alans
black belt lounge lizard
- Location
- Staffordshire
I really REALLY enjoyed that.
The evening started well with a pre-arranged meeting at York station with Chocolatebike going to plan.Brief "hello & goodbye,see you later at the Minster" salutations with other Hull-bound cyclists in the station environs & we had a short ride around to the Den.
The plan then went embarressingly pear-shaped when we both knocked on seperate doors 'cause I couldn't remember the Den's number & it appeared that since my last visit it had acquired a new door.
Wrong street I'll do better next time.
We got to the den & I recieved a kiss&akuddle from Kat & she also had LG's proxy k&K which I was happy to recieve.This alone would have made a wonderfull night
There was also food & coffee & amiable companionship:Joan,Clarion,TGL,Julian,Kim,Aiden providing a pleasant social ambiance to the prelims..
Our illuminated & flashing passage thru York en-route to the Minster attracted the usual confusion & comment: both complimentary & otherwise
The gathering at the Minster was greater than that for Sunday services at our local church.Following registration & a communal rendition of the hole-right-left-glass (not glarrs ) easy-stopping song we were off within moments of the last minute arrivals.
I enjoyed the peleton-like procession of our city exit onto the Elvington commute of CL who had been the victim of Our Leader's delegation to use her local knowledge to get us the point where The Streets Have No
Names
lights. apologies to U2So now it looked & felt like a night ride & I settled mind & body to the enjoyment of a comfortable pace with the mild excitement of having no clue of where we were & what was around us though the absence of any ups&downs was noticeable.
I remember feeling cold so decided to up the pace to warm up & bridge the gap between the group I was in & that of Our Leader some way distant ahead.It's at such times that the benefit of a truly flat route is apparent allowing me to catch up without exertions of lung busting proportions.Soon after I was joined by TGL who had clearly made the effort on his fixed bike.
The occassional regrouping occurred at significant junctions & eventually we arrived at a pub which was the only illuminated building in the village,suggesting that we were expected.The buffet consisting of bread baps,crisps& cakes of several varieties,tea,coffee & beer was very welcome.I noted the novelty of being admitted to a pub at 3a.m. instead of the more normal practice of being turfed out or locked in.
We left the pub in a long string of riders as opposed to a group & from this point my recollection of events becomes chronologically suspect.
Our Leader delegated me to a TEC role which I was happy to do which disguised my cafe-legs syndrome long enough to recover.The birds were audibly awake & soon the sky lightened.
A little hill near Flixborough was the first such topographical feature since York,then another with a left hand bend & another kick up.A bit of flat & downhill then a short sharp uphill to raise heartrate & lung expansion for only the second time.The crest revealing the first view of the Humber Bridge.A very welcome downhill to the south side of the estuary was followed by a seemingly long drag to the Bridge which in itself appeared to be all uphill to very nearly the north side.The recently noticed headwind was not a welcome feature.From the Bridge we passed downhill thru pleasant suburb to flat roads of increasing industrial & commercial surroundings.Each junction was effectively marshalled by a member of the group making passage to the cafe entirley void of any navigation concerns.
The cafe.....very organised,very slick.No waiting to speak of.Good food.Lashings of tea & coffee.Warm environment with pleasant & helpfull staff.I enjoyed sharing a table with CL & felt able to remain for the rest of the day.A bit more socialising & comparing of return journey strategies & I reluctantly felt it was an appropriate time to say goodbyes of varying intimacy.
The north bound ride back to York was, according to mcshrooms planned route approx 70km.A similar distance south would get me to Lincoln which was in a homeward bound direction which seemed more logical.I decided therefore to get to Lincoln & then consider my options.
With no chance of remembering the convoluted in-bound route to the Bridge I opted for the A63 dual carriageway west to the Bridge.Although it was only 5-ish miles I decided after less than a mile this was not a good place to be for a cyclist.Not entirely unexpected.As I approached the next exit slip with the intention of navigating by guess work & sight (that bit of engineering on the skyline would be a permenant visual aid) the inside lane beyond the slip road was coned off thus ensuring all traffic used the outside lane.I took this to be help from Above & despite the questionable ethics of riding in deserted roadworks decided to remain on the A63 while I had a lane all to myself.This was the case for almost 4 miles & there was no roadwork occuring at all.As I approached the exit slip signed for the Bridge a Highways Agency vehicle was reversing down "my" lane removing the cones.As I approached the driver moved slightly to the right maximising the space available for me to pass on his inside,came to a halt a gave me a thumbs up as if to say " I don't blame you mate".A cycle lane guided me to the Bridge which I crossed effortlessly due to the predominately downhill construction & a tailwind.Oh joy
It was at this point that I began to regret the lack of company but took solace in the expectation that my route was predominatly flat after the climb up from Barton & the tailwind would be beneficial.I was now physically tired so adopted a plodding strategy to maintain an average not less tha 20kph & adjusted my mindset to something akin to "audax mode".
