Recent rides

Sunday, March 14, 2010
Wheel Easy Ride Report 203
Short Ride Report
Hornbeam to Fewston Embankment (approx 20 miles).
7 riders – 6 women and one lucky man.
Chain one came off at the bottom of Oakdale Farm bank. Lynda to the rescue with grease wipes at the breather stop opposite the Ethelburga’s housing estate.
No navigation problems reported on the complex Penny Pot Lane/Army Apprentice College route. Despite the gusty north westerly, all riders passed muster to appear in good order at Swinsty Moor Car Park picnic tables for ice-cream, hot tea and Mars bars.
Chain two slipped off almost immediately, enabling Chris to demonstrate his well honed skills. But the Fewston ghouls had a couple more tricks up their sleeves. Peter lost his electric chain! And then needed his second battery pack. St Michael and St Lawrence congregation hadn’t been so well entertained for many a week.
Back on the open Broad Dubb Road and Norwood Lane, wind behind us and curlews above. Could life be better? Beckwithshaw…oops, chain four in the gutter! Sarah

Click on slide show for all today's photos


Medium Ride Report
24 riders opted for the ever popular medium ride. From the start we decided to split into two groups of 12, the second group kindly led by Richard.
Following the prescribed route via Bishop Monkton and Roecliffe to Boroughbridge only to find that we were the last of the three groups to arrive.
With Coffee alcoholics spilling out onto the streets 5 of us decided to press on to arrive back home in time for lunch, still sticking to the published route via Marton and Arkendale.
In Arkendale the unanimous decision was that we had endured enough of the strong unrelenting wind, and to head for home via Ferrensby. Good route, Fine day, at the end 5x36 miles. Dennis B

Dennis led the medium group faultlessly and without incident to Boroughbridge where we all decamped into various cafés. Dennis fell prey to the siren call of one of Mrs Dennis’ roast dinners and headed for home with his team leaving Keith, me, Alison and Sally to finish our bacon sandwiches, scones and cakes. Keith and Alison devised a suitable route back, using a faded map in an adjacent shop window and we set off into the twinkling sunshine.
Our route took us through Lower and Upper Dunsforth, being overtaken by the Medium Plus group along the way. Just over the A1 and en route to Arkendale we passed Caroline who was masterminding a rescue for one of her team who had taken a tumble and was nursing a sore wrist. All was well under control.
As we swooped left at the Goldsborough turnoff (en route to Flaxby and Knaresborough) Sally’s back wheel went flat courtesy of an award winning thorn. Alison produced the rubber gloves and, in the absence of a spare inner tube, we had to resort to the old fashioned method of rubber and glue. I say “we” in that it was Keith who donned the gloves and executed a masterclass in the noble art of fixing inner tubes whilst we three watched, muttering the usual platitudes about, “really must learn how to do this”. Keith was thanked, promised a pint, and off we went.
Ten minutes later Sally picked up a twig and on removing it heard the unmistakable hiss of all the air being emptied out of her rear wheel a second time. Same routine ensued. Keith was thanked, promised a second pint, and off we went.
The third time involved the front wheel going softish, then softer – and could we find the offending puncture? We all pressed our noses against the inner tube and finally had to send Keith off into the adjacent field where he had noticed a horse trough full to the brim of ice cold water, which finally revealed the offending hole.
Meanwhile, Alison was cooking dinner by remote control, using a mobile phone and a husband, and things had reached the point where she really needed to zoom. So that just left two of us watching Keith execute the third, and mercifully final, miracle of glue and rubber.
Keith was promised a third pint, which cheered him up no end, and off we went effortlessly and with no further incidents back to Harrogate at 3.30 p.m. with 39 miles on the clock.
That’s the joy of Wheel Easy – great company, great ride, fabulous weather, irresistible cakes and the prospect of three pints. Helen

After a ‘democratic’ election by Dennis I was told to take the slower medium group. We soon tired of wanting to overtake the faster riders so as the leader with a poor memory I decided to do the ride with a few omissions and additions. Someone kindly said "just ride, no one will notice".
By stealth we beat Dennis' group to the café at Boroughbridge where we tackled bacon butties.
Our converts from the short ride kept drinking a lot and must have wondered why they had joined us, though their fatter tyres were the only ones to ride a 200 yard path over a field. I thought it was good to walk and admire white capped Little Whernside which stayed in sight much of the day.
The few who stayed my course must have noticed how the ploughed field bridlepath from Coneythorpe had dried out in the wind. Others favoured the A59 and a puncture. (Bookings for Rossett Bicycle Maintenance now open - 5 Tuesdays from 27/4.) It was such a good day we even tolerated the same lazy wind that was in our face on the return just as it had been on the way out.
From Farnham we took the direct route back to Low Bridge and various partings at Starbeck, making 38 miles with 1200 ft of climbing.
Best wishes to Maris who alas broke her wrist. Hope all enjoyed the day even if not quite as advertised. Richard P

