Kirkby Malzeard – 10th April 2011

Posted on April 10, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

At last….we could start the ride today in our summer jerseys!!  It was another great morning in Harrogate as 11 of us gathered.  Karl, Duncan and Martin P had already been out and climbed Norwood Edge before meeting us and we had a route planned to head out to Kirkby Malzeard before having a coffee stop at the Sun Parlour Cafe in Ripon.

We also welcomed new rider Paul to the Cappuccino peleton and headed up the Otley Road before taking a familiar route through Hampsthwaite, Shaw Mills and past Fountains Abbey, before climbing through Winksley and into Kirkby Malzeard.  From there it was a swift descent down into Ripon, where we basked in the spring sunshine whilst having our coffee and cakes (bowl of pasta for Pete!!).  During discussions we talked about where bike frames were built and Karl was mortified to hear that there was a rumour flying around that the Raleigh Avanti was actually a DeRosa Avant in disguise and that came from the same factory.  He was so agast, that he was still going on about it 15 miles later!!

After the coffee we left Pete to head back to Nidderdale and the rest of the group carried on through Skelton and Boroughbridge, before heading down through the Dunsforth’s, Whixley and Cattall before returning to Harrogate via Spofforth, Follifoot and Rudding Lane.  Today’s ride was absolutely fantastic, with the group riding together in formation for a large chunk of it.

Wow, wow and double wow will best describe it…..

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/78425830

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Timble Loop – 7th April 2011

Posted on April 7, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Another gorgeous evening greeted the Cappuccino’ers outside St Aidans earlier.  Seven of us set off into the setting sun on a route out towards the reservoirs west of Harrogate and up to Timble.  The route started off by taking us up the Otley Road and then onto Penny Pot, snaking past the closed road barriers and on into a stiff headwind.

Once out of the shelter of the trees we were rewarded with great views and a beautiful sunset.  James proclaimed that he should be out with his camera instead of on the bike, but we all agreed that nature’s show was much better than watching Corrie!  We continued down and over the Fewston dam, before climbing up into Timble.  We then returned back down to Fewston and carried on to Swinsty and up to Norwood.  We left Pete at this point for his return home and the rest carried on up to Little Almscliffe.

We said goodbye to Rosie at Beckwithshaw and wished her luck for the Lakeland Loop this weekend.  The remaining riders then carried on up Shaw Lane before descending Brackenthwaite into Burnbridge, before the final little pull up into Leadhall Lane for our return home.

A really nice evening spring ride, with some good hills.

View the route details and stats here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77798484

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Norwood Edge at Night – 5th April 2011

Posted on April 6, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

There were 9 of us out for a ride and the mission for the night was to conquer Norwood Edge in the dark.

We set off down through Burn Bridge, over Brackenthwaite Lane and then braved a slightly hairy descent of the B6161 due to the strong (but warm!) wind. We suffered a slight mechanical when Duncan’s chain had a fall out with his chain ring but Martin put it back on quickly enough and we carried on right towards Farnley and then began the ascent of Norwood Edge.

It was Duncan’s first time so Dave enjoyed telling him it was only slightly steep, slightly tiring, and slightly long. Despite this warning he was dismayed to find out it is a hill of 2 halves (“there’s more of it ?!”). With the whole group reassembled at the top of the hill we made our way back along Norwood Lane and then Shaw Lane which brought us out back onto Brackenthwaite Lane and home.

Approx 25 miles hill climbing fun on a very pleasant warm night.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/77444124

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North Harrogate Circular – 3rd April 2011

Posted on April 3, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

The sun was out, and what’s more….it was almost warm!!  The conditions dragged 10 of us out this morning getting a sneaky ride in before Mother’s Day duties beckoned.

We decided on a route around the north of Harrogate and headed off up the Otley Road towards Norwood Lane and Little Almscliffe into a noticeable headwind.  Thankfully after turning ride at Norwood the wind was then behind us.  We decided to try and marshall the group better today and to make sure that no-one attacked the hills to try and keep the group together more.  We crossed over the A59 at Menwith and carried on before dropping down a back lane into Darley and along the river to Birstwith, where we turned and headed up Clint Bank.  We all took the climb at a steady pace and at the top…..we were all still together.

We dropped into Shaw Mills, and continued along through Markington and Bishop Monkton and headed towards Roecliffe.  Malcolm then took us down a private road (public bridleway) which felt like we were paying homage to the Tour of Flanders or Paris-Roubaix.  This lane brought us out into Copgrove, were we then headed back through Knaresborough and a much deserved coffee stop at Cafe Rosso.  The weather was even better by then, so we have our first alfresco Cappuccino of the year.

