U
FNRttC York to Hull 27th April 2012
- Thread starter dellzeqq
- Start date
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Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
<--- yeh, one of those. The bicycle is a male. I reckon that the frame is completely packed with finest hash, so that one can access supplies, and 'contemplate' whilst cruising the badlands... 
sic
clarion
Guru
- Location
- Exiled from Hyperborea
I hope that, if Mice goes for a belt driven bike, she chooses a Chimera. Then I can be envious of her and not just Vernon.
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
£11.5k? Considering you could have multiple bikes to a higher spec than that (or one very, very, high spec bike and lots of change), absolutely mental......
U
User10571
Guest
the York to Hull ride is one of my favourites. It has the advantage of being a nice recce ride - not something you can say about all of them - and I'd recommend it to anybody looking for a daytime outing.
York scores highly on rail connections, but, over and above that, the Minster beats all the other start points, and the ride out of town is pleasant and very, very short. I think we're out of the streetlights in about three miles.
Hull's not too shabby either. We're very fortunate with Cafe Pasaz, and the ride in to town is really splendid. We went down one street that was looking beaten up by the recession, but we also went down broad avenues with good planting distinguished by white telephone boxes - a sort of nicer version of Epsom.
The towns along the way aren't as pretty as the villages on the York to Cleethorpes route, but they have character. Chief amongst these is Goole, cut up by railway tracks and water, all at the same level. Goole's docks aren't just along the waterfront like Felixstowe - they're in the town, just as they used to be in London. For the short time that it's in port a ship takes its place amongst the buildings.
Goole's bridges, and the one across the Trent at Keadby never disappoint. They've been made. No fancydan designer curves (sorry, Swansea), no stainless steel, no cappuccino wood, just big fruity rivets and lots of clanking. By and large the FNRttC takes over towns. When we go through Horsham or Horley, for that brief time the town is ours. That doesn't happen in Goole - it's too got too strong a character. We remain, in the best sense of the word, tourists.
In between we have an alluvial plain, kept more or less dry by drains. Every low tide the East Riding and Lincolnshire discharges water in to the estuary, and every high tide the gates on drains, flanked by huge sea walls keep the sea at bay. It's rich soil, and, rolling down those flat roads that follow drainage patterns set a century ago, you can almost hear things growing. The near absence of hedges on the Isle of Axholme makes the sea wall even more dramatic - on the one side a great berm with millions of gallons of water pressed up against it, and on the other, nothing, or nearly nothing, for as far as the eye can see, which is a considerable way.
In 2011 we had clear skies, and the Isle of Axholme was lit by a yellow moon. This year clouds hid the moon, but reflected the light from towns and villages in a manner more subtle than Joseph Wright of Derby, but no less affecting. I don't think I noticed Eggborough's cooling towers last year, but I certainly did on at three o'clock on Saturday morning, the power station's lights, beamed back by the cloud, did, investing in the great yoghourt pots a spectral yellow glow, impressive twenty miles distant.
Nothing becomes the Bay Horse as much as the surprise. It's in such a quiet part of the world (scarcely less quiet by day) that arriving is a little like arriving at a friend's house. That's how it feels when we go in. It's as if Lindsey has invited us round for tea. Which, of course, she has. I did shoosh people out, but I had the weather map at the back of my mind, and the thought that the sooner we crossed the Trent and started northward the better our chances were of keeping away from the rain that was, apparently, falling in stair rods to the southeast of Scunthorpe.
All in all, then, a night to remember fondly. The dry weather and flat roads are, as Miranda says, an aid to conversation. We chatted our way down to Howden, riding, for the most part two abreast. Once past Goole I stretched the ride out to stagger our arrival at the Bay Horse, and, just as last year, rode back a way to watch the lights coming toward me across the open fields. We resumed in style, although one of our number, tiring, opted for an escort to Scunthorpe railway station. The three hills, barely hills, were surmounted in fine style, the bridge crossed without difficulty (I'd struggled on the recce ride) and we drifted to a halt outside Hull's sweetest bistro bang on time. Breakfast despatched, Jehovah's Witnesses engaged, we set to drinking Peroni. I scarcely remember the train ride back, but I do know that when we arrived at Kings Cross it was raining, and, hooray, the restored weekend Thameslink service was there to take us back to dear old South London.
