Clifton CC

How was it?

Turned up for the Sunday ride. Was just me and Helen. If you stayed under the duvet then I'd guess you don't quite qualify for a white feather.

It started cold and wet and got, largely, worse. White Horse Bank was a river bed. Near the top of Boltby Bank we were presented with the option of heading round to Helmesley or committing to the ride over the top via Hawnby. We looked at each other with that cyclist shrug that said "well, we're soaked already....we might as well press on". To be truthful, neither of us had been out all week and we needed the miles.

Its always grand up there though and the gradients kept us warm. Then open fire in Osmotherly cafe nearly made it warm. Helen couldn't get her gloves back on for the return leg, which made me chuckle at first, but then we got quite alarmed as it was turning to sleet outside. After nearly 15 mins struggling H gave up and cut the lining out with a pair of scissors! Ernest Shackleton would be proud of this story eh?

Thimbleby Ford was like I'd never seen it. Then H punctured. I forbade her to take her gloves off, but my fingers were soon blue and it was all I could do to get the tyre back on.

Managed to keep going after that and made good progress. You could tell it was a hard ride as even H went quiet in the last 20 miles. 95 miles and not a patch of me was dry.

Well done to the Sunday riders!

Saturday's Intermediates took in a quiet lanes Kirkbymoorside route. Out via Castle Howard, Amotherby, Great Baraugh.

Very cheap cafe, where us 10 sporting riders swapped germs, erm, enjoyed the ambiance.

Having made good time, we were able to again avoid the busy roads on the return leg and made the miles up to 70+ via Welburn, Hovingham and even contested the traditional downhill freewheel. Steph turned into excited child-mode in anticipation of this: 'are we nearly there yet?' and was almost distraught at Pete taking the honours in the event!!! Suspect he'll need to check that his cones haven't been tightened up for his next ride!

Run in via Farlington.
A very enjoyable day which saw blue skies once we'd ridden out of the grey drizzle over York.

Thanks to all for your company: Bernard, Cath, Rich, JohnG, Pete, Steph, Elaine, Arthur, John.

Claire

The H group consisted of Howard, Ian H and myself. It was pretty cold and misty when we set out from the square which may account for the low turn out. Nonetheless we set to and progresssed steadily out over Aldwark bridge and over to Markington.

Around 11am the skies lightened and we had pale sunshine as we passed through Grewelthorpe and on to the Masham cafe stop.

One of the delights of this time of year is the mud/farmyard facepack that accumulates after a few miles (unless you sit on the front all the time or are hanging off the back!). By lunch Howard had a mild covering, Ian and I rather more. The usual lunchtime fare was consumed amidst varied chatter - not least the anticipated Calais to the Pyrenees ride in warm, pleasant May!

The way home was uneventful - once we'd warmed up again. About 80 miles door to door. Once home I noticed that my rear tyre was half-flat - first p****re in ages though so I can't really complain.