Well done to all for keeping the group together.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76879291

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Dob Park – 31st March 2011

Posted on April 1, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club
FIVE RULE ON WINDSWEPT DOB PARK RIDE

Five riders: Martin G, Malcolm, Martin P, Dave and Duncan set out with gritted teeth to do battle with 50mph gusts, inky-black country lanes and some notable ups and downs this evening.
For starters, the group rode through Beckwithshaw then right into a sapping headwind up to Little Almscliffe and Norwood. A left turn then towards Norwood Edge summit gave some relief from the gale before the main course of the night, down the extremely dark and narrow pot-holed lanes to Dob Park.
Remarkably, all emerged safely, albeit somewhat shaken but stirred for the plunge down Norwood Edge towards Farnley and Leathley. The tail wind helped with the grind up Leathley Bank before heading down back into Harrogate through Beckwithshaw at a cracking pace.
Twenty three miles covered seemed like more.
Another stimulating Cappuccino, double espresso!!
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The Life of an Elite Cyclist

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

This is brilliant and thanks to Dave W for spotting this….

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Velominati – The Rules of Cycling

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

This is essential reading for all road cyclists.  There are some really amusing rules in here and some very good ones.

In mind my though rules are there to be broken….so I for one will be keeping my saddle bags on my bikes and handlebars at an angle that give me a comfortable riding position.

Happy reading…..

http://www.velominati.com/blog/the-rules/

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Almscliffe Crag – 29th March 2011

Posted on March 30, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Another good turnout for a night ride last night with 9 riders looking to make use of the first night ride to start in the daylight.  A route was decided on that would take us up and around Almscliffe Crag.

We headed out of Harrogate along Leadhall Lane, before dropping down into Burnbridge, over the Pannal roadabout and up into Kirkby Overblow.  It was then a steady descent down towards the main Leeds Road, before crossing it and continuing into Weeton.  The pace was fairly brisk, but comfortable.  From Weeton, we carried on towards the A658 and crossed that and started the climb into Huby and then on to Almscliffe Crag.  We then dropped into North Rigton before starting the next climb to the top of Brackenthwaite Lane.

As we had pressed on we decided to carry on up to the very top of Brackenthwaite, before turning onto the main Otley Road and descending very quickly towards Beckwithshaw.  Hitting 60kph in the dark is certainly fun!!  From Beckwithshaw we made our way back to Harrogate past the Squinting Cat and along Leadhall Lane once more.

A really nice night ride.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/76105773

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Tadcaster – 27th March 2011

Posted on March 28, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

After a week of gorgeous weather, it was back to a cold and grey start on Sunday morning as 12 of us met for a route to Tadcaster planned by Karl.  We set off like a bunch of greyhounds and headed along Leadhall, before dropping down into Pannal and up the side of the golf course.  Crossing over the by-pass we headed into Kirkby Overblow and continued along a familiar route down through Sicklinghall before turning right into Linton Lane.  Just outside the Windmill Inn, Martin popped a spoke, which forced him to return home to Harrogate with Rob for company.

The rest of the bunch continued into Collingham, before climbing out through the lanes past East Rigton and onto Bramham and Thorner.  When we got to Tadcaster it was decided that we were a bit to early for a coffee stop, so we continued and made for Thorpe Arch where Karl guided us in the direction of a very nice tea room.

After re-fuelling we then headed up Rudgate towards Cattall.  Along the way we saw the Yorkshire Road Club, who we chased down and then made our way over Cattall bridge and on to Whixley, Thorpe Underwood and Ouseburn.  We then made our turn for home, coming back to Harrogate via Marton, Arkendale, Flaxby, Goldsborough and Abbey Road.  James got bad cramp in Calcutt, but thankfully Karl dropped back whilst the others disappeared off into the distance.

A good 55 mile ride in ever improving conditions.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/75893583

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Brimham Rocks – 22nd March 2011

Posted on March 24, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

A new record…… 13 of us including new rider Paul (welcome) set out for a ride to Brimham Rocks and back.

Our early progress was stopped when Nick suffered a puncture but we got our bunch together again and set off down to Hampthswaite all chasing Matthew who is great on the descents. Up to Clint, Shaw Mills, Bishop Thornton and then eventually we found the back road leading to Brimham Rocks. As we know this is a great descent but turned out to be a long draggy climb. After a regroup we climbed up over the back of The Rocks which was great on such a clear night. A fast run back down the road through Hartwith and ending at Burnt Yeates and then back via Clint, Hampthswaite and Knox Mill with Duncan getting some serious training in towing Malcolm uphill whilst chanting “hills are my friends, they make me stronger!”

Rob’s data showed approx 31 miles at 14.7 mph. Great fun.

 

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