Today dawned, wet and miserable - of course the forecasters had got it right today hadn't they?
Anyway, breakfast scoffed, bike on the car roof and off to Thirsk Racecourse for the
Wiggle Yorkshire Tour Sportive.
It was raining when I set off, it was raining when I got there and it was raining when I registered and sorted the bike out. Are you spotting a theme here?
Anyhow, out in the third wave (I think) and we let the racing snakes get on with it on the wet roads, with the rain still coming down and a lot of standing water.
The first few miles is all but flat, just gently rolling countryside on largely quiet country lanes.
A short shuffle along the A167 and back onto the lanes, settled into a nice rhythm and with the rain continuing to work it's way through.
Kirby Wisk, Maunby and Newby Wiske were soon passed, then Wallaby (no marsupials spotted) and the climb up to cross the A684, then yafforth and we started to turn west, heading for Great Langton and Kirkby Fleetham, before dropping down into Leeming Bar and over the level crossing, before taking to the cycle path, over the A1(M) and on towards Aiskew, where there was a rider down with both first responder and ambo in attendance - it looked like they'd taken a tumble on the level crossing that cuts across the road at 45 degrees, with the rails no doubt extra slippery in the wet.
There was nearly another accident as we passed, having slowed down to near walking speed over the railway, as another cyclist who had stopped decided to set off at exactly the moment we were passing and wobbled out in front of us
Anyway, avoided and on down the hill, across the next level crossing and right into Bedale and the first food station, which was heaving but well run:
View attachment 424100
With the rain continuing to fall, my phone beeped - a Met Office weather warning of thunder storms.
Soaked to the skin, cold and facd with the prospect of climbing into the Dales and into a thunder storm, we decided to switch to the short route - 40 miles instead of 81.
The split was a few miles ahead, but looking at the map there was little in the way of an obvious bale out if we carried on beyond that and conditions got silly.
So, back on the bikes and up the road through Exelby, Burneston and Carthorpe, then left at the split for the shorter route.
Which after 100 yards or so had been recently surface dressed
Fortunately it was a very quiet lane so we road along side by side in the bit where car tyres had cleared the worst of the chippings
After some better lanes, we eventually popped out on the B6267 near Thornborough and turned east for the fairly straight run back to the racecourse.
Just before the A1(M) we passed the legendary
Heck sausages
factory, although sadly they didn't appear to have a shop
Anyway, under the A1(M) and through Ainderby Quernhow and Howe, before joining the A61 for the last three miles or so through Carlton Minniot and on to the finish.
39.63 miles (63.77km) in
2h 51m at an average of
13.8mph with
1,082ft climbed
While it wasn't the ride we'd set out to do, it was still a good if rather damp run out in good company. Undoubtedly it was the right call to cut it short, although it's a shame as in better weather (you know, like we've had for the last 7 or 8 weeks) it's a glorious ride through some great countryside.
Talking to people at the finish we were far from the only ones to take the shorter route.
Of course, sod's law dictates that the sun was trying to burn through as I sorted the bike (and my soaking kit) out, but within minutes of setting off for home the rain had started again and looking west the skies were heavy and dark.
View attachment 424102
View attachment 424104
It's another point in the half century challenge, too and they all count.
And to end, the map:
View attachment 424109
sods law
) for about 15 mins or so.
.
