Pale Rider
Legendary Member
The handful that passed me gave me a wider berth than many of the other cars.
Leeds-Scarborough 30 September 2017: The White Rose Classic
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The handful that passed me gave me a wider berth than many of the other cars.
Ah that explains it! Thanks Colin
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
Superb ride as always @nickyboy
Nice to meet up with new riders and the usual reprobates.
Have to admit I was bloody stupid to attempt the hillier route...by the middle of Dalby forest I had nothing left and I'm told there may be evidence of me pushing up a couple of the hills. Thanks to nickyboy and wayne for the encouragement and hanging about in the rain waiting for me.
Just downloaded the ride into Strava and I managed to hit 53.9 mph descending the hill where Simon came off.... I was convinced I was also going to crash horribly, and I suspect it was more luck than skill that kept me upright.
Train back was a bit of a zoo, glad I had reserved a seat. Any very very glad I wasn't riding back like a certain lunatic
Nice to meet up with new riders and the usual reprobates.
Have to admit I was bloody stupid to attempt the hillier route...by the middle of Dalby forest I had nothing left and I'm told there may be evidence of me pushing up a couple of the hills. Thanks to nickyboy and wayne for the encouragement and hanging about in the rain waiting for me.
Just downloaded the ride into Strava and I managed to hit 53.9 mph descending the hill where Simon came off.... I was convinced I was also going to crash horribly, and I suspect it was more luck than skill that kept me upright.
Train back was a bit of a zoo, glad I had reserved a seat. Any very very glad I wasn't riding back like a certain lunatic
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Been back a while, had a shower now ready to 'spill the beans'.....
I had a fantastic ride/day yesterday and, as usual, really loved the camaraderie and banter that was had spending the day with a great bunch of people
The miles flew by and before I knew it we were rolling in to Scarborough, just as the rain clouds chose to roll in too 
.
Starting from home in Ashton at 6am I picked up a poorly @Kestevan from his bench outside McDonald's in Huddersfield. He was clearly suffering and even small climbs by our Pennine standards saw him disappearing off my back wheel much quicker than usual! We plodded on regardless and still made it to the start point with time to kill. 8.20am and already 35 miles in the bag for me. The rain coat was still packed away in my bumbag at this point despite a brief threat of a shower just as I set off in the morning.
Other ridees began to arrive around 8.30, old acquaintances and new, we soon had quite a bunch milling around waiting for the off. There was a small snag though because as the 9am (sharp!) start time came and went we were still waiting for the two people who had the least distance to travel, having stayed over in Leeds the night before, not mentioning any names @Crackle @wanda2010
Once underway the ride went relatively smoothly and everyone seemed to be on form and enjoying the conditions. Nobody really struggled due to the favourable winds subtly assisting progress, well done @nickyboy
As has already been mentioned there was the slight mechanical glitch experienced by @alibaba but we were dead lucky and it easily converted to single speed for a faultless run into Malton where it was just as quickly converted back to dérailleur gears to finish the rest of the ride
At this point I feel it appropriate to raise a small but important point about the ride organisation.
The post ride fish&chips were a big hit and great to see somewhere that still serves scraps (batter bits for you uneducated fools
) very nice.
The less said about the nights proceedings the better but I've come to the decision that Kestevan and Nickyboy were in cahoots and it was under Nicks directions that Kes dragged me into The Grand Hotel and poisoned me with expensive cheap spirits at last orders!
Anyway, the disastrous consequences of this malicious intoxication was that a short way into my ride home I started to feel a bit less than well and by the time I reached the Marishes Lane I was reduced to walking because my head was splitting and my balance was in tatters. Scary stuff and I was worried that I might have to resort to lying on the verge for a while to recover. I did manage to hold it together just enough to limp into Malton where I bought a train ticket to get me home. After popping some painkillers and a bit of food and drink I felt like a new person and it was really frustrating to look out of the train window on the way home and witness the unexpected good weather that I should have been riding in.
such a shame because after Saturday I felt in great shape physically and should have managed the 110 miles home.
Self inflicted suffering aside, it was a great weekend and I achieved a staggering 120 miles on Saturday plus approx 25 miles today.
