FNRttC Friday Night Ride to the Coast York to Hull 19 April, 2013

[craigwend]

Another fantastic ride , my level of fitness I discovered was questionable...

trying to keep up with the 'fast group' (to Gawthorpe from Goole) proved ''impossible' just the odd flashing light in the distance, most of them being marker / buoy lights on the river bank when i 'caught' them up

It was COLD, I lost feeling in my feet before gawthorpe managed to defrost them in the vilage hall (can we have some jam sarnies next time please?) the frost on the banks of the humber confirmed how COLD it was...

As usual the usual friendly & chatty bunch making all feel welcme & the usual great oragnising of simon, susie & the volunteer way markers.

My predictions that I NEVER fall asleep after these events was ahem proved wrong at 3pm when my wake up call (mrs craig wend & juniosx3) 'woke me up' of which I'm still doing whilst watching the football scores

chapeau one & all, looking fwd to the pics, & hoping the edit on this works when i wake -up fully..............

Oh & only just over 11 (long) miles home after cafe pezaz

 

[middleagecyclist]

Just got home. Great night if a tad cold. Nice chatting to lots of peeps. And the SMRBtY was lovely. Thanks Simon et al.

 

[backpacker144]

What a great ride. Still trying to remember the events of the evening. Good humoured late night party people, cheering and shouting 'spin
to win!'
Still too tired to think properly, but a quick snap of the spread that awaited us at the 3:30 break.

 

[Wowbagger]

The ride was superb. This rider was a long way short of that.

I met Mmmmmmmmmmmartin and User13710 at King's Cross and TMN and I sat together for the 1h 50m journey. Others went to Pizza Express but I went to see CL who had a man in her bed. There was macaroni cheese, salad and tea. Then User10571 appeared, looking like a man who had been asleep in someone else's bed.

We toddled off to the Minster just as Kim was arriving at The Den and there were lots of people, most of whom I don't think I'd met before. We were engaged in conversation by some locals. I put my waterproof on before we set off as it was getting pretty chilly, and I thought I regretted not bringing my Sealskins gloves, although in the event I was only very slightly too cold in the hand department.

In the early part of the ride I spent quite long periods on my own: there was one rider who was having knee trouble and was unable to keep up with my incredible speeds, whereas I was frequently dropped by the peloton. After about 20 miles I began suffering from wrist pain and this became increasingly excruciating as the ride continued. I was very pleased to see the half-way stop at Garthorpe and I tucked in to the sandwiches. Simon, good chap that he is, asked about my well being and whether I was fit to continue to which I replied in strictest confidence that, having consumed sandwiches and tea and evacuated my bowels, I was as ready as I'd ever be, and blow me down if he didn't announce it to the entire company. Talk about a betrayal of trust.

We set off again with light in the sky and eventually we found a bridge over the River Trent. My geographical knowledge of the area let me down as I naively assumed that the river was the county boundary between Lincs & Yorks, but in fact that is not the case. Garthorpe is Lincs, Adlingfleet, a mile or two further back, is in Yorks.

The road surfaces were mostly very rough and that was exacerbating my arthritis and several times I had to stop and try to free my wrists. There were three climbs, none of which in itself was especially difficult, but because pulling on the bars was so very painful I was unable to give full force to my efforts and, since our hitherto lanterne rouge had left us at Goole, I was now in the permanent company of the Tail-End Charlies.

My wrist-manipulating stops were becoming more frequent and less effective so I was very pleased when the Humber Bridge hove into view to brighten our ride. From that point it was simply a matter of cycling through an odd-shaped and elongated estuary town, rather larger than Southend, although to a degree a similar shape. Breakfast was very good, the Wetherspoons was open and there were some young ladies with dubious messages emblazoned across their torsoes. It seems to be all wrong to drink beer at breakfast time so I made do with a pint of orange and lemonade in the first instance, and then, after 40 winks, a cup of coffee. The company dwindled to just the hard-core four of Mice, Titus, TMN and myself, all with reservations on the 1.30 train. There were dangly bike spaces and I struggled to get my bike onto one. We then sat in the nearest coach and whiled away the time back to King's Cross.

