Weekend roundup 6th and 7th September

[craigdabrown]

Ok, it wasn’t actually at the weekend. However, on Thursday and Friday I rode the first stage of the TDF, Leeds to Harrogate, with 14 colleagues from work.

Our Company gives us 2 days leave per year to participate in a charity event or to help out in the local community. So a group consisting of 6 employees from our Leeds office and 9 from Bracknell and London decided to tackle Stage 1. “Not much of a challenge!” - I hear you say. But prior to the summer, a number of these guys hadn’t actually cycled since childhood. (Sshhh! Don’t tell Broom Wagon).

On Thursday, we rode from Leeds to Hawes with an overnight stop at the Youth Hostel there. Don’t know what’s come over me recently, but while the others headed straight for the pub I agreed to accompany one rider who’d decided it would be rude to be in Hawes and not use the opportunity to knock the Fleet Moss climb off her list.

Friday saw us straight out of breakfast and onto Buttertubs and by the time we’d climbed out of Reeth they were obviously getting a taste for the rewarding views and seemed genuinely disappointed that there were no major climbs to come. Lunch at Leyburn, a regroup for ice cream at Ripley Castle and we arrived safely in Harrogate. Fleet Moss girl then decided that it was such a lovely afternoon it would be a great idea for the two of us to forego the planned train journey and cycle back to the Leeds office.

All too often, we take the fantastic scenery and wonderful cycling on our doorstep for granted and it’s not until you witness other people experiencing the “Wow!” factor that you realise just how lucky we are. The lovely weather helped too.

A fantastic couple of days, with a great bunch of guys, money raised for good causes and, technically speaking, we were still actually working.

[PhilSud]

I did the 100K Vineyards and Windmills Audax, which started at Walton near Wakefield.

A very hilly ride with some fantastic scenery around the lanes near Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Penistone.

I managed to ride most of the route with a group from Calder Clarion Cycling Club, which made the constant climbing coupled with the unfamiliar roads a lot easier to handle.

A Grand Day Out.

(Next week, Dave's Mini Tour of the Dales).

Phil.

[Dr Dave]

8:45 ride for me on Saturday. Drizzle interspersed with steadier rain but not cold enough to be seriously foul. 70 miles door to door looping towards Ripon in a group of 10 ably lead by Tony G.
John S unfortunately took a tumble on the slippery surface - trust no delayed injuries developed once he got home.
Thanks to all for the company - looks like I'll be doing this ride pretty consistently 'til Xmas when all-day rides on Saturday fit domestic arrangements again.