Looking forward to the next one of these rides and maybe next time I will control my alcohol consumption so I can function better the following morning
I had a fantastic ride/day yesterday and, as usual, really loved the camaraderie and banter that was had spending the day with a great bunch of people
The miles flew by and before I knew it we were rolling in to Scarborough, just as the rain clouds chose to roll in too .Starting from home in Ashton at 6am I picked up a poorly @Kestevan from his bench outside McDonald's in Huddersfield. He was clearly suffering and even small climbs by our Pennine standards saw him disappearing off my back wheel much quicker than usual! We plodded on regardless and still made it to the start point with time to kill. 8.20am and already 35 miles in the bag for me. The rain coat was still packed away in my bumbag at this point despite a brief threat of a shower just as I set off in the morning.
Other ridees began to arrive around 8.30, old acquaintances and new, we soon had quite a bunch milling around waiting for the off. There was a small snag though because as the 9am (sharp!) start time came and went we were still waiting for the two people who had the least distance to travel, having stayed over in Leeds the night before, not mentioning any names @Crackle @wanda2010
Once underway the ride went relatively smoothly and everyone seemed to be on form and enjoying the conditions. Nobody really struggled due to the favourable winds subtly assisting progress, well done @nickyboy
As has already been mentioned there was the slight mechanical glitch experienced by @alibaba but we were dead lucky and it easily converted to single speed for a faultless run into Malton where it was just as quickly converted back to dérailleur gears to finish the rest of the ride
At this point I feel it appropriate to raise a small but important point about the ride organisation.
Somebody did turn up without means to navigate and IMO the digression was not adequately dealt with by ride leader @nickyboy
The post ride fish&chips were a big hit and great to see somewhere that still serves scraps (batter bits for you uneducated fools
) very nice.The less said about the nights proceedings the better but I've come to the decision that Kestevan and Nickyboy were in cahoots and it was under Nicks directions that Kes dragged me into The Grand Hotel and poisoned me with expensive cheap spirits at last orders!
Anyway, the disastrous consequences of this malicious intoxication was that a short way into my ride home I started to feel a bit less than well and by the time I reached the Marishes Lane I was reduced to walking because my head was splitting and my balance was in tatters. Scary stuff and I was worried that I might have to resort to lying on the verge for a while to recover. I did manage to hold it together just enough to limp into Malton where I bought a train ticket to get me home. After popping some painkillers and a bit of food and drink I felt like a new person and it was really frustrating to look out of the train window on the way home and witness the unexpected good weather that I should have been riding in.
such a shame because after Saturday I felt in great shape physically and should have managed the 110 miles home.Self inflicted suffering aside, it was a great weekend and I achieved a staggering 120 miles on Saturday plus approx 25 miles today.
Looking forward to the next one of these rides and maybe next time I will control my alcohol consumption so I can function better the following morning
I have finally arrived home after making a full weekend of it and am quite pooped.
Despite being the nearest to the start, I was around the corner in a Premier Inn, I was the last there due to being a nincompoop and mistakenly believing the main entrance was the South entrance but it began to dawn on me I was in the wrong place when I couldn't find the coffee shop everyone was in. Still, if you want to know the way, ask a copper, especially one with a phone and the ability to Google. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was walking the same way, which ensured I got to my destination but stopped me cycling at speed down the empty pavement to get there pronto. Still I was only a couple of minutes late
Ribbing duly taken, off we went out of the maize of Leeds, before all ending up on the slip road to M1 staring at the cycle path below us we should have been on. Easily rectified with the help of some precarious metal stairs down a dodgy steep muddy slope and then onwards through the finish of the local parkrun just to complete the cyclocross start to the ride.
The weather and wind being favourable, we racked up the miles steadily, stopping at Cawood for the first refuel where the heat of the conservatory diner began having a sophoric effect on me despite the coffee. Then onwards to Malton where the rolling few miles into the town saw us break up into ones and twos. Luckily Skolly was riding at the back and behind Alibaba whose rear hanger disintegrated on a gear change and had to be converted to a single speed for the final run to Malton where a proper fix could be had with Skolly again lending a hand to sort it all out and fit it.
