It was a good ride yesterday with 9 riders meeting at 9.15am at Lastingham. There was the Thompson family well represented - Mike out on his fully rigid bone shaker. There was the Boag twins Michael and Oliver two young riders who had never ridden this far out from Scarborough. Then finally Lizzie (most improved rider) dragging along boyfriend Richard who was a complete novice at off road riding. Dave Simpson could not make it and pulled out that morning due to a bad stomach. Must have been a heavy night in Pickering??
Pre ride checks and a few problems - Olivers waterproof jacket zip bust so this was replaced with a spare jacket and the waterproof went into the rucksack as a spare. Then Richard declared his gears did not work……he was ok he had middle ring and bottom ring and most of the back cassette so we agreed his gear ratios were ok to get him around. He vowed to visit the shop for servicing before our Peak District trip in March. He also admitted he had no jacket but his fleece would do!
Conditions looked grim for the day - forecast was rain. But we headed off whilst the rain held off to hit the high moors early ride. The ride was a steady pull out of Lastingham as we headed North towards Rosedale. We all stopped to shed some clothing but the rain started and reminded us that we still had to climb to Ana cross before any chance of lower ground and clearer conditions.
A few sprints along the top to take on Mike was a stupid idea…..he was far too fast and agile across the terrain for me to stand a chance. At the top of Chimney Bank Richard still declared he was ok in his fleece but was told to don the spare jacket with the bust zip. This was sorted by wrapping him up in electrical tape which effectively closed the jacket off and introduced him to a bondage look. Lizzie knew how to impress her man.
The route carried on until the top of the track descent where we stopped to practice a small descent well done to Michael and Oliver for improving on this little section. Then a great fast and rocky descent into the valley there was one mud section which Sarah Thompson came off on and was covered in mud. Ruth decided to miss this mud by going on the grass but did not see the boulder and went over the bars - but no harm done.
We turned to return on the valley where the weather was slightly improved but we had the head wind now. On the muddy fields Lizzie stopped with a foot above a culvert and could not start and went over with the bike about 2 foor and managed a face plant in the mud. Beauty treatment on tap here! She was ok!
The ride finished with the single track from Rosedale to Lastingham. We were duly told off by a horse rider for having squealing brakes and for using them to slow down with! Finally arrived back and a three hour ride and an enjoyable morning despite the rain.
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