FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast - 16th May 2014, York to Hull

[ComedyPilot]

Early morning traffic was now increasing, and some overtakes into the low morning blinding sun were questionable at the least. The latter part of the ride was interspersed with some climbs, and not being the grimpeur I assumed a familiar position, watching people pass me on the way up. @mcshroom did explain why I was rolling down hill faster that other people without pedalling. I missed his full explanation as I rolled further out of earshot. Gravity thou art a heartless bitch. A brief stop before the bridge and I handed out the cheese scones I'd carried since York. I then tried to sell them, but had no takers

The bridge was resplendent in the morning sun and always a pleasure to cross. The tide flowing in under the bridge matched the flood of Hull city fans leaving the town for Wembley. The roads were quite busy and for the main part well provisioned with cycle/bus lanes. Some of the surfacing left a bit to be desired though.

And that was it. We were there, at the finish. A quick turnaround, fleeting goodbyes and I was off North out of Hull on my way home. The warm weather and tailwind I so generously provided now did it's best to hamper my homeward progress, aided by a depth of tiredness I hadn't felt in a long time. A bag of jelly babies and a bottle of juice fueled me enough to cover the hot 22 miles to home/shower/bed.

Ciao

 

[Flying Dodo]

Wot Charlie said. Team photo below. Who is who? More later

Brilliant. We haven't had a FNRttC group photo for about 6 years.

 

[Ruthie]

Who's the bloke in the jeans in the York picture?

 

[vernon]

It was a great ride but one that I approached with trepidation as I've been plagued with sciatica for the past month. Surprisingly, apart from a few twinges at the start, I was symptom free for the entire ride. The first half was a breeze and I only started to flag as the pace picked up on the approach to Garthorpe stop. I shared my Absinthe stash with some riders along the way. The scout hut/community centre had tables covered in food as far as the eye could see and despite @dellzeqq's entries for me to pitch in and help to clear the decks I was unable to make more than the slightest of dents in the mountain of food. I had a couple of pie exchanges with @Cubist and @ComedyPilot and gave a spare pie to a very receptive @StuAff, he greeted it with more passion that he showed while being attended to by the barefoot babe in Goole, and pushed on into the second half of the ride which contained my nemesis. Hills.

I became tail end charlie on the first of the hills, a position that I maintained until the end of the ride and resorted to a short push at Barton on Humber where my head rather than my legs defeated me. Oh and I forgot my going astray at one junction but was rescued by CharlieB and Agent Hilda. Hull was awash with departing rugby league and football supporters and Cafe Pasaz was sorely missed - an immediate post ride Peroni takes some beating. It was good being able to put more faces to CC names and the ride could not be faulted on its participants, weather, banter and bon homie. @Mice and @User13710 were missed along with other stalwarts from the south but all in all a great way exchange sleeping time for enjoyment. Wouldn't have missed it for the world.

The train ride home was made more interesting and the annoyance at being held at a red light not long after Selby was reduced when the cause of delay became apparent - a train hauled by Jubilee class 'Galatea' resplendent in LMS maroon had been given priority on a parallel track.

A perfect end to a perfect day.

 

[Cubist]

Wow. That was really quite something. Being new to the idea of riding a roadbike for fun I approached this with some trepidation. I needn't have worried. @vernon persuaded me to make one in, on the basis that no-one ever gets left behind, so I thought that the kind riders would wait for me to catch up eventually. Once @dellzeqq had published the ride I was like a kid, looking forward but hoping I hadn't made a bit of a mistake. Mrs Cube worried that my hips would let me down, but I made sure I had a decent stash of opiates to see me through.

An apology to @mistral . We never got to Pizza Express. Silver was worried that our bikes would get nicked and we'd have to strip all the lights and stuff off them, so we settled for a chinese carb-load which we ate at my MIL's at Osbaldwick before heading to the Minster. Immediately made to feel welcome and chuffed to see the variety of bikes and people, instantly recognising @wanda2010 by the Solarstorm (that bike is just awesome by the way!).

