Battling Through The Snow
Mountain Bike Ride.
The Fireman.
Many parts of North Yorkshire are still blanketed in snow, so Pinchinthorpe was chosen as a starting point because of it’s proximity to main roads. We had no trouble driving there, our problems began leaving the car park, the snow was only a couple of inches deep and quite frozen but it was hard work, like pedalling through long grass and we were still on the flat. When the track sloped upward a careful balancing act ensued, keeping enough weight on the back wheel to maintain traction while stopping the front from wandering in the frozen ruts. Taking the easy option after the first slope, we headed for the old railway track through Guisborough, which is at least level until we ascended The Concrete Road to the moor top. Considering the conditions, The Concrete Road was okay, a well compacted wheel rut aided progress. At the top, deeper snow made leaving the car park seem like smooth tarmac, at times even this pair of finely-honed athletes (combined age 110) had to resort to pushing on the uphills. Our reward - some barely controlled downhill sliding, front wheels jerking left and right on the uneven surface. At some point a tacit decision was made to make our way downward, working on the theory conditions would be easier lower down (nearer the cafe being the real reason). The Chute seemed the obvious choice and I can report it is just as much fun in the snow as it is normally. After The Chute we capitulated to cold and conditions and headed directly to The Branch Walkway cafe, deciding what our ride lacked in distance it had made up for in intensity. Consciences salved, we shoveled a suitable amount of replacement calories down our necks while thawing out and dripping muddy slush all over the cafe floor.
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