After that we broke into two groups with 10 of us heading off for the flat route and the rest heading for the hilly route including the still ill Kestevan who failed to notice my raised eyebrow when I asked him if he was doing the hilly route: I believe he suffered. That last 30 miles is really good cycling and especially the forest road that took us into Scarborough. I'm fairly certain that bike of Pale Rider's doesn't cut out at 15mph because we never saw him until he stopped, just occasionally catching a whiff of cigar smoke to let us know he was still ahead.
The final regroup was in a bus shelter just outside the town and when we set off it really began to hammer it down. Wanda and I stopped at the same time to don waterproofs and so ended up riding the last few miles together. As we went in through Scarborough promenade I exclaimed that it looked a bit like a poor Rhyl in the 70's. She looked at me in surprise or it might have been cynicism, my glasses were fairly steamed up and full of water by then, however I was heartened by the site of cheap arcades, a mini funfair and several fish and chip shops: Ah, memories....
All in all, a superb ride, in really good company and the weather mostly played ball. It wouldn't be a Nickyboy ride if I wasn't sticking my shoes under the radiator and my gloves on top at the end of it!
And finally. I predicted the cheap travelodge prices at the end of September were because the donkeys had all gone home ......
Despite being the nearest to the start, I was around the corner in a Premier Inn, I was the last there due to being a nincompoop and mistakenly believing the main entrance was the South entrance but it began to dawn on me I was in the wrong place when I couldn't find the coffee shop everyone was in. Still, if you want to know the way, ask a copper, especially one with a phone and the ability to Google. Fortunately or unfortunately, he was walking the same way, which ensured I got to my destination but stopped me cycling at speed down the empty pavement to get there pronto. Still I was only a couple of minutes late
Ribbing duly taken, off we went out of the maize of Leeds, before all ending up on the slip road to M1 staring at the cycle path below us we should have been on. Easily rectified with the help of some precarious metal stairs down a dodgy steep muddy slope and then onwards through the finish of the local parkrun just to complete the cyclocross start to the ride.
The weather and wind being favourable, we racked up the miles steadily, stopping at Cawood for the first refuel where the heat of the conservatory diner began having a sophoric effect on me despite the coffee. Then onwards to Malton where the rolling few miles into the town saw us break up into ones and twos. Luckily Skolly was riding at the back and behind Alibaba whose rear hanger disintegrated on a gear change and had to be converted to a single speed for the final run to Malton where a proper fix could be had with Skolly again lending a hand to sort it all out and fit it.
After that we broke into two groups with 10 of us heading off for the flat route and the rest heading for the hilly route including the still ill Kestevan who failed to notice my raised eyebrow when I asked him if he was doing the hilly route: I believe he suffered. That last 30 miles is really good cycling and especially the forest road that took us into Scarborough. I'm fairly certain that bike of Pale Rider's doesn't cut out at 15mph because we never saw him until he stopped, just occasionally catching a whiff of cigar smoke to let us know he was still ahead.
The final regroup was in a bus shelter just outside the town and when we set off it really began to hammer it down. Wanda and I stopped at the same time to don waterproofs and so ended up riding the last few miles together. As we went in through Scarborough promenade I exclaimed that it looked a bit like a poor Rhyl in the 70's. She looked at me in surprise or it might have been cynicism, my glasses were fairly steamed up and full of water by then, however I was heartened by the site of cheap arcades, a mini funfair and several fish and chip shops: Ah, memories....
All in all, a superb ride, in really good company and the weather mostly played ball. It wouldn't be a Nickyboy ride if I wasn't sticking my shoes under the radiator and my gloves on top at the end of it!