I took a route of B roads to Elsham,Brigg,Redbourne,Kirton in Lindsey,Hemswell,Scampton (that short,sharp uphill after the Dambusters Inn was a suprise
)Burton,Lincoln.I stopped a couple of times to eat crisps,Eccles cakes,Snickers bar with the intention of having proper food in Lincoln.I added a Nunn tablet to my water at Hibaldstow.
I came across a useful audax hotel on the B1398 with it's junction signposted to Fillingham.A substantial stone built bus shelter with pitched & tiled roof,windows in two elevation,a wide wooden intrgral
bed
bench along one long side,a dedicted tarmac path from kerbside to the door which was absent thus meriting the loss of one star giving a rating ****.The view over the adjacent plain was lovely.
This could be fairly described as a flat road,maintaining it's elevation on the ridge line thus giving interestingly good views to my right.
The drop off the high ground into Lincoln seemed like natural justice.My appetite was all to cock, I couldn't face the prospect of proper food & I knew that snacks would'nt keep the bonk away all afternoon.Added to which I realised as I navigated thru' a small conurbation with busy roads that I was now more tired mentally than physically.It occurred to that since awakening on Wednesday morning I'd had only 4 hours sleep.A decision to regard this as journey's end seemed sensible.
I bought a train ticket to Derby with an idea that I might ride home from there but having trouble staying awake while I waited for my trian & being unable to absorb the info on the timetable board ( I had to ask a staff member to tell me where & what time my train transfer occurred) I concluded that it would be folly so I contacted The Cavalry & requested collection at Pride Park.
196km. 14hrs included food & faffage stops.
Not too shabby considering 4hrs sleep in 78hrs.
It's been a usefull indicator for determining short & long term riding ambitions.It's allowed me make judgements concerning what progress I have made recently & how best to continue.I think I may persevere with this cycling lark.
Many thaks to Mr.Legge for his MASSIVE input to make this possible & to all the folk whose company I enjoyed.
The evening started well with a pre-arranged meeting at York station with Chocolatebike going to plan.Brief "hello & goodbye,see you later at the Minster" salutations with other Hull-bound cyclists in the station environs & we had a short ride around to the Den.
The plan then went embarressingly pear-shaped when we both knocked on seperate doors 'cause I couldn't remember the Den's number & it appeared that since my last visit it had acquired a new door.
Wrong street I'll do better next time.
We got to the den & I recieved a kiss&akuddle from Kat & she also had LG's proxy k&K which I was happy to recieve.This alone would have made a wonderfull night
There was also food & coffee & amiable companionship:Joan,Clarion,TGL,Julian,Kim,Aiden providing a pleasant social ambiance to the prelims..
Our illuminated & flashing passage thru York en-route to the Minster attracted the usual confusion & comment: both complimentary & otherwise
The gathering at the Minster was greater than that for Sunday services at our local church.Following registration & a communal rendition of the hole-right-left-glass (not glarrs ) easy-stopping song we were off within moments of the last minute arrivals.
I enjoyed the peleton-like procession of our city exit onto the Elvington commute of CL who had been the victim of Our Leader's delegation to use her local knowledge to get us the point where The Streets Have No
Names
lights. apologies to U2So now it looked & felt like a night ride & I settled mind & body to the enjoyment of a comfortable pace with the mild excitement of having no clue of where we were & what was around us though the absence of any ups&downs was noticeable.
I remember feeling cold so decided to up the pace to warm up & bridge the gap between the group I was in & that of Our Leader some way distant ahead.It's at such times that the benefit of a truly flat route is apparent allowing me to catch up without exertions of lung busting proportions.Soon after I was joined by TGL who had clearly made the effort on his fixed bike.
The occassional regrouping occurred at significant junctions & eventually we arrived at a pub which was the only illuminated building in the village,suggesting that we were expected.The buffet consisting of bread baps,crisps& cakes of several varieties,tea,coffee & beer was very welcome.I noted the novelty of being admitted to a pub at 3a.m. instead of the more normal practice of being turfed out or locked in.
