Today's ride brought about another club run for our new cycling club: 4 Towns Cycle Club (4TCC).
Planned to start at 10:30 from our usual meet up point at the 'Boiler House' between Castleford and Garforth, we were delayed for about another 40 minutes after I had to do some adjusting to my saddle position on my new loaner bike and a fellow club mate left his phone in his drop off car and had to do some fiddling around with new deep carbon wheels (which look very nice I must say!).
Only 3 of us on the ride today, all sporting Mexican bandito style moustaches of 3 weeks for Movember, we set off on our planned route up to Harewood House. However, further wheel problems meant we decided to re-route and turn off from Aberford to head up to Cycle Sense in Tadcaster via Towton. Unfortunately this meant we hadn't avoided a short rain shower meaning my new (I say new, I've had it for 6 weeks but luckily not had to use it yet!) Castelli rain jacket got its first use!
Having suffered a nasty fall yesterday when riding solo, I was struggling early doors on the ride and found myself spat off the back of my 2 fellow club mates on the uphill on the way into Tadcaster so I was pleased for a stop at the bike shop!
I kept watch of our bikes through the camera on my phone ...
The Gravestone Man's Cinelli Saetta:
DC's Scott CR1 (with new wheels):
And my Pinnacle Dolomite 5 (loaner bike whilst mine is repaired hence the wheel reflectors!):
Once DC had bought some new brake blocks for his new wheels I nipped inside for a look around the shop whilst the blocks were fitted to his bike. I saw an offer on energy gels I couldn't refuse - buy one get one free! - so picked up a couple of gels for 99p!
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Once we were all sorted we turned off up Wighill Lane and had a lovely coffee stop (sat outside believe it or not! And yes we are a week away from December!) at The White Swan in Wighill.
This meant further photo opportunities for our 'stealth' bikes!
After this we powered on towards York as we skirted past and turned off towards Wetherby, capturing a few top 10s and Strava PRs on the way which never go amiss. Although the fast pace of the latter end of the 47 mile ride meant that The Gravestone Man lost a pair of glasses out of his jersey pockets, which were subsequently crushed by a cordon of following vehicles! Lucky they were just £1.50 chemist specials rather than a £200 pair of Oakley's eh?!
Finally, we passed Wetherby and Bramham on our way back into Aberford before taking the longer, more scenic and hillier route home via Barwick-in-Elmet before we all parted ways in Garforth.
The weather held out for the whole ride, barring a couple of brief rain showers, which meant the 3 of us thoroughly enjoyed the Sunday outing despite the chills in the air!.
As our new, small cycling club begins to get off the ground we all said towards the end of the ride how we can't wait for summer which will bring longer rides, warmer and less windy days, longer evenings, more sunshine and hopefully more club members on the Sunday outings.
New to cycling on a regular basis myself, having only got my first road bike at the end of August, I also can't wait for next summer! But for now, rides like today's with new found friends are a brilliant way to spend a Sunday morning and afternoon!
but when I was 5miles north of Oakham I thought I was going to be well late 
but its downhill into the town and I was only a minute or two late and I was glad to see @
I also realised why I was going so slow, my chain had dried out 
I'll update if they appear (