So (and this is where I get everything so very wrong) thankyou Dave, Martin, Susie, Andrew, Marcus, Martin, Alan, TJ, Adam, Adrian and all for service at the back, and especially to Adam for the reprise of his rescue mission. Thankyou Andrew, Charlie, Miranda, Adrian, Grahame, and many others for Wayfinding, and thankyou Susie for having the lightest bike. I'd been a bit down about the number of cancellations (and fearful that we would finally wear out our welcome at Cafe Pasaz), but, however small the ride, the quality was top-notch.
Whether we do it again next year I don't know. We had 34 this year, down from 42 last year and 53 the year before. If anybody fancies taking on the role of FNRttC Northeast Propagandist, then please let me know - I wrote to cycling clubs in and around the East Riding and Lincolnshire and didn't get so much as an acknowledgment, but perhaps there's another angle that one can try in the hope of breaking through. Mike E drummed up a big crowd for York to Cleethorpes, so it\'s got to be do-able.
And Vernon! That is a seriously cool bit of kit!
York scores highly on rail connections, but, over and above that, the Minster beats all the other start points, and the ride out of town is pleasant and very, very short. I think we're out of the streetlights in about three miles.
Hull's not too shabby either. We're very fortunate with Cafe Pasaz, and the ride in to town is really splendid. We went down one street that was looking beaten up by the recession, but we also went down broad avenues with good planting distinguished by white telephone boxes - a sort of nicer version of Epsom.
The towns along the way aren't as pretty as the villages on the York to Cleethorpes route, but they have character. Chief amongst these is Goole, cut up by railway tracks and water, all at the same level. Goole's docks aren't just along the waterfront like Felixstowe - they're in the town, just as they used to be in London. For the short time that it's in port a ship takes its place amongst the buildings.
Goole's bridges, and the one across the Trent at Keadby never disappoint. They've been made. No fancydan designer curves (sorry, Swansea), no stainless steel, no cappuccino wood, just big fruity rivets and lots of clanking. By and large the FNRttC takes over towns. When we go through Horsham or Horley, for that brief time the town is ours. That doesn't happen in Goole - it's too got too strong a character. We remain, in the best sense of the word, tourists.
In between we have an alluvial plain, kept more or less dry by drains. Every low tide the East Riding and Lincolnshire discharges water in to the estuary, and every high tide the gates on drains, flanked by huge sea walls keep the sea at bay. It's rich soil, and, rolling down those flat roads that follow drainage patterns set a century ago, you can almost hear things growing. The near absence of hedges on the Isle of Axholme makes the sea wall even more dramatic - on the one side a great berm with millions of gallons of water pressed up against it, and on the other, nothing, or nearly nothing, for as far as the eye can see, which is a considerable way.
In 2011 we had clear skies, and the Isle of Axholme was lit by a yellow moon. This year clouds hid the moon, but reflected the light from towns and villages in a manner more subtle than Joseph Wright of Derby, but no less affecting. I don't think I noticed Eggborough's cooling towers last year, but I certainly did on at three o'clock on Saturday morning, the power station's lights, beamed back by the cloud, did, investing in the great yoghourt pots a spectral yellow glow, impressive twenty miles distant.
Nothing becomes the Bay Horse as much as the surprise. It's in such a quiet part of the world (scarcely less quiet by day) that arriving is a little like arriving at a friend's house. That's how it feels when we go in. It's as if Lindsey has invited us round for tea. Which, of course, she has. I did shoosh people out, but I had the weather map at the back of my mind, and the thought that the sooner we crossed the Trent and started northward the better our chances were of keeping away from the rain that was, apparently, falling in stair rods to the southeast of Scunthorpe.
All in all, then, a night to remember fondly. The dry weather and flat roads are, as Miranda says, an aid to conversation. We chatted our way down to Howden, riding, for the most part two abreast. Once past Goole I stretched the ride out to stagger our arrival at the Bay Horse, and, just as last year, rode back a way to watch the lights coming toward me across the open fields. We resumed in style, although one of our number, tiring, opted for an escort to Scunthorpe railway station. The three hills, barely hills, were surmounted in fine style, the bridge crossed without difficulty (I'd struggled on the recce ride) and we drifted to a halt outside Hull's sweetest bistro bang on time. Breakfast despatched, Jehovah's Witnesses engaged, we set to drinking Peroni. I scarcely remember the train ride back, but I do know that when we arrived at Kings Cross it was raining, and, hooray, the restored weekend Thameslink service was there to take us back to dear old South London.
