Punctures on Saturday meant a lonely ride back as I told the Shutt VR Lads to ride on as time scales have to be adhered to for families. It wasnt that bad though, only about 15 miles with 12 of that being helped by the roaring tailwind. Sunday turned from a very cold frost and ice ridden early morning start into the best ride of the year. Well for aesthetics anyway. 6 turned out to start losing one new member after about 18 miles as he wasn’t quite up to keeping up on the hills. Then as the morning wore on an Ill member then decided that it was best to curtail the ride short as the Tour of Flanders is looming and best not spoil that.
So 3 left taking 6-8 miles on the front at a go saw us heading deep into the dales. The sun was up and affording us magnificent views across the valley. Unfortunately, the sun was on the opposite side and we still had to put up with cold hands and feet. Turning up to Kidstones, the sun got higher and started warm us up. Its quite incredible how the body absorbs even the weakest bit of sun and thus gives cheer. Whilst climbing at this point the London-Edinburgh `vintage` car rally came noisily past, big Bentley blowers and smaller MGs gave the impression of how a mid war tour must have been. Noisy cars spuing out rich fumes whilst grinding gears trying to get around hairpin bends. Very atmospheric!
The long swooping descent into another valley not often visited was tremendous fun. A little ice every now and then but nothing too bad. A quick left into a very picturesque village enhanced the `from bygone times` feel to the ride with the distant rumble of the cars further down the valley. Up a steep little bank and over the top saw us drop into Wensleydale and into a head wind which had decided to change its direction, so still being in our faces as so far had been on the ride. The sun was now warming up the day and it was noted there was not a cloud in the sky, all the moisture has dropped as frost and the air was crystal clear. A day for photographs.
Riding into Hawes it was time for a quick bite of energy bar before the `hill of the day` Fleets Moss, the hard way. What a hill, it rises straight in front of you and shows itself in all its glory. Consistent at about 1-8 then rearing up at at least 1-4 for the top 200m, it certainly makes those legs ache. Rewarded with far-reaching views of the fells and tops, deep into North &West Yorkshire to Lancashire from a height of 1869ft. (I believe). The descent down of this monster is fast and technical. Sharp bends, hidden dips and long swoops turning this way & that. The real deal here as the road enters the Langstrothdale and falls gently away in one of the most spectacular valley bottom rides in Yorkshire. Sun shining, clear skies, a meandering road next to a limestone bedded river and most importantly of all, no cars.
Still the wind in our faces, nothing new there, down past Hubberholme and into Buckden the pace was fairly high with the 3 of us all taking our turns, not much conversation now as we looked around at the beautiful steep banked valley walls that bound Kettlewell. The back road is always a treat, no cars and narrow lanes. The rest of the journey is just a visual treat, Hebden with its offset main street curling down into a lost valley rising up over upper fell meadows, to the fabulous view looking down on Burnsall from the North, the fell dark and brooding contrasting with the green of the fields and the blue of the meandering ox-bow river.
Only Appletreewick and Barden to go now, legs were getting tired now but onward we pedaled, congratulating and thanking each other for what was a memorable ride. If you weren’t there you missed out on a good 80+ miler. I recommend you do it one day. Oh, and no mention of our Shutt VR jerseys so easily available at http://www.shuttvr.com/ !
So 3 left taking 6-8 miles on the front at a go saw us heading deep into the dales. The sun was up and affording us magnificent views across the valley. Unfortunately, the sun was on the opposite side and we still had to put up with cold hands and feet. Turning up to Kidstones, the sun got higher and started warm us up. Its quite incredible how the body absorbs even the weakest bit of sun and thus gives cheer. Whilst climbing at this point the London-Edinburgh `vintage` car rally came noisily past, big Bentley blowers and smaller MGs gave the impression of how a mid war tour must have been. Noisy cars spuing out rich fumes whilst grinding gears trying to get around hairpin bends. Very atmospheric!
The long swooping descent into another valley not often visited was tremendous fun. A little ice every now and then but nothing too bad. A quick left into a very picturesque village enhanced the `from bygone times` feel to the ride with the distant rumble of the cars further down the valley. Up a steep little bank and over the top saw us drop into Wensleydale and into a head wind which had decided to change its direction, so still being in our faces as so far had been on the ride. The sun was now warming up the day and it was noted there was not a cloud in the sky, all the moisture has dropped as frost and the air was crystal clear. A day for photographs.
Riding into Hawes it was time for a quick bite of energy bar before the `hill of the day` Fleets Moss, the hard way. What a hill, it rises straight in front of you and shows itself in all its glory. Consistent at about 1-8 then rearing up at at least 1-4 for the top 200m, it certainly makes those legs ache. Rewarded with far-reaching views of the fells and tops, deep into North &West Yorkshire to Lancashire from a height of 1869ft. (I believe). The descent down of this monster is fast and technical. Sharp bends, hidden dips and long swoops turning this way & that. The real deal here as the road enters the Langstrothdale and falls gently away in one of the most spectacular valley bottom rides in Yorkshire. Sun shining, clear skies, a meandering road next to a limestone bedded river and most importantly of all, no cars.
Still the wind in our faces, nothing new there, down past Hubberholme and into Buckden the pace was fairly high with the 3 of us all taking our turns, not much conversation now as we looked around at the beautiful steep banked valley walls that bound Kettlewell. The back road is always a treat, no cars and narrow lanes. The rest of the journey is just a visual treat, Hebden with its offset main street curling down into a lost valley rising up over upper fell meadows, to the fabulous view looking down on Burnsall from the North, the fell dark and brooding contrasting with the green of the fields and the blue of the meandering ox-bow river.
Only Appletreewick and Barden to go now, legs were getting tired now but onward we pedaled, congratulating and thanking each other for what was a memorable ride. If you weren’t there you missed out on a good 80+ miler. I recommend you do it one day. Oh, and no mention of our Shutt VR jerseys so easily available at http://www.shuttvr.com/ !
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