What a day for a club ride! Woke up to gale force winds buffeting everything in the garden, just as forecast on the telly last night. Now, wind is the curse of the cyclist, even more than rain, but my mind was made up - having missed a few club rides recently, I thought it was about time I caught up with a few people - I was going on the Garstang Cycling Club ride today!
At least it was a fairly warm wind blowing as we all gathered at the Royal Oak at 9-30am, and the sun was shining brightly on the fourteen of us as we headed out through Winmarleigh and Stakepool. The wind was behind us and the pace was brisk, heading out over Cartford Bridge and Elswick, Singleton and on to Staining. It was from here on that we were to get a taste of what the return journey had in store for us!
A turn in direction, now heading south east and the strong easterly wind was in our faces (left cheeks), slowing the pace considerably. Wrea Green and Dizzy Duck's cafe was a welcome sight, the food and company was good as we spent half an hour in this cosy little spot. It's a great little cafe run by ex-England rugby union star Wade Dooley and his wife. Wade can often be seen serving in the cafe and blocking the light from the windows, such is his size!
The return was through Kirkham and Broughton and mainly into the wind, ensuring a slower average speed than on the outward journey. We were all back in Garstang by 2-30pm, no punctures or mechanical problems, a bit battered by the wind but having enjoyed a great few hours riding, just under 50 miles in total.
Route on Gmaps Pedometer -
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=3314893
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Thursday, 28 April 2011
Up hill and down Dales
Hasn't this April weather been wonderful? Another warm, sunny day today and I was free to get out on the bike! Time for a long ride - but where? I headed off from home in Garstang up to Chipping with only a vague idea as to where I was going. It was a little bit on the chilly side to start off with, but the climb up over Bleasdale soon warmed things up.
A quick descent to Whalley and my mind was made up - over Pendle via the 'Nick' to Sabden. That idea didn't last long! Riding through Wiswell I had a change of mind and headed off instead through Pendleton and Worston then across the busy A59 to West Bradford and Bolton by Bowland. So far it had been a beautiful morning with great views all around. There was a slight headwind coming from the north east but nothing too bad. I was soon in Settle and time for a cafe stop. After looking at The Old Naked Man cafe I soon opted for getting something from the Co-op and eating on a bench - the cafe was heaving! It was good to see Settle on a lovely spring day ablaze with Union Jacks. They were certainly getting into the spirit of things for the Royal wedding tomorrow!
Leaving Settle I climbed the Horton in Ribblesdale road, through stunning scenery with the bulk of Pen-y-ghent off to the right, to Ribblehead. No steam trains puffing over Ribblehead Viaduct today. Now, which way to turn? Left and I would soon be in Ingleton, with a fast descent. Or right and a bit of a climb before turning off to Dent. Right would involve a few extra miles and some extra climbs, but I was feeling in good form so right it was. The ride down through Dentdale was a sheer delight. Spring lambs in the fields, blossom on the trees, the sun shining, and hardly any traffic - a cyclists heaven. (Apart from the potholes of course!)
After passing through the cobbled street of Dent it was soon time to pay for all the pleasant downhill riding - the climb from Gawthrop into Barbondale. It never gets any easier that climb! Steep right from the bottom, but the reward soon comes in the form of riding along gently undulating singletrack roads all the way to Barbon village.
For the first time on this ride I was now on main roads. Bypassing Kirkby Lonsdale at Devil's Bridge, across the very busy A65, and onto the Lancaster road, I was feeling in need of a little energy boost, so a cafe stop was in order. A favourite of mine was just a few miles up the road, the Post Office and cafe at Hornby. Although busy, I was soon served with scone and a pot of tea to help me over the last 17 miles.
The scone did the trick! On the steady climb from Caton up to Postern Gate, I was flying! That just left the rolling road through Quernmore and down to Bay Horse, before detouring through Scorton and back to Garstang.
A fabulous day's solo riding, clocking up 108 miles in just under 7 hours, averaging 15.5 mph. The roads had been surprisingly quiet all day which was great. Lots of cyclists out enjoying the sunshine - will this lovely spring weather last? Fingers crossed!
Route on Gmaps Pedometer -
www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4466254
A quick descent to Whalley and my mind was made up - over Pendle via the 'Nick' to Sabden. That idea didn't last long! Riding through Wiswell I had a change of mind and headed off instead through Pendleton and Worston then across the busy A59 to West Bradford and Bolton by Bowland. So far it had been a beautiful morning with great views all around. There was a slight headwind coming from the north east but nothing too bad. I was soon in Settle and time for a cafe stop. After looking at The Old Naked Man cafe I soon opted for getting something from the Co-op and eating on a bench - the cafe was heaving! It was good to see Settle on a lovely spring day ablaze with Union Jacks. They were certainly getting into the spirit of things for the Royal wedding tomorrow!
Leaving Settle I climbed the Horton in Ribblesdale road, through stunning scenery with the bulk of Pen-y-ghent off to the right, to Ribblehead. No steam trains puffing over Ribblehead Viaduct today. Now, which way to turn? Left and I would soon be in Ingleton, with a fast descent. Or right and a bit of a climb before turning off to Dent. Right would involve a few extra miles and some extra climbs, but I was feeling in good form so right it was. The ride down through Dentdale was a sheer delight. Spring lambs in the fields, blossom on the trees, the sun shining, and hardly any traffic - a cyclists heaven. (Apart from the potholes of course!)
After passing through the cobbled street of Dent it was soon time to pay for all the pleasant downhill riding - the climb from Gawthrop into Barbondale. It never gets any easier that climb! Steep right from the bottom, but the reward soon comes in the form of riding along gently undulating singletrack roads all the way to Barbon village.
For the first time on this ride I was now on main roads. Bypassing Kirkby Lonsdale at Devil's Bridge, across the very busy A65, and onto the Lancaster road, I was feeling in need of a little energy boost, so a cafe stop was in order. A favourite of mine was just a few miles up the road, the Post Office and cafe at Hornby. Although busy, I was soon served with scone and a pot of tea to help me over the last 17 miles.
The scone did the trick! On the steady climb from Caton up to Postern Gate, I was flying! That just left the rolling road through Quernmore and down to Bay Horse, before detouring through Scorton and back to Garstang.
A fabulous day's solo riding, clocking up 108 miles in just under 7 hours, averaging 15.5 mph. The roads had been surprisingly quiet all day which was great. Lots of cyclists out enjoying the sunshine - will this lovely spring weather last? Fingers crossed!
Route on Gmaps Pedometer -
www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=4466254
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