Ride Reports
Saturday 29th April 2017
B2 Ride to Kirkby Stephen by Pete Hardman
Yes, it was back to Yorkshire/Cumbria for today's ride, starting from Sedbergh.
A favourite in the GCC calendar had attracted 8 riders to the B2 start point. Before a wheel revolved however, 2 were shamelessly hustled into the B1 group - apparently SJ could offer them something I couldn't. I feared for their sanity...
But no problem as we still had a dream team - Chris Joanne Berry Berry, Steve Hopkinson, Luke Van Lincoln, Peter Rawlinson, Bill Dewhurst, plus myself.
We six stuck to the planned route - Outbound with it's long gradual climbs before plunging headlong down single lane tracks northwards through the Musgraves to Brough, all surrounded by a panorama of hills.
Only interruption was a puncture which led to relative newcomer Chris being scrutinised on his repair turnaround time. No problems there though, as he whipped out his secret weapon from under his lycra - a short stubby one. Very impressive. The rest of the team were soon sold on compressed air inflators and onwards we went.
Arriving at the café we were taken aback by the sight of the B1's leaving! How could this be? It turns out they had been err... creative with the route and arrived 40 minutes before us, eschewing the Brough Riviera, but on a positive, leaving us a table for second sitting. Better still, they hadn't eaten all the beans.
Another long gradual climb tracking the River Eden up the lonely and evocative Mallerstang valley was made even better by a full length viewing of 60163 Peppercorn A1 Pacific 'Tornado' resplendent with a rake of period carriages descending from Ais Gill Summit - quite a sight... Oh, and also the impressive summary dismissal of a Neanderthal van driver by Luke following the driver's idiotic and selfish manoeuvre. The unbelievable return of the van driver for a 'second bite' was, on reflection, probably not one of his better judgements... (details on request).
And then the fast dash along the Clough river valley road, newly and fully resurfaced, reminded us of the sheer delight on offer from decently maintained roads (listen up, LCC). Brilliant.
As I drafted Chris (effortlessly at 25mph) most of the way back I reflected on a great ride with great people. Tops.
Cheers guys!
Stats: As I'm still using a helmet mounted anemometer and a furlong stick, I'm grateful to Steve for the following details:
46.6 miles, 13.5mph average, 2282 feet climbing, max speed 35.6mph
A favourite in the GCC calendar had attracted 8 riders to the B2 start point. Before a wheel revolved however, 2 were shamelessly hustled into the B1 group - apparently SJ could offer them something I couldn't. I feared for their sanity...
But no problem as we still had a dream team - Chris Joanne Berry Berry, Steve Hopkinson, Luke Van Lincoln, Peter Rawlinson, Bill Dewhurst, plus myself.
We six stuck to the planned route - Outbound with it's long gradual climbs before plunging headlong down single lane tracks northwards through the Musgraves to Brough, all surrounded by a panorama of hills.
Only interruption was a puncture which led to relative newcomer Chris being scrutinised on his repair turnaround time. No problems there though, as he whipped out his secret weapon from under his lycra - a short stubby one. Very impressive. The rest of the team were soon sold on compressed air inflators and onwards we went.
Arriving at the café we were taken aback by the sight of the B1's leaving! How could this be? It turns out they had been err... creative with the route and arrived 40 minutes before us, eschewing the Brough Riviera, but on a positive, leaving us a table for second sitting. Better still, they hadn't eaten all the beans.
Another long gradual climb tracking the River Eden up the lonely and evocative Mallerstang valley was made even better by a full length viewing of 60163 Peppercorn A1 Pacific 'Tornado' resplendent with a rake of period carriages descending from Ais Gill Summit - quite a sight... Oh, and also the impressive summary dismissal of a Neanderthal van driver by Luke following the driver's idiotic and selfish manoeuvre. The unbelievable return of the van driver for a 'second bite' was, on reflection, probably not one of his better judgements... (details on request).
And then the fast dash along the Clough river valley road, newly and fully resurfaced, reminded us of the sheer delight on offer from decently maintained roads (listen up, LCC). Brilliant.
As I drafted Chris (effortlessly at 25mph) most of the way back I reflected on a great ride with great people. Tops.
Cheers guys!
Stats: As I'm still using a helmet mounted anemometer and a furlong stick, I'm grateful to Steve for the following details:
46.6 miles, 13.5mph average, 2282 feet climbing, max speed 35.6mph
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