Ride 062.

 
Sleddale turn off, Percy Cross RiggWinter skySock gloves, very resourcefulSimon won't believe it's food coz they don't sell it in McDonaldsA pleasantly frozen Percy Cross RiggGuisborough WoodsHow many sandwiches has Simon got under his hat?Newton MoorJust checking the lads are keeping the stacks rightSimon's just realised he doesn't have a Sky remote in his hand.Approaching Turkey NabEasby Moor"Lets offroad!" Wobbly heads going down slower than we went upHasty BankMade it to the topNext stop the cafeNext stop the cafe - has it got Sky TV?My favourite trackAlmost there

 

Date:   25th November 2005            Distance: 18 miles

Personally, if I'd heard weather forecasts all week predicting arctic conditions and blizzards for today, I wouldn't have turned up for a ride in shorts and fingerless gloves. As Simon did. A pair of emergency trousers and some resourceful modification to his treasured Kermit The Frog socks had us on our way.

A steady tarmac warm up, through Kildale and over Percy Cross Rigg got us ready for the off-road stuff. Other than a light dusting of the white stuff, the blizzards were keeping at bay, although it was so cold all the tracks were frozen solid - a huge bonus, no mud to contend with. We made our way along the edge of Guisborough Woods and across Newton Moor to Little Roseberry and a lumpy, bumpy descent to Roseberry Common. More downhill took us through Aireyholme Farm, before some tarmac to Bank Foot Farm. This was not as straightforward as it seems from the previous sentence, several sandwich stops were necessary for Simon, heeding some dietary advice along the 'eat little and often' lines, only he's not realised the eat little and often applies to the whole day's calorie intake and isn't meant to just fill in the gaps between meals. Or perhaps he just can't bear to see his hand not grasping either a sandwich or a Sky TV remote control.

There were a few protesting murmurs  from the boys at the back as the significance of Bank Foot Farm dawned on them, Turkey Nab and Ingleby Bank. some brave attempts at dab-free ascents were made but none succeeded. Near the top, at the rockiest section, some wobbly heads were driving a 4x4 down the bank, probably doing less MPH than we were going up. Strange enjoyment.

Eventually the Cleveland Way finger post came into view and we knew it was all downhill from here, first on the doubletrack across Battersby Moor, then the road past Park Nab and directly to Glebe Cottage. Despite the doomsayers of the Met. Office, we had no blizzards and, thanks to the frozen ground, probably one of the swiftest rides of the year. Swift by Terra Trailblazer standards anyway.

 Height Profile: (click to enlarge)


 

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