Many thanks to Simon and his teams, both culinary and company. It will be a while before I commit to another ride like this: I'll have to let my wrists subside and then try a few shorter rides around the place. The trouble is, if I go to my doctor or the rheumatologist and tell them that I have had bad arthritic symptoms, they are going to ask what I was doing. When I tell them "Cycling 80-odd miles overnight in the frost" they are not likely to be particularly sympathetic. They just don't understand, these people.

 

[middleagecyclist]

When I tell them "Cycling 80-odd miles overnight in the frost" they are not likely to be particularly sympathetic. They just don't understand, these people.

Bloody NHS Nazis!

 

[redfalo]

A lovely ride in perfect company. Soon rather than later, something has to been done about my tiredness, though.

Here's the GPS track of the ride. http://www.gpsies.com/map.do?fileId=injsnceibzsvcjsr

 

[StuAff]

Have just surfaced after four and a bit hours kip. As so often, particularly after riding back, it was a case of 'Hit sack. Out like a light. Awake some hours later without hearing a thing in meantime'. Planned to watch Dr Who. Oh well, it's on iPlayer....
More to follow probably tomorrow when I'm not with company (the chef Jen was most gratified by your compliments on her brownies, btw. If you didn't have any when offered, you missed a treat). In the meantime, suffice to say, that was utterly splendid. Glad to break my duck on this one!
Thanks one and all.

 

[Dogtrousers]

A super ride. Lost feeling in my feet early on, but that's not unusual for my feet and poor circulation. As the boozy but good natured women we met at Goole walked away I was amazed to notice that one of them was barefoot. They breed 'em tough. Or a bit stupid. Or both.

Lots of interesting bridge types, which prompted a bit of research: The Boothferry Bridge at Goole is a swing bridge. The A18 Keadby Bridge over the Trent at Althorpe is a Scherzer rolling lift bridge (whatever that is). There was a lift bridge over the Ancholme on the A1077 at South Ferriby, and then the Humber suspension Bridge itself. Possibly others that I may have forgotten too.

After breakfast and two double espressos I headed North to Driffield. Under sunny blue skies I set an absolutely blistering (for me) pace through the pleasant flat lanes powered by a heady mix of caffeine and general FNRttC joi de vivre.

It's much windier up here tonight, and I'm told it was even windier the night before last. We had a fortunate lull in the wind last night.

Thanks to Simon, the caterers, the wayfinders et al.

I have some nice photos that I'll upload when I get home.

 

[vernon]

I'm just in for the night having showered when I returned from York and gone back out again to see my second gig within 20 hours. I arrived at York Minster having been to a Frank Turner gig at Leeds University first and it was good to see familiar faces from the South and Local. I'd got my 'Woodruff' with me - I couldn't ruin Mice's ride by me turning up on anything else. The ride was largely uneventful though i did get a turn at way marking - a promotion and a sign that I was riding faster than I've done in the past. I know the area ridden through quite well having done Audax rides on mosts of the roads used in daylight. The land feels very different when ridden through at night. I'm convinced that hills are less steep at night. The details of niceties of tjhe ride have been amply covered so I'll summarise my pleasures taken home from the ride.

I'd like to thank:

• Dellzeqq for letting me way mark - I felt dead important
• Agent Hilda for her hill climbing distance learning package - it worked faultlessly I got up every hill without having to walk and in her absence.
• User13710 and Mice for the parting hugs
• User10571 for the coffee served while I was keeping a watchfull eye on the bikes ouside Pazaz
• Stuaff for the chocolate brownie which led to no pies being harmed today in the pursuit of calories.
• And an 'Outstanding Contribution to Microsleep' award to Dellzeqq who managed to fall asleep mid conversation while standing up outside Cafe Pazaz
• The rest of the riders for adding to the unique atmosphere that makes FNRttC events so special.

 

[User10571]

So, I'm back - having just returned from an awesome curry with the previous owner of the Scott I was riding last night - to simply say: Thank you, thank you, thank you to Simon et al for a wonderful ride, which was of two halves (or three, if you include my afternoon at the NRM and evening enjoying the hospitality of Crinkly Lion and two wonderful cubs, z&z).
I confess to struggling in the first half, with getting as cold as I did on account of speeds of the slowest being as low as they were - albeit with good reason - these are issues which, when addressed on future rides, I'm sure will disappear into the mists of time....
Apart from which, it was an utter pleasure to do the ride - The half way stop worked extremely well. The breakfast... Location 10/10. Culinary score.... we're still looking.....
I think it has potential as a daytime ride jobbee (any takers? 1st York train out of KGX on a Saturday is 06:15, arrives York 08:31, costs £22.60, hmmmm... Anyone?)
Thanks, again, everyone for making the ride that which it was.
I knew when I read the write ups last year I would be drawn... and I was.
Certainly, I'd be up for the next one.

