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Meet time and location was shifted to 9am in Harrogate this week as we took Tup Tour de Yorkshire.
We arrived the day before on dry roads via the M5 and M1 and were most grateful to see the 1st raindrops as we got on our bikes for an afternoon ride to Pately Bridge.
We quickly learnt to ignore the Garmin's for directions and wiggled our way to the PB cafe sodden, but happy. The route out of the cafe split the group as we approached an 20% incline sign, so we returned in 2 groups. Those who went past the sign were rewarded with a 3 mile climb up gradients that continued at 16% for the bulk of an undulating climb. Once on top we were greeeted by storm conditions on top of the moor; as you might guess, the wind was in our faces which was a bonus. The journey back was predominently down hill and wet, the scenery was great (or so the postcards of the area suggested, we could see bugger all.)
On Saturday, the party split into 3 groups to watch the first stage of the Tour, whilst most headed 10 miles south, 6 of us went 25 miles west to Grassington to watch the race go through the Dales.
At Grassington, Tracey, Malcolm and Chris Gough decided to stay to watch the race and ride back to Harrogate for the finish and myself, Martin and Neil waited for the Tour Caravanne to pass before heading up the race route (via a flock of yellow sheep???!) to the first hill to watch the race come up.
The atmosphere on Cray Hill (or Cote de Cray as they say in Yorkshire) was incredible and very British. Cheering the Police, booing the Gendermes and Mexican waving up and down the hill. The first riders up were Jens Voight and a couple of Frenchies, the noise was incredible, but not so loud that Voight couldn't appreciate the word 'doper' being screamed in his face in broad Bristolian 50 yards from the top.
Following this excitement the three of us followed the race route, riding 30 miles on closed roads, cutting a corner so that we could watch the riders again as they descended the final climb, 30 miles before they completed the stage. More Bristolian shouting, but this time as they shot by at about 50mph (or 80kph as they say in Yorkshire.)
More riding on closed roads only interrupted by a stop at a fan park to watch the finish. Finally, just before Harrogate we stopped at a pub to lap up plenty of local bitter and a £16 chicken dinner (Saw ee comin' lad, as they say in Yorkshire.)
A great day out, super weather and a brilliant atmosphere.
Vive tup Tour (as they say en' Francaisse.)
friday mileage - 44
saturday mileage - 84
ojc: day one 7/8 but none to be seen beneath waterproofs..... day two - none; kit a little wet and smelly from previous day for most (all except chris gough who thought that the smell of wet, sweaty kit would keep him out of earshot from the usual banter about his generosity.)
ttcr: friday cafe - 7/10 .... saturday's pub - 4/10 (great food, stupid price.)
kf: friday - 7/10 .... sat 8/10
We arrived the day before on dry roads via the M5 and M1 and were most grateful to see the 1st raindrops as we got on our bikes for an afternoon ride to Pately Bridge.
We quickly learnt to ignore the Garmin's for directions and wiggled our way to the PB cafe sodden, but happy. The route out of the cafe split the group as we approached an 20% incline sign, so we returned in 2 groups. Those who went past the sign were rewarded with a 3 mile climb up gradients that continued at 16% for the bulk of an undulating climb. Once on top we were greeeted by storm conditions on top of the moor; as you might guess, the wind was in our faces which was a bonus. The journey back was predominently down hill and wet, the scenery was great (or so the postcards of the area suggested, we could see bugger all.)
On Saturday, the party split into 3 groups to watch the first stage of the Tour, whilst most headed 10 miles south, 6 of us went 25 miles west to Grassington to watch the race go through the Dales.
At Grassington, Tracey, Malcolm and Chris Gough decided to stay to watch the race and ride back to Harrogate for the finish and myself, Martin and Neil waited for the Tour Caravanne to pass before heading up the race route (via a flock of yellow sheep???!) to the first hill to watch the race come up.
The atmosphere on Cray Hill (or Cote de Cray as they say in Yorkshire) was incredible and very British. Cheering the Police, booing the Gendermes and Mexican waving up and down the hill. The first riders up were Jens Voight and a couple of Frenchies, the noise was incredible, but not so loud that Voight couldn't appreciate the word 'doper' being screamed in his face in broad Bristolian 50 yards from the top.
Following this excitement the three of us followed the race route, riding 30 miles on closed roads, cutting a corner so that we could watch the riders again as they descended the final climb, 30 miles before they completed the stage. More Bristolian shouting, but this time as they shot by at about 50mph (or 80kph as they say in Yorkshire.)
More riding on closed roads only interrupted by a stop at a fan park to watch the finish. Finally, just before Harrogate we stopped at a pub to lap up plenty of local bitter and a £16 chicken dinner (Saw ee comin' lad, as they say in Yorkshire.)
A great day out, super weather and a brilliant atmosphere.
Vive tup Tour (as they say en' Francaisse.)
friday mileage - 44
saturday mileage - 84
ojc: day one 7/8 but none to be seen beneath waterproofs..... day two - none; kit a little wet and smelly from previous day for most (all except chris gough who thought that the smell of wet, sweaty kit would keep him out of earshot from the usual banter about his generosity.)
ttcr: friday cafe - 7/10 .... saturday's pub - 4/10 (great food, stupid price.)
kf: friday - 7/10 .... sat 8/10