So (and this is where I get everything so very wrong) thankyou Dave, Martin, Susie, Andrew, Marcus, Martin, Alan, TJ, Adam, Adrian and all for service at the back, and especially to Adam for the reprise of his rescue mission. Thankyou Andrew, Charlie, Miranda, Adrian, Grahame, and many others for Wayfinding, and thankyou Susie for having the lightest bike. I'd been a bit down about the number of cancellations (and fearful that we would finally wear out our welcome at Cafe Pasaz), but, however small the ride, the quality was top-notch.
Whether we do it again next year I don't know. We had 34 this year, down from 42 last year and 53 the year before. If anybody fancies taking on the role of FNRttC Northeast Propagandist, then please let me know - I wrote to cycling clubs in and around the East Riding and Lincolnshire and didn't get so much as an acknowledgment, but perhaps there's another angle that one can try in the hope of breaking through. Mike E drummed up a big crowd for York to Cleethorpes, so it\'s got to be do-able.
And Vernon! That is a seriously cool bit of kit!
U
User10571
Guest
Between Mice's photos and your RR I really ought to get myself up there at some point.
Butterfly
Veteran
- Location
- Near Kidderminster
You definitely should - it was brilliant!
Thanks Dellzeqq and all the other chaps. We had such a fab ride. The wettest we got was riding back to ours from the station after meeting some big riders and visiting some relatives. We arrived home, a bit soggy, at 7pm
(TGL had opted out of further socialising and was already there).
StuAff
Silencing his legs regularly
- Location
- Portsmouth
You should. Even for 30-odd, it would be worth it...
vernon
Harder than Ronnie Pickering
- Location
- Meanwood, Leeds
clarion
Guru
- Location
- Exiled from Hyperborea
Oh stop it, you bad man!
You know I need one more than my bank manager will allow
You know I need one more than my bank manager will allow
monstadog
Guru
Oh stop it, you bad man!
You know I need one more than my bank manager will allow
Exactly my thoughts when I had a look at it too! Lovely bike!
So sad to have missed this one but I remember you from last year. Adrian and I had to admire your determination and perseverence. FNRttc is all about doing more than you can dream about and enjoying it.
Well at this rate Vernon next year you will have to fill your saddlebags with lead or it won't feel right
and we had two Aidans. You wait all year....
I've got a bit of advice for FNRttCers. Pick your wayfinding spot. Riding back from Garthorpe, and watching the lights take turns for left and right for, perhaps, three or four minutes, while not strictly speaking a wayfinding gig (there's only the one road) was a great, great pleasure. Likewise the last spot before Faygate, advising people to turn left at the roundabout - one sees the lights coming through the trees at the brow of the hill, then a brief glimpse of them at the top of the hill, then follow the beams down the hill when they re-appear....it's just fabulous. I'd rate the right turn on to the Lower Rochester Road and the right turn at Padhams Green (a few miles before Stock) and the left turn at Buttsbury (Stock, again) pretty highly as well.
I've got a bit of advice for FNRttCers. Pick your wayfinding spot. Riding back from Garthorpe, and watching the lights take turns for left and right for, perhaps, three or four minutes, while not strictly speaking a wayfinding gig (there's only the one road) was a great, great pleasure. Likewise the last spot before Faygate, advising people to turn left at the roundabout - one sees the lights coming through the trees at the brow of the hill, then a brief glimpse of them at the top of the hill, then follow the beams down the hill when they re-appear....it's just fabulous. I'd rate the right turn on to the Lower Rochester Road and the right turn at Padhams Green (a few miles before Stock) and the left turn at Buttsbury (Stock, again) pretty highly as well.
Aperitif
Meme bar
- Location
- ...I don't have much idea - really.
Adrian likes a drop of showboating in front of the urban masses. Reigate High Street is often a surprise though. Posh tottery.1827502 said:
A bit of banter pre-ride, at the lights by 'Faze 2' on the Edgware Road is always a good start to the evening. Beats are beginning to pound and a chat with the doorman is always good. Music always feels good too. Sounds and smells of the active night do it for me - sod waymarking
.
