Group training ride today but as it was Mother's Day everyone wanted to be home quicker so we were doing a shorter ride today.
Trouble was I was a bit late for picking up Richard and I had a soft tyre so we made a quick call to Mike to say we would meet them en route and we set off from Guiseley rather than Otley. My tyre only needed some wind so no problems there.
We rolled down into Burley in Wharfedale, along the bottom road towards Ilkley but then took the turn off across the river and waited for the others. No more than five minutes later Mike, Graham, Peter and a surprise, Phil came along. Phil had done the last Hamm ride but isn't doing this one.
So off we went past the Lido, cricket club and the golf course and then we hit the undulations. We have done this ride a lot of times so I knew what it was like. We soon got to Bolton Abbey where we usually stop for a drink and a bite to eat.
On this occasion though we stopped for a photo shoot and then back on our bikes and headed back again. Same route but when we were on the narrowest part of the country lanes an idiotic driver was speeding along and wouldn't give way even though there was nowhere for us to. He missed Richard by inches apparently. (I could tell by the swearing!)
We left the rest of the group at the bridge again and headed back towards Burley and then the long climb up to Menston and back to Guiseley. Fast ride and 26 miles done.
Friday 30 March 2012
15th March
Set off on my bike in a good mood this morning. It was sunny and pleasant and I had decided I was going the long route to Keighley.
First of all I was going to head up to Queensbury. When I say up it is the highest point in Bradford so it is definitely 'up'. Very nice ride up to Shelf and then I took a turn off Halifax Road and that's where the 'up' started. I soon had sweat pouring down my face. I eventually got into Queensbury and carried on up to the top of the Brighouse and Denholme Road. That is where the legs got a rest but the arms started working, on the brakes.
I got to the lights where you turn left up to Denholme (hmm all that whizzing downhill and more 'up'again). More lights, a right turn and I was heading into Denholme village. Then as I was just leaving the edge of Denholme a young guy, wearing an open shirt, earphones and no helmet suddenly passed me. He kept pedalling but I was right behind him up the hill and I shouted encouragement to him. He pulled his earphones out and we exchanged a few words. He had cycled from Halifax but he was impressed when I told him where I had cycled from (not that much further really) and where I was heading.
He turned off to Cullingworth and I carried on across more open land, moors and fields all around. Eventually all that 'up' was rewarded with lots of 'down' into Keighley.
I cycled through the town centre and headed for the roundabout where I could go on the Bingley bypass or go through the village of Riddlesden. I decided to go to the sandwich shop in Riddlesden so positioned my self accordingly at the roundabout, waited for the lights and then parrrrrrrrpppppppp! The woman in the car behind me was pointing at her head and effing and blinding at me. For what? I have no idea. I had done everything right, had waited at the lights was in the correct lane and the correct part of the lane. She cut right in front of me and came off the roundabout so I followed her.
She went into B & Q car park so I pulled up alongside her parked car and waited until she got out. I aren't aggressive and not usually confrontational and on this occasion I was only going to ask her what she surmised I had done wrong. As she got out of the car she stuck her finger right in my face and shouted 'you are not going to intimidate me!' Me intimidate her! I was sat astride my bike! So I started to ask, still politely, what I had done wrong wherein she then put the palm of her hand in my face and said she wasn't talking to me!!!! Obvious then who was in the wrong or she would have said. She then stormed off into B & Q. Silly woman!
I carried on up to the sandwich shop where I had a wonderful bacon butty and a cup of coffee. A nice chat with the owner and a little boy who came in with his mum and I was settled again.
When I set off again I decided to join the canal until I got to Shipley. That was a pleasant change from cars and silly women. Once in Shipley I left the canal and headed up to Frizinghall, which eventually drops into Manningham and then Bradford City Centre.
The last bit of real effort was up Manchester Road. Then it was back on the ring road, Tong Street and home. 35 miles done in perfect weather.
First of all I was going to head up to Queensbury. When I say up it is the highest point in Bradford so it is definitely 'up'. Very nice ride up to Shelf and then I took a turn off Halifax Road and that's where the 'up' started. I soon had sweat pouring down my face. I eventually got into Queensbury and carried on up to the top of the Brighouse and Denholme Road. That is where the legs got a rest but the arms started working, on the brakes.
