Clifton CC

Firstly, the Club Presentation Evening on Friday. Big thanks to the organisers again. Kevin had taken the day off work as usual to sort out the trophies. Nice relaxed atmosphere, great venue, and good to see a big table of talented teenagers all quietly enjoying themselves.

Icey start for the Sunday Clubrun and rather surprised to find a group of 8 in The Square willing to brave the conditions. Headed out on the Wetherby Road for maximum grit. We had no issues, but we were all a little tense. So when we got to Wetherby it was agreed to grab an early bacon sandwich in Knaresborough to allow a thaw to set in. This tactic was somewhat successful as by the time we left it was sleeting . Still, the ice melted away as we headed north for Ripon.

Looped back round through Wathe and Helperby. The rain stopped, but the roads stayed wet and the temperature not far above freezing. Just under 70 miles for the day, but it felt like plenty.....

Well done to all and thanks for the company - Muzzy, AndyG, Andy(notGraeme), Jonnie, Steen, Broomy and Nigel.

I'll pencil in a ride to Brimham Rocks for next week. But again we'll feel our way depending on conditions.

Golly, you guys are braver than I was today. I was going out with Alison B until I saw the condition of our road. What tyres are you on in order to be safe in bad weather?

Normal tyres. Just stick to the bus routes, which are usually well gritted. Hence Wetherby Road today. But keep vigilant. Often the worst bit of road of the day is right outside your gate - so always worth going out and having a look. Can always come back if really bad.

A 2°C temperature swing can change things totally, in either direction. So you just have to stay flexible and adapt plans accordingly (take a map).

If you come across a bad patch - if it's white frost you can usually ride with care - only use back brake. If it's black Ice you have to get on Shanks' Pony.

The last 2 weekends have been windy, next weekend will prob be icy again. The weekend after could be wet..... As Muzzy likes to say: "it's winter, we have one every year" so you just have to try to ride when you can.

7 in the square Saturday 10am. John B, Graham, Simon, Richard, Tony G and one more - apologies that I didn't catch/know his name
We also took the Wetherby road for similar reasons and proceeded OK as far as Wetherby where we 'lost' Tony and Simon - not sure what happened to them - but gained Dr Joe who had arrived at the square late and chased us down. By now it was sleeting heavily and the temperature on my Garmin had dropped to freezing again. We continued on and rode as far as Spofforth heading for Otley but the worsening conditions with large flakes of snow made us chicken out and track across to Knaresborough. Wet glasses with condensation meant poor vision and the road through Follifoot was covered in slush making progress slightly hairy in places. To cap it all, Dr Joe sustained a pinch puncture on a pothole on the out-skirts of town. After a brief conversation it was agreed that rather than everyone stand around getting hypothermia, 3 of us would press on to the cafe leaving John, Graham and Joe to gfix the tube and join us later.
By the time we got to the cafe my hands and feet were soaked through and frozen - I don't think anyone else was much better. Somewhat surprisingly however, after eating, rather than head straight home, Joe, John and Graham stated that they wanted to get a few more miles in The rest of us just wanted to get back so we took the usual route home via Tockwith. On the way back I just couldn't get warm and so once we'd reached Tockwith decided to press on and try and generate some heat in time trial mode - sorry for not sticking together all the way back guys but my hands and feet were frozen solid and I reckoned we were near enough back....
Can't remember the last time my extremities were so painful on a bike. Maybe I need to investigate more waterproof gear although the combination of cold and wet would have challenged most equipment I guess.

Thanks for the ride on Sunday gents, as per usual ably captained by Rob - the cafe and coffee in Knaresboro was just too good to leave, I could have stayed there all afternoon. Sorry for the faffing with my exploding tyre, it was too cold to wait around. I've always looked askance at the traditional cyclist with a spare tyre stuffed under his saddle as in 25+ years of cycling I've never needed one so it was a good job Rob had one.
The rack on my bike will have to go before next week though, the bit of shimmy it seems to introduce to the back end of my bike is no problem on my own on reasonable surfaces but a recipe for disaster when out with a group on icy roads.
See you next week though if we've got snow and ice I'll be trying to swap with Steen for his 'angry' bike.

Rob has spared you the fine detail in his account as I carried on alone instead of stopping in Knaresborough.
Sunday seemed to be worse than it should have been. As it had been a dry night I was expecting the roads to be reasonably ok but I dont think the gritting this year is as thorough as previous years. But the main roads were ok so Knaresborough was the best compromise. From there I stayed on the main roads up to Ripley where it started snowing. Took the right up Scarrah bank, Fountains Abbey and turned for home. The roads up there were reasonably ok although I could avoid a few icy patches with a bit more freedom riding alone and ride out in the road slightly further. Caped up in Ripon for a wet ride home - back road to Boroughbridge, Dunsforth and Aldwark Bridge. Over four hours, a few hills, no dramas. 1 deg C and raining is about as bad as it gets. Really glad I was wearing the heavy duty winter gear and fitted new mudguards the night before!