Mist, Moors & Muck!

We played host for a ride out east into the North York Moors with Helen & Chris Balfour of Pyractif. They were up in NE to visit family, so we had invited them to join us for nice ride out to test out our hills. The early morning murk was still hanging by the time we had set off from home. A little later than planned as Chris & helen had to setup there sturdy winter bikes - Ridgebacks, after dropping the trusty summer steads off for an overhaul on route north from the Pyrennees.
By the time we had hit the Chequers climb up out of Osmotherley the mist had almost lifted to give a great view east along the scarp of Great Arden Moor.

The roller coaster road that dips and banks across the moor to Hawnby nearly claimed Karen, as she punctured (5th time in last few weeks, need some new tyres!) on the descent to Blow Gill (very Apt). The missus is getting very handy at fixing punctures now so we were soon back on route if a little chilled. After the descent to Hawnby, the switchback down and back up Ladhill Beck Bank was only cleared with finesse by Chris B as the slippery roads/heavy bikes/dodgy cleats claimed the other 3 of us.

North onto the B road towards Chop Gate and we all took rolling turns to up the tempo & keep warm. Helen led us onto the Carlton Bank road and I proudly claimed the cafe wasnt far now! Karen and Chris pressed on just as we hit the drizzly mist. Helen and I crested the rise at Lordstones to see 2 rather pissed off faces before us. Gutted the cafe was shut. My moral took a momentary dive as had been looking forward to a hot mug of Chocolate and any sticky creamy cake. A quick descision was made to fuel up and push on home as the weather had now set in. Carlton Bank safely negotiated, waterproofs donned we hit the flatter lanes through Potto, E Rounton, Deighton to home, with all of us keen to keep the pace high to get home to the warmth and some nosh (well me at least!;-)).
A fun ride out on a testing route to give Chris & Helen a flavour of our training roads. Next time we meet up we will be in Spain on the Warm Weather Training Camp for a week. Cant wait.

http://connect.garmin.com/activity/57468261?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4ce99120784030dd,0

Riding Down South

Enjoyed a great weekend of riding down south, whilst Karen competed for England at the Senior Home International.
Saturday, had a short cycle across the downs from Dicot to Tadley. Really nice quiet roads, with no potholes and smooth tarmac. Obviously West Berkshire have more money to spend on roads than N Yorks CC!

Sunday we had moved base down to the edge of the New Forest, staying at the Sandy Balls complex, near Fordingbridge in some plush pine cabins. I had checked out some routes before the weekend and discovered that one of the Wiggle Sportive's from early October had completed a route going right past. Having setup my garmin with the standard route of 65 miles, i set off early after breakfast into the cold but bright morning sun. The route went south skirting the edge of the forest then climbed up through leafy woodland onto the heath covered plateau and some very pleasant quiet roads. I seemed to be sharing these only with cyclists with a similar plan or the straying ponies and donkeys, and the occasional foraging pig. All were pretty oblivious to my presence and just carried on there merry way.
A very enjoyable ride, even though i think i did it the wrong way round to the sportive riders, it still seemed to work. It was a little tough coming back north from Bucklers Hard towards Lyndhurst with a cross headwind, but once back in the autumnal shade of the forest it was more sheltered.