And finally. I predicted the cheap travelodge prices at the end of September were because the donkeys had all gone home ......
crackle said:
OP
OP
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
I know I say this every time but it's true; it's the participants that make the ride
I really enjoy these rides, not just for the ride which is nice enough, but the chatting with everyone and the (fairly) gentle leg-pulling makes it a fun day out
I rolled up to Leeds about 0840, only to find the old rule about those staying nearest to the start will be last to arrive very much held sway. Skol (furthest) was first there, those unnamed participants staying 5 minutes walk from the station finally rolled up late
But let he who is without sin cast the first stone.....navigation is a real hobby horse of mine. Everyone rocked up with gpx, tcx, garmins, smarthpones....even a printed cue sheet. So when my Garmin (a) lost all its charge and (b) failed to find the route file I was a tad embarrassed. Luckily I think nobody noticed and I got away with it
Run out to Cawood was nice, only nearly ending up on the M1 being our hiccup. The café did us proud. The next twenty odd miles or so were fab, flat, tailiwind...you find yourself whizzing along at 20mph without really trying.
Big thanks to Skol for helping Alibaba with his mechanical. I wouldn't have had a clue. Fast Forward to 5pm and a bunch of drowned rats rolled into Scarborough. I am going to write a very stiff, green ink letter to BBC Weather cos that definitely wasn't forecast. A bunch of folk departed by train and the 24 Hour Party People descended on Wetherpoons. FF again to 10.45 and I'm off to bed leaving Skol and Kes to set the world to rights
Thanks to all who did the ride. Happy to run it again next year if folk want it again
I really enjoy these rides, not just for the ride which is nice enough, but the chatting with everyone and the (fairly) gentle leg-pulling makes it a fun day out
I rolled up to Leeds about 0840, only to find the old rule about those staying nearest to the start will be last to arrive very much held sway. Skol (furthest) was first there, those unnamed participants staying 5 minutes walk from the station finally rolled up late
But let he who is without sin cast the first stone.....navigation is a real hobby horse of mine. Everyone rocked up with gpx, tcx, garmins, smarthpones....even a printed cue sheet. So when my Garmin (a) lost all its charge and (b) failed to find the route file I was a tad embarrassed. Luckily I think nobody noticed and I got away with it
Run out to Cawood was nice, only nearly ending up on the M1 being our hiccup. The café did us proud. The next twenty odd miles or so were fab, flat, tailiwind...you find yourself whizzing along at 20mph without really trying.
Big thanks to Skol for helping Alibaba with his mechanical. I wouldn't have had a clue. Fast Forward to 5pm and a bunch of drowned rats rolled into Scarborough. I am going to write a very stiff, green ink letter to BBC Weather cos that definitely wasn't forecast. A bunch of folk departed by train and the 24 Hour Party People descended on Wetherpoons. FF again to 10.45 and I'm off to bed leaving Skol and Kes to set the world to rights
Thanks to all who did the ride. Happy to run it again next year if folk want it again
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
No thanks. You can run it, I'm going to do it by bicycle
Totally agree with everyone that it was a great day. Good company from old acquaintances and new!
A nice steady ride to Cawood with just a brief shower to try and spoil proceedings then a good run onto Malton. I'd remembered the couple of hills on the run in but had forgotten about the long descent into Malton - despite my best efforts I couldn't stay on @nickyboy 's wheel on the run in and he left me for dust!
After the lunch stop we split into two groups - those going the hilly route and the remainder going on the flatter route. I was persuaded to join the hilly group but it was soon clear that this was the wrong choice as coming out of Malton the hill group were putting on a pace (I was struggling to keep up at 25mph) that I wouldn't want to comfortably hold for the next 35 miles. As the turn for the flatter route drew closer I decided to take the flatter route and joined up with@Colin and @Littgull
The other 8 on the same route joined us and we all headed through some lovely scenery heading towards Scarborough. The weather mostly played ball until the final 5 miles when the heavens opened and the ride along the promenade left the shoes full of water!
I wasn't hungry to enjoy a portion of the fish n chips at the finish but did nick a chip or two from those on offer! (I was amazed at how much some people ate on the ride - a meal at every stop!) Me, Gil and Wayne tried to get on the earlier train rather than hanging around for over an hour but it was cancelled so had to decamp to Wetherspoons for a couple whilst we dried out and enjoyed a chat with Julia Al and Si.
When we got off at Leeds the rain had started again so a second soaking on the way back to the car before getting home for a hot shower.
Fantastic ride with great camaraderie and banter - already looking forward to next year!
