Weekend Roundup - 21st/22nd Feb

[craigdabrown]

Following an eventful week, nice just to get out cycling on Saturday. Was slightly disappointed that one of my new-found acquaintances from Wednesday evening didn't show up for a ride. Perhaps he hasn't had a chance to fit mudguards to my nicked bike yet.

The overnight frost had all but gone by 10am, so conditions were cold but pleasant when we left the Square with a bit of a westerly wind. Eight riders (Kevin, Mark, Steve, Dawn, MarkB, PeteS, DaveI and myself) opting for the "K" ride and a trip to Malton.

We'd only reached Haxby when the recent spate of punctures continued, this time MarkB the afflicted rider. Mark gallantly insisted that the rest of us should continue on our way and he'd make his own way to the cafe.

Kevin chose a cracking route to Malton, via Huby, Crayke, Brandsby, Terrington and Coneysthorpe. Unlike last week, visibility was superb and we had some lovely views around the climb at Snaregate Hill, although quite a biting wind when out of the sunshine. Hidden Monkey for the cafe stop, with MarkB timing it perfectly, arriving just as we were about to order.

Always seems to be cold when you come out of that particular cafe and it took a bit of time to warm up again, catching up with the group when my chain came off on the climb out of Malton did help though. After that, a largely uneventful ride back via Kirkham with the group splitting into two after Upper Helmsley. Really nice company and ride, thanks everyone, and back in York at just over 60 miles.

[Dr Dave]

9 left the square for the 10 am Intermediate/A ride on Saturday - John B, Kevin, Simon, Graham, Tony G, Dave C, Matt, Ian H and self - heading for Bridlington. Under bright and sunny skies we made good progress out via Galley Gap to North Grimston where Tony branched off. The remainder took the Duggleby road over the wolds as far as West Lutton where Matt, Dave and Ian headed back leaving 5 of us to visit the coast.
I always enjoy the ride out to Brid - it is a smooth, straight and rapid run almost invariably with a tailwind all the way and whilst it was cold when the sun went in behind the occsional cloud, for the most part the sunshine kept the temperature warm enough.
At the seafront cafe, I popped next door for real fish 'n chips (in the paper), the others sat in the warm and had the usual sit-down re-fueling with banter but all too soon it was time for the headwind leg of the journey. So far we had kept things together OK but on the way back it was clear that Kevin and Simon were the foxes whilst Graham John and I were the hounds - dogged in pursuit but always playing catch-up.
Without dramas we passed via Sledmere to Thixendale and then over the escarpment and home via Buttercrambe. I'm not sure I ate enough as I was feeling decidedly empty when I got home - longer days when it's only 4 degrees perhaps require more fuelling - rather a schoolboy error and a lesson re-learned?
Thanks to all for a good ride. I may do the 8:45 ride next week (so as to be back for the England:Ireland match) so if someone can select a route and guide everyone round I'd appreciate it .

[Rob]

A ride of 2 halves on Sunday.
Just 6 in The Square. With Muzzy taking an early bath, that left Ed, Andy, Andrew, Broomy and self to tackle White Horse Bank and the Hawnby mountain road. Fantastic morning to be out. Crisp air, expansive views.
Sociable cafe stop in Osmotherley. Meanwhile the weather outside was deteriorating. We left in wet sleet, which soon turned to stinging rain and a rising headwind. There followed 2 and a half hours of grim determination. Character building stuff. The lanes were bathed in grinding paste which resulted in horrible attrition of components (the bikes didn't fair too well either). Not a foot went down until Wiggington.

88miles in the bank, earning a special high interest rate. To be withdrawn on the first day of spring.

Thanks for the company chaps, you are officially awesome.

[Broom Wagon]

Wow what a stinker Sunday's ride was. All went very well until the cafe stop. The road to Osmotherly via Hawnby is one of my favourites and forgive me if I wax lyrical a little over the different winter browns of the moor. The cold fresh air made Andrew's breath look like a good steam engine as he chuffed off into the distance over Snilesworth moor. Then the treat of the day was the cafe, I must give a shout out for the coffee pot in Osmotherly - roast dinner was just £5.95 and there was far more than five hungry cyclists could eat - unbeatable value for money and very good too. But meanwhile outside the cold but dry day had changed to heavy sleet. We couldn't put it off any longer and rode back to York into strong wind and heavy rain - I doubt it was much more than 4 degrees either. The four cyclists who completed the quintet are some of the hardiest types you'll meet but I think I speak for us all when I say it wasn't fun. I was praying that none of us had mechanicals because if we'd have had to stop in the freezing rain I think we'd have been in trouble. By the time I got home, not just my fingers but my hands had been numb for some time, I couldn't unlock the door and the pain when feeling started to return was beyond swearing. I've done rides more physically demanding by a long chalk, but I'll remember Sunday's ride as one of the tough ones for a long time - luckily Rob says I can count each mile as two on a day like that, so I did 198 miles
No Sunday runs for the next fortnight for me though - family commitments, heck it might be all of eight degrees by the next time I'm out.

[paulM]

As mentioned I was part of the softer outer leg of the Sunday ride. I was planning turning off at Hawnby but punctured on the decent down to the village so had to exit the group anyway. Knowing I would be into the wind all the way home I took the right before the village so avoiding several very nasty climbs. The highlight of this stretch being a load of Rally cars on a road section between some special stages and a stoat in its white winter coat never seen one of those before! That was as exciting as it got and the rest of the ride was a bit of a grind - Helmsley, Harome, Castle Howard. The cape came on at Flaxton although the rain didnt amount to much until after I was home. About four and a half hours riding time and I was returning from Towthorpe tip mid afternoon when Broomy was coming the other way. At least we can say the forecast was about right for once!

[MikeR]

Gorgeous conditions for the 08:45 on Saturday, crisp and clear with only a light wind (at the outset). Surprisingly, for such good conditions, only three of us from the Square for our adventure over to Harewood House via Bramham. A really nice route with some good climbs for Gerard to show Simon and me a clean set of heals.

Quite a lot of Tour de France reminiscing in the grounds of Harewood. Sadly we found that they had dug up the road that leads to the lower gate and, despite our best cyclocross efforts, we had to turn back and head out of the main gate before continuing down the hill and on to Pool in Wharfedale. After the turn, we picked up the, now much stronger, wind to carry us back to York at speed.

Simon decided to do a one man time trial from Weatherby to York, despite Gerard and I trying to relieve him. This display of power quickly saw us back in York for 12:30 with Simon proclaiming that he wanted to do the training ride for a rest