I got to the lights where you turn left up to Denholme (hmm all that whizzing downhill and more 'up'again). More lights, a right turn and I was heading into Denholme village. Then as I was just leaving the edge of Denholme a young guy, wearing an open shirt, earphones and no helmet suddenly passed me. He kept pedalling but I was right behind him up the hill and I shouted encouragement to him. He pulled his earphones out and we exchanged a few words. He had cycled from Halifax but he was impressed when I told him where I had cycled from (not that much further really) and where I was heading.
He turned off to Cullingworth and I carried on across more open land, moors and fields all around. Eventually all that 'up' was rewarded with lots of 'down' into Keighley.
I cycled through the town centre and headed for the roundabout where I could go on the Bingley bypass or go through the village of Riddlesden. I decided to go to the sandwich shop in Riddlesden so positioned my self accordingly at the roundabout, waited for the lights and then parrrrrrrrpppppppp! The woman in the car behind me was pointing at her head and effing and blinding at me. For what? I have no idea. I had done everything right, had waited at the lights was in the correct lane and the correct part of the lane. She cut right in front of me and came off the roundabout so I followed her.
She went into B & Q car park so I pulled up alongside her parked car and waited until she got out. I aren't aggressive and not usually confrontational and on this occasion I was only going to ask her what she surmised I had done wrong. As she got out of the car she stuck her finger right in my face and shouted 'you are not going to intimidate me!' Me intimidate her! I was sat astride my bike! So I started to ask, still politely, what I had done wrong wherein she then put the palm of her hand in my face and said she wasn't talking to me!!!! Obvious then who was in the wrong or she would have said. She then stormed off into B & Q. Silly woman!
I carried on up to the sandwich shop where I had a wonderful bacon butty and a cup of coffee. A nice chat with the owner and a little boy who came in with his mum and I was settled again.
When I set off again I decided to join the canal until I got to Shipley. That was a pleasant change from cars and silly women. Once in Shipley I left the canal and headed up to Frizinghall, which eventually drops into Manningham and then Bradford City Centre.
The last bit of real effort was up Manchester Road. Then it was back on the ring road, Tong Street and home. 35 miles done in perfect weather.
Sunday 11th March
Well it was a much better day than the ride last week. Warm but not hot, sunny and most importantly DRY!
There was a few more of us turned up this week but still no sign of Liz or Dean. We set off from Otley then went via Pool Bridge towards Weeton but Mike had changed the route a little for interest. So instead of heading up the hill to Weeton we went back onto the main road and then dropped back in after Weeton.
We spent quite some time up and down hills on country roads and there was lots of banter between us and Peter urging me to keep up with Mike. It was a joy to be out to be honest. We arrived at the Leisure centre in York in good spirits and went in there for some lunch.
On the return journey I started lagging a bit and coming back up the Wetherby Road to Harewood I was seriously behind again. However it was great fun to go whizzing down the bank from Harewood House back to the Arthington Road.
We stopped at Pool Bridge to stretch our legs before doing the last few miles back in to Otley. Boy, my 'sitting area' ached! However 60 miles done and dusted so was really pleased with that.
There was a few more of us turned up this week but still no sign of Liz or Dean. We set off from Otley then went via Pool Bridge towards Weeton but Mike had changed the route a little for interest. So instead of heading up the hill to Weeton we went back onto the main road and then dropped back in after Weeton.
We spent quite some time up and down hills on country roads and there was lots of banter between us and Peter urging me to keep up with Mike. It was a joy to be out to be honest. We arrived at the Leisure centre in York in good spirits and went in there for some lunch.
On the return journey I started lagging a bit and coming back up the Wetherby Road to Harewood I was seriously behind again. However it was great fun to go whizzing down the bank from Harewood House back to the Arthington Road.
We stopped at Pool Bridge to stretch our legs before doing the last few miles back in to Otley. Boy, my 'sitting area' ached! However 60 miles done and dusted so was really pleased with that.
Thursday 22 March 2012
Sunday 4th March 2012
The day started out damp and miserable and just got worse.
I picked Richard up and we tootled along to Otley to meet up with whoever was going to turn up. When we got there there was Peter, Neil and Adey. So five of us in total.