A nice steady ride to Cawood with just a brief shower to try and spoil proceedings then a good run onto Malton. I'd remembered the couple of hills on the run in but had forgotten about the long descent into Malton - despite my best efforts I couldn't stay on @nickyboy 's wheel on the run in and he left me for dust!
After the lunch stop we split into two groups - those going the hilly route and the remainder going on the flatter route. I was persuaded to join the hilly group but it was soon clear that this was the wrong choice as coming out of Malton the hill group were putting on a pace (I was struggling to keep up at 25mph) that I wouldn't want to comfortably hold for the next 35 miles. As the turn for the flatter route drew closer I decided to take the flatter route and joined up with@Colin and @Littgull
The other 8 on the same route joined us and we all headed through some lovely scenery heading towards Scarborough. The weather mostly played ball until the final 5 miles when the heavens opened and the ride along the promenade left the shoes full of water!
I wasn't hungry to enjoy a portion of the fish n chips at the finish but did nick a chip or two from those on offer! (I was amazed at how much some people ate on the ride - a meal at every stop!) Me, Gil and Wayne tried to get on the earlier train rather than hanging around for over an hour but it was cancelled so had to decamp to Wetherspoons for a couple whilst we dried out and enjoyed a chat with Julia Al and Si.
When we got off at Leeds the rain had started again so a second soaking on the way back to the car before getting home for a hot shower.
Fantastic ride with great camaraderie and banter - already looking forward to next year!
OP
OP
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
I resent the insinuation that I eat too much on these rides
All I had was a bowl of porridge, a sausage butty, a round of roast beef sandwiches, a medium haddock and chips and several beers. And then this morning I had two cooked breakfasts (Travelodge's Eat as Much As You Can for £9 offer was too good to resist)
That's a normal weekend around these parts
Yeah but Wayne was at least two dinners ahead of that lot. I think they loaded a special buffet car on the train for him when he got on.
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
I think, with hindsight, it should be recognised that I picked the winner!This thread should have a poll
C'mon 30th...... yeah!
Welcome to the madness that is cyclechat Al
Has anyone seen or heard from Wanda since Saturday night?
Sorry @wanda2010, if I had known you were looking for a chaperone to escort you through the Badlands of Scarborough I would have been there in a jiffy. Unfortunately by the time Crackle showed up with the news, you had already retired to your room with dinner and a drink. I have PM'd you my mobile number so if it happens again you should be able to get hold of me, and who knows, with the steadying influence of a good women beside me I might not let the other reprobates drag me down to their level for once!
OP
OP
nickyboy
Norven Mankey
- Location
- You want hills? We got hills
He was wasn't he!
He had porridge at home, then a full English at Cawood, lasagne and chips at Malton then...I'm not sure at the chippy. Please don't tell me he had fish and chips as well
Kestevan
Last of the Summer Winos
- Location
- Holmfirth.
Personally I blame @nickyboy for the whole Travelodge/Wanda malarkey.
I was first down, and had discovered the lodge bar and was nursing a small whisky when Nick appeared. Now I wanted to be civil and wait for the rest of you, but nick practically dragged me out of the door and up to spoons. It was also "two breakfasts" Nick that insisted on the all you can eat baconfest the following morning
As to dragging @I like Skol any further down, I'm not sure that is possible. As I recall it was you who tried to physically pick up Nick and carry him to the Grand... No-one had to force those last few brandies down your neck; and I suspect it was only the fact that the pool table was in the same shabby state as the rest of the place that we managed to leave before dawn...
I was first down, and had discovered the lodge bar and was nursing a small whisky when Nick appeared. Now I wanted to be civil and wait for the rest of you, but nick practically dragged me out of the door and up to spoons. It was also "two breakfasts" Nick that insisted on the all you can eat baconfest the following morning
As to dragging @I like Skol any further down, I'm not sure that is possible. As I recall it was you who tried to physically pick up Nick and carry him to the Grand... No-one had to force those last few brandies down your neck; and I suspect it was only the fact that the pool table was in the same shabby state as the rest of the place that we managed to leave before dawn...
I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
You may be right. If we had got on the pool table it could have been a late night!
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