Clifton CC

Gerard has come up with a nice little route for Saturday: heading north initially and then skirting some of the roads north of Knaresborough and onto Wetherby and onto Tadcaster.

Should be about 70 miles for the round trip from the square.

Highly enjoyable 08:45 ride this morning. Weather was ideal; nice blue skies and a little bit of a breeze – you couldn’t really ask for better conditions at the end of October. It was most certainly weather for shorts! We ventured up to Boroughbridge via Aldwark Bridge and the Dunsforths. From there we meandered around the lanes of Bishop Monkton, Markington and Nidd before ending up in Knaresborough. It was then south to Wetherby, onto Wighill, Tadcaster and back into York through Bolton Percy, Appleton Roebuck and Bishopthorpe.

We had a total of 8 takers for the ride this morning and all contributed their fair share of the pace-making duties. All in all we covered around 70 miles from the square and we returned to York for the ascribed 12:45. Though I am unable to recall any particular hills on the ride I have still recorded 2,400 ft of ascent. According to Garmin the average speed was a fairly healthy 19.4 mph. Fingers crossed the mild and clement weather continues through to next week. If so, I think a trip north into the Howardian Hills is in order.

What great weather for October. Quite a flat route as planned with the wind bringing us back into York at the end. Eight 08:45 regulars setting a good pace throughout with a bit of riding in echelon to get us through the strong cross winds.

Fingers crossed for good skies and slightly less wind and we will make it back up to the Howardian Hills in the next few weeks.