Originally Posted by
mr brightside
The biggest day out i've ever had on a bike today, including an unplanned hill. I was thinking the route from Fewston church to Yorke's Folly at the top of Nought Bank would be a steady amble through fields and quiet lanes. Turns out that between Stone Houses and the folly there are two valleys, and the elevation of Nought Bank summit is the same as Greenhow so i may as well have gone up to that and back down. So the ride took in 7 hills not 6:
Askwith Moor from Otley
Yorke's Folly from Fewston church (Nought Bank reversed)
Peat Lane
Hartlington Raikes
Embsay Fell
Cow and Calf
Otley Chevin the hard way
There wasn't a lot of time to stop and make social visits, i refused tea at Fewston and just went for a square of millionaires shortbread. There were a load of old Austins coming up Nought Bank, no steam, they all made it. Only 2 pints in the craven arms and a sticky toffee pudding. The legs were getting heavy over the undulations on the way to Embsay, and the fell was a first gear ride. Tea and two slices of cake at St Peter's addingham, all for the princely sum of £4. Cow and calf came and went, but my back was getting very sore and i was dreading the chevin, it being the second biggest climb and last on the list. Chevin was a first gear grind, and if i'd have had a rape whistle i'd have blown it. I felt like i'd been out for years when i got home, 5h17m riding time to be precise. The s-bends at the bottom of Peat Lane are awful, sand banks and huge holes everywhere.
The computer showed 73.5m and when i traced the route on MMap it returned an eye watering 7200' of climb.
Reply With Quote