It's suddenly creeping up on us - 2 weeks on Sunday.
It was a belting ride last year.
50 flat miles up the Vale of York to Richmond where the climbing starts. Marske, Tan Hill, Buttertubs, Fleets Moss, Fan Carl and home via Spofforth. 240km and 3000m of climbing. Classic route. Target of 12 hours, Square to Square off a 0700 start. One cafe stop plus a couple of planned Spa shop refuelings! Ride as a team or push on for a better time - up to you.
Free to enter!
Is anybody up for it at this stage?
Yorkshire Alps
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andystanforth
- Posts: 16
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 12:59 pm
Well, the weather forecast does look "better" for Sunday, but it would be prudent to expect the atmosphere to chuck something at us up in the hills....
I'm expecting 6-8 riders which is a good sized group for this sort of thing. So, here's the strategy for getting round with no melodrama:
0700 prompt start from the Square. The first leg up to Richmond is crucial as there are 50 flattish miles to do as efficiently as possible so we need to disciplined group riding, taking turns and I'd hope to be at Richmond before 1000. Something to watch out for in the Vale of York will be flooding and flints/grit in the road - if you use long valves suggest you bring several tubes in case nobody else's fit your rims...
There's a shop at a petrol station in Richmond - 15 mins rest.
Then the climbing starts - suggest we try to stick together as best we can or at least regroup after the tough bits. Reeth, Tan Hill, Buttertubs - Hawes.
Cafe at Hawes (hopefully 1315). They serve pretty quickly - hopefully in and out in 30 mins.
Fleets Moss and long run down to Grassington. Option of a munchy stop here (Spa shop or cafe, probably the former unless we're very wet). If we're going well may be able to push on (but not sure when next shop, Harrogate, shuts...)
45 miles to go, away from Grassington by 1600. Fan Carl, Duck Street (time to get back into some disciplined group riding as we should be able to motor along again), Penny Pot, Pannel, Spofforth. Back to the Square for 1900.
Easy.
Suggest take a good cape, two big bottles, pockets full of bonk rations, and a bottom gear of ca. 35" (say, 30x23, 34x26 or 39x30)...
Will be a great day - probably THE clubrun of the year.
I'm expecting 6-8 riders which is a good sized group for this sort of thing. So, here's the strategy for getting round with no melodrama:
0700 prompt start from the Square. The first leg up to Richmond is crucial as there are 50 flattish miles to do as efficiently as possible so we need to disciplined group riding, taking turns and I'd hope to be at Richmond before 1000. Something to watch out for in the Vale of York will be flooding and flints/grit in the road - if you use long valves suggest you bring several tubes in case nobody else's fit your rims...
There's a shop at a petrol station in Richmond - 15 mins rest.
Then the climbing starts - suggest we try to stick together as best we can or at least regroup after the tough bits. Reeth, Tan Hill, Buttertubs - Hawes.
Cafe at Hawes (hopefully 1315). They serve pretty quickly - hopefully in and out in 30 mins.
Fleets Moss and long run down to Grassington. Option of a munchy stop here (Spa shop or cafe, probably the former unless we're very wet). If we're going well may be able to push on (but not sure when next shop, Harrogate, shuts...)
45 miles to go, away from Grassington by 1600. Fan Carl, Duck Street (time to get back into some disciplined group riding as we should be able to motor along again), Penny Pot, Pannel, Spofforth. Back to the Square for 1900.
Easy.
Suggest take a good cape, two big bottles, pockets full of bonk rations, and a bottom gear of ca. 35" (say, 30x23, 34x26 or 39x30)...
Will be a great day - probably THE clubrun of the year.
