Lower Nidderdale – 1st March 2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Due to Karl’s lack of imagination we once again suggested the Tour de Birstwith route in order to get some hills in.  This was agreed by our group of 8 which included Malcolm – good to see you again.  We set off for Hampthswaite via Harlow Moor Rd at a brisk pace which was maintained for the whole ride.  Up Clint Bank at a charge, we stopped just before Birstwith to let a truck past and to admire the large box & array of lights attached to Mark’s bike.

From Birstwith we rode the 16% hill past the church and then on past the RAF base and turned right at the crossroads very fast down to Darley.  Turning right we then a formed a speedy bunch back to Birstwith where we took the main road up to Hampthswaite. We climbed back up the way we came in and rode back to H’gate via the climb of Penny Pot/Harlow Moor Road. Overall a fast & furious assault on the local lumpy stuff.

Approx 24 miles with an av speed of 13.8 mph.

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Brimham Rocks and Boroughbridge – 27th February 2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

There was a good turnout on Sunday for a new route to the North of Harrogate.  The mood was also bouyant as the sun was shining as we set of towards Brimham Rocks.  Our route out of Harrogate took us towards Penny Pot before turning right down into Hampsthwaite and then climbing up to Burn Yates.  At Burnt Yates we then went left and started the long pull up to Brimham Rocks.  By the time we got to Brimham there was a bit of rain in the air, but the views were still good.

We carried on past Brimham before turning down towards Warsill for what was an excellent long descent all the way down into Markington. The only problem now was that the rain had set in.  From Markington we headed for Bishop Monkton, Roecliffe and Boroughbridge.  As it was still raining in Boroughbridge and our usual watering holes were both full of cyclists getting out of the rain, we decided to head back to Harrogate and have our coffee at Cafe Rosso.

Dispite the weather, it was a good ride on a new route and one we will be repeating when the weather is better.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/70400556

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Padside – 24th February 2011

Posted on March 2, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

4 of us set off from St Aidans on a pleasant mild night. Due to Dave’s road bike being stuck at Boneshakers he was on his TT bike with what amounted to a flickering candle lighting the way.  Cycled out of Harrogate towards to Beckwithshaw then up Norwood Lane, into the usual strong headwind, crossing the A59 to past the golf balls.

Everyone agreed it was such a nice night we’d go a bit further, so added an extra loop by turning left towards the Greenhow road, turning right at the crossroads to come back into Darley. This section was quite up and down – descents were exciting with little illumination, and the climbs almost eerily quiet with just the sound of heavy breathing! Pace on the climbs was high, easing off on the flats. Took the route by the river from Darley / Birstwith / Hampswaite (Joiners Arms looked very tempting!), then back into Harrogate via Jennyfield drive.

Nick practised an excellent dismounting technique when he went flying over the handlebars just by the Academy when his wheel dug in to some mud by the side of the path – luckily no damage done (at least it appeared that way in the dark). Then it was back into town.

A good night with a reasonable amount of climbing for a short ride – 2300ft and 30 miles. TT bike was surprisingly comfy for a 2 hour road ride too! Roll on spring 🙂

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/69941497

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Almscliff Crag – 22nd February 2011

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

After the last few days it was nice to have a still and dry evening to hit the roads and lanes around Harrogate.  Eight of us set off from St Aidans and headed and a route to Almscliff Crag via Brunbridge, Kirkby Overblow, Weeton and Huby.  The talk of the evening was Duncan’s new set of shiny white Mavics – well they were white at the start of the night, but by the time we had finished they were covered in cow sh1t and all sorts of other muck.  “Not to worry” said Duncan, “I will get the missus to clean them!!”

After the climb to Almscliff Crag, it was a sort descent into North Rigton, where the climbing continued to the top of Brackenthwaite Lane, before a welcome rest for the legs, with a swift descent down into Burnbridge.  Nick then suggest climbing up towards the Squiting Cat just to keep the hills coming thick and fast.  From there we returned back into Harrogate to complete at hilly 21 miles.

Great ride, with lots of hills: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/69657205

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Vale of York and Norwood Edge – 20th February 2011

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

11 of us met this morning including new riders Mark, and Tizz (welcome both).  We opted for a flattish route – so we set off to Stavely where Ben and Martin P turned back.  The rest of us carried on up to Boroughbridge and then on to Great & Little Ouseburn, Thorp Underwood, Whixley, Cattal, …and then on the road to Wetherby Paul put in a couple of bursts, the second of which left everybody trailing.
A refuel in Wetherby at the cafe in The Shambles saw all of us ordering teacakes (well why not?) and then we endured the misery of starting again in the cold & damp.  Heading up to Sickinghall and Kirkby Overblow, 6 riders returned to Harrogate via Burn Bridge, with Dave, Luke and Karl opting to carry on and climb Norwood Edge.  This hurt.  A lot.  Overall the pace was fairly high today and congratulations to Tizz who completed her longest ever ride with us.  Hope to see both you and Mark back again. For those that went onto Norwood Edge the ride covered 60 miles and was great fun despite the weather.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/69209090

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Knaresborough Villages – 17th February 2011

Posted on February 18, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

We managed to sneak a bonus night ride in last night and 7 of us took the opportunity to make the most of a dry night to hit the roads.  Everyone was in the mood for a flat ride for a change, so we headed on a route out around the villages near Knaresborough.

