Great day out on yesterdays club run to How Stean where we were joined for lunch by Martin and Andy (aka Eric) from VS, who are putting the finishing touches to their Marmotte Granfondo preparations .
In order to give us time for a long route home on quiet back roads we took a fairly direct route there going over Cringles to Bolton Bridge and suffering a couple of miles of the A59 before turning off on to the peace and tranquility of the lanes through West End and Stone House. Nidderdale was looking magnificent in the summer sunshine as we descended from Yorke Folly down to Pateley Bridge.
Steve Barker turned off up Peat Lane anxious to get home so he could put in an afternoons work whilst we took the back lane up from Pateley to Wath then onto our lunch spot.
The return home was quite challenging with Peat Lane chosen to lift us out of Nidderdale rather than the busier Greenhow. We then made our way to Burnsall, Thorpe and Gargrave with our New Zealand section battling with a resurgent Damien. Pete W declined the opportunity to experience the hors-category Sidegate Lane and I was so far off the back that I couldn't see who took the honors but on checking Strava my fears were confirmed when I saw Paul had taken my o.65's KoM.
Over Earl Cragg and Slippery Ford the rain started. After a brief cup of tea stop at Paul's mates house in Oakworth the rain jackets were donned as the rain got heavier, seeping into my Garmin and denying me the 10,000 ft of ascent I'd intended to record.
Whilst we were enjoying the more social side of cycling, Mel, Brian & Grimpy were at Sheriff Hutton competing in the Clifton CC LVRC Road Race. Congratulations to Mel who took 3rd place in his age category. I have no results for Brian or John.
Sunday 19th June - Four or five Condor have entered the 3 Dales MTB Challenge from Grassington. See the Sue Ryder web site for further details.
Sunday 26th June - White Rose Sportive. Classic event from Ilkley RUFC.
Sunday 3rd July - Condor Road Race, round the Buckstones/Scammonden course again, If you're not riding the event you're needed for marshaling duties.
Sunday 10th July - Evans Duncombe Park Sportive. Based at Helmsley and taking in the North Yorks Moors and Ryedale.
Sunday 17th July - Bronte Sportive - a hilly challenge from Keighley, another Sue Ryder event, always worth taking part, really good organisation.
Sunday 24th July - Good Companions 200k Audax from Halifax (or for the more ambitious there's the 3 Coasts 600 on Saturday).
