West Harrogate Reservoirs – 12th September 2010

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Luke took the honours this morning to plan the route and boy…was it a hilly one!!  The plan was to take us out around the reservoirs to the west of Harrogate.

We headed out up through Beckwithshaw and past Little Almscliff Crag, before turning left towards Norwood and Otley.  We took the quiet side lane, Jack Hill Lane, to bring us out at the bottom of Norwood Edge.  From there it was a fairly quick descent into Otley (except for a couple of climbs).  We were hoping to grab a coffee in Otley, but obviously no-one had set their alarm clocks to enable them to open their cafes (apart from one greasy spoon packed full of bikers).

From Otley, we headed out to Askwith before climbing up onto Askwith Moor.  From the top it was down to Blubberhouses and then around West End and Thruscross going over two 20%+ hills to give the legs a real workout.  We were then hoping to get a coffee at Mackenzies Smokehouse – but they don’t open on Sunday’s as we found out.

So it was back to Harrogate for a late coffee at the Smiths Arms in Beckwithshaw…but guess what….they were also shut.  Obviously no-one wanted to take our money today.

A really nice ride with some stunning views.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/48686195

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Great Milk Stout Ride – 5th September 2010

Posted on September 13, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

On Sunday 5th Sept Ben Werth, Luke, Jamie, myself (Karl) and guest rider Dan took part in the “extreme route” of this event which earnt its name by throwing in a savage hill (felt a bit like 1 in 4 and you had to pick your way between other riders who had decided to walk it) along with the usual …lumpy route around Nidderdale.

With a fast early pace set by our guest and additional hill climbing class added by Jamie and Ben we got round in a creditable 1 hr 18 minutes which equates to a lung bursting 16.5 mph av speed. The event itself was well supported as usual with riders taking part for Macmillan Cancer Relief, a lot of whom also rode in fancy dress.

After lunch in Pateley Bridge Jamie left us and the remaining 4 riders set off up Greenhow Hill over to Grassington, Burnsall, Appletreewick, and back.  This afternoon ride not only provided the usual stunning scenery (which was all new to Dan and Ben) but also served to completly exhaust any reserves of energy we had left, with the climb up from Appletreewick back up to the top of Greenhow being the main culprit.  Luke’s local knowledge was invaluable for navigation and for telling us what the numerous beauty spots were called. We got back to the car park, exhausted but happy.

A really “extreme”day and highly recommended.

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Wharfedale – 31st August 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Three of us (James, Karl and Luke) all had a day off work on Tuesday, so what better way to relax than go for an impromtu long’un out into the heart of Wharfedale….

We kicked off as usual from St Aidans and made for Little Almscliff, before then going over the A59 at Menwith and the long climb up Duck Street to the top of Greenhow Hill.  The conditions were perfect for a day in the saddle, light winds and the sun shining.  The views from the top of Greenhow were spectacular as we then made our way down to Grassington for a quick stop for supplies before heading to Burnsall for what we hoped would be elevenses.  Unfortunately the Wharfe Valley cafe was shut due to the Kilnsey Show, so we continued with our planned route and headed through Appletreewick and onto the Cavendish Pavillion at Bolton Abbey for what would now be a lunch stop.

After re-mortgaging our house to pay for the sandwiches we made our way towards the Abbey, but were stopped in our tracks very quickly as James fell foul to a dodgy cattle grid and went over his handlebars.  Thankfully nothing was damaged too badly, so we continued our way past Addingham and into Ilkley.  From Ilkley we then head up to Askwith and onto Otley, Pool, Castley and Weeton before crossing the A61 and climbing to Kirkby Overblow.  At this point we all decided to extend the ride and head down to Wetherby, where we left Karl and James and Luke returned to Harrogate via Spofforth and Follifoot.

An epic ride of just over 75 miles!!

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46986105

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Masham – 29th August 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

As it was the Bank Holiday weekend a few of us had permission to stay out a bit longer than normal, so we decided to take a lumpy route out to Masham.  We headed out of Harrogate through Hampsthwaite and Shaw Mills, before dropping into Markington and up past Fountains Abbey.  From there it was on through Winksley, Kirkby Malzeard and Grewelthorpe before a well earned coffee stop at the Suncatchers Cafe in Masham.

Once refreshed, we headed out of Masham towards Nosterfield and Wath, before returning to Harrogate via Ripon, Bishop Monkton, and Knaresborough (another quick Espresso stop).

The ride was a great ride, in good, but blustery conditions and it was also good to welcome new recruit, Alex to the ranks.

