Today's Bike Ride

[Fellbeast]

As everyone will know on 1st August is the Tom Pidcock Gran Fondo (from Ilkley - natch) of up to 180km of the finest climbs in t' Yorkshire Dales (Halton Gill, Kidstones Pass, you know them) so today I initially thought I would revisit past joys - but with a forecast of rain I then pondered if I really wanted to be chugging up a stream of gravel in the middle of nowhere on a cold, wet, miserable Sunday in May.

So instead I pootled round the reservoirs of the Washburn Valley willing it to rain so I could feel justifed with my aforementioned decisiveness.

Naturally the sun then came out and the weather was fine for an hour or so but just before I became really grumpy it finally poured down, thus allowing me to feel exonerated and, of course, turn for home - after all riding in the rain isn't that much fun even when you have a smug feeling inside.

So 23 miles + 2000 feet and a warm self-satisfied feeling.

We were out on the bikes yesterday afternoon Graham and we didn't have any rain. 27 miles and 2,700 feet from Horton, looping out and back to Malham, with of course a mandatory cake and coffee stop at Townend Farm Shop in Airton. To be fair the clouds were really dark over Skipton way, viewed from Malham, and later in the day Settle kopped a deluge, with localised flooding and all sorts.

A couple of 'fine' (sic) climbs for us too - first off out of Stainforth up Goat Lane and then, straight after that, the Henside Road down and up!

[Travs]

Not so much a bike ride, more an afternoon out accompanied by a bike.

Headed westward, with a brief stop at Oaks-in-Charnwood where my wife was playing a tennis match; brief, because the home club didn't want any spectators.

Carried on, and couldn't resist wandering into Cademan Wood. In 1993/94 I spent hundreds of hours here and in the neighbouring Grace Dieu Wood and High Sharpley, surveying for an orienteering map. Since then, it has become a magnet for mountain-bikers, so I felt rather out-of-place on my touring bike with 32mm tyres. Anyway, I can't go through Cademan Wood without visiting the summit of High Cademan; and that has to be done by a scramble through the crags on the west side. I've noticed the cave with the hole in its top before, but never previously tried going up that way. The scramble up was fairly easy, but twisting across to get up through that hole seemed too risky, so I retreated; I didn't want the embarrassment of having to call for help if I got stuck.

Continued on my bike ride, exploring some of the back streets of Coalville on my convoluted route to Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Had a mooch round the St. Helen's churchyard (the church building was locked). Also stopped to look around St. Mary's churchyard at Coleorton; it would appear that this is the only place from where the public can see Coleorton Hall and its grounds ["Private Property, 24-hour surveillance", according to the sign at the start of the driveway].

Got thoroughly soaked by a heavy shower in the last half-hour before reaching home.

"Back streets of Coalville..."

Used to go to a club in Coalville on the main drag called The Emporium. It was quite well-regarded throughout the country as a "proper club"

[Llani Boy]

"Back streets of Coalville..."

Used to go to a club in Coalville on the main drag called The Emporium. It was quite well-regarded throughout the country as a "proper club"

A Gentleman's Club Travs?

[Graham Breeze]

...and later in the day Settle kopped a deluge, with localised flooding and all sorts.

But...but...haven't we long-suffering tax payers paid for a thousand tons of concrete to provide two dams to ensure the good burghers of Skipton stay snug and safe during showers?

[Fellbeast]

But...but...haven't we long-suffering tax payers paid for a thousand tons of concrete to provide two dams to ensure the good burghers of Skipton stay snug and safe during showers?

It wasn’t the river just sheer weight of deluge I think

[Graham Breeze]

Rest day for me today but for those who might have missd the Giro:

God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.

[Llani Boy]

Rest day for me today but for those who might have missd the Giro:

God's in his heaven, all's right with the world.

And Peter Sagan has still got it!

[Graham Breeze]

With a rest day for the Giro I decided to do the Arncliffe - Halton Gill - Sannat Hall Farm - Malham Tarn - Arncliffe loop, and what a glorious blue sky/ fluffy white clouds day it was. Gorgeous.

And as a bonus the 6 miles between Halton Gill and Sannat Hall Farm were closed to all traffic for resurfacing (except for North Yorkshire Highways' boys from the black stuff lorries). They were doing a good job - proper tarmac and all but perhaps they have been told how much the claims for wrecked Campagnolo Bora wheels will run to for pothole damage after the forthcoming Tom Pidcock sportive? Anyway it was a silent, serene ride along the Pen y Ghent fell valley. I kept looking up to see if I was being monitored by Fellbeast's surveillance helicopter but apparently not.

The climb out of Halton Gill (to feature on the sportive) is signed at 16% but there are two later climbs on the loop signed at 20%. Strava agrees with one but suggests the other peaks at 24.8% - and who am I to argue?

All in all, a delightful day. Only 20 miles but 2000 feet, a sun tan and temptation to go round again.

[felltrumpet]

"Back streets of Coalville..."

Used to go to a club in Coalville on the main drag called The Emporium. It was quite well-regarded throughout the country as a "proper club"

West End was the club that I played at with a Motown band a few times in early 2000s, sadly On the main street to Ashby not the back streets. The bingo was good there on a Wednesday.

[Wheeze]

26 miles/1706 feet at 15 mph average....1hr 46 mins.
As I felt pleased with myself I reflected that the top marathon runners would have covered the same distance (on the flat) only 16 minutes slower. That is MAD!