We left the pub in a long string of riders as opposed to a group & from this point my recollection of events becomes chronologically suspect.
Our Leader delegated me to a TEC role which I was happy to do which disguised my cafe-legs syndrome long enough to recover.The birds were audibly awake & soon the sky lightened.
A little hill near Flixborough was the first such topographical feature since York,then another with a left hand bend & another kick up.A bit of flat & downhill then a short sharp uphill to raise heartrate & lung expansion for only the second time.The crest revealing the first view of the Humber Bridge.A very welcome downhill to the south side of the estuary was followed by a seemingly long drag to the Bridge which in itself appeared to be all uphill to very nearly the north side.The recently noticed headwind was not a welcome feature.From the Bridge we passed downhill thru pleasant suburb to flat roads of increasing industrial & commercial surroundings.Each junction was effectively marshalled by a member of the group making passage to the cafe entirley void of any navigation concerns.
The cafe.....very organised,very slick.No waiting to speak of.Good food.Lashings of tea & coffee.Warm environment with pleasant & helpfull staff.I enjoyed sharing a table with CL & felt able to remain for the rest of the day.A bit more socialising & comparing of return journey strategies & I reluctantly felt it was an appropriate time to say goodbyes of varying intimacy.
The north bound ride back to York was, according to mcshrooms planned route approx 70km.A similar distance south would get me to Lincoln which was in a homeward bound direction which seemed more logical.I decided therefore to get to Lincoln & then consider my options.
With no chance of remembering the convoluted in-bound route to the Bridge I opted for the A63 dual carriageway west to the Bridge.Although it was only 5-ish miles I decided after less than a mile this was not a good place to be for a cyclist.Not entirely unexpected.As I approached the next exit slip with the intention of navigating by guess work & sight (that bit of engineering on the skyline would be a permenant visual aid) the inside lane beyond the slip road was coned off thus ensuring all traffic used the outside lane.I took this to be help from Above & despite the questionable ethics of riding in deserted roadworks decided to remain on the A63 while I had a lane all to myself.This was the case for almost 4 miles & there was no roadwork occuring at all.As I approached the exit slip signed for the Bridge a Highways Agency vehicle was reversing down "my" lane removing the cones.As I approached the driver moved slightly to the right maximising the space available for me to pass on his inside,came to a halt a gave me a thumbs up as if to say " I don't blame you mate".A cycle lane guided me to the Bridge which I crossed effortlessly due to the predominately downhill construction & a tailwind.Oh joy
It was at this point that I began to regret the lack of company but took solace in the expectation that my route was predominatly flat after the climb up from Barton & the tailwind would be beneficial.I was now physically tired so adopted a plodding strategy to maintain an average not less tha 20kph & adjusted my mindset to something akin to "audax mode".
I took a route of B roads to Elsham,Brigg,Redbourne,Kirton in Lindsey,Hemswell,Scampton (that short,sharp uphill after the Dambusters Inn was a suprise
I came across a useful audax hotel on the B1398 with it's junction signposted to Fillingham.A substantial stone built bus shelter with pitched & tiled roof,windows in two elevation,a wide wooden intrgral
bed
bench along one long side,a dedicted tarmac path from kerbside to the door which was absent thus meriting the loss of one star giving a rating ****.The view over the adjacent plain was lovely.
This could be fairly described as a flat road,maintaining it's elevation on the ridge line thus giving interestingly good views to my right.
The drop off the high ground into Lincoln seemed like natural justice.My appetite was all to cock, I couldn't face the prospect of proper food & I knew that snacks would'nt keep the bonk away all afternoon.Added to which I realised as I navigated thru' a small conurbation with busy roads that I was now more tired mentally than physically.It occurred to that since awakening on Wednesday morning I'd had only 4 hours sleep.A decision to regard this as journey's end seemed sensible.
I bought a train ticket to Derby with an idea that I might ride home from there but having trouble staying awake while I waited for my trian & being unable to absorb the info on the timetable board ( I had to ask a staff member to tell me where & what time my train transfer occurred) I concluded that it would be folly so I contacted The Cavalry & requested collection at Pride Park.
196km. 14hrs included food & faffage stops.
Not too shabby considering 4hrs sleep in 78hrs.
It's been a usefull indicator for determining short & long term riding ambitions.It's allowed me make judgements concerning what progress I have made recently & how best to continue.I think I may persevere with this cycling lark.
Many thaks to Mr.Legge for his MASSIVE input to make this possible & to all the folk whose company I enjoyed.
