Mountain Bike Ride
The Bread Lad, Dave The Soldier
Valentines Day Route
Not exactly sunny, in fact quite dull, but dry and snow-free so we’ll take it, a mere three of us today, DOM’s excuses being bandied about from some of the others. It’s either delayed onset muscle stiffness or daft old man syndrome. The intention was to try and do the ride planned on the day my wheel bearings collapsed, so the slog up through Ainthorpe and on to Ainthorpe Rigg was done again. Some drainage work is ongoing on the moor and the Ainthorpe Rigg track, with all it’s gullies and drop offs is no longer. How it will be as a descent route remains to be seen. The Pensioner won’t be happy. Which will make him happy - the pensioner paradox. The steep track down Crossley Side was a bit greasy on the rocky slabs at the top - claiming casualties from two thirds of our team, the remainder was a nice ride down, one day it will be dry and we shall float down it like the cycling Gods we undoubtedly could be given the right conditions. And someone else’s legs, lungs, bravery and skill.
The Bread Lad, Dave The Soldier
Valentines Day Route
Not exactly sunny, in fact quite dull, but dry and snow-free so we’ll take it, a mere three of us today, DOM’s excuses being bandied about from some of the others. It’s either delayed onset muscle stiffness or daft old man syndrome. The intention was to try and do the ride planned on the day my wheel bearings collapsed, so the slog up through Ainthorpe and on to Ainthorpe Rigg was done again. Some drainage work is ongoing on the moor and the Ainthorpe Rigg track, with all it’s gullies and drop offs is no longer. How it will be as a descent route remains to be seen. The Pensioner won’t be happy. Which will make him happy - the pensioner paradox. The steep track down Crossley Side was a bit greasy on the rocky slabs at the top - claiming casualties from two thirds of our team, the remainder was a nice ride down, one day it will be dry and we shall float down it like the cycling Gods we undoubtedly could be given the right conditions. And someone else’s legs, lungs, bravery and skill.
A quick tarmac blast past Danby Castle and over Duck Bridge, the ford alternative was too deep and fast for today. The long drag up to Danby Beacon came next, we paced ourselves, saving energy for the Roxby Moor singletrack, which was surprisingly dry considering we have had a week of thaw, not as sublime as in the summer but for the middle of February we had no complaints. The steep and loose bank after Hardale Beck, known as The Slagbag on Strava, was despatched by Dave with his new 1x11 set up, The Bread Lad and me adhered to the Homer Simpson dictum, if it’s too hard; it’s not worth doing. Further along the track, just before it drops down to Green Houses, we found a sheep in bondage, initially we thought it had become tangled in some twine and out came the trusty Swiss Army knife, on closer inspection, it appeared to be deliberately hogtied, maybe to stop it wandering off, maybe while the farmer finished watching 50 Shades Of Grey, who knows? We left things alone and reported it at the nearest farm: there were no signs of sexual deviancy of an ovine, or any other, nature.
Back on the tarmac for a blast along Oakley Walls, taking advantage of the windless day to get a bit of pace going we returned to the top of Park Bank and took ourselves offroad on the bridleway to Clitherbecks Farm, the rather damp bridleway as it turned out although underneath the puddles was stony so it wasn’t too much trouble. The Lord’s Turnpike, our last track, which leads down into Danby was hard work, the muddiest section of the whole ride. Soon we were at the infamous Beware Of Flying Bees sign, not the same without the usual Pensioner pedantry, next stop The Stonehouse Bakery and it’s calorific temptations to finish the ride.
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