Recent rides

Sunday, July 18, 2010
Wheel Easy Ride Report 221
Short Ride Report
Four of us set off from Hornbeam with improving weather. Our route was easterly to Knaresborough and the villages beyond before returning for the essential coffee and cake.
So we travelled across Forest Moor Road, down to Low Bridge at Knaresborough and then Abbey Road and Chain Lane to leave the traffic behind by taking Water Lane around the back of Knaresborough. The first village was Farnham where Ben joined us having decided that a ride in from Leeds plus a Medium Ride would be overdoing it a bit. We were pleased to have him with us on the short ride and so then we were the famous five. On to Lingerfield and Scriven and we were covering the ground in no time.
From Bond End we turned into Waterside for a coffee, where there were a group of girls on a hen weekend all dressed in shocking pink. I wished the bride-to-be good luck and was told by her mates she would definitely need it!
Then it was back up the hill to Harrogate with the sun almost shining through. Five riders covered 15 miles. Martin W.

Click on slide show for all today's photos


Medium Ride Report
15 of us, including 4 new riders, set off for Boroughbridge today. Along Forest Moor, we found ourselves being overtaken by a bevy of Wheel Easy riders. Undeterred, we regrouped and made for Farnham in a straggley fashion. Here, Ben, decided to try to met up with the short ride. So, we were down to 14. However, Paul of Killinghall greeted us at Roecliffe. So, back to 15, we hit Boroughbridge for coffee just as the Medium Plus were leaving. Most of us followed them into the Laden Table. It lived up to recommendation! At this point, we bid farewell to Joe and Geraldine, so were down to 13. Following a quick 'conflab' we agreed to go back by Farnham rather than Goldsborough. Dennis then sped off with some of the group while 7 of us went at a more sedate pace towards Arkendale. Here, Paul decided to explore the Goldsborough route while Big John went into turbo drive to get back to Harrogate. Linda and Pete left us at Knaresborough to go home by Calcutt. So, an enjoyable ride on a rather grey day. 12 did 33 miles + contributions from Paul, Ben, Geraldine and Joe. Dennis and Alison

Medium Plus Ride Report
Nine left Hornbeam, heading for a large black cloud, (one which threatened all day but never deposited.),using the Copgrove bridle path to reach Boroughbridge. An early cafe stop at the Laden Table.(Next time we might follow this route the other way round, for a better timed cafe break). Lots of space for bikes and all able to sit at the same table. Biggest toast we've ever seen apparently. Left to make room for another wheel easy group. Uneventful journey as above until Spofforth where I discovered major knee pain had slowed one of us down, so I never quite saw everyone safely back to Hornbeam. But then ride leading had been by committee anyway. Plenty of chat and mixing. A good example of an inclusive Wheel-Easy ride. Returned around 1:30hrs. (How come when I don't volunteer for leading I still end up doing so or back marking. Psychology in the classroom has given an advantage in combatting group enthusiasm ). 40 ish miles. 13/14mph. John P.

Long Ride Report
Long Ride: 18 riders volunteered for today's long ride to Masham's 45th Annual Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally, including 2 very welcome guest riders, Dave and Lindsey, from Ripon. We split into 2 groups: the 6 fast boys plus Lindsay in one, and the 11 mere mortals who proceed at touring pace in the other. Here are the stories of the 2 rides.
7 riders elected to join the faster long ride to Masham each with their own itinerary. We buzzed along to Ripon with the wind behind us and onward to Masham where the ride began to disintegrate. James elected to stay at the rally (our guest riders, Dave and Lindsey from Ripon Loiterers, told us this was likely to be the last steam rally) and Jeff headed straight back home to watch the tour. That left 5 of us heading for Lofthouse. Dave and Lindsey didn't like the weather and headed back to Grewelthorpe leaving a plucky 3 riders to tackle the ascent. There was light drizzle being blown straight at us by gale force winds but we made it and we rewarded ourselves with an ice-cream in Lofthouse.
We all agreed (not much arm twisting required) to include Yorke's Folly to round off a great ride. Phil

11 riders set off at touring pace, heading initially for Knaresborough, Farnham and Copgrove. So were all the other rides, so it was a little chaotic and confusing at first particulalrly when the faster groups were overtaking the slower groups. Eventually we had roads to ourselves and we had the usual stop at Ripon Spa Gardens for refreshments. Then on via Galphay, Kirby Malzeard and Grewelthorpe to Masham, where we arrived in time for further refreshments in the cafes around the town square. James and I then went to the Steam Rally for a very enjoyable 2 hours - our favourite was the steam engine powering a massive saw cutting tree trunks into fence posts (see photo). We also checked out the rumour that this was the last Steam Rally - and ascertained it is the last on the current site, however they will be moving to another venue, but they are still searching for a suitable site. The two of us then sped home - into the wind - along the main roads and proved it is quicker to cycle between Ripon and Harrogate than waiting to catch the 36 bus! In the meantime, the rest of the touring pace ride had made their longer way home via Snape, Well, Wath and Ripon.
Overall, 18 long riders had covered an average of 58 miles each, a total of 1044 miles for the Captain's Log. Eric

Return leg of the long ride to Masham for the touring group.
Eric led us safely and quickly to Masham including an essential coffee and cake stop at Spa Gardens in Ripon. We all had lunch at the Suncatchers Café in the square where we were treated to excellent coffees, spicy bean burgers or beans on toast with excellent service from the young ladies.
Our ride home was reasonably quick despite the wind but we all shared the leading and mainly stayed together. The sun came out as we got to Knaresborough and we had avoided the rain all day.
Super ride, about 62 miles for the returning group of Jill, Sue, Paul, Steve, Richard, Glynn and Gia. Peter, Simon and Bill left earlier but will have done similar miles. Gia

2010 Wheel Easy Miles (approx) Today 1941 YTD 82261