We took a familiar route down into Knaresborough and onto Scriven, Farnham, Staveley and Minskip (quick natural stop) and Boroughbridge.  The pace was brisk due to the lack of hills.  We then headed down the old A1, before turning right in towards Arkendale and then back towards Knaresborough via Coneythorpe and Goldsborough.

We returned to Harrogate along Abbey Road and then up over Calcutt and Forest Moor.

Not to taxing a ride, but nice to roll along at a swift pace.  View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/68773354

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Wetherby – 15th January 2011

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club
Just two riders, Luke and Martin P , set off on what began as a cold and rainy evening ride.  A brisk pace  kept the cold at bay as we headed down to Knaresborough and along Waterside and the swollen river Nidd.  After crossing the Ring Road we reversed last Tuesday’s ride through Little Ribston, North Deighton and Kirk Deighton to Wetherby.
The route back included a ‘long cut’, as Luke described it, through the village of Linton before rejoining the road to Sicklinghall and Kirkby Overblow. Just before we reached the village a strange thing happened – a badger ran out into the road and ran alongside our front wheels right next to us for about 50m before disappearing into the dark hedgerow. We arrived back in Harrogate through Burn Bridge and the rise by Ashville School where, believe it or not, Luke spotted a white mouse run across the road in front of us!
This Cappuccino-meets-naturewatch ride covered 26.5 miles.  Rain stopped early and the weather was fine for the majority of an enjoyable ride out.
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Lower Nidderdale – 13th February 2011

Posted on February 13, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Yuk!! What a horrible morning it was in Harrogate as we met out side St Aidans.  Eight of us had decided to brave the cold and wet morning and the first call was to keep it local and see what the elements were going to do.  We made off up the Otley Road and out to Beckwithshaw, and on to Little Almscliffe at a fairly brisk pace.

From there we continued down to Norwood and past the Sun Inn and over the A59 towards Dacre.  Before dropping down the main hill we hooked a right down a steep back lane into Darley and continued along the riverside to Birstwith, up the short, sharp 17% of Meg Gate and down into Hampsthwaite.

From Hampsthwaite, we went up to Hollins Hall and returned to Harrogate via Knox Mill Lane, before diving into Cafe Rosso for some hots drinks.  This was were everyone had decided that they had had enough and we all headed for early baths.

It was nice to stretch the legs, but the cold and wet got the better of us!!

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/68074172

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Wetherby – 8th February 2011

Posted on February 9, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

It was a record turnout for a night ride last night with 12 of us meeting for the off at 7.30.  The temperature had dropped and there was a lovely clear sky as we set off along Leadhall and down to Burnbridge, before crossing over the Pannal roundabout and turning left up to Kirkby Overblow.  In KO we turned right and then left towards Netherby and the sharp climb up past Barrowby Grange, before continuing down through Sicklinghall to Wetherby.

On the way into Wetherby, a few hit some rather large potholes, so after a quick stop to check the bikes over we continued along the Knaresborough Road trying to keep up with Mike who was setting a mean pace on the front.  A cappuccino in MacDonalds was tempting, but we decided against it and returned to Harrogate along the Knaresborough riverside and up the hill into Starbeck.

A really nice evening ride with the lights of approx 25 miles.

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Boroughbridge – 6th February 2011

Posted on February 6, 2011 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

The ride started on a damp and drizzly morning, so the intention was to keep it short and see how the weather developed.  Eight of us (including a new rider, Matthew) set off on a familiar route out towards Penny Pot, into Hampsthwaite and Shaw Mills before dropping into Markington and on to Burton Leonard.

At Burton Leonard, the call was made to extended the ride as the weather was improving, so we made towards Ripon and onto Boroughbridge for a coffee stop.  Half way to Ripon, Nick and Alex came up with a great idea for a future ride – fancy dress!!  The aim was to get us all cycling in tweed, but Karl had other ideas as he wanted to get out his mankini (no thanks Karl).  We were heading for Tasty Snacks in Boroughbridge, when Duncan said that he was banned from there.  I’ve heard of being banned from a pub before, but being banned from a tea room???  Anyway, we made our way to Gilchrists where we met up with Jamie.

After the coffee stop there was a unanimous decision to have an easy run back to Harrogate.  We thought it would be easy, but by now the wind had got up, so we had 12 miles of a solid strong headwind to contend with.  It was a long drag back in through Staveley and Knaresborough especially up the main hill from Mother Shiptons.  Anyway after nearly 40 miles we fell back into town.

A good ride and some more solid miles in the legs.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/66958322

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