down or back up Fryupdale if Castleton had remained our destination. Blakey ridge back down into Hutton Le Hole. with crystal clear views. Right for Gillamoor and KMoorside. Pretty stuffed in the last 20 miles but only when I got home realised a spoke had broken in my back wheel and it was badly rubbing the back brake. At least thats my excuse!

Thanks guys for a top ride out, especially Steen for showing me the Castleton tea room. I've done a few 100 mile rides before but always when the temperature was a good 20c warmer. Should be fully thawed out in a few days.
Had to add 10 mile diversion once near to York to make it an official 3 digit ride in December.

Simon