I didn't want to seem a bit sad by asking everyone to identify themselves by their forum name, and that's one of my biggest regrets of the night, that I've spent such a fantastic time in your company without taking the trouble to find out who you all were. I was pretty certain I'd identified @User10119 as soon as you appeared with the huge stash of cake, and I already knew vernon. @Tim Hall wins the prize for dressing just like the bloke in his avatar, and I'm looking forward to working out who's who from the group photo. For the record I'm right at the back wearing the cyclechat buff as a bandanna.

I can only describe it as a magical experience. I was surprised at the pace, as I only ever ride the roadbike to commute, and even in the depths of winter all the hills round here mean that cycling is a hot and sweaty experience. A concept that I will have to abandon in favour of languid, almost effortless cruising. My garmin shows we averaged just over 12mph, and on gradient free roads that's seriously relaxed.

My next presumption to be dismissed is that it is often about the bike. How wrong can you be? Silver pointed out that his biggest impression of the night was the anti "bike-snobbery" in evidence. I now know that bromptons are NOT silly little shopping bikes. Singlespeed trikes look awesome when cornering. Woodrups can carry impressive loads. You can ride stupendous distances wearing jeans and trackies. Tandems look very comfy for young stokers (top effort young fella, you have a lot to be proud of!) Vintage Raleighs look the absolute mutt's nuts. Leather saddles take some beating (although I worry about the middle split channel in that Selle, looks like it could do you a mischief in a pair of baggy shorts....)

The magical experience of setting off from the village hall along the sunken road with shoulder high rape on either side was tempered only by wishing I'd spent less time swapping pies and more time digging out my legwarmers.

Thanks to everyone for making my first FNRttC so brilliant. I'll be looking out for the next one, and will research train journeys to widen the experience.

 

[dellzeqq]

My next presumption to be dismissed is that it is often about the bike. How wrong can you be? Silver pointed out that his biggest impression of the night was the anti "bike-snobbery" in evidence. I now know that bromptons are NOT silly little shopping bikes. Singlespeed trikes look awesome when cornering. Woodrups can carry impressive loads. You can ride stupendous distances wearing jeans and trackies. Tandems look very comfy for young stokers (top effort young fella, you have a lot to be proud of!) Vintage Raleighs look the absolute mutt's nuts. Leather saddles take some beating (although I worry about the middle split channel in that Selle, looks like it could do you a mischief in a pair of baggy shorts....)

http://fnrttc.blogspot.co.uk/p/its-most-definitely-about-bike.html

 

[velovoice]

View attachment 45394

Stunning photo, that. Iconic even.

 

[Dogtrousers]

My pics here

 

[saoirse50]

well, the rash of cancellations have taken the ride down below the point at which it would be worth the Garthorpe folks turning out - we're down to 36. The club will make up the shortfall in cash, but this looks like the last of the York to Hull rides.......

That's a real shame...as one of those who cancelled, I would definitely be happy to pay a deposit on registration, if it meant the ride could continue.

 

[BigGee]

Wot Charlie said. Team photo below. Who is who? More later


Great photo, despite me looking the wrong way!

 

[Tim Hall]

Who's the bloke in the jeans in the York picture?

What , the scowling man, standing next to his (presumed) girlfriend who has her arms round @StuAff? J Random Stranger, citizen of Goole (not York). His jeans appear to be undone.

 

[User10571]

Had a great night. Thanks Simon and Co for all the hard work. The SMRtY was also very good too with a better/quieter depart than previously. I reached the Millennium Bridge solo as my two compatriots were turning off before the city centre and I had a train to catch.

A few pics from the night. Haven't been to bed yet so video will have to wait.

View attachment 45394

This picture of His Leggship riding straight into the rising sun with all but his face a dynamic blur is ver' ver' good.

 

[redfalo]

Here's more photographic evidence on what was a splendid ride.

 

[BigGee]

Well what a great trip to Yorkshire and Lincolnshire and what a contrast to the last time I did this ride, foggy and freezing cold to blue skies and sunny. I actually got completely sun blasted on my ride up to Hull on the Thursday, so started off the ride feeling a little stiff and a lot sunburnt. The worst thing for me was actually getting my leg over the cross bar, but once actually on the bike and moving I was not to bad. At least I have got some tan lines now!

