Clifton CC

Pedalled into the Square with an open mind this morning. While the temperature had reportedly been down to -9 during the night, there hadn't been much more snow. Planned to see how it went - option to turn back and dust off the MTB.

Just Muzzy in the Square and we headed off on a "stock" bad weather route of A166 to Stammy Bridge thence N up Gally Gap to Malton. I'd judiciously selected my fixed from the stable this morning - Paul's bike did his selection for him and by the edge of York he was frozen onto just one gear. Gally was superb - road white-over, clouds of fine snow powder being thrown into the air by our 4 wheels, blue skies, a car every 10mins. Working hard and core temperatures soon improved and some heat conducted down to finger and toe tips. Couldn't help chuckling. Beats staring at the garage wall any day!

Malton, bidons frozen solid, and onto the B road for Hovingham and Helmsley. All gritted along here, a bit slushy in places, but the 23mm tyres bit through to terra-tarmacca without issue. By Helmsley though were ready for a cuppa.

Thawed bidons out on the radiator in the cafe, but to little consequence as they were solid again by Brandsby. Glances over our right shoulder showed the next band of snow coming in. So Sidis were pressed against Shimano and we hot-tailed it down the B road. Snow caught us on te edge of York and we finished in a white-out, laughing again.

Great ride, as Paul said - One to tell the grandkids about. Poor dabs.

Family visiting Saturday, so missed the Sat Club ride, but thanks to Gill & Cath for a great ride on Thursday.

The 1st morning of snow, we swapped our road bikes for MTBs and spent 3+ hours having fun up around Sheriff Hutton and High Sittenham.

I’ve not done this flickr photo thing before, so I hope you can see how much smiling was had in these 2 snaps:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/56430267@N03/

My legs ached afterwards, so it must have done me some good aswell!

Did anyone make the K or intermediate ride on Saturday? Wanted to be out but didn't want to risk it with the snow.

Had an absolutely brilliant weekend in the snow!

Started off mountain biking, which was fun and very pretty:

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/ ... 62ccd8.png

but got a little hard going...

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/ ... efa4fc.png

So we ditched the bikes and went snowboarding instead!

http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l150/ ... 52c320.png

And yesterday we went to Pateley bridge mountain biking which was much less snowy but very icy and it took 3 hours to drive back!

Steph

Oh to be a mountain biker now the snows have come.

Looks great fun, like the photo with the Robin Steph , it would make a lovely Christmas card .

Ian H

Ooh yes you are a genius! There's my cards sorted

You could always come join us you know, we all road ride too, it used to be roadie or mtber, but it seems that more and more people are doing both nowadays...

I would love to join you but I am busy clearing the snow off my drive, I may have reached the road by June.

Just to correct a couple of Robs factual inaccuracies:
I had a choice of 2 gears - 39 x 18 & 48 x 18.
I was carrying an 800ml ice pop on the way out and a slush puppy on the way back.
The snow came over our left shoulder. It chased us home and we were caught in Haxby!

Spectacular views and a much more enjoyable ride than the previous weeks freezing cold and wet Sunday ride - with enough clothing on the temperatures were not so much of an issue.
We were lucky that there had only been light snow Saturday night. If it had been like am on Saturday or today I'd have had to have made alternative arrangements- the mtb was ready & waiting. But whatever I was to do it would have to be outdoors!