View the first half of the route here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46633365

GPS stopped mapping for some reason after Masham!!

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Wetherby – 24th August 2010

Posted on September 2, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

A familiar route was taken this evening for our mid-week ride.  Heading out from Harrogate towards Kirky Overblow, before a quick descent all the way down through Sicklinghall and onto Wetherby before returning back to Harrogate, via McDonalds at Knaresborough….

View the route stats: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/46008189

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Beningborough Hall – 22nd August 2010

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

After last Sunday’s good turnout, the numbers continued to be good this week as a few people returned from holiday to the prospect of coffee and cakes at the Beningborough Farm Shop.  We kicked off the ride heading out through Farnham, Staveley and Minskip, before continuing onto Beningborough through Aldborough, The Dunsforths and Ouseburn.  We made good time out to Beningborough with and average speed of 17.2 mph which meant we got there before the doors opened.

After a very good refuelling stop of coffee, cakes and pork pies (Lyn!!) we braced ourselves for the return trip to Harrogate, which was mainly going to be into a headwind.  We return through Whixley, Cattal and Cowthorpe, before heading up into Knaresborough (for one last quick coffee stop) and up the hill into Harrogate.

A really nice ride in sunny and blustery conditions: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/45673936

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Boroughbridge – 17th August 2010

Posted on August 24, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Sorry – bit late in posting last weeks mid-week ride.  Five of us headed out for a fairly steady ride heading for Boroughbridge through Knaresborough, Farmham, Staveley and Minskip.  The pace was fairly brisk and once at Boroughbridge we took a back lane down towards Marton-cum-Grafton.

Duncan was struggling with his ankle, following his water-skiing exploits on honeymoon, so he left us soon after Marton to head back to Wetherby.  The rest of us carried on back to Harrogate in the fast failing light through Coneythorpe, Goldsborough and along the riverside at Knaresborough, before the final pull up into Harrogate.

A good 28 miles mid-week outing: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44988865

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Ripon and Vale of York – 15th August 2010

Posted on August 16, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

For the first time in a few weeks we actually managed to have a peleton setting off from Harrogate, with eight of us in total heading out towards Ripon via Knaresborough, Farnham, Bishop Monkton and Littlethorpe.  The weather was good, despite the headwind and the forecast promised better as the day went on.

At Littlethorpe, Luke guided us over a footbridge and onto the Boroughbridge Road, past the racecourse before turning off to Skelton-on-Ure with a now very helpful tailwind that pushed us on to our coffee stop at Gilchrists in Boroughbridge.

After re-fuelling we made our way down through Aldborough, the Dunsforths, Whixley and Cattall before returning to Harrogate via Ribston, Spofforth and Follifoot.  By the time we were back in Harrogate the sun was blasting down on us.

A really nice ride and some good banter along the way: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44664908

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West Harrogate – 10th August 2010

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Only three of us cycled this evening on what was a slightly chilly summer’s evening.  We headed out of Harrogate up the newly re-surfaced Otley Road, before turning right out towards Penny Pot Lane.  We were grateful of the shelter of Penny Pot as the wind was a stiff block-headwind.

At the end of Penny Pot, we took a left-turn and then head back up past Little Almscliffe Crag and descending rapidly down into Beckwithshaw, where we turned right to climb up to the top of Brackenthwaite Lane and another fast descent into Brunbridge for a quick stop at the Black Swan (no beers this week, just coffee and tea as we were a bit cold).

After our legs had seized up it was a steady return back to Harrogate along Leadhall Lane.

View the route: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/44003147

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Pateley Bridge – 8th August 2010

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Cappuccino Cycling Club

Finally after a few weeks of intended rides to Pateley Bridge, we actually managed to get there!  Five of us set off heading out through Beckwithshaw and up past Little Almscliffe Crag, before crossing over the A59 and the long slog up Duck Street to the top of Greenhow Hill.  We kept a steady pace to the top and were greeted by some fantastic views over Upper Nidderdale.

We agreed to take Peat Lane down into Pateley to avoid the main road, but Karl and Paul were too keen and headed straight down, but the rest of us took the side lane, which got very steep near the bottom and James was nearly taken out by a cat bolting across the road.  We arrived in Pateley to find the Lemon Meringue tea room shut, so we found alternative coffee and food in a nice cafe up the High Street.

After recharging the batteries, we headed out of Pateley and up to Brimham Rocks via the Ripon Road.  From Brimham we had a great fast descent down to Burnt Yates and, then down Bedlam Hill for another quick stop in Ripley, before returning to Harrogate via Knox Mill Lane.

View the route here: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/43620341

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