Oh!
Nearly forgot - lovely to have made the acquaintance with Tacey - who'm I'd spotted in a FNRttC top earlier in the week, and put out a 'spotted' alert on YACF, to no avail.

Biggest *freaky thing of the night* was crossing paths with MikeE, from another place, and other rides as I left the Humber Bridge.
But, to be fair, I was togged-up Ninja stylee - so he would've been hard pressed to spot me - although I did spot his Condor Tempo, before I recognised him.
Nice to see you MikeE !

 

[Andrew Br]

Another lovely ride; cold and clear moonlit night but no frozen water bottles as far as I know, so not as cold as Felpham. The first 50 miles are incredibly flat, but then come three successive climbs to catch out the unwary. I only managed one of them without walking last night.

My favourite moment was when two of us came upon a T junction, and a waymarker who wasn't indicating which way we should turn. I called out, 'Left or right?' and the answer came back, 'Right!'

We turned right, and as we sailed off the waymarker called out, 'Oh ... NO! ... I meant MY right, not YOUR right.'

Some people just aren't cut out for it are they? Fortunately for him I don't know who it was.

That would be me then.
I was pointing in the right correct direction but you willfully chose to ignore me ;-)

YMMV.
Plus, if I may be so bold, you had the benefit of empty bladders. I, most assuredly, didn't have.
It was cold on that corner.

.

 

[mikeeeeee]

So, I'm back - having just returned from an awesome curry with the previous owner of the Scott I was riding last night - to simply say: Thank you, thank you, thank you to Simon et al for a wonderful ride, which was of two halves (or three, if you include my afternoon at the NRM and evening enjoying the hospitality of Crinkly Lion and two wonderful cubs, z&z).
I confess to struggling in the first half, with getting as cold as I did on account of speeds of the slowest being as low as they were - albeit with good reason - these are issues which, when addressed on future rides, I'm sure will disappear into the mists of time....
Apart from which, it was an utter pleasure to do the ride - The half way stop worked extremely well. The breakfast... Location 10/10. Culinary score.... we're still looking.....
I think it has potential as a daytime ride jobbee (any takers? 1st York train out of KGX on a Saturday is 06:15, arrives York 08:31, costs £22.60, hmmmm... Anyone?)
Thanks, again, everyone for making the ride that which it was.
I knew when I read the write ups last year I would be drawn... and I was.
Certainly, I'd be up for the next one.

Oh!
Nearly forgot - lovely to have made the acquaintance with Tacey - who'm I'd spotted in a FNRttC top earlier in the week, and put out a 'spotted' alert on YACF, to no avail.

Biggest *freaky thing of the night* was crossing paths with MikeE, from another place, and other rides as I left the Humber Bridge.
But, to be fair, I was togged-up Ninja stylee - so he would've been hard pressed to spot me - although I did spot his Condor Tempo, before I recognised him.
Nice to see you MikeE !

Hello Friday nighters and cycle chatters, it's been a long time and I've had time off my bike and kind of missed it so just starting to get back into it again! I was on my way to work this morning and I thought I might be passing one of Simon's, no doubt now, world famous Friday night rides!!

 

[Tim Hall]

Hello Friday nighters and cycle chatters, it's been a long time and I've had time off my bike and kind of missed it so just starting to get back into it again! I was on my way to work this morning and I thought I might be passing one of Simon's, no doubt now, world famous Friday night rides!!

What MikeE of fixed wheel fame? Who sent me an almost compromising photo of me emerging from the oggin at Brighton? That MikeE? How are you keeping?

 

[vernon]

Exciting not-ride report! Can the ride reports match it?

I'm so pigged off with being stuck here in horrid londonton. Hope everyone had lots of fun.

Yes we did.

 

[clarion]

That's very good to hear. I hope to see you awheel sometime this year, Vernon, but there's a large (well, actually tiny and, as yet, unborn) randomising factor involved.