Inters/A-Ride for Sat, Apr 16

[Tony]

I wanted to post this early to get some feedback and the benefit of local knowledge.

In the run-up to the Fred Whitton, we're faced with mixed requirements from a small group that's training hard and wants miles+hills, and the wider audience that wants a day ride, of which a few members are still building toward their Summer fitness goals.

Accordingly, I've created a route with lots of options in the hope that everyone will find something that meets their needs.

First up, I'm expecting that the roadworks on the north side of Huby (Sand Lane?) are complete. If not, we'll have to divert around Huby to Crayke.

I've penciled-in a climb up Boltby Bank, but anyone not wanting to tackle this could take White Horse from Kilburn and reconvene with the group at the Osmotherley cafe stop.

Some of the group may elect to return from Osmotherley, while I've devised a route to Castleton for the FW crew. I don't have experience of these roads, but Google maps indicates they are paved.

Climbing out of Castleton, I've routed us into Rosedale, for what I expect will be another short stop for a caffeine top-up before another assault on the Chimney, followed by a standard route home via HLH, Amotherby and Castle Howard.

Weather is calling for +8 with some N wind (tailwind home ) and possibility of an afternoon shower.

185Km / ~115 miles square to square, and more lumps than last week's 2,700+ metre hill fest.

Given the forecast for a wet n' sloppy Friday and a chance of a shower on Saturday, fenders are recommended

View and download the route at RidewithGPS or click the map.

[bgibs]

Sounds like a good route Tony. We discussed on the way home last week that it would have been good to set off slightly earlier than usual given the length of the ride, as it seems we will be out for longer this week does anybody feel that it would be appropriate to do so this week?

[dave c]

Tony

Route looks good. You could go straight over the A172 after Swainby, it loops back onto A172 for just a short distance before you turn right for Faceby.

If you want to cut a bit off the route, but still probably as much climbing, you could turn right after Kildale to Westerdale up to Ralph Crosses.

Cheers

Dave

[Dr Dave]

Probably won't be doing the ride as A. I need to be back before 7 and B. We did the Osmotherley road recently.
Will aim to do a 90 odd mile ride from 10 til 5 if anyone else is interested in this.

[Tony]

Thanks for the confirmation and suggestions, dave c, we'll certainly consider bridging over Westerdale if we're tight for time. I inserted Castleton as an alternate refueling stop to Rosedale, in case we don't want to attack the Chimney with 'cold' legs.

Evidently, I've failed in my desire to appease the wider group

[Dr Dave]

Thanks for the confirmation and suggestions, dave c, we'll certainly consider bridging over Westerdale if we're tight for time. I inserted Castleton as an alternate refueling stop to Rosedale, in case we don't want to attack the Chimney with 'cold' legs.

Evidently, I've failed in my desire to appease the wider group

Do I detect an element of rebuke Tony

The 'short-cut' via Westerdale is a lovely road - care is needed at the ford if it's deep and pre-select a low gear for the climb out on t'other side.

[Tony]

Absolutely not, Dave.

FWIW, an "extended Osmotherley" route was not my first choice, but suggested by another regular rider. Since it was only 5 weeks since we were last up there, I purposely changed the outbound route and included escape options for those not wishing to complete the larger route (intended for the FW participants).

For some time, the group has been discussing the option of forming a secondary or splinter group that would ride at an easier pace, perhaps this is a good time to lead that charge? While it was suggested that both groups would ride the same route, that doesn't have to be cast in stone.

[kevnorm]

Yes for 90 miler rain or shine or rain and shine. K