The strong winds hadn’t eased off since Friday night Sunday morning brought no change. Oh dear……out to Taddy with a ferocious tailwind and then an almighty struggle back home…..we’ll see!
At the meet at Guiseley the sun had come out but the wind still blew. Riders who had bothered to turn up were, group leaders Woodster and Sportjohn, Milo Milnes, Butchers dog Holdsworth, Strongman Luke and Facebook Terry. Other ‘non Hammsters’ were, Turbot Wild, the Scotsman’s wife Marie? And 2 lads who I have seen before but unfortunately I can’t remember their names (sorry chaps). (Andy and Gary -.ed)
Off set the ’10′’ up through the lanes towards Bramhope……hells teeth….it was a bit of a fast tempo being set by Sportjohn up the first climbs but we were assisted by the tailwind. On past the back of the ‘Chevin’ we were doing 20mph without turning a pedal!!!
It was quite warm now as the bunch sped along through the scenic lanes after Alwoodley with the vistas opening up all around. The trees were still bending double and it was agreed that if every bike ride could be like this, ie, tailwind assisted, life would be a doddle. However, when the group turned into the cross wind it gave them a taste of how strong the wind was as staying upright was difficult! It was noted that some of the ‘dodgy’ pot hole edge sections of the lanes before Bramham had been repaired, although the road surface had deteriorated since we last rode here and there were some dodgy gravely bits.
Conscious of the effort that would be required to get home Woodster called a halt in Bramham to see what people wanted to do. The 2 ‘unknown names’ decided to call it a halt here and head back for home. There were cries to go forth to Taddy but one rider expressed his preference for Wetherby as his legs were feeling the pace. Wetherby was the chosen café stop which, as it turned out, was the better option for the rider with tired legs.
The first taste of the wind came as the group headed back west from Boston Spa to get to the cycle lane by the A/M1 intersection…..deary lord……it was gusting so hard at one point that forward motion was difficult to maintain. Once onto the cycle track it wasn’t much easier as the cross wind on the exposed sections (which was nearly all of it) was proving difficult to ride in, especially when riding at a 45 degree angle! In typical British fashion the cycle route tipped you across the main road onto the ‘wrong’ side of the carriageway, and then ended (you won’t find this in Holland and Germany folks).
The café was reached and…low and behold…..ensconced inside were the ‘Leisure’ group…well some of them anyway. Helen, Peter, Richard, Helena, Graham and new bloke, (sorry fella…I can’t remember your name…yet). Gruppenfuher Herbert was away on family business and the rest were ‘no shows’. Much chit and chat followed and then the leisures left to battle back home. Using their infinite wisdom, Woodster and Sportjohn knew that if the sports lot left it a further 15mins the wind would die down and the return leg wouldn’t be as difficult. So, more chit and chat followed.
Fully refreshed the group headed off in the direction of the lanes and, as predicted by the 2 leaders, the wind had eased quite significantly, although it still wasn’t easy. By now the man who had tired legs before the café stop was feeling the pace but Woodster dropped back to ride with him and the group eased off and waited so that he they could rejoin. The leisures, minus Richard and Helena, were caught by the ‘Leeds-Harewood rd’ as they were waiting for the said 2, but they were unsure as to whether they were ahead or behind! Obviously the group were missing the guidance of Gfr Herbert! Once onto the long flat haul into the wind from Castley to Otley the group eased away and Woodster escorted the man with tired legs back to Harry Ramalangadingdongs roundabout where the 2 went their separate ways.
Back at Guiseley, the sporties were having more chit chat and it was a unanimous vote that the run had been a cracking ‘character building’ exercise and had been good fun.
We look forward to the next one folks.
Dont know which is worse Facebook Terry or Tired Legs! Post written whilst still in bed, 10.54am.
Glad you enjoyed your ride. I think that over the years my character has been built enough – looked a bit too gusty for me. See you in Feb.