Medium Plus Ride Report
It must be spring! When 17 cyclists set out on the medium plus ride the sun was breaking through the clouds. The stretch from Knaresborough to Bishop Monkton found us battling against a head wind then, as we turned down the high street alongside the beck, we felt the wind at our backs and the pace picked up. Shortly before Boroughbridge we passed the medium group who had managed to get ahead of us through the cunning device of a shorter route. By the time we arrived at the teashop in Boroughbridge the sunshine and tail wind had combined to make us all feel a little overdressed. Our group proved too large for the teashop but, being out of the wind, some of us were able to sit outside in the warm sun adding a decidedly Provencal feel to our break. (All right, I do get carried away sometimes but, let's face it, this was the warmest ride so far this year).
It was a long stop but we finally headed off again sans Malcolm who declared, "I am just going to take of my trousers. I know the way so I'll catch you up". We never saw him again and there was some speculation that he might have been arrested. Malcolm, if you are locked up, there are 16 cyclists who will vouch for your character and attest that it was uncharacteristic behaviour, probably brought on by heatstroke.
Meanwhile, back in the peloton we were flying south with the wind behind us. This is what cycling is all about! Sun shining, wheels humming at 15 to 20 mph. We ate the miles: Aldborough, Lower Dunsforth, Upper Dunsforth, Great Ouseburn, Thorpe Underwood, Whixley and Cattal simply flew by. Then, as we turned towards Cowthorpe, the sky darkened and we found ourselves battling a head wind again. Still, it had been worth it and, being Mothers' Day, it felt as though Mother Nature had smiled on us. Ian

(Note from Malcolm: Just want to reassure all at WE! that I made it back without attracting the attention of the local constabulary. However, many thanks to Ian for your concern, and for the character reference which I will retain for future use. It really was so much more fun ‘sans pantalon’ – I recommend everyone give it a try especially on sunny days, with the wind behind you!)

Ian`s Medium Plus Ride and the Lost Sheep. (supplement)
A promise of a great day (not as forecast) at Hornbeam Carpark and a goodly number chose Ian's ride to Boroughbridge, Whixley and so on.
On the way down to Low Bridge Bill W punctured at Calcutt, riders pulled in to check it out, but it was decided to go to Low Bridge and let people know some riders would be delayed.
There was a large number of Wheel Easy at Low Bridge but by 10-15am when Bill was ready to roll it was empty, so it was on to Boroughbridge and hopefully catch Ian`s group.
On Waterside there was one woman and her dog, come here said the owner, unfortunately the small dog who had a poor command of the English Language launched itself at Norman's ankles, whilst the dog was snapping away Norman hit a wall like a pin ball before finally coming to rest on the floor together with bike. Fortunately Norman and bike were in a rideable condition. The owner then after unsolicited advice from seven voices proceeded to put the dog on its lead.
Seriously though it is at times like this when membership of CTC, and the support of their Legal Eagles is reassuring.
It was decided to bypass Boroughbridge and hopefully catch Ian`s group on their way south to Whixley. (A bit like the Saturday morning western`s "we`ll head em off at the pass" )
At Marton Norman (perhaps still feeling the effects of the fall) and Barry turned off for a shorter ride.
At Great Ouseburn there was no sign of Ian`s group, so the urge for caffiene being very strong the remaining five headed for Beningborough. It must have been strong because two coffee`s each were taken, then it was on to York at a good pace, was it the caffiene or the following wind ?.
Lunch in York, then back to Harrogate via the sacred route, it had to be sacred because it was very Holey in fact the holes were more like pit holes than pot holes.
Passing Hookstone Carpark no sign of Jeff Morgan`s Howardian Hill group returning, so we were very much the lost sheep not having seen any other Wheel Easy riders. Sorry we missed you Ian. Dave P

Long Ride Report
Five cyclists set ut on a fairly bright morning for Ampleforth College with the promise to Jill that we wouldn't 'drop' her.
Chris and Dennis got away at Woodlands Corner as the remaining three failed to beat the lights. The ride leader had a feeling of deja vu at this point as on the only previous ride he had led the field split into two packs and never saw each other again after two people had punctures.
However, we regrouped at Calcutt and then opted for the steep climb up Briggate rather than the easier route along Abbey Road.
We pushed on against a head wind to Aldwark Bridge, Easingwold and then had a banana break a further three miles on at Crayke, where we entered the Howardian Hills.
We stopped for a cafe break at Ampleforth College and took in the atmosphere of the interior of the old and beautiful building then a few more hills and flatlands took us through Coxwold, past picturesque Byland Abbey and onto Sessay, Boroughbridge, Knaresborough and home. Approximately 68 miles. Geoff

2010 Wheel Easy Miles (approx) Today 1986 YTD 17877