Recent rides

Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wednesday Rides
Poddlers Ride Report
Another potentially glorious day. Excellent. Jill and Big John were raring to go as we rode up to Hornbeam. There was talk of Masham and Timble Tuesday (on Wednesday) and then an array of riders all deciding to follow the Poddlers, due to engagements and meetings and things to do later on. I had decided to head off for Litttle Almscliff and 11 followed, en route admiring the wonderful work that John W and Dennis and others had completed on the Rossett Path yesterday. Obviously this following did not last for long and on the slope up to Little Almscliff I followed them (bring back the Manor Park corner cut off, I say). Half way up to Little Almscliff Max left the group for a date with a 24 hour sickness bug. At the top John W. and Big John left for other important engagements back in town. After a water intake for all (Sue C's advice to help with our new careers), the rest of the group now 8 continued towards the Golf Balls of Menwith Hill, promising Trevor that his bike would remain intact and clean and there would certainly be no hills. The view across the valley towards Pateley and Little Whernside was as perfect as ever and we swooped down towards Hampsthwaite with a spring in our tyres.
Gliding effortlessly up this slope we met Sue D's husband in a very fetching yellow outfit, off to conquer the hills of Grassington. Sue seemed not to know this person as he sped on his way with not a glance from her. Carefully manoeuvring around the work men, we enjoyed a car free run down into Hampsthwaite, where Richard sped off to his important meeting. Only two men were left, abandoned with 5 women, and as Trevor noted neither of them got a word in edgeways for most of the ride back. Quite right and proper, as they obviously had not filled in the necessary forms to allow speaking. Dennis turned off at the top of Knox Lane, with half an hour at least to spare before lunch. The rest of the group sped off towards home and Hornbeam, Jenny's bike thankfully, still cleanly glittering in the same state Glen had left it. A gentle ride, in gentle conditions with gentle company. 3 at 15 miles and 8 at 21.56 miles. CG

Click on slide show for all today's photos


Wheel Easy Ride Report
A wonderful day and our first 60 mile ride of the year in brilliant sunshine. Thanks Jill who had a midweek day off, for ordering the sun today - we all felt that spring really was in the air.
Twelve of us set off for Masham the hilly way according to our leader Martin, and after pleasantries and bike maintenance with the EG’s we sped away to Ripon.
After much discussion we agreed to stop for coffee at Spa Gardens where Bridget and Kevin decided to return home via Fountains Abbey and the rest of us enjoyed the fabulous run to Masham through Kirkby Malzeard and Grewelthorpe. With one final swoop left to get in to Masham Dennis and Glyn decided they needed more hills so they cycled off to Lofthouse.
Instead of stopping in Masham we went on to Thorp Perrow for lunch, admired the wonderful snowdrops and wild anemones on the road to Snape and back through Ripon. A great day out. Gia

EG's Ride Report
A large number of Wheel Easy riders gathered at Low Bridge with the promise of great cycling weather. The first to leave were the WE`s led by Martin, the EG`s lingered on to wait for the 10o`clock gun. Then Peter B received a call from Eric who was running late, it was agreed for him to meet us at Morrisons cafe in Boroughbridge, however turning into Staveley there was Eric waiting for us! (He must have broke the sound barrier going through Starbeck.) Then into the Cafe for the first caffeine of the day.
After sustenance Peter and Bill W left to return via Roecliffe, then John returning via Langthorpe (all had good reasons and notes from their Mums).
Then on to Thornton Manor and Topcliffe alongside the Swale to Skipton on Swale. It was great cycling in such good weather but we did meet some scary sculptures past Pickhill, especially scary had it been dark (see photo). We then crossed the disused railway bridge (see photo) to Maunby, no problems except the last part of the track was being worked on resulting in a stop to clear the mud off our brakes and out of mudguards.
Then southwest to Kirby Wiske and Thirsk and into the White Horse Cafe for a late lunch, where two EG`s succumbed to a Pensioners Special of fish, chips and mushy peas, tea, bread and butter (wonderful).
Then south to Dalton and Cundall and Boroughbridge where late afternoon tea was taken, guess where! of course in Morrisons Cafe.
The remaining five Eric, Dave P, Dave W, Norman and Terry then returned to Knaresborough and Harrogate in a glorious sunset.
Door to door mileages would vary between 63 and 69 miles for the riders. Longest run for the EG`s this year but not too difficult as the weather was great, the route was flat and the pace was steady. Dave P

2010 Wheel Easy Miles (approx) Today 1457 YTD 15891