York was in good spirits as we left, a nice sunny day at the races for some left them in good voice and we were treated to a chorus of 'I want to ride my bicycle' by one group and plenty others stopped to chat and to see what was going on. It was all in good spirits and you feel very confident that Yorkshire will give the TDF a very warm welcome later this summer.

Onwards and out of York and quickly into the darkness, which is one of the great attractions of this ride. The pace was gentle and everyone was in good spirits. The temperature dropped and more layers of clothing were put on as we approached Goole, usually one of the highlights of the ride and as usual it did not disappoint. We were approached by a bare footed maiden of the town who seemed to take a little bit of a shine to Stuart! There appears to be a lovely picture of the two of them a little bit further back in the thread, along with the disgruntled looking boyfriend and a very amused Simon!

After Goole we had the run alongside the Trent river bank, at which point we were probably below sea level and the lure of the tea break caused an increase in speed. The efforts of the previous day and the creeping cold caught up with me a little at this point and I was having to fight the tiredness back and the bike was suddenly not feeling at all comfortable. Some food and eventually after we set off again, the arrival of dawn and some sunshine to warm me up began to revive me, as did the three hills towards the end of the ride. Every ride does need a few hills at the end of the day!

The ride over the bridge was as majestic as ever, I got to do it twice on this trip! We stopped for a team photo half way over the bridge this time, which looked great even if I was looking the wrong way! Earlier on in the ride I had contemplated leaving the ride after the bridge, as I was feeling tired and it was a lot closer to where I was going to be staying than going right back into Hull. By the time we got there I had perked up considerably and really enjoyed the run into Hull, seeing all the football fans getting ready for there trip to the smoke, having their first pint of the day at 8 o'clock! When I was much younger, I lived in Ipswich when we enjoyed a similar underdog FA cup victory, also against Arsenal as it happens and I can remember the feeling it had on the whole town. sadly it was not to be for them on this occasion, but I am sure they will have had a great day nonetheless.

Coffee and breakfast in the Spoon, alongside all the football and Rugby league fans, all impeccably well behaved it has to be said. Then I set off on the ride back to Newbold, about 15 miles but by now in glorious sunshine and up and down a few hills on the Yorkshire side of the Wolds. After all the tiredness of earlier I was flying again by then and with the incentive of a shower and a bed flew back, the last couple of miles downhill at 30mph plus, full of the sheer joy of cycling!

I got the train home at 15.45 and it was quiet, my carriage being mainly full of British Transport Police going down to Escort the Hull fans home. The guard was giving regular updates to the score over the PA and the first two goals from Hull were greeted with cheers. After that unfortunately silence!

My last ride of the day was home from Kings Cross, up through North East London, within sight of the Emirates Stadium and right through the heart of Arsenal territory. Lots of nervous people watching the game at that point in packed pubs. Rather bizarre that I ended up covering the territory of both FA cup sides in the same day. It is a pity the fairy tale did not come true for Hull.

As ever thanks to everyone for coming along on the ride and of course to Simon and everyone else involved in the organisation. This is a great ride, I have done it twice now and will do it again if it survives, which it needs to. Any of you that have not done it, give it a go, you will not regret it.

 

[User10571]

Earlier in the thread I expressed concerns about sharing the journey home with a train full of Hull City supporters - to the point where I considered sacrificing £60 worth of railway tix and not doing the ride

Turns out I couldn't have been more wrong.....
On my booked 10:30 return train, I was probably the only person not wearing amber and black.
I'm pretty sure I was the only one wearing Lycra, although I suspect that on that train, European guidelines for the safe limits for use of Polyester™ in confined spaces, were being wantonly breached.
My fellow travellers turned out to be a very friendly bunch indeed.
Clearly excited by the prospects of the day that lay before them, they were in good spirits.
We exchanged a few friendly sentences in between bouts of me involuntarily dozing.
I was amused in the way that all of the train's occupants (well, perhaps not me or the driver) booed collectively as the train passed Emirates stadium just before we arrived at KGX.
As the train drew to a halt at platform 5, I rose to my feet, and addressed the entire carriage, thanking them for the warm hospitality their city had shown me earlier that morning, wishing them a warm welcome to mine, and hoping that they enjoy the game.
They Looked At Me Like I Was Nuts.

The last two sentences may contain lies, or traces of lies