We set off with the idea that we were going to do a shorter ride than was on planned, due to the weather. Before we got out of Otley I was lagging behind the rest of them and feeling cold and very damp despite the waterproof.
We went out on the old route via Castley and Weeton, towards Kirby Overblow. Lovely country lanes but not today. By the time we were nearing Kirkby Overblow I was already formulating an escape plan. Richard came alongside and I told him that once we had got to the top of the hill I was going back up to the main road and riding back to the car and would wait for him there. He said we would see what the others thought but he was of like mind.
As I started to climb the hill Peter came alongside and said Adey was suffering with the cold and that they were going to turn back when they got to the top of the hill. I told him that Richard and I had just had the same conversation.
At the top of Kirkby Overblow, we had a quick conflab to decide which way to go back but I thought Adey said 'you lot go back, I'm going on' and then Richard and I set off back. Looking back I couldn't see the other three so we waited a while at the junction to the main road. We concluded they had all decided to carry on!
As we were pedalling along the Arthington Road Neil caught up with us and said Adey had been unable to come back as he was so cold so he was going to get his car and go and pick him up and then he disappeared into the distance.
Richard stopped at the petrol station at Pool Bridge as he needed the loo and I spotted they had a coffee machine there so we stood in there trying to get warm. We were so wet that we could squeeze water out of our gloves and the chamois pads in our cycling pants we so sodden that we felt like we were wearing a very soggy nappy each. We made the lady in the petrol station laugh as we told her this.
We managed the last three miles despite the cold and wet! When we got back to the car park Peter and Neil's cars were gone but Adey's was still there.
It later transpired that Neil went back for Adey and having done tow circuits of the ride area couldn't find him. Peter had set off back on his own and had got back before us as we had stopped for a warm up in the petrol station. Adey, meanwhile, had phoned a taxi which had had to come from Harrogate. He'd asked the landlord of the pub if he could go in for a warm even though he knew the pub wasn't actually open. The landlord was lighting the log fire but refused him entry! That is totally mean.
Anyway we all survived to tell the tale! 22 miles done in all.
I picked Richard up and we tootled along to Otley to meet up with whoever was going to turn up. When we got there there was Peter, Neil and Adey. So five of us in total.
We set off with the idea that we were going to do a shorter ride than was on planned, due to the weather. Before we got out of Otley I was lagging behind the rest of them and feeling cold and very damp despite the waterproof.
We went out on the old route via Castley and Weeton, towards Kirby Overblow. Lovely country lanes but not today. By the time we were nearing Kirkby Overblow I was already formulating an escape plan. Richard came alongside and I told him that once we had got to the top of the hill I was going back up to the main road and riding back to the car and would wait for him there. He said we would see what the others thought but he was of like mind.
As I started to climb the hill Peter came alongside and said Adey was suffering with the cold and that they were going to turn back when they got to the top of the hill. I told him that Richard and I had just had the same conversation.
At the top of Kirkby Overblow, we had a quick conflab to decide which way to go back but I thought Adey said 'you lot go back, I'm going on' and then Richard and I set off back. Looking back I couldn't see the other three so we waited a while at the junction to the main road. We concluded they had all decided to carry on!
As we were pedalling along the Arthington Road Neil caught up with us and said Adey had been unable to come back as he was so cold so he was going to get his car and go and pick him up and then he disappeared into the distance.
Richard stopped at the petrol station at Pool Bridge as he needed the loo and I spotted they had a coffee machine there so we stood in there trying to get warm. We were so wet that we could squeeze water out of our gloves and the chamois pads in our cycling pants we so sodden that we felt like we were wearing a very soggy nappy each. We made the lady in the petrol station laugh as we told her this.
We managed the last three miles despite the cold and wet! When we got back to the car park Peter and Neil's cars were gone but Adey's was still there.
It later transpired that Neil went back for Adey and having done tow circuits of the ride area couldn't find him. Peter had set off back on his own and had got back before us as we had stopped for a warm up in the petrol station. Adey, meanwhile, had phoned a taxi which had had to come from Harrogate. He'd asked the landlord of the pub if he could go in for a warm even though he knew the pub wasn't actually open. The landlord was lighting the log fire but refused him entry! That is totally mean.
Anyway we all survived to tell the tale! 22 miles done in all.
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